Where am I?Why's everything so dark?Am I dead?No wait... Ugh, my head hurts. Everything is coming back now... The last thing I remember was talking with dad. We went out for a walk and then… blank. Damn it! Why can't I remember anything? "Jerry!... Jerry!" Is someone calling for me?... Ah, it's rather faint though. It might not be me after all. It's not like Jeremy Walker was a special name. Most parents would name their kids' one-of-a-kind names to highlight their uniqueness, but it seemed like my father was too busy to do that. Not like I blamed him though, I also believe that unique names are a waste of time. It's not like it adds anything to you, just a form of identification. Hah, enough with the soliloquy… I need to get out. I tried to open my eyes but it felt like they were glued shut. What in the world? Fine then… I tried to move my hand to my face to help pry my eyelids open but my body might as well be lead. I couldn't move even as I kept on trying. It was

I had no idea? A sharp pain tore through my chest, maybe because of the surge in emotions I kept bottled in for so long. "Maybe I have no idea… maybe I'm just a dumb teen harboring crazy ambitions…" "Jerry…" "No!... You are right. But one thing I do know is that I lost my dad when I was thirteen!... There was no warning, no signs… nothing!.. He left me all alone, without finishing the work he dedicated his life to. "All these years I've wondered… how would it be if he were still alive?... I asked myself why he had to die like that?... No matter what I thought, I couldn't get an answer." I felt a stinging pain in my eyes but regardless, I didn't blink. I stared Leila in her eyes while letting everything out. "Jerry, I understand how hard it is to move on but…" "No buts!... I deserve to know why he died!... And even more, I deserve to be the one to complete his work. Do you think he would be happy to see that his work was left unfinished?" Leila seemed to be affected as well as

Honestly, I didn't know much about the Tower.I've spent my whole life in it but that doesn't automatically make me a guru about it. I never really thought much of it too, since the outside world was more appealing to me. Sure, there were schools on each floor to educate children on the basic arts and sciences but I never attended. Not like those that went were better than me though… I dare say I would be one of the smartest in my generation, after all, I received tutoring from both dad and Leila. So it wasn't hard to understand those subjects but the problem came down to the Tower structure. Anyway, while staying with dad, everything I had was natural to have so I didn't think much of it. I considered it normal for the rest of the tower… that was until I moved in with Leila. Some might call me a spoilt brat but that's not an insult but the truth. I am a spoilt brat and that's all because of dad. Dad's position allowed him to enjoy the same status as those people in the Twelv

The time to part had come. I couldn't but sigh because even though I prepared mentally for this moment, it was hard to let go. Spending time with Leila, I realized that even though dad was dead, I still had someone I could call family. She did everything to make me forget but I always kept the memories of dad. But I was grateful. If not for her… there were several nights I couldn't sleep because the memory of five years ago kept coming back. Darn it… my eyes stung a little as I tried to hold back my tears. I turned to face Leila to say goodbye when her slender finger touched my lips. She applied no force but I didn't try to speak. For that brief moment, we met each other's gaze, and the world around us seemed to disappear. "Don't say anything. I'll be waiting for you so do your best and come out on top, okay." She spoke softly but her words resounded deep within my heart. With no words to respond, I merely nodded while smiling sheepishly. Wrapping my arms around her, I dra

Each year the Academy accepted new entrants, depending on the number of spaces available.Registration normally took place on the 15th day of the first month when the Tower was at its hottest, Eos.From then till the 25th, candidates would show up with hopes of getting accepted in the institution.Each day a different age group was accepted…And today being the 15th, my age group which was 18-20 were the ones being tested.The red haired guy looked 30, especially with his muscular physique and… wait, he already has a beard?So, lucky… Ahem, I digress.I shook my head to get rid of the unnecessary thoughts when the military man suddenly spoke.“Well, well, it seems the maggots accepted this time are much better than last year’s set. Quite impressive. I’ll enjoy breaking you lot.” His tone of speech sounded quite sinister.But what was he talking about?He continued after a quick scan. “I’m sure you are wondering what just happened. Well, in short form, you all just passed the first ac