My breaths echoed in my mind like a countdown. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, Exhale. Hundreds of boots rang throughout the hall, each one louder than the last. Sweaty men took their seats left and right, jittery and nervous. And I couldn't blame them. This was it. This was the final product of the last year of training we'd endured.
All the strokes of our swords. All the pushups. All the laps around the camp. All for this.
My heart hammered against my ribs.
"Felix, go take a seat." An officer rang out.
"U-uh… yea." I nodded, hurrying over to the first empty seat I saw.
It was all the way at the back. Gave me a very nice view of my soon-to-see fate. I got in my seat, clenching the armrest to not give away my nervous jitters. Officers continued to dish out names.
About half an hour later, everyone seemed to be settled. At least five hundred trainees sat down, some crying, some smiling and everything in between.
I tried to remember the advice my dad gave me about explosions and sparks, but turns out it's kinda hard to remember in a hall full of sweaty grimy men. Who would've thought.
This past year had been filled to the brim with physical training and discipline building. I have abs now, even biceps. But my mind was still the same Felix from a year ago in that campsite with my family. Meaning I had the same worries, just with bigger triceps to deal with them.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my heart, but it didn't work. Partly because it wasn't much help in general, and each breath just made me want to gag.
The hall quieted down as a soldier climbed onto the stage a few meters ahead. Each thud of his boots rang out like horse hooves on pavement. He stopped at the center of the stage, holding his arms behind himself.
His eyes scanned over the trainees, as if examining our very soul. And his face didn't ease my nerves any better. He had a thick scar running down from his forehead to his cheek, going right through his eye. An eyepatch covered the eye (Thankfully), and the left part of his lips was charred.
He looked every bit the stereotypical hardened veteran.
Then, a sharp clap cut through the hall. Everyone's gaze snapped to him. He'd simply placed his hands together, but every movement stole our attention.
Every inch of him demanded respect. He bled authority from every pore and wore experience like a second skin.
He nodded, satisfied he had our full attention. Clearing his throat, he lowered his hands.
"As you know, I'm the Chief Executive Officer of the Northarian Military's South Branch — Zeichwelich. You'll refer to me as Supreme Commander Zeich." His voice echoed through the hall, rough as gravel, with a poker face and a stare cold enough to melt ice.
"I cleared my busy schedule for this graduation, so you better be on your best behavior." He cracked his knuckles and turned.
"Most of you know this, but I'll say it just in case — 'cause I'm sure there's at least one ignorant crackhead here." He began pacing the stage calmly.
"This is the annual South Branch graduation, where you trainees undergo puberty and become real men." He breathed out. "In other words: you become soldiers serving this beautiful nation."
He paused, expecting a reaction. We knew better than to break the silence — learned that the hard way.
With a cruel smirk, he said, "I'm calling the six trainees who've graduated. When I say your name, get to the stage immediately and take your badge — or you're out."
My heart froze. Six? Just six?
If only six out of five hundred got chosen, my chances were barely one percent.
No time to dwell — he moved on.
"Julius Archotype. Come to the stage."
Without missing a beat, a trainee popped up and jogged to the stage. His bleached hair bounced with each step, and a cocky smirk played on his face as he hopped up. Zeich handed him the badge, and Julius gave a deep bow.
"My greatest thanks, Supreme Commander Zeich." Then he walked off behind him, clutching the badge to his chest.
I couldn't make out the details clearly, but the badge definitely bore the Northarian military insignia — a silver raven with dagger-shaped wings and slit eyes.
"Horizon Hort. Come to the stage."
A woman near the front stood. Her hair was pulled into a neat bun, glasses perched on her nose. She jogged up, climbed the stage without a sound, and gave a shallow bow.
"Thank you, Supreme Commander Zeich," she murmured before joining Julius.
Julius gave her an acknowledging nod. She didn't return it.
"Kyng Hill." Zeich called out.
Another guy shot up, waving to the crowd before jogging up and taking his badge.
"Soph Hill."
Another girl followed.
"Kyra Loue."
Yet another girl.
The line behind Zeich grew longer — five people now, each clutching their badges, each more distinct than the last.
His next words would decide my fate. Either I passed… or I'd fake my death and live as a nomad.
"And finally," he began, turning to face the room. The trainees around me held their breath.
Then his eyes locked on mine.
"Felix Zemdegs."
My body went cold. Did I hear that right? Did he really say Felix Zemdegs?
Trainees turned their heads toward me, some glaring with envy, others with barely disguised rage.
I didn't wait to find out if it was a mistake. I shot out of my seat and sprinted toward the stage.
The view loomed closer and closer until I vaulted onto the platform and stood before Zeich. In his outstretched hand glinted a gold badge — the Northarian military insignia carved into it, my name etched just above.
