"the day after after the events of the last chapter"
Zack wakes up in a house he doesn't recognize and last thing he remembers was Tahiru's death. Everything is blury and shady. He keeps trying to remember anything but his thoughts are interrupted with the door being opened and Meru walking in.
Meru: Oh! You're awake!
Zack: Where… am I?
Sarume walks in: Did he wak-… Nevermind he did
Zack: You're here too? Where are the rest of your… friends…
Sarume stays silent for a moment before talking: Meru, I'll go finish these paper work I told you about. Till then explain everything to that kid.
Sarume walks out of the room leaving Zack and Meru alone
Zack: Paper work? What paper work? Aren't you guys supposed to be knights?
Meru shrugs: You will get used to this at some point. We will see each other a lot from now on.
Zack: I guess so… So… what happened…? I mean…. Before I go unconscious.
Meru tells him about everything happened.
Zack: I-…. I'm sorry… this happened because of me. I don't know how did I turn to use this type of power… I don't anyone else to be hurt.
Meru: Don't be sorry… It's not your fault… it's ours… And don't worry you aren't the danger here… It's just a coincidence.
Zack: Wait… you guys said you'll get me to speak although I didn't know anything. Well this doesn't seem like an investigation to me. Not even a prison or any sort of that…
Meru: Well… let's say that…. We made some… fake report… kinda… half truth… you know.
Zack: You lied.
Meru: saying it like this making it look bad though. We just said that we never found anything at the forest. We told the truth about that monster or demon thing. So let's say half truth. Anyways, you must be hungry. I made lunch if you want.
"Some hours later when Sarume returns"
Sarume walks in to find Meru waiting for him
Sarume: Did the little bastard escape or what? Not in the mood to chase him, honestly.
Meru: No he didn't. He said he needs time alone. He's in the balcony if you want to talk to him
Sarume: Good… and by the way, you are going to be his trainer. You better tell him about the current situation.
Meru: W-Wait… are you sure about that? Lightening is an S tier element. Can't a normal knight with an easier element teach him instead?
Sarume: You saw the kid, Meru. I'm sure he can learn it. He must… or else-…
Meru: Can we please skip the "or else" part…. Anyways I think you have to tell him everything that gonna happen from now on. He's going to live with you after all
Sarume sighs then walks in the balcony and stands next to Zack. He takes out a cigarette and lights it up while Zack is still looking at the streets. They stand in silence for a moment.
Zack finally breaks the silence: Nice house… Meru told me that it's yours.
Sarume: Well… listen… I know it sounds bad but… If you are going to stay in Carbania you have to be observed by us… and to be observed by us… You have to become a Knight
Zack: And if I say no I think I will be executed? Or maybe exiled from the kingdom if I'm lucky… I could guess this…
Sarume: N-No… Yes… Maybe. I don't know. It's a decision of the old man Niklas.
Zack sighs: Why in hell is there someone named Niklas in this kingdom… That's weird… Anyways…Can give me some time to think about my decision?
Sarume: S-Sure…
Sarume throws his cigarette away and walks inside the house leaving Zack alone in the balcony
"Some minutes later it's raining outside"
Meru walks in the balcony holding a cup of coffee and stands next to Zack who is still silent.
Meru: Look at this beautiful city… at night, With the sound of rain, and those lights… The perfect time to look at the city from a balcony, in my opinion.
Zack in quite voice: Is this why you really came here?
Meru: Well it's a thing. Second reason saying goodbye and see you later to you as I have to go to my house now.
Zack: Just this?
Meru: Is there something else?
Zack stays silent.
Meru: I guess not…
Meru almost walks off but he stops when he hears Zack's voice
Zack: I accept
Meru smiles: I'll take you tomorrow to the training area. I want you to be ready by mid-day
"2 months later in the training area"
Zack shoots an arrow of lightening exploding a huge part of the training area
Meru impressed: I see that you're improving…
Zack: That's nothing. I still hav-…
Meru: No. That's enough for today.
Zack: Alright then, blue hair... Let me just do some stretches.
"Some minutes later, on the way to Sarume's house"
Zack and Meru walking back to Sarume's house but they see a teenage girl almost the same age as Zack, she has red hair and a very proud and confident face, yelling at Sarume while crying in front of the house saying that her brother died because of him and then she runs away.
Zack looks at Sarume: Died because of you?
Sarume in Serious Voice: That's none of your business, Scamp.
Zack: Did you just call me a sca-…
Sarume leaves him and walks in his room with Meru following him looking worried.
Zack in anger yelling: Don't leave me in the middle of my speech, depressed head!!
Meru closes the door: Who was that girl?
Sarume lights up a cigarette: Amaya's trainee… Mitsumada Sora…
Meru: Mi-Mitsumada…?
Sarume in a sad voice while smoking his cigarette: Mitsumada Tahiru's younger sister… exactly…
Meru: Hey… it's not your fault…
Sarume: If I attacked that thing first wouldn't Tahiru be still alive till now? If the answer is yes then it's my fault. I could help but I didn't.
Meru: Then what? You give up? Like Amaya? Alright then. Give your sword to the king and quit your place as the elite squad captain.
Sarume: I… I can't…
Meru: Then show me Akira Sarume I know. The captain I always respected.
"10 months later with Zack still training"
Zack finally manages to land a hit on Meru in training after a year of trying
Zack excited: I did it!! Finall-…
Meru kicks his face to the ground while still smiling: Don't let your guard down.
Zack getting up: I hate this…
Meru throws him a bottle of water: I think you're ready… it's been a year now. You actually surprised me that you could learn my element. And by the way… In the academy, you're signed as Akira Zack… Sarume's younger brother. And no, no one knows that Sarume is one of the elite squad. I'm the only one known from the squad due to the lectures I give there.
Zack: Wait… What?!… Depressed Head is supposed to be my brother?!!
Meru: Well… both of you live in the same house what did you expect? Anyways the Exam is tomorrow. You better be ready.
Zack: I will…
"the next day near the at the academy"
The ones who applied to join the academy are waiting for the exam to begin. It's a simple information and physical exam. It takes long due to the amount of appliers
"at the end of the day"
The names of the accepted ones are announced. 35 lucky ones are the new year's cadets.