Dom knew how brutal the Academy would be from Pop's stories, but nothing truly prepared him for the reality. Lectures overwhelmed his mind, combat sessions ripped into his skin, and stamina drills shattered his body.
But Dom pressed on, fueled by the endurance built through years of Pops' training and his drive to see his goal through to the end.
Two weeks later…
In a familiar room, a certain stoic teen stepped out of the steaming bathroom, towel drying his wet black hair. His lean, muscular frame glistened under the dim lights as he stopped, his gaze directed to the side.
On the floor, Dom was doing vertical push-ups, counting through each rep with gritted teeth.
"571… 572… 573…"
The teen sighed, slinging the towel over his shoulder. "We were told to rest, Dominic." He said as he headed for his closet. "Keep pushing yourself like this, and you'll break down."
Dom smirked, still upside down. "Just because I train doesn't mean I slack off on my normal routine." He grumbled, pushing himself back up.
The teen narrowed his eyes but said nothing as he brushed his hair.
"Besides…" Dom grunted, lowering himself again, "…should you really lecture me when you sneak out to do extra training yourself?"
The teen flinched, then turned to Dom, scowling. "I thought you were asleep." He muttered.
Dom chuckled. "You're not the first person I've tricked. I snuck out to train more as a kid, too." He paused, then met his roommate's now inverted gaze. "Don't worry. I won't snitch, as long as you don't."
The teen ran a hand through his hair, then sighed. "Fine." He muttered with a dismissive wave.
Dom grinned and resumed his workout.
"578… 579…"
As he pushed through the reps, Dom's mind drifted to the memory of Johan's speech-- a warning that reminded him of a conversation four months ago-- when he first received his Academy acceptance letter.
< Pops sat on the porch of his home, cigarette between his lips, while he re-read the letter for the thousandth time.
"Pops?"
He looked up, watching as Dom approached, sweat glistering on his bare, chiseled torso.
"You sure you're gonna be okay?" He asked.
Pops exhaled smoke as he lowered the letter. "To be honest…" He said, "I don't know."
Dom frowned, glancing at the physical proof of his departure.
Pops smiled at Dom's conflicted expression. "Don't look glum, kid. How I feel about this doesn't matter." He said, neatly folding the letter. "You've got a goal, and you're determined to see it through. Besides, we've come too far already, right?"
Dom smiled softly and sat beside him.
As Pops handed the letter back to Dom, his expression turned serious. "I know I've told you a hundred times how rough the Academy is gonna be…" His gaze darkened. "… but I don't think I've told you about the Royal Council yet."
"The Council?" Dom asked, confused.
Pops paused, taking a deep smoke, then exhaled. "Even though his Majesty is our country's absolute ruler, the Council is the one running the entire thing, " Pops said, eyes darkening.
"They smile for the public, promising peace and prosperity… but those of us who really knew them know that they're selfish-- every last one of them."
A beat of silence hung in the air as Pops let his words settle.
Dom frowned at him. "Why are you telling me this?" He asked.
Pops nodded at the letter in Dom's hands. "Because the Knights are usually the ones they send to do their dirty work." He responded.
Dom's expression quickly hardened, his grip tightened on the letter as the meaning behind Pops' words dawned on him.
"I only heard rumors when I was still in the Army," Pops added, his brows knitted in thought, his gaze distant in memory. "Even before the war ended, the Council would exploit army forces to obtain different things like land, treasure, or resources. Not to build our nation, but for their personal gain."
Pops tapped on his cigarette, knocking out the ashes into the tray beside him.
"With the regulations in the Army now, it was tricky for them to have their way as they did before… but with a group of mostly untrained monsters," He gave Dom a pointed look. "It'd be easy to pin any mistakes on mages like that."
"Why?" Dom asked, anger flashing.
"Because humans are selfish, Dom," Pops said, eyes fixed on the smoke. "And unfortunately, we're ruled by people like them. That's why I didn't want you to join the Knights."
His frown deepened. "You'll definitely get to help people. Out of pretense or obligation, the Council will need to protect its citizens. But one day, they'll try to use you too."
Dom's jaw tightened. "If that happens…" He muttered, his gaze lowered. "… what should I do?"
"I don't know," Pops replied, the answer making Dom's frown deepen.
