Kyren and Hiro exchanged uneasy glances, feeling the weight of Alaine’s ominous words settle on them. A bead of sweat rolled down Hiro’s brow as the gravity of the situation began to sink in.

"I just want to tell you that Sky Academy is not what you might expect," Alaine continued, her voice steady but carrying an undeniable undercurrent of concern. "And the last thing I'll say is this... some people don’t make it out of there alive." The weight of her statement hung in the air, enveloping them in a thick cloud of unease.

Kyren and Hiro both looked stunned, their disbelief and apprehension written across their faces. The seriousness of the academy’s dangers now seemed all too real.

Alaine turned to Hiro, her eyes searching his for any sign of hesitation. “So, Hiro, you really want to do this?” Her voice softened, but the concern was still evident.

Hiro, determined, met her gaze without faltering. Though his hand trembled slightly, it was clear that he had made up his mind. "You know, Alaine," he began, a hint of emotion creeping into his voice, “I don’t want to become emotional tonight, but if I don’t do this now, when will I?” He took a deep breath, locking eyes with her again. "You're one of the reasons that motivate me. I want to keep up with you."

Kyren, Alaine, and Roland listened quietly as Hiro spoke, his resolve shining through every word.

"If war breaks out again, I’ll fight to protect our town,” Hiro declared with quiet determination. “So if I die trying to improve myself before then, at least I can say I tried. And if I manage to become a great warrior, maybe I can make a real difference.”

Alaine, her gaze filled with admiration, nodded approvingly. “You’re right, Hiro,” she said firmly. “And I need you to join my guild so we can both achieve our dreams together.”

Her smile widened as she turned to both of them. “Tomorrow, let’s get you both enrolled in Sky Academy,” she said, her eyes sparkling with a mix of pride and determination.

..

Later that night, after settling into the rooms Alaine had rented for them, Kyren found himself restless. Alaine's warning echoed in his mind, preventing him from finding peace. Quietly, he slipped out of his room and made his way to the terrace. The cool night air greeted him as he leaned against the railing, staring out at the city below.

"Why do they let people die at the academy?" Kyren muttered to himself, lost in his thoughts. The city’s distant hum contrasted sharply with the turmoil within him.

"Can’t sleep?" Alaine’s voice cut through the silence, bringing Kyren out of his reverie. He turned to see her standing behind him, concern etched on her face.

"Yeah," Kyren admitted quietly, his gaze falling momentarily before meeting hers again.

"Are you worried about Sky Academy?" she asked gently.

Kyren hesitated before responding. "Yeah, but I’m thinking about something else too. I’m thinking about why they allow people to die there in the first place."

Alaine stepped closer, her face softening with sympathy. “They don’t allow it,” she explained carefully. “But there are so many students… they can’t monitor everyone all the time. Sometimes, things just… slip through the cracks.”

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The two stood in silence for a moment before Alaine spoke again. "I heard you lost your memory?" Her question was tentative, as if not wanting to pry.

Kyren nodded, a shadow of sadness crossing his face. “Yeah,” he said simply.

Alaine’s expression brightened slightly. “I think I can help with that,” she offered. Kyren’s eyes widened in hope. “Really? How?”

Alaine explained, “I have a guild member with a 2-Starred Healer Badge. She might be able to restore your memories, though I won’t lie—it’s not guaranteed. She hasn’t mastered deep mind reading, so it’s a bit of a gamble.”

Kyren nodded, appreciating her honesty. “Thank you,” he said, feeling a surge of gratitude.

After a moment, he asked, “Why are you helping us so much, Alaine? I know Hiro is your friend, but why invest so much in us?”

Alaine’s expression softened further. “Hiro was there for me when I needed motivation. He’s part of why I’m where I am today. I want to repay that and help him succeed.”

"I understand," Kyren replied. The two shared a quiet understanding as they prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.

..

The next morning, Kyren and Hiro stood before the towering gates of Sky Academy, their eyes wide with awe. The academy's grand spires reached towards the sky, and its centuries-old architecture exuded both tradition and power. The campus was vast, sprawling out before them like a city unto itself.

Inside, they were greeted by a lavish lobby filled with intricate marble columns, chandeliers, and the excited buzz of students and faculty. The air hummed with anticipation as everyone moved with purpose.

At the reception desk, an official greeted Alaine with a nod. “Hello, Alaine. What brings you here today?”

“I’d like to enroll them in the Academy,” Alaine said proudly, gesturing to Kyren and Hiro.

The official smiled approvingly. “Ah, aspiring protectors of the land! You’re good at inspiring people, Alaine.” She turned to Kyren and Hiro. “Fill out these forms,” she instructed, sliding the paperwork across the desk. “And, Alaine, follow me for the registration fee.”

As Alaine left to handle the details, Kyren and Hiro focused on filling out the forms. Their attention was briefly interrupted by a group of older students lounging nearby, snickering.

“Some kids think they’re here just to study,” one of them mocked, earning laughter from his group.

Hiro clenched his fists, his anger rising, but Kyren placed a calming hand on his arm. Hiro took a deep breath, remembering their goal. Confronting these bullies now would only be a distraction.

Just as tension filled the air, Alaine returned. “Are you done?” she asked, glancing at the forms in their hands.

“Yeah,” Kyren said, handing the completed paperwork over to the academy staff.

The staff member reviewed the documents with a nod. “Everything looks good. You’ll be in Batch 4. Training begins in one week.”

..

As they left the academy, Roland was waiting for them outside. Alaine looked at Kyren and Hiro. “You have a week before training starts. Any plans?”

The two boys exchanged unsure glances. They had little money left and weren’t sure how they’d manage for a whole week.

Alaine noticed their hesitation. “If you’re worried, come to my guild’s office in Arramaya City. We can help you prepare and teach you some things about weapons.”

Hiro’s face lit up at the offer. “Really?”

“Really,” Alaine confirmed. “You’ll also meet your future guildmates there.”

Grateful and eager, Hiro grasped her hand. “Alaine, we’ll repay everything someday. Thank you so much.”

With that, their journey to becoming warriors truly began, and the dangerous path ahead at Sky Academy seemed a little more bearable with Alaine by their side.

As they left the academy, Roland was waiting for them outside. Alaine looked at Kyren and Hiro. “You have a week before training starts. Any plans?”

The two boys exchanged unsure glances. They had little money left and weren’t sure how they’d manage for a whole week.

Alaine noticed their hesitation. “If you’re worried, come to my guild’s office in near town to Arramaya City. We can help you prepare and teach you some things about weapons.”

Hiro’s face lit up at the offer. “Really?”

“Really,” Alaine confirmed. “You’ll also meet your future guildmates there.”

Grateful and eager, Hiro grasped her hand. “Alaine, we’ll repay everything someday. Thank you so much.”