Will of the Battlefield

The names continued to be called. One by one, the futures of countless youths were decided.

For many, this day would determine the course of the rest of their lives.

Then, at long last, the old official unfurled another scroll.

His eyes widened slightly as he looked toward the crowd and called, "Thane."

A murmur immediately swept through the great hall. No surname had been registered, nor any clan declared.

Yet everyone knew who was being summoned.

"The Giant." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"The Champion."

"The Fool of the Maze."

"The one who defeated Etno."

"The one who crushed Donovan."

Whispers echoed like restless birds, and Thane rose from his seat.

The giant scratched his cheek. "Is it my turn already?"

Conor sighed. "Yes."

"Good. I was getting hungry." Thane yawned.

Sky pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a big sigh. Rimon lowered his head.

Under thousands of gazes, Thane strode toward the center of the hall.

His footsteps were heavy but unhurried. He stood before the gathered principals.

Silence descended. For several moments, none moved.

Then a hand rose. Blue Leaf Academy.

Then another, the principal of Black Pearl Academy.

Silver River Academy.

Red Talent Academy.

One after another, every single principal seated among the Top Ten raised their hand.

The hall erupted. Again, every academy. Every single one.

Even the lesser academies raised their hands, even though they were supposed to raise their hands only if the Top Ten did not.

The sight was unprecedented.

Never before had a candidate attracted such unanimous desire.

But then they realized something. There was only one academy whose principal did not raise his hand.

It was Zoases, principal of the first-ranked academy, Golden Crown Academy.

Many wondered why he had his hand lowered when he had the highest chance of getting Thane. Everyone would prefer the best academy; it was a natural assumption.

The old official cleared his throat. "Candidate Thane. You may now choose."

"Which academy did Edniot Quintess join?" Thane questioned.

The murmur expanded. Edniot was the genius from the Quintess family, who had also become the Yearly Aspirant Champion.

Zoases started laughing as he looked at Athenok. "He wants to follow Edniot."

Athenok gave him an angry glare. "You have given me your word."

"And I’ll keep my word," he said, and turned toward Thane.

"He was nurtured in my academy," said Zoases.

Thane looked at him, and his eyes slowly widened. "Geezer... It’s you. It’s been a week. Wait... you are the principal? Holy shit, old man."

Zoases laughed louder. "Indeed, it’s a pleasant surprise. It took you long enough to recognize this old man."

Now the crowd was puzzled again. A lowborn guy such as Thane knew the five-lined blessed principal of Golden Crown Academy.

And he was calling Zoases, "geezer"?!

"Geezer, can you let me join your academy?" Thane asked.

"I cannot," Zoases replied. Regret was painted on his face.

"Oh, I see." Thane scratched his head, and another thought appeared in his mind. "Where is the other geezer who was with you?"

Zoases cackled again, his sound louder than normal laughter should be, or one that comes from a normal person.

Everyone covered their ears.

"He is right here." Zoases pointed toward Athenok, who was hiding his face with his palm.

"Hey, geezer. Damn... you are also a principal!" Thane waved his hand.

Athenok couldn’t help but chuckle despite his serious nature. He uncovered his face. "Hello, Thane."

"Geezer, can I join your academy?"

"Call me Principal Athenok, and yes, you can," he answered.

"Alright, geezer. But I have a condition. I want my friends to join it too."

Silence. Absolute silence.

Athenok blinked. He was pissed and confused. "What?"

Thane spoke confidently. "I’ll join your academy if you also accept Max, Conor, Sky, and Rimon." He started counting on his fingers while naming them one by one.

The silence deepened, then the other principals exploded.

"Nonsense!"

"Preposterous!"

"The fuck is he saying?"

"You presume too much!"

"An academy is not a club!"

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Several principals who had moments earlier desperately wished to recruit him now looked furious.

One elderly woman slammed her cane upon the floor. "The academy system is not some child’s game!"

Another snorted. "You have talent, boy, but do not let success poison you."

Thane looked confused. "What did I say wrong?"

"You are making demands!" someone shouted.

"Well..." Thane scratched his head. "Friends should stay together."

The giant truly did not understand. Many principals became even angrier.

Only two men remained calm: Zoases of Golden Crown Academy and Athenok of Blue Leaf Academy.

The two exchanged knowing looks. Unlike the others, they knew.

They knew exactly whose son stood before them.

Athenok slowly rose to his feet, demanding silence. The hall quieted in response.

The principal of Blue Leaf Academy smiled warmly. "Blue Leaf Academy accepts these conditions."

The entire hall exploded into chaos.

"What?!"

"Principal Athenok!"

"Have you gone mad?"

Athenok merely folded his sleeves. "Talent takes many forms."

