Chapter 6: Holster Academy

Seeing Alex lying unconscious outside the platform, Amaya stood up intending to go to check up on her son, but her hand was grabbed back by her husband. She tried to break free but the grip on her wrist remained firm.

She exhaled deeply and sat down back. Her motherly instinct had kicked in and she cared for her son.

The town head was already by Alex and then carried him away, so his injuries could be attended to.

The rest of the Selection process continued while Alex was being healed up. Marko town had an individual with a healing ability and even if they didn't, the various Academies came with a healer of their own due to the kind of testing methods they used.

It didn't take much time for Alex's injury to stop bleeding and seal up, it even looked some days old when the healer was done.

Alex was taken afterward to a place where the other participants who had been tested were kept. He was able to watch three others being tested before it was over.

When it ended, they were asked to line up horizontally before the canopies of the Academy they chose. Most of the crowd dispersed as there was pretty much nothing left for them to see aside from the Representatives of each Academy picking those they would be taking back with them. They had once taken the test during their time, a few were lucky to get picked, and most, even after so many years had passed, couldn't join an Academy. This made them hold a grudge against the Academy.

The Academy was where the lives and abilities of the young teens were shaped and molded. If they couldn't get in, it was fact to say their life was shapeless.

Six people in total were tested by Royal Academy both Alex and Trent included, out of the over hundred participants. This just went to show how high the Royal Academy was placed in the minds of everyone. They didn't even bother to attempt because they knew they would fail.

They all stood before the lady representative as her eyes moved to observe them.

Alex stood seemingly staring into oblivion but he wasn't. Instead, his eyes were fixed on Liz. Her voice still echoing in his head... "Weakling." She didn't bother to look at them even once like it was a waste of her time. This caused Alex to feel an instinctual well-up of anger in him.

"Out of the six of you, only one has been chosen after observing your combat skills, combat awareness, and combat behavior." her voice was heard making their hearts beat irregularly with anticipation and a tense feeling.

She didn't bother to speak for a minute, making the teenagers feel like they would die of anticipation. When she finally spoke, it was the anticipation that died.

"Trent Michaelson, congratulations. You have been chosen as a student of Royal Academy."

Despite her words, her voice carried no hints of emotion. She stretched out a hand for a shake which the others felt seemed out of her usual cadence and personality even though they knew nothing about her.

Trent humbly shook hands with her, his face filled with surprise and happiness. Despite the fact he has a pure grade elemental ability, he didn't think he would be chosen since he didn't win his opponent in the test.

"Thank you so much, ma'am. I am grateful." Trent happily said and bowed at a 90-degree angle. The lady nodded and was about to speak until someone interjected her.

"Why was I not also selected?"

"Even though I didn't win I got my opponent down on the floor which none of the others did." Alex said, his anger occasionally seeping out as he spoke. The others stared at him, pity evident in their curious eyes.

"You simply do not meet the requirements. Composure, mannerism, decency, talent...you lack them all." Her words were like a cold blade piercing his heart as she spoke.

"Isn't that the more reason I should join the Academy? If I had these things, do you think I'll be wasting my time in a shitty Academy like yours?!"

Alex couldn't rein his anger anymore. Those around looked at the scene with shocked expressions. Did he just call Royal Academy shitty?

The lady looked at Alex, her indifferent gaze becoming cold, not just her gaze but even the air felt colder. The teenagers around felt like they were being suffocated and Alex at the centre of it all was finding it difficult to breathe.

"What did you say, boy?" the lady spoke causing a shiver to run done Alex's spine, his legs strangely feeling wobbly.

Suddenly, he felt a hand on both shoulders and the strange feeling disappeared. He turned to look and realized it was the hands of his mom and dad, who were suddenly standing beside him.

Seeing that smile on his Dad's face washed away the earlier mysterious feeling, and then his mom stared daggers at the lady from Royal Academy. Her son had made a strong point, if he was perfect, what would be the need of joining an Academy? An Academy that couldn't defend themselves and was ready to act against a child for speaking out... It was just like her son said, shitty.

"Let's go, son. It's their loss for not accepting someone like you. You did great... In your test I mean." His dad said.

Alex nodded and the trio turned around and left the canopy of Royal Academy under the astonished gazes of the people. All the while, the lady representative shockingly did nothing, reasons maybe only known by herself.

The Royal Academy students stared with hateful gazes at the trio retreating, since the lady did nothing, they also did nothing.

Alex and his parents were leaving when someone suddenly called out to them. It was a man wearing a robe that covered his entire body, leaving just his head. He looked to be in his late seventies judging by his numerous graying hair.

"Greetings! I am Gavin, a representative of Holster Academy. I'm here to invite your son to our Academy." Gavin said with a smile.

Alex looked up to his parents, they shrugged at him. The decision was his to make. He thought for a while before he smiled and said.

"It will be an honour to be a student of your Holster Academy."

"Great! We would be leaving by tomorrow morning." Gavin replied. After that, he took the address and location of his parent's house before going back.