Military Academy

'UPDATING…'

The message was shocking to Link, He couldn't believe his eyes.

"Updating? What is this, Windows?" He thought.

"Status" Nothing happened, except the appearance of the 'Updating' Message again.

"Alright kid, I need to get this over with" She looked at Rao and Anny "May i speak with Link alone please" She asked, putting on a reassuring smile.

Rao and Anny looked at each other. Hugging Link one more time before leaving the room with the others, leaving Link and Saya alone.

A minute passed without any of them speaking, Saya kept looking at him, making Link feel awkward.

"From what I heard that Prince say, You think i'm talented" Link spoke, breaking the silence " Are you going to recruit me as your apprentice or take me somewhere?" He asked.

Saya laughed "Well, That's a Yes and a No." She leaned on the wall, facing Link "Well, as i told you before, This is the military Academy's uniform, At least for teacher's. And after I saw you fight against those monsters out there, I couldn't help but want to speak with you."

"Saw me fight?" Link asked "So you were watching us from the start and didn't help?" He was a bit angry, having his father go through that and both of them nearly dying was an experience Link didn't want. Especially that he didn't know where he'll go again after he dies.

"Don't be so closed minded" Saya said, with a small frown on her face "If i stopped and helped all the people i encountered on my travels i wouldn't have left the academy's territory yet."

"But still, you could ha…" Saya cut him off.

"I'm going to have to stop you right there." She said "This world isn't kind to the weak, and everyone knows that. Either you're strong or you aren't, Even if I saved some weaklings, they'd just end up dead somewhere else. I'm no god and have no business acting as one." Saya's eyes were stern and cold.

Link completely agreed with her point, he would have done the same thing. But now that he was in that spot, it annoyed him.

"I'm a hypocrite," He thought "But I wouldn't help a bunch of nobodies either, at least ones I didn't need."

"I understand, Sorry. Please go ahead" Said Link.

"Ok, how old are you Link?" She asked.

"I'm 13 years old, I'll be turning 14 in 5 months. Why?" Link answered, still sometimes glancing at the eye emblem on her robe.

"Perfect" Said Saya "What do you think about joining a Military academy?" She asked.

"A military Academy?" Link was confused, but he wasn't interested in something like that, the military is strict, Orders must be followed without question. "Sorry, but i don't want to be tied down"

"Tied down?" Confusion was written on Saya's face "What are you talking about? Commoners do everything they can to enter one of the academies, selling their lands and many more just for a chance. Getting stronger and earning a last name if they manage to graduate is what they all want. Plus, if you want to join the Hunter's guild after graduating, you'll jump straight to the D rank" Saya explained.

Link read about the Hunter's guild in his school, It's a guild where they take on quests, either Monster subjugation or simple small game hunting, the guild will also pay for whatever materials you bring them, make it herbs, potions, or loot from bandits or whatever you get your hands on, as long as it wasn't illegal.

Link thought at the time that it sounded a lot like the Ranker's guild, which he wanted to go confirm it himself when he manages to leave this place.

"Wait, what do you mean earning a last name?" asked Link "I have a last name and so do the rest of our village"

Saya chuckled "No, those are ones you gave yourselves, they're not official. A last name is what sets the boundary between a peasant and a citizen, the last name is given by the royal court, and it can be passed down."

"Oh" This is the first time Link heard of something like that, he was now interested in getting a last name so that he wouldn't be restricted, but joining the military to get one is still an issue.

"Sorry, but i don't want to join the military, i have things i need to do" He said.

"Kid, again. What the hell are you talking about? It's your choice if you want to join the military or not after graduating." She explained.

"Oh" Again, Link misunderstood, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"You said commoners sell their lands and do everything to join, Is there an entrance fee?" Link asked.

"There is, but what most of their money goes to is to actually get their sons or daughters in, instead of being stuck in a queue, waiting for something that might not happen." Saya frowned "It makes me sad to say this but, Commoners are seen as not fit for the academies, being pushed back."

"I guessed that already, seeing how our kingdom's dear prince is acting." Said Link.

"His older brothers and sisters are more aware of their statues than him, since he's the 7th prince, he was left behind. That's what happens when you're untalented but arrogant"

"I get it" Said Link "But as you've seen our village and our home, i don't think we can afford the entrance fee even if you got me out of the queue."

"Don't worry about it, the entrance fee isn't too much, I'll cover for you" Saya spoke, smiling at Link.

"Why?" He asked.

"I like you" Said Saya, winking at him "Hehe, What i mean is. I watched the fight with the Hell Bears, you didn't go down even when your injuries would have made someone pass out out of pain, standing between them and your father. I admire your persistence, if you agree I'll call it in and get you registered, Then when you turn 14 you'll start your year."

Link thought about it for a bit, the offer was enticing but he kept thinking that it couldn't be that good.

"I may seem out of line, but can you do me a favour?" Link asked

"If it's reasonable, why not"

"Ok, if i introduced you to someone as talented, would you give him the same offer?" Link asked "I have a friend, we've been training together, would you give him a chance as well?"

"Sure, why not. If he manages to impress me" Said Saya.

