Learning talismans was not only like programming as Kazi saw, it was also like learning calligraphy, something he had never tried before. Unlike the programming aspect that was like learning a different programming language, the calligraphy aspect was difficult and tedious. Who knew writing could be so tasking?
(A/N: I know... This author knows how tasking writing is... Show me some love and support the book, will you? It motivates me to keep going.)
. . . 11 years old . . .
Time to graduate is drawing close, and Kazi just happened to be part of the unfortunate bunch. Actually, it wasn't just him, but all those who had graduated a year before his set and those in his set. The rumours of war coming were becoming more audible as time went on, and Kazi didn't like it one bit.
Well, everything wouldn't always go the way one wants, after all, it wasn't as though he could control all that happened in the world.
Realising just how much this coming war might affect his plans, Kazi began making some adjustments. He couldn't be dragged behind by the war, instead he sort ways to benefit from it. Anything from dead bodies to life experiments, all was possible.
He also began learning some little healing techniques and skills at the hospital, these weren't taught at the academy for some reason. Seems this world was yet to understand the need of a mobile medic during wars. From what he noticed, the field of medicine and such was surely shorthanded in both worlds. Surely, it was the difficulty and technicality that drove people away, much like with talismans.
'Of course, I don't learn this to help people, no no no, why waste my limited ora on some weaklings? This is to ensure I don't die during this coming crisis.' For this reason, Kazi was the most hardworking and determined when it came to learning all he was taught, he was like an endlessly dry sponge, never letting even a drop behind.
"Ah, little Kazi, come. We have a surgery to perform, come stand and watch." Though he was young, Kazi had proven to the people at the hospital that he could handle things such as blood. This was not surprising at all, after all he was a clan kid, they were perceived to be different.
. . . 12 years old . . .
The final year rolled in and at that time, the past years seemed to have flown by like wind through grass field. Time was like a river, ever flowing and unforgiving to whatsoever found itself within it. Unfortunately, Kazi and every living thing existed within this great river, for they were born in it, and their existence depended on the continuous flow of this river.
Seeing this only made Kazi reconfirm his previous determinations and affirmed them. There was no way he would be stuck in that river being carried along whatever direction it flowed towards, no, he would fight whatever comes in his way and cross to the other side of the river where he no longer would be affected by its currents.
In all the six years spent in the academy, the students who had reached the final year and were ready for graduation were expected to have learnt a set of techniques, formations, and skills. Overall, apart from that, they had been instilled with the discipline and ideology of the sutori of Atar.
The day of exams came swiftly, where the students would be tested for all they had learnt over the years. It was quite easy and straight forward.
The tests included a written part, execution of techniques, physical and ora usage test through a proper spar, and formation execution test.
Of course, Kazi went through the different stages easily without a hitch, he was easily a top student of the academy. Though, you would wonder why he didn't keep a low profile not to drag much attention to himself, it is simple. It's all part of his plan. More like he didn't need to do so for his plan, and he sort potential benefits from doing so later on.
Towards the evening of the day of exams, everyone was done with the various tests, and went home.
The next day, the results were announced.
'Of course, I am among the top students.' In the end, only some untalented kids failed and would have to repeat the year. They were from families that were not part of clans, so it was so that their talent was lacking, though this was not always the case. 'Though, seeing as war is on the horizon, I bet they'll all pass.'
After calling all the students that had passed into one of the auditoriums, all the teachers came in along with the principal of the school. There was also an unfamiliar face that Kazi had not seen before, but he could guess who it was going to be. After the principal gave an unimportant speech, they welcomed the guest of honour.
"The Amon has sent someone to represent him here today, unfortunately he couldn't come himself. Please..."
The Amon was the strongest sutori of each land and ruled over their respective tak or provinces which are the secret lands. The Amon of Atar was a well known man throughout the lands, even outside Atar, his name was Agani Indas, nicknamed the heavenly wielder of fire.
'Ironically, Amon means the hidden one, but these guys are the most popular.'
The one to represent him was Agani Cinda, his sister who was also the current clan head of the Agani clan. She stood upright and looked to be a very tough person with a personality to boot. She wasn't exceptionally beautiful, but the red hair of the Agani clan suited her perfectly. She gave some speech and after that the students recited their oats which they said every day before the classes commenced.
[All in unison]
"As a future sutori of the land, I swear to give my every effort to the support and growth of the land, to carry out unfailingly every order given by my superior, defend the land even with my life from enemies, foreign or domestic, and abide according to the laws and code as a sutori under the land!"
Unlike the first time Kazi took part in this recitation, this time he screamed the words just like everyone else, with passion and determination, you could even see the willingness to die for his people in his eyes.
'All this bullshit won't matter after this phase is done.'
After that, their class teacher remained with the students to inform them about some trivialities and tell them about the squad placements.
"Blah Blah Blah... As for the squad placements, it has been done and you can access that information immediately after we are done here. The list is placed on the biggest notice board in the academy, I'm sure you know where to find it." After the teacher was done passing the information, he walked out of the class and left the students to their own vices.
Once the teacher left, it didn't take even a second before the students rushed out themselves. Some left through the windows while majority just maintained the little sense of order left and used the door. As for those who could phase through walls, just one guy, that was convenient. Seeing him, Kazi only wished his clan was special.
Kazi simply disappeared by using the shadow faint technique he had learned to near perfection, if it existed. He was still among the first to reach the notice board.
'So my squad mates are...'
.
.
.
.
Author here. Let's make a deal real quick regarding extra chapters.
50 power stones = 1 extra chapter
5 golden ticket = 1 extra chapter
1 review = 2 extra chapters