His eyes lingered on Thane. "And loyalty among companions should be cherished, not broken."

Several principals scoffed. They knew very well these words would not be said by anyone, not even Athenok himself, ever again.

Before anyone could argue further, another figure rose.

A tall, stern man dressed in black robes embroidered with silver pearls.

The mere sight of him caused many instructors to straighten instinctively.

Hayden Moore, Principal of Black Pearl Academy. The academy ranked second in the kingdom.

The hall immediately quieted. Hayden possessed an imposing presence.

Not because he raised his voice; he never needed to. The man looked toward Thane.

His gaze was calm, cold, and measured. "Youth."

His voice carried effortlessly throughout the chamber. "An academy possesses dignity."

Thane looked up.

Hayden continued. "If word spreads that the Top Academies bend their standards to satisfy one student, what image shall we maintain?"

No one interrupted. Even those who disagreed listened respectfully.

Hayden’s eyes narrowed slightly. "You have talent. Exceptional talent. But talent alone does not grant authority.

You stand before educators, elders, and principals. You would do well to remember your place."

Thane frowned. "My place?"

"Indeed," Hayden reassured him.

The giant thought seriously, then nodded. "My place is with my friends."

The hall fell silent once more.

Hayden stared. For the first time, a faint irritation crossed his face. "Stubbornness and foolishness are different matters."

Thane crossed his arms. "You sound like my sister."

Several candidates snorted.

Hayden ignored them. "If every student made such demands, chaos would reign."

Thane nodded. "Then don’t let every student defeat Etno and Donovan."

A collective gasp swept through the chamber.

Conor was giggling; everyone could see his body jiggling from controlled laughter.

Sky nearly fainted.

Rimon looked ready to disappear forever.

Max wore a smirk as he witnessed Thane. He knew Thane would cause a ruckus.

Hayden’s expression finally hardened. The temperature in the room seemed to drop. A pressure descended upon the hall.

Many candidates suddenly found breathing difficult.

The principal spoke. "Arrogance."

One word. Yet it struck like thunder.

Thane blinked. "I wasn’t being arrogant."

"Enough," Hayden yelled.

Hayden’s eyes flashed. "Discipline exists for a reason. If such insolence is tolerated, perhaps confinement will teach you humility."

Several guards instinctively moved. "Imprison the boy for disturbing the proceedings."

The words had barely left Hayden’s mouth.

Then a roar shook the hall.

"LET ME SEE WHO WISHES TO IMPRISON MY SON!"

The entire building trembled. Thousands turned and instantly stood.

Every judge. Every instructor. Every principal. Even Hayden’s expression changed.

The crowd parted. No, it split, like grass before a charging bull.

A gigantic man strode through the sea of people.

He was enormous, taller than Thane by far. Nearly six feet and nine inches of raw presence.

Broad shoulders, powerful frame. Dark hair streaked with silver, falling on his shoulders.

His beard was neatly groomed, thick, yet there was nothing refined about him.

He looked like a mountain wearing noble clothing.

An aura of crushing strength followed him. People unconsciously stepped aside.

Some lowered their heads, others saluted.

The judges rose immediately.

Athenok smiled.

Zoases openly laughed.

Thane looked utterly surprised. "Pops!"

The giant waved enthusiastically. The newcomer snorted. His gaze swept across the hall.

He was none other than Count Thomas Ironforge. One of the four counts of the kingdom.

Head of the Ironforge Clan. One of the six best blacksmith clans on the continent.

The man whose very name was spoken with caution throughout neighboring nations. Protector of the Western borders.

The hall remained deathly silent. Thomas reached his son.

He looked Thane up and down. "Hm. You’ve grown uglier."

Thane grinned. "You too. Wait... you have four lines! Did you receive another blessing, Pops?"

"Yeah, just when you left. I am loved by the gods."

"Loved my ass, no god loves an ugly blacksmith."

Thomas nodded approvingly. "Haha, true. But I look like a damn hero from tales."

"Shut up, you are uglier than me. I took after Mom, I’m pretty."

"Shit... I can’t argue anymore."

Both son and father chuckled and hugged. Thomas standing with Thane, for the first time. The giant looked like a dwarf in front of someone.

Thomas then turned. His eyes settled upon Hayden.

The pressure in the room intensified. Hayden met the gaze without retreating. For several heartbeats, two titans silently regarded one another.

Hayden was also a five-lined blessed, and Thomas was a four-lined blessed.

Then Thomas smiled. It was not a pleasant smile. "My son tells me someone wishes to imprison him."

Silence. Absolute silence.

Thomas folded his arms. "I would very much like to know who."

Nobody spoke. Even the air itself seemed reluctant to move.