On the day of the exam, the number of late entree examinees was rather more than she first assumed. But this could also be attributed to the more recent events happening within the capital so the number of transfers to this neutral territory would most likely only grow as the years pass on. It wasn't a humble military school as Anqing said, it was prestigious enough for neutral grounds but that was exactly why those who cared more for skill and safety would send their children here. Out of the young adults applying, Farrah was only one of the many lower-class Anialas who kept to themselves. Intent on making a name and career for themselves in this place that could be considered a safe haven. However, because it was a safe haven for the talented but poor individuals. The qualifications one had must be even higher than those of big families to survive all the courses throughout the years here.
This pressure is even more intense for late-entry students. Young men and woman wipe their sweaty palms standing outside gates, waiting for them to swing open and invite them inside. Having the courage and shamelessness to stand at the gates can also be said to be a test of one's preservation and passion for a life in the military. Some more impatient people showed bitter expressions, while many pass the time nervously chatting with their companions. Occasionally sneaking glances toward the closed gates. The time was seven forty exactly.
By now seagulls were flying and making noise overhead flying to and fro the sea far out behind the school. Excluding the hundred or so examinees, some soldiers stood along the sidelines to keep the peace. Behind them, were a few family members who could spare the time to wait with their loved ones. Out of all those examinees, Farrah was the only mutant. Facing forward without a care, she was passively noting the ones who just like her were well collected with equally steady spiritual internal energies. She didn't remember any of their faces from the banquet a few days ago, so they must have attended previous ones unlike herself who was late to the update.
One of them was a young caucasian woman with hazel eyes who was clearly of foreign descent. Unlike the black or brown-haired asians surrounding her, she was the only one holding up a head of short strawberry blond hair. However, it's unknown if her hair was dyed or not since Farrah could see some brown roots along her scalp or if she was born naturally like so. Her skin wasn't as pink as the ones abroad, so it was most likely she was only half caucasian. Judging from the way she was being alienated from the rest Farrah could phantom an easy guess as to why the young woman didn't bother attending the last banquet. Even if foreign races weren't as warmly welcomed anymore after the isolation of continents.
There wasn't any prejudice in the common people populace, but those of traditional bloodlines still looked down on them. And Aniala borns are especially arrogant and prized in this society and culture. Being acquainted with the young woman was fine, but having a relationship with her was an entirely different story. She could only prove herself worthy by outshining all her peers and becoming a brilliant Aniala. Much like Farrah, the girl wore a stony expression not caring for the wide berth the people around her gave. Farrah could see that the girl had a lot of potential, her aura was radiating with a red flicker as if threatening to burst at any moment like a flame wanting to become a wildfire.
From the way she carried herself so regally, she even made a guess that perhaps her background wasn't so simple. Perhaps she came to this military school to prove something. But this didn't matter to Farrah, the reason she spared this particularly eye-catching person so much thought was simply because of her potential future use. And the other examinee who was worth noting was holding his arms across his chest, his willow-shaped eyes glazed over as if the person were still in a state of awakening. She even caught him looking around, his gaze lingering on the brick walls of the school with longing.
However, the line of soldiers seemed to deter him from going over. He was only a few feet from herself, so each yawn, stretch, mutter, and slow doe-eyed blink of his she had seen from the corner of her vision. The color of his hair also resembled charcoal, slightly messy but soft looking, Farrah doubts whether the slobby appearance was unintentional or not. But despite his harmless and even gentle outer appearance. The Aniala's aura was as black as the void, intimidating and daunting to look at. It was a suffocating, soul-sucking void that seemed to be concealing monsters within that glared back at you for staring too long.
It was the first time she had ever encountered an Aniala such as him. So harmless, but his spirit could be mistaken for an Awoken at first glance scaring those of faint heart. The less knowledgeable would only see him as a bizarre Aniala and then would be immediately deceived by his soft outer appearance seeing nothing out of place. Some people were moved by his appearance and attempted to conversate once in awhile before being 'unintentionally' dismissed by his sleepy countenance. The more intuitive potential scouts would hesitate and hold their friends back, whispering some words of advice to their companions. She had no doubts he knew she was observing him, occasionally meeting eyes with her.