I snatched it, bowed low. "Thank you, Supreme Commander Zeich," I said, forcing my breath into something steady before stepping into line with the others.
Once I joined the line, Zeich clapped his hands again. The sound cracked through the air like a whip.
"That wraps it up. Next year, you'd better give me more than six newbies to work with," he sneered, his smirk sharp as a knife. "You are dismissed."
The hall erupted in groans and chatter as soldiers began herding the trainees into neat lines and marching them out, shutting the doors once the last of them left.
With the tension lifted, I could finally take in the hall properly. It was a massive cube — fifty feet tall, swords and candles lining the walls like silent sentinels. The air smelled more of cold steel than sweat now.
A sharp throat-clear snapped me back. Zeich turned to us, still smirking.
"Looks like harvest season was decent this year — six vegetables in one go." His voice rasped as he sized us up one by one.
Up close, his scar looked even worse — angry and deep, like it could start bleeding all over again just by looking at it. The leather eyepatch covering his ruined eye was mottled with red and brown tones that didn't quite match, and somehow that made it more unsettling.
He stepped toward the first in line — Julius, of course.
"Usually," he added, his voice dropping low, "we only get one."
My throat clamped shut. Just one. Out of hundreds. The pressure on whoever got picked must've been crushing
Zeich took a step back, putting his hands in his pockets. "Well, before this part of the graduation concludes, I'll tell you a bit about the remaining two parts." He paused, looked up at the ceiling as if deciding whether or not to make true on his promise. Then he spoke again, "The second part—"
"That is quite enough, Supreme Commander Zeich." A voice cut in. Our heads snapped toward the noise that came behind us.
A woman stood, a sword sheathed at her side and an ironclad gauntlet and guard on her sword arm. She had short red hair, barely reaching the nape of her neck. She had long lashes and defined features. A beauty that seemed sculpted rather than born.. And on top of that, one of her eyes was clamped shut.
Beside her, two men stood on either side. One wearing a thin set of chainmail with a katana, and the other with no armor and a short sword. Both of them had blonde hair and green eyes. Similar features and postures. Probably twins. They too, had one eye clamped shut.
The three of them oozed a sort of silent authority that only bared its fangs once you were already in too deep. I could tell they were strong. They didn't have to be showy about it like Zeich. You could just feel it.
The atmosphere between the three of them and Zeich seemed to clash. A intense stare down filled the silence. But eventually, Zeich clicked his tongue. "Oh weeeellll. Can't win them all. Till later, veggies."
As the last word escaped his mouth, I turned around to his voice. But where he should've been standing, thin air replaced. A subtle sound of chains jingling filled the hall before complete silence flooded once again.
"Zeich's such a show off." the one with the Katana commented, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Silence, Ruth." The woman barked. Instantly, Ruth zipped his lips and stood straighter. The woman took a few steps forward, arms crossed. "Well? Did no one teach you manners?" She ran her eyes over us, judging.
Then she pointed to the one next to me. "You. Introduce yourself." The command rang through the air, not missing its target.
The girl beside me put her arm on her chest. "Yes madam! I'm Kyra Loue. Topper in archery and theoretical planning."
The woman simply snorted at Kyra's introduction. "What a waste of space." she rolled her eyes and turned to the one before her. "Next."
"Right, of course…" The girl spoke gently. "I am known as Soph Hill. I studied acrobatics and hand to hand training quite intensely."
The woman looked Soph from head to toe, then commented, "Of course you did." Then glared her daggers at the next one.
This time, they didn't need a prompt. "Oh yeaa, my baad. I'm Kyng Hill, y'know. Heh. I did Combat and Acrobatics too." Kyng spoke like a elderly man on too much alcohol, and I don't think it was doing any favors to the woman's mood.
"Acrobatics? Are you a girl?" She moved her gaze to the next one.
"Name's Horizon Hort, mate. I've been in the field of armed combat and topped it. Nice to make your aquantai–"
"Alright alright." The woman cut in, looking to the last one in line.
"Ah yes… My deepest apologies, madamozel. I am known as Julius Archotype. I am quite versed in the art of deception."
She stepped back without even glancing at me. With nothing more than a roll of her eyes, she turned on her heel. "Ruth. Rath. Get to work."
The twins nodded in perfect unison as she strode toward the door.
Wow.What an elegant woman, huh?
My eyes stayed locked on her as she left the hall, the heavy door creaking shut behind her.
"Hehe… that's gotta sting! Don't worry, buckaroo — she probably didn't even see you," Kyng said, slapping me on the back.
I grunted, staggering a step. "Right. Because I'm so easy to miss in an empty hall."
"Don't take it personal, kid," one of the twins — Rath — added, his tone almost casual. "She just doesn't like talking to coffee-colored people. Nothing against you."
I exhaled slowly, unsure what to even say to that. "…Right."