"Accepting those kind of jobs will mean going against your ideals." Pops continued, "And declining could piss them off. Worse case scenario, they turn it against you, strip away your status and start hunting you a criminal."
Dom stiffened, the eerie scenario playing in his mind.
"But…" Pops said, placing a hand on Dom's head. "I know you'll figure it out when the time comes."
Dom smiled softly.
"Unless," Pops added, his smirk now teasing. "… you finally decided to change your mind?"
Dom nudged his side with a cocky smirk. "Hell no." He said.
"I thought so." Pops chuckled, nudging him back with a warm smile. "You're going to be okay, kid. I trust you."
"I know…" Dom said, turning his gaze to the leaves scattered by a cool, gentle breeze. "But you're wrong about one thing, though…" He added, drawing Pops' attention. "How you feel does matter."
He gave Pops a cheeky smile. "You're going to be okay, too, Pops." He said.
Pops froze, the words were small and simple, but was enough to ease his carefully hidden doubts. "Thanks." He replied, smiling back.>
Back in the present…
Dom grinned at the fond memory, then groaned as he pushed his aching body up one more time.
"Six hundred!" He shouted, then flipped onto his feet, panting heavily with a tired grin on his face.
A shirt then flew into his sweaty face. He pulled it off and smirked in recognition. "Oh. There's my lucky tank top. I was looking for it."
"How many times have I told you to stop leaving your clothes everywhere?" His serious roommate grumbled from his obviously neater side of the room.
"Sorry," Dom chuckled as he dumped the shirt on his unmade bed while his roommate returned to meticulously folding laundry.
Disclaimer: A major component of the Academy's training is teamwork.
Therefore, recruits are required to pair with a partner whose magic type, class, and skills complement their own. Dom is partnered with this young man, Dae, a mage whose serious, studious nature contrasts sharply with Dom's carefree attitude.
Dae is a perfectionist: smart, rule-abiding, and a master of dual-bladed combat combined with his lightning magic. Meanwhile, Dom's strength lies in his unmatched physical prowess, consistently breaking records in physical training while keeping up with his studies.
Despite their clashing personalities, the two have come to respect each other through their shared journey and hard work, though they still bicker like siblings every now and then.
Three years later…
The morning sun bathed the Academy training hall as Johan, accompanied by his soldiers, addressed the now third-year recruits. He glanced at their faces, now more confident and hardened compared to the ones he spoke to on that stage then.
They stood firm, now dressed in the white-and-blue uniforms of the nation's military candidates.
"From 153 to 40," Sergeant Sandra noted, stepping up to Johan's side. "Better than the previous sets."
Johan snuffed out his cigarette on his palm, eyes narrowing. "It's not over yet," He said, flicking the burnt bud away.
Stepping forward, he addressed the recruits with a stern gaze, a sight that the recruits have grown used to.
"Congratulations to all of you for making it this far. It's been a tough road, and others failed to measure up. But you're all standing here. At this point, you're practically already Knights."
As he glanced at their proud faces, he allowed himself a small smile. "Not bad." He added.
"Hell yeah!" A recruit shouted, and some others joined the cheer. The remaining just smiled with pride as they saw Johan's smile, a sight that was as rare as a diamond.
The soldiers stood proud, watching their trainees celebrate.
But Johan's sharp eyes silenced them in an instant.
"Now, let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet," He said, his tone shifting back to its usual strictness. "Before we let you go, you still have to pass this final exam."
With a snap of his fingers, one of the soldiers raised his hand, projecting a large purple mana formation from his palm.
A circular forest materialized above them, its boundaries clearly marked with thick walls.
"The exam will take place in this field. You'll start at the outer edge," Johan explained as the soldier highlighted various areas with glowing red markers, each equally spread apart. "Your goal is simple: reach the center."
A large marker hovered at the very center of the map.
Then, with a wave of his hand, the projection faded.
"Here's the catch. First…" Johan gestured to some soldiers arriving with carts filled with swords, shields, or other equipment. "You're allowed to take any number of weapons. The forest is full of dangerous mana beasts from past missions."
Johan smirked menacingly.
"And we made sure to keep them starving. So they're more than eager to rip you apart once they see you."
A murmur passed through the recruits as some flinched at the mention of beasts. Johan's smirk widened, clearly enjoying their unease.
