The sun rose from the horizon, casting a pale, almost golden glow across the academy. The men and women in red-white rang the bells around the dormitories to wake up the sleeping apprentices. Ray opened his eyes and yawned, stretching his arms. His blonde hair hovered over his lips.

  “That was the best sleep I’ve ever had,” he said as he continued yawning. Rubbing his hands together, he pushed his hair back and tied it behind. He looked around; the room was spacious and had a table in a corner with a window just above it. A cupboard for clothes he did not have, a weapon stand for weapons he did not have.

  “Once I get some money, I’ll buy some fancy clothes.” He jumped down from the bed and stretched. Walking to the mirror near the cupboard, he looked at his reflection. His muddy leather boots lay next to the mirror as he looked at his clothes; a blue leather shirt that looked like a gambeson and black breeches, the only pieces he had.

  He scratched his head. “I definitely need something new. The academy probably has a uniform. I wonder how I’ll look in that.”

  He dusted his boots outside the window and wore them while the bells still rang outside. He frowned and complained, “How long are they going to keep ringing those damned bells? They’re ringing straight into my head. Maybe mastering hearing was a bad idea before entering the academy.”

  He sighed and then took a deep breath. Let’s focus. The sound of bells slowly faded and only the footsteps and the chirping of birds filled his head. “That’s better,” he said with a smile. “So it works with hearing as well, huh? I can just choose what I want to hear. I’ll need to thank Maximus.”

  A knock on the door caught his attention, followed by Jon’s loud voice, “GET UP, RAY! The introductory ceremony has already started! We’re going to be late! GET THE FUC–”

  The door slammed in his face, and he fell to the ground, and Ray stepped out. “Shut up, will you?! I’m awake.”

  “Good morning, idiot.” Aidan greeted him from next door. Victor, who was standing next to him, nodded to Ray.

  Ray sighed. “Good morning, dickhead.”

  Victor blinked, and Aidan laughed while Jon rubbed his nose. Jon shot to his feet and said, “Let’s go. I need to see Vivi-,” he flinched and coughed and continued, “I mean, the introductory ceremony.” Ray shook his head and looked at Aidan. “You’re wearing something different today.”

  Aidan shrugged. “Yeah, I can’t wear the same dirty clothes from yesterday, can I?” Ray stared at him, his eyes squinted and said, “You have many clothes?”

  Aidan nodded. “I have seventeen ?different coloured sets.” Ray frowned and muttered, “Spoiled noble brat.” He then added as he crossed his arms, “Give me some.”

  Aidan also frowned. “No.”

  Ray scoffed. “Bastard.”

  Out on the ceremony grounds, the girls had already formed in line while the boys filed in slowly, one by one. Sera looked around and frowned. “They’re still not here; are they asleep?” Elaira shook her head. “Ray probably is, and Jon must be getting ready to look presentable to the girls.”

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  Both of them sighed collectively. Cassandra chuckled and asked, “Is Ray lazy?”

  Sera and Elaira both nodded and said, “Very much so.” Mei Zhi scoffed and asked in a low tone. “Girls? What girls! Does Jon act like that with every girl?”

  Elaira and Sera looked at her and smirked. Elaira asked, “Are you jealous?” Sera added. “Yeah, he does.”

  Mei Zhi said, “So he’s just a cheap flirt?”

  Elaira shrugged. “Sure. He’s infatuated with every pretty girl he sees.” Sera responded with a nod and added. “Except for us.”

  Cassandra smiled as she watched the exchange and looked at the sky, her eyes longing for something.

  Soon all the boys gathered, along with Ray and the others. Lysa shouted from atop the stage, “The boys will run a hundred laps around the academy for arriving late.” The boys who arrived early protested, but Lysa paid them no mind.

  The bright sun slowly made its way across the blue sky, casting its glow on the gathered apprentices and teachers at the ceremony grounds.

  The boys started arguing with each other until the headmaster cleared his throat. Silence fell across the grounds as the ?headmaster looked at them. “I am disappointed in the boys.” He shook his head and continued, “But, since this is your first day, I’ll overlook it.”

  The boys looked down in shame. Everyone except Ray. Man, he’s so rigid.

  Michael scowled at the ones next to him. “How dare you be late and get me punished?” Even though he was late as well.

  The headmaster continued, his voice carrying over the wind. “Today marks your first day here, and you are officially an apprentice of Acacia Academy. Your former selves are now just your memories. The person you’ll be from today will have no relation whatsoever to your past self.” He stopped for a moment and said, “Your former titles, lineages and any privilege you had or did not have, do not matter here. You will reshape yourselves, and we will guide you on your path.”

  He looked at Lysa and signalled her to take over and walked back inside the giant building behind the stage.

  Lysa looked around and said, “You may have noticed that some of you do not have weapons. You will discard all of your old weapons, and you will receive new ones to use until you can afford your own again.”

  Michael protested as he unbuckled his belt and raised his sword, still in its sheath. “This is a gift from my father, His Highness. I will not cast this aside.”

  Lysa sighed and said, “Michael, you are no longer a prince here. His Highness is not your father as long as you are inside Acacia. Right now, you are just a nobody.”

  She suddenly appeared in front of him and snatched his sword away. “Act out again, and I’ll personally discipline you.” The wind violently blew by as soon as she finished her sentence.

  Ray’s eyes widened as he covered his face from the wind. She’s fast. Even the winds cannot keep up with her. Who is she?

  Michael glared at the ground and clenched his fists as Lysa slowly walked back on the stage.

  She tossed his sword to one man in red-white and said, “Put it somewhere he cannot find it.”

  The man bowed and left. Lysa pointed to the other men and women in red-white and said, “Give your weapons to them, now.”

  All the apprentices with weapons hurriedly rushed toward them and handed them their weapons and fell back into line.

  “Good, now follow me.” Lysa added as she turned around and started walking.

  The apprentices walked around the stage and followed her inside the big domed building.

  Inside, older apprentices walked around, some in a hurry, some leisurely taking a stroll through the hallways. Some of them wore white tunics that fit snugly against their forms; the others, a maroon tunic. Each of them greeted Lysa as she led the new apprentices through. They looked around in awe.

  The older apprentices gazed down on them from above on the top floors and gossiped among themselves.

  Circular stairs led to ?the top at the side of the front doors. Sunlight filtered through the large windows on the top floors, lighting the inside.

  Lysa made her way through to the right side, entering a separate building still connected to the domed one. The men in red-white opened the doors, and the lamps lit up on their own, their light reflecting off hundreds of different weapons. Gasps and murmurs filled the room as Lysa turned around and said, “Choose one and meet me back on the grounds.” And she walked outside, leaving them with their thoughts.