What's the importance of a student or being young in countries? Or why countries should look after their students or young ones? The answer is the future.
Most of us lived a part of our lives but of course, things continue to exist even if we stop existing. We are just a leaf that has fallen from the tree of life.
Facing death is inevitable for all of us. Until we die, we build some things, we protect some things and we love some things. But what happens to them after we die? Do they just disappear? Do they just become meaningless? No. Humans look from a bigger perspective when they get close to death. Our life may seem like is just ours but it isn't. All of us are carrying the weight of unborns. Then what will we do? Will we just give up on continuing? No, we won't. Educating new generations is our biggest project and mission.
Let's learn from our mistakes when we are educating them. And let's teach them the mistakes we made so they won't make the same mistakes when their time comes.
M didn't say anything.
''I said, what's happening here?'' the old man had a serious tone.
''This person said he was here to give a letter to you, Mr. Wine. I wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or not so I wanted to check the letter but he didn't let me.'' M said with honesty.
''Young man... (He looked Arthur up and down.) What's your name?''
''Arthur Blade... Sir.'' Arthur lowered his sword.
''My name is Wine Star. I'm the mage principal of this academy. That letter... (Wine looked to the letter) Who gave it to you?''
''Siege Holde.'' Arthur said.
''Okay... M, you can go now. I'll deal with this.'' Wine said.
''But sir-''
''I said go. I won't repeat.'' Wine was insisting.
''Yes, sir.'' M disappeared from Arthur's sight.
''Now. I'll lead the way to the warrior faculty.'' Wine started to walk.
''You said your last name was Blade, right?''
''Yes.''
''Are you a noble like most of the students here, Arthur?'' Wine asked with a smile on his face.
''No, sir. I was a hunter just a few weeks ago. And now I'm here thanks to Mr. Siege.''
''I see... And I see that you have good manners. Seeing manners that this good from a not noble person feels different.''
Arthur stayed quiet.
''That sword. How did you get it? And please don't try to say a lie. I can read your mind.''
''I... This sword is a gift from my first friend's father. It helped me so much until now.'' Arthur said with a sad face.
''I see...''
The memories poured into Wine's mind after Arthur finished his sentence. He saw Hennen's death, he heard Hennen's last words and he felt Arthur's emotions.
''I think you'll do a good job at this academy. Even if the education time is just 6 years, I think you'll be able to learn so many things from this academy and the people that come here.''
''Thanks. Can you tell me about lessons? I want to know what I'll learn.''
''I can't say much but I'll give you a piece of information. As you can see Arthur, the academy is split by 4. Center, mage faculty, assassin faculty, and warrior faculty. Warrior faculty is split by 4 too. Spear, punch, archery, and sword. There are 10 class ranks in every section. Mastery and lessons' complexities are increasing ten to one.''
And they arrived at the warrior faculty.
''Now I have to return my business. I wish you luck, candidate Arthur.'' Wine said.
''Thanks, sir.'' Arthur got into the warrior faculty.
He felt relieved after Wine was gone. Wine had an aura that made Arthur so stiff and uncomfortable.
He entered the faculty's hall. It was big. ''I guess in this world people love to make big buildings.'' He said to himself. Then he looked around to find someone. He saw a girl that had pink hair and went next to her.
''Ah... Hello.'' Arthur said.
The girl turned around. She looked like Cily but her eyes were red light blue.
''Yeah?''
''I'm here to register. Do you know where is the principal's office by any chance?''
''I had a business with the principal too. Let's go to her room together.''
The girl led the way. They got on the sixth floor of the faculty. Arthur was out of breath.
''Is this... Faculty exist for... Punishing newbies?'' Arthur said while he was breathless.
The girl laughed.
''Actually, no. My name is Elein Cuthburg by the way.''
They were in front of the principal office's door.
''I'm Arthur Blade.''
''Nice to meet you, Arthur.'' Elein said and she knocked on the door.
''Come in!'' a female voice came from inside the office.
They both got inside. The principal was sitting on her office chair. She had black long hair and dark eyes. And there was a sword behind the principal that was hung on the wall.
''Hello, Ms. Hera.''
''What's the problem Elein?'' Hera asked.
''I was going to ask if I can use the training room.''
''You know the rules, Elein. I can't allow that until this season starts. You have to wait for more two days. You can train by yourself though.'' Hera said. Her voice was deep for a female but not that deep.
Elein left the room with a sad expression.
''It's the fourth time today... (Hera looked to Arthur) Who are you?''
''My name is Arthur Blade.'' Arthur extended the letter to Hera.
For a few seconds, Hera made some grumbling while reading the letter.
''So... You are the guy that Siege suggested... You look thin!'' She got up from her chair and walked around Arthur while looking at him from bottom to top.