"They might be three times your number, but they're all still B-class and below. At this point, you should be able to take them out. But of course, if you don't want to fight them. You're free to completely avoid them."
He folded his arms, continuing, "You can also team up with others to survive. The only objection is reaching the goal, so using help won't affect your result."
The uneasy recruits sighed with relief.
"But let me make this clear…" Johan's voice dropped with an almost sinister edge. "You'll find that the beasts are the least of your problems." He raised his fingers, counting them off. "Poisonous plants, deadly insects, and dangerous terrain will make it hard enough."
The recruits stiffened, their excitement turning to tension.
"Second…" Johan continued, looking over the group. "You have six hours to reach the goal. The field's radius is roughly 400 kilometers, so you have a lot of ground to cover in a short time. You'll need to move fast—and keep yourself alive. But I think you've been trained for this."
Some recruits chuckled nervously, while others exchanged anxious glances.
A recruit raised a hand, and Johan nodded.
"What about food or water?" The recruit asked.
"The forest has enough wildlife, nutritional fruits, and water to feed a city. You'll need to focus on moving, but there's enough to keep you going."
"We can do it. Right, Roger?" A certain lackey said, glancing at his partner.
Roger, now more composed and mature, flashed the same cocky grin as ever in response, but the nervous energy in the air was palpable.
"Anyone still in the field after the time is up fails," Johan said, his eyes scanning them all. "The gate will close, and you'll be left behind for the trainers to retrieve."
Johan's voice then hardened.
"Finally, this exam depends on your ability to work as a team. The ultimate test of the long partnership you've built. Which means, only teams whose members both make it through the gate will pass. If one of you gets left behind… or worse case, your partner dies… It's an automatic failure."
There was a brief moment of silence as recruits exchanged wary looks with their partners.
Johan met Sandra's eyes, and she stepped forward.
"We won't monitor your progress," She said, tapping a terminal beside two large pillars. "Once you're in the field, you're on your own. The only person you can count on is your partner."
With a few taps on the keypad, the pillars hummed to life, a faint pulse of blue mana flowing between them.
"You have 15 minutes to select your weapons and gear," Sandra announced.
The recruits headed toward the carts, some reaching for numerous weapons, others picking just a few, and the rest didn't pick anything at all.
Exactly 15 minutes later, the pillars flared with bluish mana, creating a swirling portal between them.
The lazy, hypnotic whirl of mana drew the recruits' attention as they prepared to step through.
Johan addressed the group one last time. "Get in line, you're stepping in the order of your team rankings. The top two move out."
Roger's confident grin quickly turned to a sneer of jealousy as he watched two certain recruits step out.
"Alright," Dom, now 19 years old and standing at 6'1", said with a grin, cracking his knuckles. His lean, muscular frame rippled with power as he stood tall beside his partner.
Dae, now 6'2" with two katanas strapped to his back, calmly walked forward, his expression unreadable.
They stopped in front of the portal, their eyes locked on the swirling light.
"Once inside, you're to wait at your starting point," Johan warned. "We'll give the signal once everyone's in, but we'll know if you disobey. Got it?"
"Yes, sir," They both replied in unison.
Johan nodded. "Good luck."
They shared a brief look before stepping into the portal.
As soon as Dom crossed the threshold, a cold sensation washed over him, only to dissipate as quickly as it came once he emerged into a new world.
The soft grass beneath his feet was a stark contrast to the hard concrete of the training hall. He squinted up at the bright sky and grinned widely at the scene before him.
"Dope," Dom muttered, taking in the massive trees that stretched far into the distance, their towering forms creating a canopy that filtered the sunlight.
The sounds of the wildlife filled the air.
Behind him, he heard a distortion. He turned to find Dae stepping out of the portal, the swirling light vanishing behind him, revealing the massive wall behind.
"This must be the field's boundary," Dae observed, eyes scanning the perimeter.
Dom then faced the complete opposite direction. "That means we're heading straight ahead." He muttered.
Dae nodded as he moved to stand beside Dom.
Time ticked by as they stood, waiting just like the other recruits, all spaced evenly along the boundary. Their attention and senses perceived their distant presences, as well as the countless moving creatures buried in the trees before them.
Then, as the last pair took their place, a deep bell rang through the field.
They reacted instantly, mana and spells firing as they dove into the forest's embrace.
