Although Courage's siblings had been quietly celebrating their acceptance into the Imperial Academy moments ago, they couldn’t help but notice the flicker of pain in their brother's eyes. Opal, always attuned to his emotions, stepped closer and asked softly, “Brother, are you... okay?”

Courage, unwilling to darken his siblings’ monumental moment, forced a smile and responded in a cheerful tone, “Yeah, yeah, totally. It was nothing! But enough about me—look at you guys! You’re going to the Imperial Academy, the cream of the crop! I’m so happy for you. Mom and Dorsen are going to be over the moon when they hear this!”

Opal’s heart eased a little at his words, but before she could respond, the envoy's voice cut in. “Alright, children, it’s time we got going.”

Besmouth’s face fell. “What? Already?”

The envoy nodded. “Even though you’ve been accepted, there are still necessary measures and arrangements that need to be handled before you can be officially enrolled. If we want everything ready by tomorrow, we must start immediately.”

“But…” Sapphire chimed in, turning nervously to Courage. “Can’t we stay just a little longer? At least until our brother gets into an academy too.”

The envoy hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. “Well… that might be a bit difficult…”

Before the conversation could escalate, Courage raised his hands to stop them. “Guys, it’s okay. This is the Imperial Academy we’re talking about! You shouldn’t waste any time when it comes to this.”

His siblings looked at him with sad eyes, Ruby murmuring, “But—”

“No buts,” Courage interrupted with a grin. “Don’t worry about me. I’m sure I’ll get into an academy soon enough. Who wouldn’t want a chad like me in their school? I’m actually kind of worried recruiters will start shedding blood fighting over me.”

His joke had the desired effect, drawing giggles from all his siblings and dispelling some of their sadness. Then Courage turned to the envoy. “Could we at least have a moment to say goodbye?”

The envoy nodded respectfully. “Of course.”

Courage turned back to his siblings, a bittersweet smile on his face. “Well, I guess this is where our paths diverge,” he said.

“This is all happening so fast… I-I can’t…” Sapphire choked, tears welling in her eyes.

Courage gently patted her head, and Ruby’s too, as the boy sniffled, trying to stay strong. “Well, my little buddies, life is like that sometimes. One moment, you’re dreaming of distant goals, and the next, you’re already taking steps toward them. I know it’s hard to part this suddenly, but it’s something we all have to face if we want to move forward.

"That’s why, before we separate, I want to leave you all with some final words.”

He turned to Sapphire first. “Sapphire, my cheeky little sister, I’m sure with your brains and intelligence you’ll do amazing things. But please—control that mischievous streak of yours.”

“Hehe, never,” Sapphire replied with a bittersweet smile, tears trickling down her cheeks.

“Ruby, my little man, always stay by your twin sister’s side. Be careful, don’t rush into things, and make sure to tell me all about the cool stuff you’ve done when we meet again.”

Ruby sniffled loudly and nodded. “You bet!”

“Opal, my lovely Opal. I know you’ll chase your passion for beautiful things to even greater heights. But remember, don’t let your passion consume you. Sometimes, it’s okay to enjoy the simple things—they have their own kind of beauty too.”

“I’ll keep that advice close to heart,” Opal replied, her eyes filled with affection and understanding.

Finally, Courage turned to Besmouth. “And Besmouth, my future champion of a brother. I know you’re destined to lead, and so I trust you to guide our siblings in my stead. But remember, you don’t have to forge the path ahead alone. You’ve got your siblings to lean on for support.”

“I-I will, big bro. I promise,” Besmouth replied, his voice filled with resolve.

Courage stepped back, looking at them all with pride. “And with that, let me close by saying this: I love you all. I’m so proud of what you already are and what I know you’ll become. Now go—follow your dreams, take care of each other, and always remember that I’ll be waiting for the day we meet again.”

Tears shimmered in his siblings’ eyes as they clung to his words. With heavy hearts, they turned to follow the envoy, each taking one last look at their brother before disappearing into the crowd. Courage stood there, waving until they were out of sight, the ache in his chest hidden behind a resolute smile.

