Standing before the entrance, looking at the big sign with the academy's title hammered above the double doors makes me wonder...

"When will it be that I get to venture out into the vast world?"

As I make a single step towards the building, someone latches onto my back and tightly grips my right shoulder. I look back with cation and what I see is something you could call a common sight.

I see Charlotte in tears and a very annoyed looking Lena standing a bit further behind her.

"Yun-Yuuun, take me home, my body won't be able to handle the stress!" Charlotte yet again sobs to me.

I return my gaze to its previous position, showing an expression that clearly says, "please kill me.".

I'm having a severe case of Déjà vu...

This is exactly why I left home earlier than usual. I must have spent too much time strolling around the town.

The other half of the group arrives to the scene, greeting us with their "good mornings".

"A nap stand, perfect. I slept terribly last night."

Enmei says as he joins Charlotte by leaning over my left shoulder.

My temper ceases to exist.

I rapidly turn around, grab Enmei by one of his arms and leave Charlotte, that was holding onto my shoulder, to fly off my as I'm rotating. She hits the back of her head on the ground and knocks herself out cold on the spot.

I do a full turn around to gain momentum and drag Enmei with me, then let him fly off towards Lena.

"I had enough of your lazy asses!" Anger spreads through my vocal cords as I yell.

Without holding back, Lena throws a punch towards him and yells with a soft voice.

"Hands off my little sister!"

Enmei flies back a few meters and lands right next to Charlotte.

That makes two bodies at the crime scene...

"L-Lena."

Hidiku looks at her with a concerned expression on his face.

"Did you really need to hit him? You could have just dodged."

Lena turns around, raising her eyebrows as if she has no idea what he's saying.

"But it was self-defence. Wouldn't you protect yourself if a creep of a person flew at you out of nowhere?"

"No, no. You clearly yelled 'Hands off my little sister!' with the intention of hitting him!"

Lena gives him an oblivious smile.

Hidiku is left speechless and leans forward to let out a big loud sigh.

Himarin walks up to the group, joy lighting up her face.

"Now now, the numbskull had it coming."

"You guys... We are going to be late."

I remind everyone as they start panicking.

After all, we wouldn't want to miss our chance to rank up.

***

At last, it is time.

All the students are lined up by rank behind the academy on its training field, awaiting our instructors' arrival.

It feels like everyone is walking on eggshells. Our instructor is someone you shouldn't mess with, he's the current top B-Rank Knight, Nolen Spriggan. His rank might not be the highest, but he has more experience to him than one could imagine.

It's a great opportunity to get yourself scouted for military squads and go out for explorations, exactly what I would love to do. I'm just a B-Rank right now but there is still a chance, even if it is much lower than the chance higher ranks have of course.

Despite all I've said, there are still some people showing absolutely no interest.

Take Charlotte for instance, falling asleep while standing in the row over there. It's like she's trying to get in some sleep any moment possible.

Then there are those like Enmei, with a huge grin on their face, finding it almost impossible to stay still due to the excitement. I can understand them though.

The instructor finally arrives. He climbs the stairs up to the porch, next to which some of the teachers are standing, and down from it he inspects us with his gaze.

Everyone salutes.

"Greetings, future soldiers. My name is Nolen Spriggan and I will be your instructor for today's physical tests. Here we will determine what rank you are qualified to hold, but keep in mind, that you have your fellow comrades on the field with you. Be aware of your surroundings to avoid harming anyone else. I'm hoping to see some promising students today. That is all from me, I wish you all the best of luck."

"Sir, yes sir!" The ranks chant in unison.

Everyone leaves directly to the changing rooms as the instructor walks down the previously climbed steps and meets up with the teachers. They know each other since he has come here to instruct for a few years now. They totally look like friends.

Averting my eyes from the instructor, I notice Charlotte walking in front of me, piercing the instructor with her stare. Apparently, she has a crush on him, she probably has been wide awake ever since he arrived.

I casually pass Charlotte.

"Look where you are going. You are going to hit something."

Immediately after entering the building, a long hallway with multiple doors can be seen. Every door has a sign on it, specifying the changing room for each rank and gender. It might seem a bit over the top to have everything separated into ranks, but at least like this, the place won't be stuffed.

I walk into my changing room and start changing into my combat clothing.

Despite being called "knights", we don't actually wear armour like your average knight. That's what the knights outside the Hogo-sha district wear. Instead of metal plating we wear gear specially designed to make it easier for our ability usage.

Then there's the core, deep within every knight of the district as they are born. This core slowly grows over the course of around our first 10 years. If a knight doesn't obtain any abilities, the core is defective. We call it the "spiritual core". It's located in the centre of our body. To destroy one's core, you would have to use a type of ability arts or a weapon that doesn't affect physical objects, but instead spiritual.

