The academy

Adrien returned to the caravan, which continued its road for a few hours before he heard the caravan stop. Soon, they were pressed to get off.

What awaited them was a 10-meter stone wall, strange-looking blue pictures painted over it, with bars on the windows. 5 caravans were slowly fading away on the horizon, leaving around fifty boys - they preferred separating them. It helped avoid some accidents. The rest was just a plain, one they had taken hours traveling into, one leaving no way to escape.

"You and you", Adrien refocus on the young recruit, who pointed at 2 teenagers. "Go get me my box."

"And why shall we obey you, soldier?" The teenager spoke had good-looking cloth. An elite, Adrien thought. Those who were worth his time. Though he had a somewhat arrogant voice which proved his lack of understanding or just his honor. He forgets too often humans' disillusions.

The soldier - the young recruit a few years older than them - glares at him silently. Then spoke with a calm, cold voice:

"You're good? Done yet?"

"Yes I-"

"Very well, then I will explain." Cut the young recruit. "I don't think you've understood the situation."

He approached him as he spoke. Then he took his hand and raised it to the teenager's head.

"This, you see, is you. You've got good height for a kid your age. Nice muscles too. Surely you must have been educated outside the golden nest of the city, and that's great."

The soldier put his hand up to his head and then came so close he shaded the teenager from the few little sunlight left.

"But you see, the difference in our sizes and muscles, and even mana control makes me stronger."

"That makes no obligation to obey you."

The soldier sneered "Oh, but you do. Since the moment the awakening was done, you've been assigned as a member I should take care of for this whole year. So, you better not displease me, alright? So carry the box"

"That's servant work!" The teenager barked. "Who do you-"

A slap sounded. So hard it threw the teenager to the ground.

"What do you know otherwise yapping all day long?" he said angrily "The next person talking back will do 50 laps."

The pushed teenager blushed and lunged in rage at the soldier. The soldier dodged toward his right, then punched him in the stomach. The teenager who was still in mid-air was bumped to the ground, feeling so much pain he curled up in a ball as if to bring warmth to his stomach.

"What did I just say? You're happy to have grown up in a city and not in a village of scum, eh? But you've come to the wrong place, I'm going to teach you the respect that those who risk their lives deserve."

He slowly put his shoes on his body, wiping them curtly. Hatred builds up within the teenager, letting out a hate glare.

The soldier raised his foot and let it fall violently on the teenager's body. He repeated the process multiple times, only stopping as he heard tearful muffled screams from the shaking teenager.

"All barks, huh?" He shook his head, his eyes dark, and then spat on his body before walking toward the gates - the others group had already passed.

Adrien helped the teenager get up, letting him rest on his flank. Valentin quickly moved toward him, easing the task.

The soldier looked back, but, to the surprise of the teenagers, did not say anything.

He was waiting for this, Adrien thought. A strange, particular person he hadn't forgotten, he couldn't forget, though time had changed the memory he had from this person.

What was his name already? Ah, yes:

"James!" A guard called, Adrien looked toward them. Both guards were nearing their thirties. Rank 1 soldiers assuredly – all gatekeepers had at least that strength. "Got new recruits?"

"Yes," James replied, "and I need to pass, it will soon get dark and I still need to show'em around."

The guard let out a small smile, turning towards a smirk. "You know how it is. Orders are orders, and you have all the time to get them ready." He glares at each teenager for a few seconds before nodding his head.

"All seems good. All but their expression. You haven't bullied them, have you?"

"There w-" James tried to reply but the other guard cut him

"How could it be? We're talking about James! Even if they were attacked, they wouldn't have to fear an attack! They must be destabilized by his strength and charisma!"

The guards laughed for a few tens of seconds before pointing towards the interior. "There you go! You should hurry up lest the grand James made his report late."

James quickly got in, fists clenched. They followed him.

The academy was a simple square training camp around 100 meters long with sandy grounds and buildings touching the walls. Most of them were in wood, decaying and missings parts a norm.

They passed through the desertic camp - soldiers were generally improving their mana control at this time. None really cared about them; most weren't even aware they were here. The soldier suddenly stopped in front of two people a year older than them.

"I'll leave them to you." Said, James. He looked at the teenagers and pointed to the injured man. "Oh, and come to think of it, don't forget to make him run fifty laps. And the two helpings him too - solidarity is good." he laughed as he walked away, box in hand.