After his siblings completely disappeared from sight, Courage finally stopped waving. He stood there for a minute, letting out a long sigh, filled with sadness. The thought of parting with his siblings so suddenly weighed heavily on him, but he knew it was a decision he had to make. Despite the high recruitment mandate this year, he was painfully aware that his chances of being accepted into an academy were slim. His abysmal aptitude—widely considered the worst possible—was too big a flaw for most recruiters to overlook.

Not wanting to burden his siblings with the worry of watching him fail, Courage had made the difficult choice to send them off with the envoy immediately. He didn't want his struggles to overshadow their promising futures, especially before their journeys even began.

Determined not to dwell on the matter any longer, Courage turned to face the bustling crowd of recruiters swarming the members of the Blue Orchid batch. The earlier announcement had caused a commotion, and he couldn’t help but remark inwardly that with so much attention, most of his batchmates were sure to find placements somewhere. After all, even the mere association with peak-grade aptitude individuals carried immense appeal for many recruiters.

Bracing himself, Courage took a deep breath, muttering under his breath, “Well, this is gonna suck,” before plunging into the crowd to try his luck.

As Courage had feared, the process turned out to be as grueling as he had imagined. While he was approached by several recruiters for initial interviews—and even sought out some himself—every single one ended in rejection.

Some recruiters tried to let him down gently:

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“Oh, I’m sorry, but you’re not quite what we’re looking for.”

“Sorry, kid. Inferior aptitude? You might have better luck somewhere else.”

Others were far more blunt and dismissive:

“You really think you can enter our academy with those traits? Laughable.”

“Oh, you’re from Blue Orchid Garrison? Interested in joining us—wait, inferior aptitude? Never mind.”

“I have a standard to uphold for our recruits. I’m afraid you just don’t meet it. Good luck elsewhere.”

Each rejection chipped away at Courage’s resolve, but he refused to give up. He knew the odds were stacked against him—but giving in to despair wasn’t an option.

After a few more hours, Courage found himself nearing his breaking point. He had visited almost every possible option, even doubling back to some recruiters he'd already spoken to, but all his attempts ended in failure. Feeling mentally and emotionally drained, he spotted a bench nearby and slumped down onto it.

Lowering his head, he wrapped his arms behind his neck, his posture a clear sign of frustration and exhaustion. His leg bounced restlessly as he sat there alone, his mind racing. He had tried every lower- and mid-tier academy he could find, only to be rejected each time. The more prestigious or renowned academies weren’t even worth considering—he had no chance there.

Courage began to contemplate the harsh reality of what he would do without an academy. The thought filled him with dread, but before he could sink any deeper into despair, a figure approached.

"Excuse me," a voice said politely. "May I see your identification card?"

Courage, assuming it was another recruiter curious about his record, felt a pang of irritation. He had grown accustomed to being scorned, so without even lifting his head, he half-heartedly handed over his card.

The man took the card and scanned it silently for a moment before breaking the quiet with a surprising question: "Say, could you answer a couple of questions for me?"

Startled, Courage lifted his head to finally get a look at the man. No recruiter had bothered to interview him past hearing about his aptitude before. The man standing before him appeared to be in his thirties, with slightly tanned skin, short hair, and a cap perched on his head. His neutral expression and tough demeanor were emphasized by the deep scar running from his left eyebrow down to his chin. His thick, gravelly voice and no-nonsense aura added to the impression of a seasoned veteran.

Courage instinctively straightened his posture, suddenly more attentive. "Um, sure, I can answer your questions," he replied cautiously.

The man gave a slight nod, his cool demeanor unshaken. "Great," he said. "First question: why did you choose this type of beast? Vigor types are widely considered some of the worst, you know."

Courage hesitated for a moment, his thoughts scrambling. He needed to answer carefully. After a few moments of consideration, he drew from the reasons.Dan had given him, tweaking and omitting certain details to keep his secret.

