Captain Takeda watched as they escorted the new potential students with him to the Imperial academy. It had already been three days since Lieutenant Kim took the new ranger division recruits to where the 2nd army was gathering while he brought the students to the capital. Scanning each of the children, he tried his best to assess if any of them would end up being his golden ticket to a promotion. It was common knowledge that if you were the one to find a talent for the academy, it was highly likely that one would magically find themselves on the fast track for promotion. The higher ups in the academy had a lot of pull in the Imperial army due to providing so many competent and strong warriors for Kuro.

Unfortunately, so far he hadn’t seen any of them that stuck out as an unusual talent, though he had to admit that the overall quality was better than previous villages and towns he had been tasked to visit prior. These kids were tempered by living in a harsh, isolated environment without all the little luxuries one would enjoy near the major cities. If they didn’t make it into the academy, many of them would make fine soldiers if nothing else, but none thus far had shown an aptitude for magic and it was slightly depressing.

In order to learn any type of magic, one had to be blessed by a god even though this could happen at any point in life it was most common upon birth up until ten years of age. Both major and minor deities would bestow blessings, hoping the person they blessed would go on to be extremely famous there by making more followers for them.

Captain Takeda was never blessed by any god, but he never let that get him down; it just drove him to train in the martial ways and path of the warrior even more, which was not to be underestimated when compared to cultivating the blessing of an immortal. Besides, Captain Takeda was considered a young, highly skilled swordsman among his peers, but that didn’t mean much to Captain Takeda, because in his heart he served because he desired authority. If he puts in his time and doesn’t royally mess up he should have a comfortable life owning a small territory in the empire, perhaps even gaining a hereditary title.

Yet, despite all the trouble he went through to find that secluded village, he couldn’t find any youths with great potential. At least with this lot the military would have a good set of recruits. “Awwachh” he let out a defeated sigh.

It was just his luck to not find any talent despite months of searching. Honestly, he was certain the village would bear ripe fruit, perhaps having some minor deity watching over it at the very least, which was not unheard of in isolated parts of the empire, far from the worship of the major deities in the central and southern parts of Kuro. At that moment, the corner of his vision saw a young girl with ice blue eyes and hair the color of midnight pulled back into a neat ponytail. His heart jumped as he looked at the girl who wore a simple green hide tunic and leather shoes that were obviously homemade. While the eyes were often considered cursed, Captain Takeda didn’t care much. He could feel an aura coming from her that screamed potential.

Takeda didn’t like the cursed-eyed folk anymore than the average person, but it was common knowledge that these people often had aptitudes for getting blessed with strong affinities to magic. He had found his proverbial dark horse and he wasn’t going to let this one out of his sight this journey. “Girl!” he nearly shouted. The young girl looked towards Takeda. “Come here.”

Nervously, the girl approached him. “Y-y-yes Lord Takeda?” she stuttered.

Lord? Well, I guess I seem like one to a secluded youth like this. He thought to himself. “What's your name, young one?”

“Seito Mei, Lord.” she said, her large blue eyes pierced towards him, causing Takeda to shift with mild discomfort.

“I want you to ride on the front wagon of the caravan with my footmen. Do you understand?” Takeda said with a slightly less military-style bark than he normally would give someone.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Without responding, the girl nodded and bowed, heading towards the wagon.

Captain Takeda watched as the young girl walked away. It was truly a shame that the girl was blue-eyed. If she had dark eyes like normal people, she would have been considered an unparalleled beauty when she grew up and, most certainly, if she got into the academy, would have married into a powerful clan or even higher. Shaking his head, Takeda ordered the caravan to begin its long journey to the Imperial capital.

…

Rokuro marched along with the other men from the village; the trek was going to be several days towards the south east to the first major city near Naebashi. From there, they would be trained and prepared to join the forces gathering in the south. He didn’t resent the empire for doing what they did, Rokuro was a man of honor and he understood a citizen’s duty to the defense of the nation they called home and benefited from the security it provided. After years of surviving in the wild he only cared about one thing in this world and that was his family. He was going to survive this war and make it home. He swore to the heavens he would.

Rokuro in his youth had done many less than honorable things prior to meeting his wife, but when he met her he put aside his brash brigand ways and adapted to being a humble huntsman on the outer edge of the empire. After many years his heart had softened and he was no longer a man who cared much for violence.

Knowing he would be part of the ranger division gave him some confidence. When rangers were put into dangerous situations, they also had high survival rates due to each one having to learn how to fend alone and as a team.

With his skills, he firmly believed he would succeed. “I will return to your girls,” he whispered to himself as he watched the grasslands sway in the wind.

…

On the distant horizon, spires began to fill the sky, poking like little needles into the blue curtain above. As Mei and the company approached the Imperial capital Ei'en of the Kuro Empire, it became clear the sheer enormity of it. Mei had never seen anything even remotely close to it. The city was nestled next to a green mountain range which would stretch from there all the way to the southern tip of the empire's territory.

Mei couldn’t suppress the excitement in her heart as she made her way towards the capital even though she still longed for her father and mother. This was something that she couldn’t wait to experience. This was a fulfillment of all the dreams she would have when she talked about the world outside of Naebashi.

Approaching the city gates, Captain Takeda showed his badge and the guards immediately let the small wagon train come through. The gates were twenty feet high and at least wide enough for 4 of the wagons to go through side by side. This was only one of the numerous entrances into the city and it screamed power and authority. The sight beyond the gate was something completely unreal to Mei as hundreds of people walked to and fro from every direction. Countless chatter and voices filled the area.

The sound of blacksmiths hammering and shop doors opening and closing assaulted her senses. Mei was used to the quiet almost bewitching silence of the village with the occasional rustle of the trees that came from the Great Northern Forest. They made their way further inwards before they came to a huge complex surrounded by white stone walls with the symbol of a Phoenix on the face of it. These walls were not as domineering as the city walls themselves, but were still larger than the surrounding buildings. Quickly they were hurried as a group into the complex as they dismounted the wagons.

Once inside, the noise of the city became a minor buzz before them were numerous buildings many stories high and larger than most of the buildings the shows used in the other parts of the city they traveled through.The area was meticulously cared for and was full of trees and ponds.

“Captain Takeda!” an old voice came from in front of them as a man descended the stairs of one of the main buildings “it has been a while, hasn’t it? I wasn’t expecting you to personally bring more potential recruits so soon!”

Takeda bowed immediately when he saw the face of the man. “Grandmaster Zhou! It is truly an honor to see you again!” Takeda smiled as he gestured to the children. “The recruits are ready to be evaluated.”

“Fantastic, we just began to process this months recruits anyways and we will throw them into the mix.” A hopeful look shone in his eyes as he observed the group of children. Mei felt slightly at ease similar to the feeling she got from Mr. Itakura. Mei was growing slightly restless as she had heard so many wonderful stories of magic users and if she had the opportunity to learn it, she would seize the chance.

Grandmaster Zhou chuckled as he led the way. “Now the children follow me.”

Without saying a word, Mei and the rest of the group followed him into the main building. Clenching her fist she knew that this was her opportunity, just as her father always told her to not hesitate, she went in with as much boldness and confidence as she could.