As Laran woke, his body throbbed with pain after the combat exercises he endured yesterday, but he was used to the pain of a beating and the ache of used muscle. “No matter, just another day,” he thought as he stood up from his bed, put on his school attire—a soldier's uniform adapted for a teenage boy, composed of loose and thin fabric in greenish and grey colours, the colours of his general environment. He took his school sack with books, notebooks, some lunch his mother prepared, and other accessories he'd need. He grabbed a sandwich prepared while running out of his house.

  Laran was 17, at the end of school and soon to go through the mandatory military service when he ends school, as it was both tradition and law for all citizens of Albor to be prepared for battle even though there hadn't been any outside conflict for decades. Laran didn't mind the service; he wanted to get stronger and develop his power and weapon. Since he was a child, Laran was interested in physics, especially gravity, mostly due to influence from his physicist father who pushed Laran into being an academic, but he was a free and adventurous soul who, despite the taboo that is leaving the country of Albor, still aimed to travel the continent after finishing his service. That goal of Laran's birthed a seed of disappointment in his father that was felt by Laran in any serious conversation with his stern academic father.

  As Laran lived in a house uphill, he had a great view each time he went out of his home. He always admired the view that he saw as he descended; even though the majority of houses were grey with wooden additions, the sea of buildings to the south always amazed him. With distance, the elevation rose slightly as the whole country was situated on an uneven plateau. On the southern horizon stood the most impressive building of this country: a giant brutalist governmental building that seemed to observe the rest of the country from its high ground. That building was the main military and governmental building.Behind the building a great mountain that topped the clouds, and to the north the only thing that held a candle to the size of the mountain at the edge of the plateau stood the Great wall of Albor a beige flat mountain of a structure reaching the clouds, that was Albors main line of defense it was very thick to support its height and had only one entrance a giant reinforced wooden door in the middle of it, From what laran learnt in school the wall stood on the precipy of the plateau so under the front of the wall that faced the continent was a steep natural slope and a large road that rose to the entrance. Albor was self sufficient inspite of beeing built on the platou that elevated the cithe above the contented it also did the same for the easter ocean but with time a fishing harbor was built roads strias elevators that allowed for the city acces to the Richness of the ocean. but many regions were dedicated to farming especially ones closest to the western side.

  Laran finally descended to the bustling street full of people, shops, and stands, as Albor was a lively and large city-state of stratocracy. Finally, Laran arrived for his last day of school, where he said his goodbyes and received a general final degree as everyone else did. Laran, with his goal of travel, applied for the military service immediately, so orientation started later the same day. School for him was just a stepping stone for his goal, same for the military training, although he knew that the time he would spend there would be valuable. So with determination in mind, he arrived at the closest military base, which was composed of barracks, an education building, a forge, and training grounds.

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  His class were 30 people, some from close by whom Laran recognized from his neighborhood, but also some kids from different regions and even some "royalty"—what every day person used the somewhat derogatory name for the top military and their families, often rich and from high society and in power. But Laran knew that those guys had it the worst here; the top military families always are strict and limiting. That intense upbringing was seen on these cadets as their clothing was clean and tight. There were 4 of them standing next to each other at the front of the line up. Only they stood in perfect stillness, doing the salute. All their movement was intense and fueled by the great burden and expectation placed upon them.

  3 of the “royalty” kids were boys. Two of them were tall and well-built, as if bred to be a perfect soldier. They seemed identical even though they didn't know each other, such identical strictness and standard is used by the “Royal” families. The 3rd boy was shorter with scruffier hair, not well-built. Although Laran saw the same mechanized movement during the salute, this boy seemed reluctant. But most serious and stern of them all was the last one: a girl with thick straight black hair that went down to her waist. Laran felt sorry for the 3rd royal boy who was next to a girl significantly taller than him. What was unique about her: she already had a weapon on her, the only one. Most cadets choose, make, and develop their weapons to fit them during this training, but only she had a sword by her side.

  Other than those 4, everyone else wasn't standing out enough for Laran to care. He wanted to make a rival out of the girl as he knew she was the strongest. The fact that she had a sword on cadet initiation meant she probably was a descendant from the main generals who led the country, that she was trained with that sword in mind since birth. Laran even bet she had good control of her power.

  As the words "at ease" sounded through the crowd from the drill instructor, a man who looked like the definition of his role of being a soldier. Beside him stood other instructors: a taller thin man with round glasses and a short woman whose well-built body stretched her clothing.

  The man spoke: “Welcome to your military training camp. I am Cpt. Sol. I will be responsible for your basic physical, combat, and strategy education.”

  Tilting his head towards the lanky man: “This is Lieutenant Oogle. He is responsible for teaching the basics of Vit? use and mastering its power.”

  Turning his head toward the buff woman: “This is Lt. Kowalsky. She will teach you forging, weapon maintenance, and creation.

  With today, you are beginning to walk a great path to be a responsible citizen of our country, to either be a civilian who is ready in case of an attack, or a soldier who will fight for his country and keep peace in this city. For the next two years, you will achieve a level 5 Evoker status with basic training in combat, Vitae use, and forging.

  Your week will consist of six days separated into 3 parts for each educator here. Each of us will have you for 2 days of the week. First two days of the week are with me; it will be dedicated to tactics and physical training. Next 2 days will be study. Next 2 forging. And the 7th day you have a rest day.

  Each day starts at 7:00 am. Lessons start at 9:00, end at 18:00.

  You will have 3 meals per day.

  Now, you will be led to the living spaces.”