But each time they did he would be the first to look away without much reaction, seemingly not wanting to challenge her. She did not blame him. At this time, finally, the sound of a horn made everyone jump from their places. Then, a voice from above, a female who seemed to be whispering teasing words into their ears. "Examinees of Military School Hóng Hǎi'àn, please enter and follow Professor Jung to the testing facility. Do not stray from the path, do not push each other, and do not wander off on your own unless given permission otherwise. Examinees of Military School Hóng Hǎi'àn, please enter and follow Professor Jung-" Pushing a strand of hair behind her ear Farrah effortlessly and effectively cuts off the speaker from her light brain.
Beside her, the young man glanced at her before doing the same in a similar subtle fashion as they both wait for the gates to fully open and reveal a grey-haired man. Wearing a kind smile, the only man called Professor Jung waited for them to quiet down before speaking. His voice traveled well even to the people in the back. "As our generous dorm supervisor just said, please stick close by and try not to bump into one another as you follow me. My name is Professor Jung, one of the first-year instructors on Aniala history and I'll be escorting you all to the testing facility. Now, if you would all please line up into five rows and stay within your prospective positions. I would very much appreciate it."
His brows wrinkle lightly, the kindness radiating from him made the examinees subconsciously relax. The faces around her slowly loosened and some nervous smiles appeared. Not buying nor caring for the old man act, Farrah slipped into the back of the line for her own convenience. For some reason, the sleepy young man did the same as her making her eye him with some scrutiny when he covers his mouth for another long-winded yawn. Meanwhile, unlike the two of them who came to the back of their own accord. The cold-faced girl was automatically assigned the last place in her line. Making for the most conspicuous row possible, an eye mutant, a foreigner, and a half-asleep black aura Aniala.
It was like the end of a bad joke. But the three didn't seem to notice or care enough to think too much about it and quietly followed after the smiling Professor Jung without any protest. "What do you think about them?" Jian Lin's eyes lightly go over his colleague's screen before they moved back onto his own. "What about them?" Was all he said, his tone bland and fingers still flying across his light screen.
"Tsk." His colleague clicks his tongue at him. "Don't pretend, isn't this the girl your little brother is chasing? Look at how closely that other boy is following her lead-" The man's lips pursed as if he was holding back his laugh, his eyes lighting up full of amusement. And despite his words being scornful, his tone was humourous when overlooking the examinees. "-I've seen many scheming people, but no one has been as obvious as this black-hearted kid using an Aniala mutant as cover from the rain." Jian Lin took one more look at the screen before replying calmly not caring for his friend's jest.
"He won't be able to use her for long, that girl is also not stupid." "Oh?" Intrigued by this analysis, the man leans over his chair arm turning his body from his screen to Jian Lin in a gossip-seeking manner. "That's high praise coming from you, care to elaborate why?" Jian Lin's lip quirked up as if foreseeing a funny future, not saying much besides "Just wait and see, Dongyang. Qingqing may seem foolish on the surface but he would never follow someone without the same amount of shrewdness as himself. He's clever enough to not take fish eyes as pearls."
Hearing another praise from the man about his so-called 'amazing little brother' Dongyang rolled his eyes and no longer wanted to listen to his nonsense. "Alright alright. What did I expect from a brocon like yourself, peh! Pretend I didn't ask." Jian Lin chuckles lightly in response. Dongyang's gossiping spirit seemed to die out as he casually asks, changing the subject entirely. "Speaking of scheming people, has the boss contacted you at any point in time this week?"
"-The navy ships he's escorting should have arrived at the east coast by now, shouldn't he be heading back this week?" Shaking his head, the young Lieutenant took a quick scan of their surroundings before answering. Seeming serious and a bit troubled "Olivia said that their route was leaked at some point so they had to make a detour, extending their mission by a couple of days. Not only that but the cargo ship was attacked by a couple of Awoken, although they were relatively weak there were quite a few that showed up." "Awoken?" Dongyang frowns "-How could Awoken have found their fleet with Olivia managing the veil?"
