Today is the day I graduate to the front lines.

It's not just Dante though, a couple other kids have been selected by the academy too. But, he doesn't know how to feel about it- It's a great honour of course and he'll be remembered throughout the rest of history as a great Zo'an, but he'll never see his friends again.

They're his only family.

Everyone who goes beyond the wall is a damn legend. They're spoken of for years on end and are immortalized with one of those dope ass statues in the yard. Hundreds, no- Thousands of statues are there. When they were all kids they'd sneak into the yard and try memorizing as many names as possible. Whenever they'd come across the statue of a Zo'an they had never seen before, they would all read the stone slab etched with their power and how they died in battle.

"I'm going to be like this one!" One of them would claim, just for the arguing to erupt.

"No, I want to be like him!"

"My power's more like his anyway, so I'm him,"

On and on, not realizing that they’d all get to be like him someday… Now that day is here, and Dante can't say he’s as excited as he was before. Back then, they thought they were winning the war. They thought every Zo'ans death was a great moment that would redefine the battlefield. But, they grew up, and the Academy got a little more realistic with its propaganda.

They aren't winning the war. But that doesn't matter. They were taught that whether or not they actually win the war, humanity's chances are slim. It's simply for the best that those back home think they’re winning. How do you tell everyone their species will soon die? Do you make a large, impersonal broadcast? Or go knocking, from door to door? The strange thing is, Dante feels as though they all know already.

But how do you admit it? How do you tell your children? It's an endless rabbit hole of questions with no right answers, so… Here we are.

Our graduation is just a confirmation of our readiness for death.

"Still stuck in that head of yours?" Julz asks mockingly, shoving Dante with her shoulder as her long sapphire hair drapes past- the others giggle around the table, telling one another to hush before it gets too loud.

"You'd think he'd have learned to get out of his head during deprivation," Dante joins in on the laughter this time, trying his best not to blurt out loud with the rest of them. Deprivation training was a bitch. Holy crap, I'm so glad I'll never have to do that shit again.

"That's rich coming from you, Mich. Didn't you fail your deprivation test?" Julz pipes up.

"Fifty percent is still a pass, Julz," Mich leans back into his chair with his arms spread wide as if he'd just made some profound point.

"They let him pass because his parents wouldn't want him back if he failed," says Kassian, the confident and handsome douche who got the second-highest grade. People like him piss Dante off because even with all that he's got going for him, he's also a great friend. What the fuck, right?

"Table thirteen seems to be uninterested in their graduation this morning," Calls out the Chancellor from atop the stage. "Would you prefer an extra year of the academy?" He chuckles, prompting laughter amongst the audience of parents, spectators and supporters of the Zo'an watching from the high-rising stands.

"OUR APOLOGIES, SIR!" All nine of them around the table collectively yell.

"Relax, today is a happy day. It is your graduation, so I expect nothing less than excitement.

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The whole crowd cheers- The Academy knows how to appeal to the masses, that's for sure. Honestly though, it wasn't so obvious until their social psyche classes. Once they taught the students all those tricks of theirs, it's hard not to notice them.

Julz is right though, Dante needs to get out of his head. This is what he worked so hard for and he’s finally here. She's always been really good at calling him out but that's because she knows him better than anyone else... They’re a little closer than friends.

Only sometimes.

Honestly, he’s going to miss her the most. She was probably right about it being a bad idea for them to fall in love. Her heart is not fond of loving someone that's going to die young… Dante’s scared of that too.

None of that stopped his pea brain from falling in love with her anyway. She just gets him like no one else ever has. I don't know what I'd do without her. All those nights they'd sneak into each other's rooms and go out to the observatory- Looking at the stars is her favourite date. Dante always thought space was overrated since it's where those wretched machines come from.

Krix are a fucking nightmare.

But, the way her face lit up to the sight of the Milky Way that first night they went up the hill made space seem a little cooler.

"And now, for table twelve," The chancellor announces, prompting the audience to cheer and ten young adults in their formal military uniforms waddle onto the stage.

"For fucks sake, Nadia," Kassian grunts as he watches his sister flip him off from atop the stage. She's the only student who got a higher grade than him, and she's far from humble about it.

"Little sis beat you again," Julz chuckles at Kassian.

"She got lucky," He scoffs, raising a middle finger back at his sister.

"Tell me," Mich chuckles under his breath, "What's it like never seeing the sun?"

Everyone around the table collectively glares at Mich with raised eyebrows, trying to gather the point of his question.

"What?" Kassian asks with an annoyed snarl.

"Well, considering you're trapped in the void of her shadow, I assume you don't experience much sunlight,"

They all blurt out laughing again, fortunately falling in time with the applauding of the audience. Kassian chuckles too, beneath his empowered glare of knowing he got higher grades than anyone at the table anyway.

"And lastly, rowdy table thirteen," The chancellor announces as the audience surges with applause.

All of their smiles and excitement vanish when they hear their table get called to the stage. Dante’s stomach drops as his mind realizes this is it.

The last conversation they'll have as a group.

Julz and Kassian both managed to swallow their pill before the rest of them, rising from their seats with their militant expression and stepping to line up at the front of the table.

The rest of them briefly glance at each other, wondering if they should say goodbye but being rushed to position by the waiting audience.

They all swallow the pill too, and rise to their feet behind Julz and Kassian. Once all nine of them are in position, they march their way up the front stairs before presenting themselves with a salute to the crowd.

"Class Thirteen is one of the most promising classes at the academy," He announces, "Despite their tendency for tardy behaviour, I can confidently say that they are all promising Zo'ans," The chancellor smiles.

In sync, they all drop their salutes and turn to the Chancellor, prompting Julz at the head of the line to receive her certificate first.

The certificate doesn't mean much, it just represents their graduation. Some kids will give it to their parents- if they have any- whilst others will probably throw them away or sell them.

Dante doesn't know what he'd do with his. The academy always liked him and treated him well. But for some reason, he’s never truly been able to trust them. When organizations reach this size, their honesty becomes too good to be true. On top of that, these certificates sell for a pretty penny so he might just pocket it- The public loves anything to do with Zo'ans.

Dante’s heart skips a beat looking out at the vast crowd watching right now. So much so that their excitement draws him in. Briefly fuelling him with the hope they cling to.

It skips a beat again when he notices the Chancellor gesturing for him to receive his certificate as if he’s a lost puppy.

God, how long have I been standing here awkwardly holding up the ceremony?

He steps forward to meet the Chancellor's outstretched hand and shakes it to the feeling of getting yanked into a hearty hug.

"Caught in the spotlight," He chuckles as he firmly pats Dante on the shoulder and places the certificate in his hand. "Show them a smile," He says waving at the crowd and cameras below.

Another wave of cheers ripples through the audience as the flashing of cameras strobe Dante’s vision. He half-heartedly raises his hand, holding it still without waving because he’s a nervous wreck.

"Congratulations," The Chancellor says, shaking Dante’s hand one last time before pointing in the direction he should exit. "Make us all proud, Dante,"