The big day had finally come, graduation day and it was truly an event to behold. The Imperial Academy spared no expenses in sending off the 27th graduating cadets of the Nottenam Imperial Academy. The entire building was cleaned thoroughly to the last speck of dirt, completely refurbished,the assembly hall would be where the ceremony would be held. Nobles and other families worthy of note would be at the ceremony so everything had to be perfect to the very last detail. The cadets had the whole day to prepare for the ceremony, some went out with friends to work on their hair,some went to the Super Store to buy dresses,shoes and other accessories they would wear after the ceremony and some just slept the day off. The last few days leading to graduation had seen the graduating set packing their bags because as soon as the ceremony is over they're expected to leave the academy and as such it is expected some of the cadets would be tired,Rashen however was not one of these cadets.
He'd been up since dawn but only managed to get out of bed till later, after thoroughly cleaning his entire dorm room just for the hell of it he went to the bathroom for his bath,he was in there for what seemed to be hours,he stepped out of the showers with a towel around his waste revealing a thin muscular figure,he walked up to one of the mirrors above the sinks and even he could see the he was nervous.
In his room he tried going back to sleep but he just couldn't, he instead decided to take a walk round the entire academy soaking everything in one last time. From the lecture halls to the training grounds to the cafeteria and the courtyards,the academy had been like a home to him,more of a home to him than his actual home. He stopped under a tree in the courtyard and sat down on a bench,he thought to himself, about how he stayed in the academy for four years and didn't even make a single friend,he thought about the bullies that made life a living hell for him,he thought about the times he was all alone in his dorm room because his mates had gone home for the holidays and then he thought further back to even before he got into the academy.
In a small bar as early as Six in the morning Rashen, fourteen years of age, burst through the front doors looking elated,he held tightly a seal in his hand,
"I DID IT GUYS!!! I DID IT!!! I GOT IN!!!" Rashen bellowed loudly practically jumping for joy.
"Wadaya yapping about this early in the morning?"
The grumpy looking old man behind the counter said as he set the fancy wine on display, Rashen took a seat just opposite of him and set the seal on the table with a smug look on his face,
"I'm not reading that and you know it" the old man said plainly,
"I passed the scholarship, I'm going to the Nottenam Imperial Academy" Rashen said out of breath,
"Good for you" Mr. Cobbs said dryly, "Now I won't have to see your ugly mug everyday now" he said still focusing on his work.
"Oh come now Cobbs..." An old lady about the same age as Cobbs said as she came in from the back wiping her hands with a small rag, "...a grumpy attitude isn't the way to start the day" she said as she walked up to Rashen,
"Good morning Mrs. Cobbs" Rashen said brightly,
"And a pleasant morning to you too Rashen" she replied, "What's gotten you all bubbly today?" She asked looking at the seal on the table, Rashen handed it to her. She took out her reading glasses from her blouse pocket and wore them,she carefully went through the contents of the seal and let out a squeal of delight hugging him tightly,
"Oh Rashen congratulations" she said holding him tightly, "You've earned it,you worked hard for it and you earned it" she added wiping off her tears.
"Thank you Mrs. Cobbs" he replied. She let him go,
"Why don't I go prepare your favourite meal for you" Mrs Cobbs said
"You'll do no such thing. There's no such thing as a free meal in the Cobbs Place,if he wants to eat he'll earn it himself." Mr Cobbs said to his wife sternly to which she replied,
"Oh come off if Hugert, he's gotten into the Nottenam Imperial Academy on a scholarship,that alone has earned him a free meal here"
"I don't want to hear it Marrey,this is a business and not a charity" Mr. Cobbs fired back.
While Mr and Mrs Cobbs were arguing Rashen had gone to the store to get the broom,he began his daily duties of cleaning the bar before opening hours. This was basically his job and he's been doing it since he was ten years old. While he was cleaning he heard someone open door from behind him,he turned back to tell whoever it was that the bar wasn't open yet but upon seeing who it was his body acted before his mind could and he ran towards the person and hugged him as tightly as he could.
"And a hello to you too Rashen" Argins said embracing Rashen back. They stood there for some time before Rashen let him go,
"I did it Argins. I got into the Imperial Academy" Rashen wasted no time telling Argins,he didn't even bother showing him the seal in his hand. Argins looked quite shocked upon hearing the news at first but then let out a hearty laugh and patted Rashen on the back,
"I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT RASHEN" He bellowed and continued laughing,
"Oi will you all stop with the screaming already" Mr. Cobbs said rubbing the bald spot on his head as Marrey went over and hugged him too.
"Good to see you Argins" she said
"Good to see you too Marrey" he replied before letting go of her. He grabbed Rashen and placed him on his shoulders
"HUGERT!! I'D LIKE SOME OF YOUR FINEST DISHES IN HONOUR OF RASHEN AND PLEASE MAKE IT SNAPPY THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!" Argins screamed, Marrey couldn't help but laugh. Mr Cobbs took an empty beer bottle from under the counter and broke it on his head,he pointed what was left of the bottle at Argins and Rashen who looked shocked,
"I'm going to close my eyes and count to ten and if I see you two fools here after I open my eyes I'll skin both of you alive". Rashen and Argins ran out the bar laughing madly.
They sat on the bench at the lakeside watching the rising sun as it shone upon them. Between them on the bench was a sack of apples and some bottled water,they both ate and drank staring at the lake,it was a serene sight. Argins turned to face Rashen and he smiled,
"I really am happy for you Rashen" he said with a genuinely genuine voice,
"I couldn't have done it without you and Gramps and Mrs Cobbs" Rashen said taking a big bite out of his apple. He was right about not getting as far as he could without Argins and the Cobbs as it was Argins who introduced the young Rashen to the Cobbs hoping they would give him something to do and despite his many objections due to the amount of controversy surrounding Rashen deeming it bad for business,Hugert Cobbs eventually took him in and had him clean the bar early in the morning before opening and late at night after closing for 4 years earning anything he could. He used the money he earned to buy books he used to study and eventually he applied for a scholarship at the Nottenam Imperial Academy,he was more than grateful, Argins,Marrey and Mr Cobbs basically saved him,he wanted to tell them how he felt but couldn't quite put it into words,he racked his brain into coming up with the right words but before he could say it
"I'm leaving Rashen" Argins said, "I'm being transferred to a division out of Nottenam".
It took some time for Rashen to process this information and when he finally did he asked,
"For how long?"
"I'm not quite sure but I doubt it'll be anything less than 5 years" Argins answered. Rashen was quiet for some time,he finally stood up and slowly walked towards the lake.
"Rashen I-"
"Just you wait and see" Rashen started without sparing him a glance, "I'll complete my 4 years in the Academy and graduate as one of the best graduating and deployed cadets..." Rashen paused for a brief moment, ".... AND THEN WE'LL RISE THROUGH THE RANKS TOGETHER!!!" Rashen screamed at the top of his voice and although he couldn't see his face,Argins could tell that Rashen was crying his eyes out.
Rashen opened his eyes,he was still under the tree sitting on the bench,he wiped his eyes and looked around and from the position of the sun he could tell it was almost time for the graduation ceremony to begin.