Loran City · Holy Bow Academy
In the office of Class Instructor Winton, the air felt heavy, almost suffocating.
Hearing Born's decision, Winton's heart twisted with conflicting emotions.
He had tried to mediate the conflict between Born and Miles.
But he was only an ordinary teacher—without noble lineage, without the strength to stand tall.
Against the Headmaster, against the powerful hunting corps backing Miles, all he could do was sigh in helplessness.
"Born… after dropping out, what will you do?"
Winton hesitated for a long time before finally asking the question, his voice low.
He knew Born's talent was far from dazzling. Yet watching this stubborn youth crushed beneath noble cruelty pressed down on his chest like a stone.
"If you're still willing to study, I have a friend at another academy. I might be able to arrange for you to transfer there."
There was a thread of hope in his tone.
But Born only shook his head and smiled faintly. "No need, Teacher."
"Even without Miles, I would've quit eventually. With my talent, I'll never make it into the Kingdom's Martial Temple Academy. And besides… I still have a younger brother and sister. Dropping out early only eases the burden at home."
The words were calm, almost detached—yet they struck Winton's heart like a blade.
He slammed his palm against the desk, growling under his breath, "Damn those bastards!"
But after cursing, all he could do was sigh, pick up the withdrawal form, and press it into Born's hands.
The procedure was simple: fill out the form, submit it to the registrar's office, and it was done.
In truth, even without paperwork, Born's departure had already been sealed.
On this continent, weakness and poverty were the heaviest sins of all.
"After dropping out… where will you go?"
Winton asked again, after the form was handed in.
This time, despite Born's polite refusals, Winton insisted on walking with him all the way to the academy gates.
Born stopped there, turning to take one last look at the Holy Bow Academy where he had spent so many years. His face was calm. Then he turned away with a faint smile and pointed toward the notice board by the gate.
A single poster blazed against its red background and stark white letters:
"Kingdom Legion · Loran City Division · Recruiting New Soldiers!"
Winton followed his finger, and his heart gave a sudden jolt.
When he looked back at the lean, determined youth beside him, an unexplainable emotion rose in his chest.
He extended his hand, grasping Born's firmly, his voice low and solemn:
"Born, forgive me. I tried… but in the end, I couldn't protect you."
"Go. Perhaps the legion truly is the place where you belong."
Born turned his face toward the morning light, a bright smile tugging at his lips.
"I'll be back. I promise."
"I'm leaving now."
"Go, then."
Sunlight poured down from the heavens, spilling across his shoulders.
His tall figure stretched long across the ground, crossing through the towering gates of the Holy Bow Academy.
In that moment, light and shadow seemed to split him in two—
One half remained in the academy, forever belonging to the past.
The other half strode forward, head held high, toward an unknown destiny.
…
Loran City · Kingdom Legion Recruitment Office
The place was already packed, throngs of people flooding the streets.
By the time Born arrived, the line had snaked all the way around the corner.
They were all youths, their faces still carrying traces of innocence.
Most of them, like Born, had only average talents—unworthy of the higher academies, left with no choice but to enlist.
The hunting corps might pay better, but it was riddled with danger and offered no future.
Only the Kingdom Legion promised identity, protection, and a real path forward.
Born drew in a deep breath and stepped into the winding line.
Inside, his heart whispered with perfect clarity:
—This is the beginning of a new life.
Enlisting carried obvious benefits.
The Legion provided steady cultivation resources and martial manuals.
Within its ranks were countless strong warriors—one stroke of guidance from such a figure could change a man's fate.
Above all, donning the Legion's uniform itself was an honor.
The line buzzed with noise, carrying a tension laced with excitement.
Some recruits were silent, their eyes fixed straight ahead.
Others were already chatting eagerly with strangers beside them.
"Hey, brother, you here to enlist too?"
A voice suddenly came from the side.
Born turned his head.
The speaker was a boy around his age, broad-shouldered and towering nearly six feet tall. His square face was rough and brutish, full of hard edges that made him look intimidating.
But the grin on his lips betrayed a surprising warmth.
The clumsy attempt at small talk almost made Born laugh aloud.
He raised a hand and pointed at the snaking line in front of them, deliberately teasing:
"Take a guess—what do you think they're all lining up for?"
The burly youth blinked, then scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Uh… yeah. My bad. Sorry about that."
"I'm Judy," he said, introducing himself.
"Judy?" Born blinked, giving the boy a once-over.
That hulking frame paired with such a name felt oddly mismatched.
Still, he grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
"Good name. I'm Born."
"Oh, Born!" Judy's face lit up with sudden excitement, words spilling out like floodwaters.
"What's your awakened talent? Who knows, maybe we'll end up in the same unit someday."
Born's voice was steady.
"E-rank Archer."
Judy froze, a flicker of awkwardness flashing across his face. But in the next second, he forced a broad smile.
"Eh, that's not so bad. Honestly, E-rank isn't the worst."
Halfway through, he scratched his head and added sheepishly,
"I'm A-rank Combat Talent—Strength Enhancement."
Born cast him a sidelong glance and chuckled, helpless.
"Alright, enough. You don't have to explain. I'm not that fragile."
"Heh-heh…" Judy scratched his head again, grinning sheepishly.
The long wait became less dull with conversation.
Born asked casually, "Judy, with an A-rank already, why enlist at all?"
Judy fell silent for a moment, then answered in a low voice,
"My father and grandfather say I'm too soft-hearted. They sent me to the army to harden up."
Born raised a brow.
It was true—after chatting this long, he'd already seen the kindness and simple honesty in Judy's nature.
But judging from appearance alone, with that massive build, who would ever link him with the word soft?
If anything, Born's own slender, handsome features were far more likely to invite that kind of judgment.
The August sun blazed over Loran, the air thick with sweltering heat.
The line inched forward, step by step, until finally it was their turn.
Registration was simple.
State your name, talent, and age—then receive an enlistment slip.
"Born!"
As he stepped away from the desk, Judy's voice rang out from a nearby street stall.
He was waving, holding up two bottles of chilled fruit wine.
"Here! My treat!"
Born walked over, took the bottle, and smiled.
"Thanks, Judy."
For all his size and brute strength, the big guy's heart was surprisingly gentle.
And that alone was enough to stir a faint warmth in Born's chest.
"I asked around just now," Judy said quietly, eyes following the dispersing crowd.
"They say our batch will probably be assigned to the Kingdom's Third Legion. I hope… we end up in the same squad."
Born tipped his head back, taking a swallow of the chilled fruit wine. His gaze was calm.
"Maybe."
"Then… see you in three days!"
"Mm. Three days."
Under the blazing sun, the two exchanged a smile.
On the brutal road of soldiering that awaited them—
this might just be the most precious beginning.