I finish changing into my combat suit.

It consists of a sleeveless black tight top made of polyester with two white lines running down my torso, meeting in the middle of my chest area. The lines light up with the colour of my ability, which in my case is yellow. With the top I use additional single sleeves made of the same material. A short black skirt with a cape over its back and sides, reaching all the way to my ankles. A yellow rope wrapped around my waist with a bow at the back. White stockings reaching to the middle of my thighs and black with yellow half leather and half armour-plated shoes. Samurai-like yellow shoulder armour and hand bracers. To finish it off, the weapon I use is a Katana.

"I always wonder, isn't that top too tight?"

Charlotte asks as she stands behind me.

I turn my head to the side so I can see her with the corner of my eye.

Her right hand is on her waist, other arm left hanging, hips slightly moved towards the hand on waist, and an expression showing curiosity.

I fully turn around to have a better look at her.

She's wearing a modified black tunic dress with a whitened front part. The front part reaches to the middle of her thighs while the back part is split with the left side reaching all the way to her ankles and the right side only to the half of her calf. Red, white, and yellow lines following the edge of her extended back parts. The top front part reaches somewhere beneath her collarbone with a yellow line at the edge and the back part is open all the way down to the beginning of her waist, also with a yellow edge. Black stockings reaching up to the middle of her thighs with black armoured boots with red lines, and reinforced armour on the front part of the ankles, in which the front part goes over her knees while the back part only reaches to their beginning. Black armour starting on her hands, reaching to the half of her upper part of the arm and a black choker with yellow edges and a red line in the centre going from top to bottom.

I casually looked at her filled rack.

"You are the one to talk."

I retort as I slap it.

We stepped out of the changing rooms, Charlotte first and I right behind her. The rest of the group was already waiting for us outside of the building.

"Took you long enough."

Lena's gear includes a lightly armoured top and skirt with high combat boots and a bycoket. Everything's mainly white with some small purple parts. She uses ranged weapons.

"Sorry about that, Yun-Yun was feeling my boobs."

Charlotte pronounces with a smug face.

"I wasn't feeling them!"

I yell back at her in defence.

Enmei walks up to me and spreads his arms wide open.

"Come, you can feel mine too, but... be gentle."

He becomes the magnet of gazes filled with disappointment.

"The hell I would..."

Enmei's gear is composed of a big black hardened leather jacket that provides light protection. It is unbuttoned, showing some metal plating underneath for extra protection. Light leather gauntlets made to wield his sword. Darkish-gray baggy pants with many belts running down both legs (just for the looks). Along with a pair of long black leather boots nearly reaching his knees. His weapon is a greatsword, it looks pretty cool.

Hidiku grabs Enmei's left shoulder from behind.

"That's not right bro, you should leave that for someone who's special to you."

Enmei turns around.

"In that case... You can be the one to do it."

The disappointment level grows.

Hidiku's gear consists of a blueish-green tunic with light chainmail plating underneath as armour. It is specially designed for flexibility and mobility. A leather archery brace around the wrists with specially designed black pants to carry extra arrows, accompanied by a pair of leather boots.

His weapon is a custom longbow with metal plating as primary. And a sabre sword as a secondary weapon sheathed from the back near the hips.

"Sometimes I wish our parents hadn't decided to have more kids after having me..."

Himarin ponders.

Finally, Himarin's gear is made of a red silicone tight top and shorts, something like mine. On the top, she has a light metal plating for at least some protection and some metal plates on her sides. Metal plated boots reaching to her ankles and a forehead protector.

As her weapons she uses gauntlets, she fights with her fists and is actually pretty strong if you couldn't tell yet.

The ringing of a bell can be heard throughout the school grounds.

It is time to begin the tests.

The tests are divided into multiple parts. There are different categories for each ability group; long-range-combat, close- range-combat, and supports.

Some people can take tests for multiple categories if their abilities allow them to, like for example Himarin or Charlotte. While Himarin can do close-range-combat as well as support, Charlotte can do supporting, somewhat close-range-combat, and long-range combat.

Even if you don't have an aptitude for close-range-combat, you still must do it. You're required to know unarmed hand-to-hand-combat as you never know when you will get yourself into a situation that calls for it.

I can't do anything other than close-range-combat anyway.

Since everyone is supposed to do this test, it's the first one we do before everyone goes to do their own specific ones.

For this test, everyone is required to find a partner they will face. There will be multiple groups at once monitored by the teachers and the instructor. Getting beaten by your opponent doesn't mean you have failed or anything of the sort, it all depends on how you perform.

My partner is Himarin. She's well trained in hand- to-hand-combat. What's more, she has a habit of not holding back. It's not a bad habit... Actually, that depends on the situation, but I'm glad she won't hold back since it means I can also go all out.

The bell rings again. Time to start!