For the workforce in Colville, summer is the worst. Without an air conditioner, you will be not much better than an ice cream in a broken freezer. For students, it is quite the opposite, summer is when their youth can truly bloom after mundane time spent sitting at a desk and listening to the point that even facts become nonsense. As for Segar, and many other high school seniors, it is all about eyes gluing on the computer screen, and refreshing the Ministry of Education scholarship application website. 

Segar was born in a third-world country, not so bad you may say. Unfortunately, Colville, his hometown, is the biggest, yet the poorest out of all cities there. You have two paths to follow once the word “Colville” appears on your birth certificate. One, go to school like anyone else, drop out at some point, and spend your entire life as a blue-collar worker in a shabby factory. Two, study hard, really hard, marry the books, and have the teachers as your parents-in-law. Then, make your way into a prestigious college, get a high-end job, and flee from this pathetic place. Sadly enough, the poverty of Colville is just too much for that college dream to come true without a full scholarship. And to make it worse, applicants from Colville do not have any soft spot in the heart of private recruiters. So, government scholarship, which is very limited, is their only option. This year, the government will gladly accept the 10 most prominent applicants from Colville.

Segar is not just any normal scholarship hunter of Colville, he is Segar. Segar has spent his entire life for this moment. He just has had enough with his father who makes 10 then spends 7 on alcohol, and his pitiful mother, who works twice as hard but spends zero on herself. The aim of Segar when he devoted his youth to mock exams you may ask? Money. He wants to make so much money to the point that he can buy all the alcohol in the world to make his father sick of it. He wants to make so much money to the point that his mother can use it to dare someone to work as much as her. That is Segar. That is how far Segar went for this moment. If the result does not have the name Segar, it will have no other names from Colville. Segar knew this already. He is just waiting for his available choices. In his mind, a scholarship in a government education facility guarantees a nice spot in this system. Government officials’ paycheck is not so great, but they do have power, political power. And what comes with power? Money.

Just as Segar hits the refresh button for the umpteenth time, the mail icon at the top right corner of the screen with a small red dot and the number “2” in it, starts flickering.

“Your scholarship application has been approved.” - the first notification stated.

He knew this already, so, the other mail he shall click.

“You have one available option. The list is attached at the end of this mail” - stated the second notification.

“One?” - Segar lets out his first and deepest sigh in his 19 years living at Colville - the most pitiful city in this country, then, click on the list to see what will his 19-year effort turn out to be.

The list shows up:

“Total of options: 1

  1. Gravefield Ground forces Academy: Specialization in Regional security Operations''

A glimpse of confusion appears on Segar’s face and yet, another deep sigh. Gravefield Ground Forces Academy is among the best government education facilities that one can dream of; However, Segar is not the man that this country’s armed forces would welcome. His physique is not that terrible, but spending 19 years cramming for exams and exams only, has taken its toll on him. As soon as the academy’s regular physical evaluation comes up, he will be sent back to Colville. Then, he will spend the rest of his life gradually becoming his father, and bragging to his kids how well their dad has done in high school. Segar’s imagination about his gloomy future runs wilder and wilder. Only when Segar’s imagination seems to leak out of his head in the shape of mythical creatures and devour their master, does the mail icon, once again, start flickering. 

“Maybe it is a correction announcement from the Ministry. Yeah… that must be it” - Segar comforts himself then eagerly clicks on the flickering icon.

“Dear Segar,

I am delighted to inform you that Gravefield Ground Forces Academy has admitted you to the class of 202X under the Ministry of Education scholarship program. Please accept my personal congratulations for your outstanding achievements.

This year, the Ministry has suggested more than two thousand students to Gravefied Academy for two hundred places in the freshman class. Faced with many more talented and highly qualified candidates than it has room to admit, the Academy has taken great care to select individuals who present extraordinary academic performance. In voting to offer you admission, the staff has demonstrated their firm belief that you can make important contributions during your college years and beyond.

As an armed forces facility, Gravefield Academy also requires remarkable physical performance; However, that should not be your concern at the moment. Proper training will be issued for each specialization before any physical evaluation is made. 

Further information, instruction, and submission of mandatory documents will be done via the Colville Military Administration Office. If you have any questions, please contact Lieutenant Montana, secretary of the Colville Military Administration Office.

We are looking forward to having you join us in December.

Yours Sincerely,

Colonel Hudson R.

Director of the Academy”

A bit of disappointment is still left on Segar’s face. Being an officer? How much can an officer make in this hell hole? If Segar could make his choice, it would be Ankov College’s Inspector training course. Imagine how sweet those slump-like factory owners will pay him so that they can bypass any safety regulation. Segar jumps on his bed and lets out the third sigh of the day but in relief this time. At least, Gravefield Academy will give him some time to prepare before the physical evaluation. That is a bit of hope he has for now. He may not be a man for the armed forces. Still, he will take any chance he has to escape from Colville.