Family Ties

Seeing the screen hanging above him, everyone grew silent. First, they had witness the power of the James family when the High General's daughter showed her might. Now, they are dumbfounded by the existence of another military presence. The initial shock transformed into doubt when they say the power level associate with that name. A doubt that was halted in the next moment.

"Joseph will remain behind. The rest of you move onto the designated zone in the next rooms. Instructor Summers is already waiting for you arrival." Following his thunderous voice, everyone began to file out of the exam room. Everyone except the one person with the most questions. Once they were all out and the door had fully closed behind them, Alexander approached Joe. "You must be Adriane's kid. You look just like him after all. You and I have met once before but you weren't even walking so I don't expect you to remember. How is your mother these days?"

Hearing the mention of his mother. Joe's hands instinctively clenched as tightly as he could while his jaw tensed and locked in a closed position. After a few deep breaths, he managed to get his emotions under control and met the gaze of the man before him. "She was killed over nine years ago. After living on the streets for four years I couldn't even remember who I was. You can understand my shock to find out I have family still living in this world." With an awkward chuckle, Joe turned the conversation back over to Alexander.

"I'm truly saddened to hear that. I don't believe I ever saw my brother care about anything other than the battlefield for most of our lives. That was until he met Marie. Before, you'd have to rip him away from his training just to get him to eat. After they met, it became difficult just to get him to show up to training. If they were not in the deepest love two people could experience, then I will no longer believe in the concept of love."

"During my time here, I hope you can bless me with stories of my parents. I was too young to even remember my father's face and the only memory I have left of my mother was finding her in a pool of her own blood."

"If you want to remember your father's face then go find a mirror. Aside from having your mother's eyes you're the spitting image of him. Don't expect any special treatment just because of that though. You will have to perform just like everyone else here. Move onto the next area. If you're a physical boaster like your father was then you will be spending most of your class time under Instructor Summers' scrutiny. Don't let her looks fool you, there's a reason she was able to become the primary Combat Instructor here and connections had nothing to do with it."

With those words, Alexander left the room through the same door he had entered in. Turning on his heels, Joe rapidly moved towards the next area. When he entered the room in a near sprint, his feet began to slide across the polished from to slow him down.

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With all eyes on him, a short haired woman stepped forward with a stern look etched into her face. "You're late, explain before I have you removed from the campus." For a moment, Joe worked to catch his haggard breath before looking up to meet the eyes of this intimidating woman. Once he did, he again felt his breath leave his lungs. Standing at shoulder height with red hair barely long enough to pass her own slim shoulders, Joe was at a loss for words in her presence. His uncle's words rang in his head thus snapping him back to reality.

"I apologize for my late arrival Instructor Summers, Instructor Merril requested an exchange of words between the two of us following the prior examination." With a slight bow, Joe's words came as both sincere and respectful, but they failed to show even a slimmer of the fear the instructor was used to from these new students.

"Understood. What is your name so I can refer to him the validity of what you have just said?"

Coming to a straightened posture, no emotion could be read from Joe's face before his mouth opened to answer. "Joseph Merril, Ma'am."

Now, it was her turn to show the glint of shock across her face. As brief as that was, to Joe, it was unmistakable. With his heightened sight from his body's physical boast, near nothing escaped his notice if it occurred under his mindful eyes. "Very well, as I have explained to the others who had arrived on time to my introduction, this is the final portion of the exam. Here we will be testing which path you have awoken into that way you can be properly assigned your classes from here on. You seem to already know my name, so I won't waste time on who I am. However, should you have awoken within the physical path then you will fall under my charge, and I do not tolerate tardiness. Am I clear, Mr. Merril?"

"Absolutely ma'am. After today I will be in your care." With a slight bow, Joe made his way to the back of the line of other new students. Before the line stood a crystalline platform and behind it was another screen. It became transparently obvious that the academy would not allow for its students to hide their strengths from one another. The first to step onto the platform was Clara James. On the screen reflected behind her, her name, age and the word 'Physical Path' appeared.