As he explained his reasoning, the recruiter raised his eyebrows, visibly impressed. He hadn’t expected a junior to think so strategically or to possess the courage to take an unconventional path—especially one that risked mockery from his peers.

"Hm," the man said, his voice low and contemplative. "Interesting answer. You’ve got some guts, I’ll give you that."

The hint of approval in the man’s tone ignited a small spark of hope within Courage. For the first time that day, he felt like someone might actually see potential in him.

The man looked at Courage with renewed interest, his scarred face still unreadable but his gaze sharp and piercing. After a moment, he asked, “Okay, answer me this: why do you want to become a Beast Tamer?”

Courage froze for a second, startled by the question. He wasn’t expecting something so direct. Scrambling to come up with an answer, he realized that this time, he couldn’t rely on the pre-prepared explanations dan had given him. Those answers felt hollow now. Instead, he searched inward, digging through his own thoughts and feelings for something genuine.

Several minutes passed as Courage wrestled with the question. Finally, he looked up at the man and began to speak. “To be honest, it’s not about wanting to help my garrison, or my city, or even my region,” he admitted. “I know that’s what I’m supposed to say, and I know it sounds shameful in a society that values honor and sacrifice for the greater good. But the truth is… I’d be lying if I said that’s what drives me.”

The man’s expression didn’t change, but he gave a slight nod, as if urging Courage to continue.

“I don’t have the cliché ideals of honor or duty,” Courage continued, his voice steady despite the weight of his confession. “And I’m not going to pretend I do just to impress someone. But I do know one thing—I have this… this feeling, deep down inside me. It’s like an unquenchable thirst, a drive I can’t ignore, no matter how much I try. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s there, pushing me forward. And the only way I’ve found to satisfy it is by continuously improving myself.”

He paused, his gaze locking with the recruiter’s. “And I believe the best way to do that is by becoming a Beast Tamer. So, why do I want to become one? Honestly, it’s for self-satisfaction. For the need to prove to myself that I can keep going, keep growing, and maybe, one day, achieve something greater than I ever thought possible.”

The man studied Courage in silence for a moment, his face unreadable. Then, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Huh,” he said, his tone low but not unkind. “Honest answer. Can’t say I hear that one too often.”

Courage tensed, unsure if the man was mocking him or genuinely impressed. But then the recruiter’s demeanor shifted slightly, his tough exterior softening just enough to show a glimmer of approval.

“You’re an odd one, kid,” the man said. “But maybe that’s not such a bad thing"

The man’s piercing gaze lingered on Courage for a moment longer, as if evaluating his entire being. Then, breaking the silence, he said with a gruff but deliberate tone, “You’ve got guts, kid. Not the smartest answer to give to a recruiter, but honest. And I respect that.”

Courage blinked, unsure how to respond. Was this another rejection cloaked in faint praise? He steeled himself, ready for the inevitable letdown. But then, the man leaned closer, his scarred face uncomfortably close to Courage’s own.

“Tell me, kid. If you had the chance to prove all those doubters wrong, to train at an academy that values more than just numbers on a piece of paper... would you take it?”

Courage froze, his mind racing to process the words. Was he hearing this right? His heart began to pound as hope and disbelief warred within him. “Are you… Are you saying…?”

The man straightened up, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I’m asking if you’d like to join my academy.”

Courage’s jaw dropped, his mind blanking for a moment. “Wait—you’re serious?” he stammered, the disbelief clear in his voice.

The recruiter chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that carried a hint of amusement. “I don’t look like the joking type, do I? You’ve got potential, kid. Not in the traditional sense, sure, but I’ve seen worse odds turned into miracles. Besides, I like your spirit. It’s raw, but it’s real. And that’s something we can work with.”

Courage could hardly believe what he was hearing. After a day filled with rejection and humiliation, someone was not only giving him a chance but also acknowledging his worth. His heart swelled with a mix of gratitude and excitement. “Yes! Yes, absolutely! I’d be honored to join your academy!” he exclaimed, standing so quickly he nearly knocked over the bench.