....

What happened after was as you'd expect, They called both Rao and Anny over telling them about her offer and convincing them.

Anny was hesitant at first, letting her child go so far from her seemed to bother her. After explaining to her how much of an opportunity this was, she agreed.

As for Rao, He didn't take long to get on board. He knew about the military academies, and how he wouldn't be able to send Link there, after hearing Link he agreed.

"You're a man now, you even protected me instead of the other way around." Said Rao "If you want to go, then i'll support you as much as i could."

******

Next, was Samuel. After explaining to him what the military academy was and what it means, he didn't hesitate to agree, But he needed to prove himself to Saya.

Unlike Link, She doesn't know his true skills.

Nina and Nana followed after them, keeping silent the whole time, which was something surprising to Link.

Saya, Link, Samuel, Matias and the two twins walked into the forest, finding a clearing big enough for what they had to do.

"Alright, brat. Come at me" Said Saya, waving her finger.

"What?" said Samuel "What if i hurt you"

Saya laughed, waving her hand.

"No no, don't worry. You can't, even if you wanted to."

Samuel shrugged, taking a fighting stance. Light grey particles appeared, swirling around his legs.

He charged at her with all he got.

Saya was impressed by his speed, but was unimpressed with his fighting tactic, charging straight at an enemy like that might be dangerous. She held her arm in front of her, Brown energy particles appeared around her palm, but were invisible to the naked eye.

As Samuel got closer, brown particles covered his whole arm.

He pulled his arm back, ready to punch out. Saya waved her arm, the ground pulsated, rising and creating a wall.

But before the wall even started coming out the ground, Samuel smirked. The brown particles disappear and the grey ones on his leg get more intense. With amazing footwork, he took a 180 degree turn, and going around Saya in a second, as she tried to follow him with her eyes, she noticed the grey air energy particles turn to brown, the energy for earth.

Samuel slammed his right leg into the ground, easily sinking like it was water, reaching his ankle.

Balancing himself on his left leg, he kicked. Sending a huge chunk of earth towards Saya.

BOOM!

Saya was lighting fast, swinging her arm and destroying the big chunk that was coming at her. For Samuel, since he used the earth's energy, his leg easily sank, it didn't mean the ground was soft, quite the opposite, it was as hard as rocks.

After Link saw Saya's punch, he was stunned.

"What the hell is her arm made out of?" He thought.

Samuel didn't give up, he kept dodging Saya's eyesight, trying to get in her blind spot and repeating the attack.

"Ok, enough" Said Saya, smiling "Deciding to pass this village was definitely the right choice." She looked at Samuel, ruffling his hair "To make up for having no offensive spells, you came up with this trick, very creative."

"No, it was Link's idea. I learned from him" Answered Samuel, blushing.

******

Nana and Nina were in awe, they were using the accumulating technique Link taught them, but they never went to practice with them, their desire to play around was bigger.

"Wow" Nina spoke, looking at Link who was standing on the other side, next to Matias. This time, her look was a bit different than usual.

"I know right? We should have worked hard too" Said Nana, Looking at Samuel.

Back when the whole village was going crazy, picking up all the weapons they could, Nina and Nana were scared, but when they heard what happened from the villagers chatter, they were even more terrified.

All kinds of ideas were running through their heads, running after their father asking him about Link and Samuel.

…....

When the villagers found the Hell Bear, they didn't hesitate to attack.

Sal used water magic, attacking with what few offensive spells she picked up back in the day. From Water Bolts to Water Whips, these are Level 1 spells, which she managed to get when the village was doing better financially.

Gail picked up a weapon for the first time in years, bearing a giant tree branch he smashed on his way there. With his incredible strength, with every swing a Crack noise would be heard, breaking one of the Monsters Bones.

Robart attacked with Earth spikes, and stone bullets. He was the same as Sal, Learning few level 1 spells from back then.

Eddy jumped on the Bear slashing with his knives, even when the Bear swung him off, opening gashes on his chest, he didn't care and attacked again.

The same could be said for the villagers, most being carried back to the village with Rao and Link.

But luckily for the severely injured villegers, Saya helped them out, healing the most injured and leaving the light ones to the village healer, Rai.

******

Saya laughed, turning towards Link. "You keep impressing me more and more Link. See that Matias, That's true talent"

Matias looked at Link, glaring at him, hatred on his face.

"Alright, Samuel right?" Saya asked.

"Yes"

"Ok, i'll cover for you as well, even if Link taught you, it takes talent to do what you did, your control is impressive." Said Saya "But, you have to convince your parents yourself. I don't think i can help you with that."

"Don't worry about it M'am, I'll take care of it."

*****

It was getting dark, the group left the forest, and headed back to the village, that's when they saw some people standing in front of Link's house.

"Rao, buddy. We heard you got yourselves some good Hell Bear corpses. Why not share it with us" The man in front of the 5 men group spoke, his hair was spiky, blue in color. He wore hunter's armor with a machete on his hip.

The people behind him were laughing.

"Hehe, These fuckers chose the wrong time to show up" Said Link, A sinister idea appearing in his head.