The new school year was about to start and preparations had to be made accordingly, considering that hundreds of thousands of new students would be joining the Orange Classes of the Northern Fighting Institute.

Despite it being the least prestigious of all fighting academies in the city, no other school would see such a gigantic influx of students during this time of the year, as per the Ruler's orders, "Education is a necessary step for progression - it is no news that non-accomplished people will remain incompetent throughout the entirety of their cycle. As such, from this day onward and throughout my reign as Ruler, the Northern Fighting Institute is to be supported by all of Fai Ki City's Families, as they will be the authority and key compelled with the physical and intellectual nurturing of minds of all ages and backgrounds".

In other words, what was once a relatively small institute was about to become the driving strength of Fai Ki as a whole, meaning that even if all the Elder Families emptied their pockets, no amount of currency would be able to get every single one of those minds to their side. Power was, therefore, about to shift once again.

It was in the middle of that intense commotion, caused by the labor of thousands who hurried to get everything built and ready in time, that Rai and Kazaki were haggling over the future of the young man.

"You are one hell of a persistent old man! Why can't you take a no for an answer? Talk Yui into doing that kind of work, not me!"

"Rai, how many times do I have to tell you not to raise your tone like that? You know awfully well that Yui cannot take part in such affairs."

"That's exactly why I'm raising my tone, old man! The current Ruler did all of this for the sake of people like you and me, to abridge the gap between those useless nobles and us, and yet you don't seem eager in the least to tell that woman to move her ass and do something fruitful for once! While we all had to work ourselves to the bone in order to have a place in the Institute, that imbecile did nothing but use the Ki Family's money for her own sake!"

"Don't disparage the name of your own family! The circumstances surrounding it do not matter, you too are a Ki and have no right of speaking like that of another family member! Who is it that made Lee's and Keila's studies possible? It was the Ki Family! Or are you a Ki only when time befits?"

"...suit yourself, old man."

"Rai!"

With that, Rai walked away from the quarrel, as he headed towards the Main Institute.

Kazaki is, putting blood to the side, Rai's true guardian. The complete story surrounding it is unknown, but Rai was found as a toddler, abandoned, in the middle of a war field. No one was sure who the baby belonged to but, according to the calculations made by the Elder Families, he should have been the son of Rai Fei Ki, a man who once held the rank of Future Head of the Fei Family, the second strongest Elder Family of the four. Rai Fei Ki being a very lascivious man, father to more than 30 children despite being only aged 28 at the time of his death, and having fought and died in the same battlefield where Rai was found made the Fei Family make such an assumption.

Rai was therefore raised as a true-blooded Ki down to the age of five until a certain issue came up - every of Rai Fei Ki's children could be very easily identified thanks to three peculiarities that told them apart from the rest: the blond hair that turned light brown as they slowly ventured into childhood, the dark eyes that became purple over time, following the same procedure, and the overwhelming strength all of them possessed, making them major fighter candidates at their respective families. Rai, on the other hand, kept his blonde hair throughout even his teenage years, showing no signs of change, had dark brown colored eyes, which were the norm among most commoners and, despite being stronger than the average man, did not show any signs of being truly fortunate in that field.

Afraid of the backlash they could suffer from raising someone who was potentially a commoner, the Fei Family stripped Rai of the Fei title and sent him to a place where no noble would concern going: the Northern Fighting Institute. Although he lost many of his former perks, Rai was still Rai Ki, a Ki in name, and made sure to exercise the influence such a name would bring from time to time, though he did that in a way he believed to be correct and justifiable.

This name of his, though, made many of the other students somewhat wary of him, since every member of the Ki Family was to be treated with the utmost respect. Associating with a Ki meant you were either someone of high rank or a very important member of the city, after all.

His name was also to blame as to why he acted in such a brash and excessive manner with Kazaki.

"Oh! Raiki!"

"Lee! It has been a while, hasn't it, brother?"

The two brothers had just met at the Main Institute after having been split apart for a while, as every year the students of the Institute had the chance to go back home and visit their families.

"What are you on about, you idiot? Only two weeks have passed! You look kind of down though… did you bore the old man to death or something?"

"No… but I was discussing something with him a while ago. I know he doesn't mean any harm with all of the stuff he says, but it really gets on my nerves…"

Lee couldn't help but laugh at what Rai had just said. "If that's it then I would say that everything is fine! In fact, I would be more impressed if you hadn't fought with the old man, that's for sure. Were you two talking about that teaching position?"

"Yeah… I told him to talk Yui into doing it, but I don't think I got through him. Why would I have to go through the hassle of training all those Orange Ranks…"

"Isn't it fine? I'm sure it would be a decent experience. I also accepted the teaching position, by the way.", said Lee while grinning.

"You did what?! Why didn't you tell me anything, then?"

"Well, the old man came at me, all sad and desperate-looking, saying that since the boy he had been raising like a son for more than a decade didn't want to do it, then he would have no choice but to depend on me once again… I wish I hadn't been born this dependable, really."

"Want me to smack you, you twat?"

"I feel like it would be worth the effort, though. But you do you."

"I'll think about it...", said Rai quietly, like a shy puppy who had just been correctly reprimanded.

Without speaking much more following that, the two boys headed towards the newly built training grounds where the reception would be made.

Every school year, the Institute Master, Head of the Institute and responsible for the health, safety, and wellbeing of every student, would execute an opening speech, one that was usually done with the aim of motivating and provoking the new practitioners in a positive way, as it was believed that taking in the words of someone whose martial prowess was immense would drive the students to greatness, making this one of the most important events of the year.

Silence was therefore done, as every student there present understood the importance of getting closer to absolute martial prowess, however difficult or unattainable it may seem.

Lee, though, could not resist whispering in dumbfoundedness after seeing a certain figure heading towards the speaking podium.

"Hey, hey, hey… Rai, isn't that the old man? On the podium?"

"That's not possible, he told me he planned on remai-"

"It is him! Your old man was actually elected Institute Master! I can't believe this!"

"I got it already, so stay quiet and listen to what he has to say!" said Rai, in a mix of excitement, embarrassment, and pride. He had never been one to pay close attention to this type of ceremony, but he couldn't help but respect and admire the man that stood in front of him, the man who was about to inspire thousands of students with one simple speech.

"On this historic day I, Kazaki Jin, would like to welcome and congratulate the whole of the student body, both for going through the effort of attending this opening ceremony, but further notably for grasping the opportunity that Jai Li, former student of the Northern Fighting Institute and current Ruler, presented to every citizen of Fai Ki, disregarding and ignoring any past rules that were bounding down what rounds to half of the population of this city."

Despite having involuntarily forced many of the present into a trance-like state, there were still some people who couldn't help but quietly gasp at the fact that the current Ruler was an alumnus of the Institute.

"None of those things could have been accomplished without the proper education, and it is for a reason that Jai Li chose this Institute as the city's future driving force!

Up until today, most of you have lived without questioning the "why" or "how" of this world's rules, trying not to know and think things further than the reality around you calls for.

Those days are now over, though.

During your stay in the Institute, you shall be taught everything that we can provide!

You will all learn history and economy, allowing you to transcend the living conduct you have been subjected to throughout centuries of oppression and repression!

You will all study the ways of the beast and the sword, thus becoming not front feeder, but proud men and women who stand bravely at the frontlines, triumphing over any rival who comes your way!

You will all be remembered forever in every book that is being written and has yet to be written as the changing force of Fai Ki City!

And lastly, remember not to let arrogance get ahold of your character, but to stand proudly in face of adversity and difference, remaining loyal to not only those who raised you but also those who are yet to be raised.

That is all."