As the morning passes, so does my energy. I can feel my under eye bags weighting down on tired lids. Dark circles are prominent under my eyes as well as my foul mood. I barely have the energy to stand let alone survive in a crowd.

My roommates have told me I look like a corpse. They have some nerve! Especially Noreen, he was the one who brought me into this predicament in the first place!

The annual opening takes place at the training camp. An open field that gives space to athletics tracks and specialized equipment. I've been told that this is where most of the hand-to-hand combat training takes place, that would have been interesting information if it hadn't caused a wave of panic to flood over me. I still have not realized the fact that I'm at Coldruin Academy... Graduation guarantees you a pretty nice rank in any law enforcement position.

Training is not going to be easy; I can already feel the bruises on my skin. Why did they have to send me here! I have no previous experience (as if any first year would have any) I haven't even gotten into a fight before!

Jordynn's grip on my shoulder is enough to break the panic trance. I'm once again in the crowd, surrounded by my roommates. We head towards the sitting area, a corner of the camp in which lots of chairs are lined up to face a small stage.

Once we are comfortably sitting, a cart filled to the brim with refreshments passes by. “Finally, I’m so thirsty” Jordynn says. I couldn’t a agree more, I’m dying to get a sip. Before we are able to secure ourselves a nice, cold bottle of whatever that is, an Elfian comes stumbling down onto the cart.

“Shit!” The cart falls to the ground alongside the person pushing it.

I stare as Jordynn takes the initiative and rushes to the accident. My legs strain in anticipation to help, but the situation quickly gets under control. "What the fuck!" the cart-pushing guy yells from the ground.

The stumbling person is quick to apologize and help Jordynn pick up the bottles, soon followed by two other Elfians. "It's a good thing no one got hurt," Taillon says.

Music echoes in the background, It sounds traditional, sung in words I cannot understand yet it serves nicely to the atmosphere. I'm kicking my legs against the seat because, honestly, I have nothing else to do.

There's a cold bottle of juice on my lap, which I'm grateful for, the air is quite humid today. Nothing compared to the air back home, but I see Taillon and Noreen squirming uncomfortably on the side. They keep pulling their shirts and fanning themselves.

In an instance, the music is stopped alongside the quiet murmurs of the crowd. An old, raggedy Boulnae climbs up the stage. With a crane in one hand and a Link in the other, he approaches the microphones.

Who is that?

The man taps on the microphone before clearing his throat. “Hello and welcome students of Coldruin academy” he speaks in a raspy voice. “I wish to personally welcome you to yet another year at this academy, for those who find themselves on familiar grounds, welcome back. For those who recently decided to join us, we welcome you with great enthusiasm”

The man doesn’t even finish his speech when the crowd erupts in cheers and applauses. I seem to be the only confused soul to sit awkwardly in a chair.

Taillon bends forward "That's the director; Mr. G"

"Mr. G?"

"His name is Garrote Madeline, but we call him Mr. G"

The director takes a short pause and looks through the crowd of students - "Coldruin academy exists for thirty-eight years, in a couple of months thirty-nine. We have always been a staple of unity and discipline. I want everyone to realize that being here, attending this academy matters,"

"It shows that you uphold acceptance and pride and you down hold hate and crime. We will not defend the atrocities forty years ago, nor those two hundred years ago. With that in mind, we are planning on organizing Soulma's annual Representation Day here at Brownpeak"

Representation day? A festival? My answer comes quickly when the crowd roars yet again in a mixture of cheers and cries. This time they are sure to show their enthusiasm, standing up and whistling like their favorite team just won the game.

On the other side, there’s me. Smiling, it’s my turn to lean forwards and ask Noreen – “What’s happening? What is he talking about?”

"The festival?"

"Yes... Everyone seems to be excited, except me."

Noreen laughs: "It's very popular here in Elfia," raises his voice over the cheering crowd. "It's supposed to represent people and cultures around the world"

Oh! That sounds fun. I’m a bit surprise I haven’t heard of this festival until now, maybe it hasn’t been hosted in Yiondelienne. Leaning back I allow a smile to stretch across my features. Hopefully, I’ll get to attend this festival.

That hope doesn’t last long. Just hours after the director finished his speech I find myself stating at a digital poster for the Soulma Representation Day. The date is set after winter break... After I finish my ‘residence’ at the academy.

Leaning against the backrest of a bench we perched on, a long groan leaves my lips. “What’s wrong?” Jordynn asks, with a mouthful of sandwich.

“Nothing…”

Scrolling down on the Link, I notice something peculiar. "The festival was also held in Yiondelienne, a few years ago. Strange that I haven't heard of it," I shove the Link back in Jordynn’s grasp.

"I can't wait! It's going to be amazing!" Jodrynn begins to shake like a fizzy drink, nearly jumping out the bench. "You’re definitely going to love it Yue. There’s going to be artists and celebrities, we might even meet some of them”

I hum, resting my chin on the top of my palm. "Is the festival about unity and all that? Noreen told me a little bit about it"

Jordynn nods, he stills for a second and then shakes his head. Now that’s what I call mixed signs.

"It began as a celebration after the fall of the Middle Empire; you know, people were happy to have escaped slavery and such. Now though, it’s more of a cultural hub where everyone gathers and celebrates to union" He makes quotation sings when mentioning union.

"We have similar festivals, nowhere as popular as this! Which is quite... sad"

Jordynn frowns. "Yue, are you all right?" he asks.

Huh? Blinking, I notice Jordynn’s worried face staring back at me. I got caught up in my thoughts so much that I got into another trance, this one melancholy induced. "Yes! I'm fine, why wouldn’t I be?" I force a smile.

"You looked a little sad there for a second, very sad"

"Oh, don't worry. It's just my face, see!" I pull my face down before lifting it up again. Jordynn slaps my hands away.

"You're going to get wrinkles like that”

I immediately stop because, yeah, I care about wrinkles. I don't want them to show up sooner than they should.

“Anyway, classes are about to begin” Oh god.

Sighing, I ask, “What’s your first class”

Jordynn looks in the distance, searching his memory before returning with an answer. "Theory of Battle" My brows furrow. "Basically the theory of hand-to-hand combat"

"There’s a theory for that?"

“Yeah. Don’t worry, you also have this class. What do you have now?”

“Um…” I search my memories, “If I’m not mistaken I have Elements 101”

For some reason, Jordynn starts laughing. “W-what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s just that – I’ve always sucked at that class”

“Is it really that bad?”

Jordynn grins. “Get ready for endless hours of studying”

Oh no… what have I gotten myself into.