One hour later…
Dae sprinted across the grass, his legs a blur as his body zipped through the forest. The wind whipped around him as he moved with precision, his form cutting through the terrain like a living lightning bolt.
A groan then drew his gaze upwards.
Above him, Dom was a blur of motion, leaping from tree to tree with an almost unnatural speed. His body seemed to glide through the air, flipping and twisting effortlessly as he kept pace with Dae below.
Dom grinned as he grabbed a branch and swung his body into the air with a laugh, his voice carrying over the forest.
"Is everything a joke to you?" Dae shouted, frustration lacing his voice as he pushed through a bush.
Dom's grin widened. "Just keeping things interesting," He called back, landing effortlessly on the next branch and jumping forward. "Can't be all work and no play."
Dae shook his head, eyes scanning the forest ahead. "Just stay focused. If either of us gets killed, we both fail."
Dom laughed, his voice carrying mischief. "Relax. I've got this." He chuckled as he burst forward, and Dae followed.
The forest stretched before them—a vast, wild expanse filled with unseen dangers. But for now, it was just Dom and Dae—partners, testing their skills and teamwork in a world that would push them to their limits.
Dom's laughter rang out as he leapt forward, eyes scanning the thick undergrowth. "I thought they said there'd be mana beasts to fight! We haven't seen any yet!" He shouted, looking around.
Dae raised a brow. "Sounds like you're itching for a fight," He remarked dryly.
Dom smirked. "Wouldn't be any fun if we just ran from start to finish."
Dae rolled his eyes but increased his pace, his body now gradually closing the gap to Dom above. "Just keep your guard up. One mistake, and we--"
"Relax. I always keep my—"
Dom froze mid-step, his instincts screaming as two hostile eyes locked onto him from the shadows.
With a single powerful kick, Dom propelled himself off the branch, narrowly dodging a massive gorilla-like beast with glowing pink stripes ripping through the tree branch in a single swipe.
At the same time, Dae pivoted and leapt aside, evading another attack. His boots skidded across the forest floor as he took a defensive stance, scanning the area. More gorilla beasts emerged from the trees—monsters strong enough to crush smaller trees and snap larger ones.
They growled, their large mouths drooling and their pink glowing eyes fixed on Dae with an unmistakable hunger.
Dae clicked his tongue just as Dom landed behind him, their backs instinctively covering each other. "Are you happy now?" He asked, gripping the hilts of his swords tightly, his expression a mix of irritation and focus.
Dom's grin widened, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "Hell yeah." He said, cracking his knuckles. "I've always wanted to see a Gorback up close."
The beasts growled and advanced slowly, muscles rippling, eyes locked on their targets as they drew close enough for the mages to smell their musky odor.
Dae drew his twin katanas, sunlight glinting off the steel blades. "We can't waste too much time," He warned, sliding into a battle-ready stance.
"Don't worry. 5 minutes, tops." Dom saiddroppinged into a low fighting stance, his fists glowing with navy-blue mana, aura.
The Gorbacks' eyes widened, partly hesitant to face these two smaller creatures that appeared completely unfazed despite the difference in size and number.
Suddenly, two of the largest Gorbacks charged, confident in their power.
Dae's violet aura surged outward, transforming into lightning that crackled audibly. His eyes sparked as he blitzed forward with a deafening thunderclap, his electrified blades slicing clean through the first Gorback's arm.
The severed limb hit the forest floor with a bone-crunching thud while the beast shrieked in agony.
The second Gorback roared, swinging a massive fist at Dom.
The impact ripped into the ground, sending debris scattering in a mini whirlwind. But the beast shuddered, eyes widened once it realized that his fist never made contact.
Dom smirked as he pushed the massive fist away with ease. "Nice," He muttered, then raised his right fist, his knuckles cracking with navy-blue mana. "My turn,"
With a grunt, he shoved the arm away. The Gorback stumbled to a knee only to groan as Dom suddenly drove his fist into its face.
The impact sent a shockwave that rippled through the creature's skull like water, shattering bone and sinew into fragments.
As the beast's headless body collapsed, the other Gorbacks hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes.
Dom's cocky smirk never faltered as he turned his gaze to them. "Who's next?" He taunted, cracking his neck.
The remaining Gorbacks bared their teeth and charged once more.