The man smirked again, crossing his arms as he watched Courage’s enthusiasm with a hint of amusement. “Good. But before you go celebrating, let’s make one thing clear—this isn’t going to be easy. My academy’s not like the others. We don’t coddle recruits, and we don’t hand out participation trophies. You’ll work harder than you’ve ever worked in your life, and if you don’t pull your weight, you’ll be out faster than you can blink. Think you can handle that?”

Courage’s excitement didn’t waver. If anything, the man’s words only fueled his determination. He straightened his posture, meeting the man’s gaze with unwavering resolve. “I can handle it. I won’t let you down.”

The man nodded, seemingly satisfied with Courage’s answer. “We’ll see about that. Name’s Riker, by the way"

Courage nodded vigorously, his face lighting up with a grin. “Thank you, mister Riker. I won’t let you down.”

Riker gave him a final nod before turning and walking away, blending into the bustling crowd. Courage watched him go, a mixture of awe and relief washing over him. He’d done it. Against all odds, he’d been accepted.

The sun hung low on the horizon, painting the skies in hues of orange and violet. The recruitment hall, once teeming with excitement and nervous energy, was now quiet. The successful recruits, Courage among them, lingered as they awaited further instructions. Whispers of relief and anticipation filled the air as the day neared its end.

A sharp chime rang from a siren, signaling a notification. Courage hearing the brief message:

"Recruits, return with your instructors to your temporary residences. Rest well and prepare your belongings. Tomorrow morning, the academy caravans will transport you to your assigned destinations."

Without delay, the recruits filed out of the hall, following their instructors back to the temporary housing provided for them. Courage entered his room, a simple but adequate space with a cot, a desk, and a single window overlooking the quiet courtyard. He sighed, sinking onto the cot before pulling out his modest pack. His belongings were few, and it took him little time to prepare.

"Another long journey," he muttered, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts wandered to the ceremony, the awakening, and the challenges that awaited him. He pushed them aside and tried to rest.

The next morning, the caravans awaited them, lined up at the same place they arrived at the city from. The recruits were herded onto their respective vehicles, each marked for a specific destination. Courage climbed aboard his caravan, finding a seat near the window. The rumble of the engine soon signaled the beginning of their journey.

The days passed uneventfully. The caravan wove through winding paths, stopping only for brief rests and meals. During the journey, Ricker, one of the instructors, took it upon himself to educate the recruits about their destination.

“Listen up,” Ricker announced, his voice carrying over the hum of the engine. “Grand Cliff Garrison is no ordinary place. It’s a critical military base and a vital trading hub. Here’s why:

Strategic Location: It sits at a crossroads for major trade routes, meaning almost every caravan heading anywhere important passes through.

Beast Territory: The garrison borders active beast territory, making it a key station for tamers, hunters, and resource gatherers.

Natural Defense: it is Built into the side of a massive cliff, thus it's naturally protected from most sides, making it nearly impenetrable.

Rich Resources: The cliff is rich in spirit springs, producing an abundance of spirit stones that fuel the garrison’s economy.

Trade-Dependent: Despite its strengths, Grand Cliff lacks production capabilities and relies heavily on trade to sustain itself."

Ricker’s explanations painted a vivid picture of the garrison,After days of travel, the caravan finally arrived. Grand Cliff Garrison loomed ahead, a sprawling fortress carved into the side of an immense cliff. The towering walls seemed to merge with the rocky facade, and the faint glow of spirit springs shimmered in the distance.

As the caravan rolled into the garrison, Courage peered out the window, taking in the bustling scene. Traders haggled over goods, tamers led their beasts through the streets, and soldiers patrolled with practiced vigilance. The air was thick with the mingling scents of spices, leather, and the metallic tang of spirit energy.

“This,” Ricker said as the caravan came to a stop, “is your new home. Welcome to Grand Cliff Garrison.”

Courage stepped out, feeling the weight of the place settle over him. The journey had ended, but a new chapter was about to begin.