Hope Town…
Rustle! Rustle!
It was a bright morning, evident by the golden rays of the sun peeking through the veil of the heavens even as birds chirped and rabbits played in the farm.
As the servants worked in the farms like usual, that morning, feeling inactive, Emiliana Brenden decided to go on a walk through the rice farm.
As she walked, feeling the gentle caress of the breeze, she smiled.
'It's 4 years already since Ramon and I walked on the farm'.
'I wonder how he's faring at school'.
'I hope he's not causing any trouble,' As she thought of this, she could not help but worry. 'I hope he's not being bullied at school'.
'He should be completing his 5th year after this semester, he promised to come. I hope he keeps to his promise'.
'I wonder if he kept the advice that I gave to him before leaving'. She smiled.
Then, thinking of something else, she chuckled. 'Does he have a girlfriend already? If he has, she better not break my boy's heart'.
As she walked round the rice farm, caressing a few of the towering rice plants, she paused and turned as she heard footsteps rushing closer to her position.
It was a female servant. From her clothes that were not stained by dirt, she didn't work here in the farm.
She bowed as soon as she came close. "Good day madam". She greeted respectfully before handing an envelope to her. "A letter for you".
"A letter?" Emiliana took it, surprised while wondering who sent it.
As soon as the servant left, she tore it open.
[Invitation Letter.]
[Good day ma, I hope you and your family are doing well. We over at Centerpoint Astral Academy wish nothing but the best to you and your family.]
[We officially want to invite you on behalf of your son to the academy's end of the year party that will be coming up in 2 days.]
[We will appreciate it if you can make an appearance to represent Ramon.]
[Sender: Centerpoint Astral Academy.]
"Wow! An end of the year party?" Emiliana Brenden was surprised.
"That means Ramon is about to be promoted soon!" She felt excited and relieved at the same time. "Like he promised, he didn't repeat a year".
Feeling excited, she rushed back to the manor where she met only one of her sons at home. She told him about the event excitedly.
"That stubborn brat?" He scoffed. "I'm not following you to represent him for anything, he should represent himself". He left the house.
Watching him leave, Emiliana Brenden sighed.
'Why can't all my boys be sweet with each other?' She thought. 'Boys…'
Despite that little disappointment, it took nothing from her overall excitement though as she started getting set for the trip.
A trip from Hope Town to Centerpoint City was no small endeavor.
She didn't have an escort with Hounds like Frank.
…
This year's batch of 5th year students were 59 in total. After completing the written exam in the morning, the students waited for an agonizingly long time till evening when the scores were finally posted.
[Written Examination Scores:]
[1. Elmas Elden: Score- 90 marks.]
[2. Aegon Winsmoke: Score- 85 marks.]
[3. Freya Atreus: Score- 85 marks.]
[4. …]
[5. …]
[48. Ramon Brenden: Score- 25 marks.]
Seeing where his name was all the way down the scoreboard, Ramon felt like crying but when he saw that despite his atrocious score, his performance was better than 11 of his classmates, he felt better.
He didn't feel better for long though as he went back to the top of the list.
The black sheep among the Specialists, he felt so at this moment.
"How did Elmas score a whole 90 and I got a measly 25 marks?" He kept on asking himself even as he felt like crying.
"Sorry bro," Aegon consoled him. "Take heart".
Ramon was not buying it this time though, Aegon's consolation felt more like he was mocking him. "I'll still win, you fake friend! Snitch!"
Aegon laughed. "How and why am I a snitch now?"
"You didn't act like a friend!"
"How?"
"You should have scored 25 like me!"
Aegon was left speechless.
Despite being one of the worst performing students in the first round of this examination, Ramon did not give up hope yet. 'At least I didn't score 0'.
'There's still a chance with the last 2 exam categories!'
As the students took their scores in, Mr. Guendouzi did not leave them waiting as coming before them, he addressed them again for the 2nd phase of the fifth-year promotion examination.
"Congratulations on completing the written exam". Mr. Guendouzi was all smiles. "I'm proud of some of these scores displayed out here, it shows that my teaching was not in vain, except some vagabonds". He glared at a certain student.
"Anyways, there has been a little change to the 2nd phase of this examination". His smile brightened as he faced the students. "Yesterday, after some contemplation, the headmistress made the decision to change the 2nd phase format".
"It's no longer a group tournament format".
"To make it more exciting, the headmistress decided to make it a group Wheat Trye Wilderness hunt".
"You'll be divided into groups of 2 and enter the wilderness together".
"All you're required to do is hunt for astral beasts, as much as possible within the time frame of one day that will be given to you".
"The main catch of this round of the tournament is that the hunt has no target or limit, you all can hunt as much as you want".
"The 100 marks overall scores will be decided by the outcome of the best performing group out of the 29 hunting groups".
"This means if a certain group far outhunts all the others, that group can theoretically score 100 marks while all the others score below 20 marks".
Mr. Guendouzi grinned. "This makes it interesting, doesn't it?" He laughed.
"Like usual, the HOD and his department instructors will supervise it".
"Another thing is that through a magic crystal that the headmistress provided, the hunt shall be broadcasted to our special guests for the end of the year party that were invited and are already present in the academy".
Hearing that, Ramon's eyes widened as he grabbed Aegon's right hand.
Aegon was startled. "What?"
Ramon felt like hitting his head against a wall. "I f*cking forgot!"
"I forgot to write an invitation letter to my mom". He felt like crying.
Seeing his reaction, Aegon chuckled. "I knew you would forget; the academy knew too. That's why they sent their own invitation letters too".
"Don't worry, your mom was invited".
"Really?"
"Yeah".
Instantly, Ramon felt a wave of relief wash through him.
Mr. Guendouzi continued. "For this phase of the examination, there are 29 hunt teams".
The eyes of a certain student widened as Mr. Guendouzi looked at her.
"Yes, sorry girl, 29 plus 29 gives you 58, that means as the worst performing student of the first phase of the exam, you just automatically failed".
"Can you please excuse us?"
This girl was stunned, tears instantly flowed down her eyes as she stared at the instructor. "B-but…," She stammered. "But I tried my best".
"But your best was not enough, sorry girl".
Mr. Guendouzi gestured at the academy non-teaching staff, the nearby guards who escorted her out of this hall.
"Ok, for the others, you're free to choose your hunt partner".
Mr. Guendouzi smiled. "Next time, you won't neglect my advice to make friends, friends are essential to succeed in this life". He laughed.
Ramon and Aegon didn't even move, they were naturally together.
In just a few minutes, all the students were divided into 29 hunt teams. Elmas got one of the weakest students since no one wanted him in their team despite his identity as one of the 4 Specialists.
The reality was that he almost never engaged in a fight with others, so despite it being years already since they knew him, they hardly knew his real combat power.
And besides, he was a hermit who never socialized. The students would rather team up with their friends than team up with an uncertain bomb like him.
With that, it was settled.
Mr. Guendouzi waved them off. "Go get some rest, tomorrow is going to be hectic, you need to be adequately prepared for it".
"Yes, instructor".
With that, they left.