''I can't even be sure that you can swing that sword of yours. How did you get a suggestion?'' Hera asked.
''I just did what I had to do, sir. And now I'm here, in front of you.'' Arthur said with a serious tone.
''This faculty isn't for some weaklings! You know that, right?'' Hera was talking loudly.
''I learned that thanks to you, sir.''
''You learned something like this just now?! Who are you?! A newborn?!'' Hera was yelling at Arthur to see if he was scared or not.
''I'm here to achieve my goal, sir. And I think I need to be reborn for this. That's why I'm here.'' Arthur wasn't even flinching.
''Good. You know your weakness. But that's not enough! Are you ready to get criticized day and night? Are you ready to feel pain day and night? Are you ready?!'' Hera looked into his eyes.
''I'm not ready, sir. That's why I'm here. When the real fight begins, I want to be ready for all of that and more.'' Arthur said.
''Good. You can take your uniform from the ground floor. I see that you are using a sword so your classes will be on the third floor. Your room is on the first floor too.'' Hera sat back in her chair.
''Can I learn how much student comes in this faculty, sir?'' Arthur asked.
''Around... 500. Faculty is big enough. Don't worry about your room. It will be personal. And... Your room number is 316. Take this key. (She threw a key to him)'' Hera lighted a cigarette.
''Thank you, sir.'' Arthur caught the key and put it in his right pocket.
''Don't be a waste of money, Arthur Blade. Now go. We'll see each other at the opening talk.'' Hera took a drag from her cigarette.
Arthur left the office without saying anything and closed the door. Elein was waiting outside of the office for Arthur.
''How could you talk like that like it was nothing?!'' She was in shock. It seemed like she was listening to the conversation from the beginning.
''Thanks to, Mr. Siege.''
''What about him?''
*Flashback*
Arthur and Siege were going to the Loki with the barouche.
''I'll give you a lesson Arthur.''
''About what?'' Arthur couldn't understand.
''About Hera Harparr. The principal of the warrior faculty.''
''How do you even know that I will choose the warrior faculty?''
''You are using a sword, Arthur. You think I'm stupid?'' Siege laughed.
''Anyway. That woman is nuts. She was in the military of Aliela before. That woman and the teachers that work under her, work like they are in the military. They talk loud and commanding, they eye you like you are naked. It's a hell in paradise.''
''I'm going to change my mind if you keep saying things like this, Mr. Siege.'' Arthur was becoming hesitant about his decision.
''No! Wait! That's the good part. Look Arthur. You and I are warriors. We stand in front of anyone. We face the fear before everyone and we fight with the fear before everyone. If you stay in this way of thinking, you even won't be able to step on the battlefield. Battlefield is not something like you think. It's cruel, it's red and it's full of screams. If you can't have a steady mind, you'll collapse middle of a war. You'll become useless. And I can easily say that a spoiled meal is better than a useless soldier. You got it?''
''Y-yeah...''
Siege's words affected Arthur. He was looking different around even after this short conversation.
''I'll prepare you to be able to talk with Hera. Until we get there, we'll do this training every free time. Okay?'' Siege was smiling.
''Okay. I'll try my best.''
*Flashback ends*
''We did it until we arrived in this city. It was cruel. I didn't get this much humiliation in my life.'' Arthur laughed a little.
''It makes sense now... What's your room number?''
He took out the key from his pocket and looked at the number written on the keychain.
''It's 316. What's yours?''
''Mine is 315. It looks like we are next to each other.'' Elein giggled a bit.
''Yeah.'' Arthur smiled.
''How old are you Arthur?'' Elein asked.
''18. What about you?''
''19.''
''You look younger than me for real.''
''Ahahaha... Thanks. Anyway, I'm going to meet my friends now. See you later.''
Elein walked away with quick steps.
Arthur went down to the ground floor and took his uniform. The uniform consisted of a shirt and trousers. There were 10 different colors for uniforms.
''Are you a new student?'' the woman that's working in the clothes section asked to Arthur.
''Yeah. Can I take the white uniforms?''
''Okay.'' She gave him a white set of uniforms and a badge. The badge looked like a tiny gold medal but had a little, orange sphere on it.
''What's this little orange sphere for?''
''It shows which class you are. Orange is 10, brown is 9, green is 8, yellow is 7, blue is 6, purple is 5, red is 4, white 3, black is 2, and half white and half black is 1.'' the woman said emotionlessly.
''Thanks.''
''You're welcome.''
Arthur left the clothes section and went to his room.
The room was quite simple. A bed, a table, a closet, and a toilet. At the moment he got in his room he felt tired. He put his sword and his uniform on the table and lay down on the bed. Closed his eyes and fell asleep.