Olivia is one of their most talented Anialas, an intelligence officer with an incredible amount of spiritual energy and talent for concealing auras. Although she isn't useful in the middle of a battlefield, she's still incredibly useful during escort missions out of the port. Even well-trained scouts have a hard time finding her when she's serious. And yet, low-level Awoken managed to find them? Just like that? "...Was anyone injured?"
Only when Jian Lin shook his head did Dongyang's stiff shoulders ease up. "With sir to protect them everything went rather smoothly. No one was badly hurt and even better there were no casualties." "Good. That's a good thing, aish, if the boss wasn't there there would have been trouble. Olivia especially would have suffered quite a bit if those goods were lost." Dongyang ran a hand through his hair with a worried scowl, seemingly imagining the consequences if the ships were really lost.
"This has got that old bat's signature all over it! No one else dares to mess with the boss so blatantly other than that old coot! Is he still blaming us for the previous incident?! So frustrating!" Jian Lin stayed silent for a second after listening to his friend's rant before commenting a bit softly. With an estranged glint in his eyes, "General Yang may be a vicious person, but don't forget he also lost someone important to him eight years ago because of the city's lack of insight and responsibility." Dongyang chokes on his scolding after being reminded of this, his brow furrowing even tighter as conflicting emotions enter his eyes.
His harsh tone eases a little even if there is still visible annoyance left within the complaint. "Still, it wasn't like the boss was responsible for it personally. Right now he's like a rabid dog biting at anyone who comes within even an inch of his territory with a badge on their chest. He takes us as enemies, and for what? It's not like all of us are military dogs seeking the smallest benefits." Clicking his tongue, Dongyang left it at that and seemed to have reluctantly held back the curses he originally wanted to say.
Jian Lin understood his frustrations, however as the more rational of the two he still had to see things from the other person's point of view to get a better understanding of their positions. It wasn't like he didn't detest the young general at one point either. When his younger brother faced danger in the past due to the oppression of those corrupt people in charge of military affairs who were wary of his brilliance. Jian Lin too wanted nothing more than to charge into headquarters and run his blade through all their throats. However, their general isn't entirely blameless either.
"Sir also said some rather harsh things to General Yang the first time they met, don't you recall?" Dongyang tensed and his face twisted rather vividly. The man sighed heavily and leaned back into his chair wearing a twitching helpless smile and emitting a dry laugh. "Right. I suppose that's also true. Hahaha..." How could he have forgotten? Albeit it's been a long time, their boss's temper was almost as bad as the General Yangs back then. No, perhaps it's worse.
"Ha~" Jian Lin sent him a semi-sympathetic smile "I'm not saying you have to forgive him for putting us in danger all the time because of an old grudge. I'm merely reminding you to be more open-minded. In times like this-" "-In times like this where China is on the verge of falling due to the endless wave of Awoken banging on our walls. Who can humans rely on if not stable-minded Anialas who know how to put grudges aside for the sake of the innocent? Only an idiot would turn their blade on another human while the Awoken's jaws are already clamped tightly around their waist." Dongyang waved away his reminder making his friend give another light-hearted chuckle while wearing a sour expression.
"I know I know. Don't lecture me." He's heard this line so many times it's giving him frown wrinkles. "Besides, the boss said it's a waste of manpower to take revenge anyways." Jian Lin's fingers froze over his screen "...You asked Sir before?" Dongyang too froze after realizing he had spoken his thoughts out loud. The stern soldier's glower seemed to burn into the side of his face as he quickly thought of an excuse. Pulling a sober expression Dongyang turned to face his friend, his tone full of solemnity and seriousness. "....Jian Lin, remember that in the future I am still going to be your brother-in-F*ck! THAT HURTS!!"