Ruth, the one with the katana, stepped forward and took charge, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Well, since you kids already introduced yourselves, guess it's our turn." He cleared his throat. "I'm Ruth. You can call me Chief Ruth."
"And I'm Rath. You can call me Chief Rath." Rath pointed at himself with a lazy smirk, as if the whole world was a joke to him.
"Anyway," Ruth continued, glancing between all of us. "You've probably guessed, but yeah — we're twins. And starting now, we'll be the ones guiding you through the next two stages of graduation."
"That's right. But before we move on…" Rath put a hand to his chin, as if deep in thought.
"Before we move on… what, Chief Rath?" Horizon asked, voice calm but curious.
"Ah, good question." Rath snapped his fingers. "We're splitting you into two groups."
I raised an eyebrow, already seeing where this was going — but before I could open my mouth—
"Ah," Julius interrupted smoothly, nodding with that same smug expression. "Naturally. Each group will report to one of you, correct?"
Ruth's eyes narrowed. His hand rested casually on the hilt of his katana, but there was nothing casual about the way he spoke.
"Correct," he said coolly. "But next time you speak out of turn, Julius, you'll be reprimanded."
Julius tensed for a moment, then bowed. "Forgive me. It was my mistake, Chief Ruth."
Ruth sighed and nodded in agreement before moving on. "Anyway," He raised his arm and pointed a finger at three of us. "I'll take Kyng, Horizon and… Felix, was it?"
"I guess that leaves me with Julius, Kyra and Soph." Rath noted.
Ruth nodded. "Alright. Now… Kyng, Horizon, Felix. Straight line over there." He barked out the command, pointing a few meters to his side. "And the other three, same place beside Rath."
"Woah. Thanks Ruth." Rath commented, smiling.
As we finished making our lines, Ruth turned to us. He still had the same expression as he did from the start of our meet. A sort of serious face though not as tight. Imagine somebody smiling, but without the features of a smile. That's what he wore.
"Alright," He nodded, hand still resting on his sword. His other hand stroked his chin absently, massaging a faint goatee. "As we said earlier, we will take you through the remaining two stages of graduation. They will take place tomorrow, after you are rested properly. Any questions?"
We stayed silent for a few moments, before Horizon raised her arm. Ruth nodded at her in permission. Horizon cleared her throat and spoke. "Chief Ruth, If I may, what do you mean by 'remaining two stages of graduation'?" She asked curiously, raising an eyebrow. "We only ever heard of the first graduation ceremony."
Ruth nodded as if he expected the question. "Not surprised that you don't know." He said, tapping the hilt of his katana. "I would answer, but I think it would take away from the experience."
"Experience?" Kyng asked, tilting his head a little too steeply.
"Enjoyment, experience, climax, interest. Whatever you wanna call it." Ruth shrugged. "Bottom line is, you'll need rest to be able to keep up with the remaining two stages."
I furrowed my brow, slightly confused. "Excuse me, but isn't there still an hour and a half till lights out?"
Ruth nodded. "Yea. What's your point?"
"Well, back at the academy, we were taught that if we could help it, not to break routine." I explained. "But If we go to sleep an hour and a half early, I doubt that would help our routine."
Ruth raised an eyebrow. "Mhm, that's why you're not gonna go to sleep early." He let out a sigh. "I don't get where you're going with this, kid."
I scratched my hair, not sure how to phrase it better, when Horizon suddenly spoke up. "I'm guessing you're asking what we'll do in that remaining hour and a half, correct?"
I turned my head toward her. "Yea. That's right."
She let out a disappointed sigh, followed by a small shake of her head. "How have you not figured that part out yet?"
I tilted my head, puzzled.
Horizon scrunched the side of her lips in what I guessed was annoyance. "Use a bit of that brain. One room, plenty of time before lights out, a group. Anything come to mind?"
It took me a second of thinking before it finally clicked. "Ooohhh. I see.. We're gonna be forced to get to know each other."
Horizon let out a satisfied nod.
"Well, I suppose that answers your question then, Felix?" Ruth asked.
I nodded. "Yea. Thanks, Horizon."
She shrugged in response.
Ruth clapped his hands, the sound sharp enough to silence us. "Alright. If no more questions…" He paused, a sly smirk tugging at his lips. "Let's move. Get to know each other — you're gonna want to. Because tomorrow?" He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping just enough to sound dangerous. "Tomorrow's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of day."
"Huh? Once in a lifetime? Why's that?" Kyng chimed in, tilting his head and scratching his chin.
Ruth's smirk widened, as if pleased someone asked that. "Because…" He straightened, raising an arm like he was presenting something. "You're gonna meet the number one hero of Li-Young."
We all stiffened.
"The biggest hero of The Unity," Ruth finished, letting the words hang in the air.
"Kang-min."