The sun scorched bitterly on my face as I walked across the park. Slowly, I breathed in the fresh air, enjoying the amazing array of greens that surrounded me.
It was unbelievable—I had called this place home for the past 17 years, and now? Well… now I was leaving.
As decreed by the government, all students at the age of 17 would be taken to study at military schools provided by the state.
I had already received a letter from the government, detailing where I needed to report by tomorrow.
My feet grazed the grass as I walked slowly toward my home. A few minutes later, I stood before an apartment complex and began the perilous climb to the 18th floor.
I lived alone. My older brother had left for military school last year, and now it was my turn. I hoped to see him again when I arrived, though I hadn't heard a word from him since the day he left.
I unlocked the rusty doorknob with my key and slowly pushed the door open. As I stepped inside, I took a deep breath, trying my best to savor what little time I had left in this room.
I walked over to the TV, turned it on, and sat on the couch. The news channel was on, reporting a monster attack in the Grand Square.
"A beast has been spotted in the city square today," the anchor reported. "As you can see on the screen, agents from the government have already been deployed to eliminate the threat. We urge all citizens to stay indoors until the situation has been resolved."
The footage showed agents in sleek black suits, perfectly fitted to their bodies. The suits were made from a rare material that supposedly only the government had access to.
My eyes were glued to the screen as I watched the agents unleash their abilities to deal with the monstrous beast. The creature towered over the surrounding buildings, a hulking, grotesque mass of destruction.
A female agent leaped out of a jet, plummeting toward the beast with a massive claymore in her hands. As she spun in midair, flames erupted from the blade. With a deafening boom, she struck the monster, obliterating it in an instant. Blood and guts rained down, covering the square.
I was awestruck. That was amazing, I thought. Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough. I was ready to leave, ready to fulfill my dreams, ready to become an agent of the army's Monster Termination Sect.
The next morning, I woke up early and started preparing to leave.
After taking a bath and getting dressed, I walked over to the mirror. It reflected a short girl with dark brown skin, a head full of black curls, and brown eyes.
I was officially ready to go. Taking one last look around the room, I stepped outside and locked the door behind me for the final time.
I made my way to the park where the military had instructed me to wait. Upon arrival, I saw a boy standing there. He wasn't tall, but he wasn't short either. His blue eyes and wavy brown hair complemented his fair skin.
I stopped a few steps away from him, and we stood in awkward silence.
"Hi, my name's Daniel. Nice to meet you," he said, stretching out his hand toward me.
I cleared my throat. "Hello, Daniel. I'm Beatrix. Nice to meet you too." I took his hand and gave it a firm shake.
We didn't get the chance to talk after that because, moments later, a large black van pulled up in front of us. Abruptly, two men in military uniforms and masks stepped out.
The man on the left spoke. "Beatrix Quartz, Daniel Black—confirm your identities."
We both pulled out our identification cards, each bearing the official army stamp, confirming we were supposed to be there.
The man inspected the cards and nodded. "The pictures match. Identities confirmed. Bag them."
Suddenly, the two men approached and placed black bags over our heads. They guided us into the van, and then it sped off.
I sat quietly in the back without fear. This was standard protocol for admitting students.
The military schools were hidden; no one knew their locations.
Hours passed. I didn't know how long we were in the van, but I knew Daniel was with me.
After what felt like an eternity, the van came to a halt. It shook as the men got out of the vehicle.
A gust of wind rushed in as the van door opened. I felt a firm grip on my arm and complied with its guidance. The bag wasn't removed from my head yet.
We were led forward for what felt like fifteen minutes. When we finally stopped, the bag was pulled off my head. I shut my eyes immediately as the scorching sun attempted to blind me. Slowly, I reopened them, looking down to avoid the glare.
When I glanced upward, I saw students all around me. Some were already chatting and socializing, perhaps hoping to form early alliances.
I took a moment to observe my surroundings. We were standing in a large open field. Ahead of us stood an empty stage, likely where we would be addressed.
I stayed composed, standing near the edge of the crowd.
"Beatrix!" I heard my name called out. I looked around, trying to find the source.
A tap on my shoulder made me turn. It was Daniel. He waved at me.
"You're the only person I know here. Mind if I stick with you?" he asked.
I shook my head. "It's fine. I don't mind company."
He stood beside me for a while, but the silence between us grew awkward.
Finally, he cleared his throat. "Um, what's your ability?"
I hesitated, wondering if I should reveal it. After some thought, I decided it didn't matter—he'd find out eventually.
"It's called prehensile hair," I said.
He gave me a look I was all too familiar with.
"Ugh, it means I can control my hair, okay?"
"Oh, you should've just said that. Can you show me?"
Rolling my eyes, I manipulated my hair into a small fist and gave him a light punch in the gut.
He gasped in shock. "That was surprisingly strong!"
I laughed at his reaction.
After recovering, he tightened his grip on his hand. A long, glowing blue whip materialized. It was intricately woven, radiating a light that illuminated our faces. The handle was an intricate mold, adorned with gold and black.
"My ability is called Energy Whip. And don't worry—I won't hit you because you're a girl," he said smugly.
I smirked. "Trust me, you'll regret that decision in the future."
Time passed as Daniel and I talked. He was surprisingly easy to get along with.
Hours ticked by, and there was still no sign of anyone in charge. I glanced up at the stage, where a man in a decorated military uniform finally appeared.
He was light-skinned with blonde hair and piercing ocean-blue eyes. His muscular frame was imposing, and his uniform was adorned with badges.
He stepped up to the podium and grabbed the microphone.
"Attention, students! Welcome to Base 99 Military Academy. The entrance speech will now begin."