The days pass like water around a stone, Valion's wounds have left small scars but their faded lines match the passage of time. The early morning sun streams through his bedroom window, illuminating a half filled form with the title 'U.S.N Military Academy Application' printed across the top in uniform spacings. Various fields across the form have been filled out as the rhythmic tap of a pen fills the room. His Furrowed Brow analyses the empty lines as his pen inks the paper once more.
Footsteps grow louder as it precedes the knocking at his door. "Valion, you almost done? We've gotta get going if we want to do some quick revision before our written entrance exam." Valion's ears perk up at the sound of his brothers voice echoing under the door. "yeah, almost done..." His eyes float around the room before settling on the digital clock on his wall, his eyes widen as he realizes how much time had slipped past him unnoticed.
"CRAP!" His sudden realization compliments the hasty scribbling on his page. Osiris rests his weight on the wall beside the door. Frantic scrambling reverberates through the room as Valion's door swings open, revealing a scraggly schoolman with paper spilling out of his bag slung over one shoulder. They both analyse the dress of one another before Osiris's amusement can no longer be contained. "pfft, looking good ahaha" he remarks as he uncrosses his arms and strides to the door. "come on! you can tidy up on the way!"
they both leap out the door and jog at a steady pace at each others side. they speak out to each other between breaths.
"so, did you at least Fill the application?"
"Y-yeah! its all filled out, but uh... the test on the other hand."
"You didn't study?" Osiris's eyebrow raises with humour and concern.
"of course I did!... a little... not enough..."
After a lengthy steady jog, the sun rises on the Academy itself, illuminating its regal design of white composite metals and blue trimmings. Banners flow in the wind displaying their allegiance. The air is filled with the sound of conversations of groups of friends and the scuffling of boots and paws on the ground. A more distant resonance of sparring battles can be heard as the ground shakes slightly in its wake. The pair slow their pace as they take in the stimulation.as they awe at the sights before them, a high pitch voice catches their attention. "i said excuse me! you two!" they both look at each other in puzzlement then behind them inquisitively.
a tall avian strides towards them, her long sunflower coloured legs cover a long distance between each step, he yellow feathers mellow out to black tips as they rustles with the breeze, her eyes match the same colour as she gazes towards them, her blue eyeliner contrasts her eyes like a sun reflecting off of the oceans surface. She keeps marching until she is inches away from their faces. She stammers as her blush begins to show through her feathers "Oh! sorry I didn't mean to-" She takes half a step backwards and examines each pocket routinely before pulling out a sleek pair of black glasses and places them on her beak. "Ahem its nice to meet you both, as the youngest member of the Cuyn clan, its my job to greet other families that show promise. As such, you have the honour of addressing Kazika Cuyn!" She puffs out her feathers proudly at her announcement, her accompanying smirk awaits praise from her namesake however the following silence between the three of them quickly deflates her ego.
Valion raises an eyebrow at her announcement, glances toward his brother and back at the avian in bepuzzlement "uh... who?" His response almost sends her beak to the floor. Osiris, unable to hold his fa?ade, burst into laughter "Pfft bahaha! oh my, sorry about that! I couldn't help myself!" he keels over in laughter as he wipes a tear forming at his eyelid, and re-posturing himself upright. "Its nice to meet you Kazika! I'm Osiris Faraday and this is Valion Faraday of the Faraday clan. Please excuse my brother, he's missed a few classes lately." Kazika picks her jaw up while adjusting her glasses to a perfect angle. "Ahem excuse me, I mistook him for some sort of butler. I will address you both with the respect you deserve... even if one of you are a bit na?ve..." she ends under her breath.
Osiris peeks out the corner of his eye, recognizing his brothers confusion. He leans closer to explain quietly. "That's Kazika Cuyn. She's the heiress and prodigy of her clan. The Cuyn clan own Cuyn Industries, the leading manufacturers in aerial aids, and the brilliant minds leading R&D in that field. Basically she's a super genius" Valions eyes widen in response as he quips back with a smirk. "what her?... Anything else to add to her achievements?" Kazika, overhearing his remark fidgets with her glasses while holding her book bag close to her chest and address it. "I'm also within the top 5 landtile world champions." Her announcement this time is made less proudly. Valion tilts an ear in response. "the tactile board game?" she clears her throat "Anyway, you're both her for the entrance exam correct? i look forward to seeing your results and if our clan deems it impressive enough, i look forward to partnership in the future as well!" she makes a perfect 90 degree turn and marches off toward school grounds.
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Both the brothers follow her march with their gazes before Osiris leans on his brothers shoulder. "well, she's right about one thing, we have an exam to get to. come on, id rather not be late." They both reach the allocated auditorium, the grumbling of nervous applicants seeps through the doors. They both shift their weight back and forth nervously as they slowly enter the room. The creaking of the door silences the room as the pair sheepishly make their entrance. A unanimous sea of exhales leave the mouths of all the students as they relax their shoulders and the tension slowly builds again. Osiris scans the room and the available seating and spots the last seats that are both available and next to each other.
"come on, lets get some last minute study in" he nudges his brother's elbow as he aims for the seats. They both screech the chairs across the floor as they take their places, and pull out their resources, some paper and others digital. The room slowly realizes what the new entrants are doing, and resources are slowly pulled out one by one as other entrants start mimicking the two brothers. Faintly the discussions around the room shift from the topics of their daily lives to the topics of their exam.
The doors burst inwards as the auditorium falls silent once more. This time however, a raven avian steps inside. he takes his time between each step as the contact of his claws on the marble tiles echoes off the walls. After a suspenseful stride he finally stands behind his podium before addressing the students in his deep gravely voice. "I would ask that all students find their seats, and then ill begin your exam orientation" The students sheepishly all start lowering themselves at their desks one by one.
The raven addresses the hall once more. "thank you. I won't bother introducing myself since most of you will not be attending this Academy. Some may already know the exam conditions, as I recognize some re-applicants this year, however I will still go over them. Your entrance exam papers consist of three parts. The general knowledge quiz, The I.Q and Battle theory section, and finally the historic short response section. You all have eight hours to complete the exam. The first chime of the school speakers will mark when you may begin, and after eight hours, the second chime will mark the exams end. If you attempt to keep writing after the final chime, you will be given a warning. continue to disobey me after that, and i will disqualify you."
His words carry the weight of each students futures. They all slump slightly in their seats as their nerves begin to be tested. "you may not leave the exam hall until the exam is over. if you must relieve yourselves, i recommend doing it now. being caught outside of the exam hall will result in disqualification. The tests are marked out of one hundred points. The passing mark is ninety points. I will remain in the hall simply to observe and deliver disqualifications as needed. Good luck, and please wait for the chime."
His speech leaves the hall in a stale air. The collective gulping of some students can be heard as the professor steps away from his podium, resuming his stride with the slight clacking of his claws across the floor, accompanied with the shifting sound of paper booklets being lifted off a pile he carries and placed in front of each student, one by one. After much anticipation, Valion's exam paper lands on his desk in front of him. The perfectly spaced printing on the paper and official stamp give him the sudden realization that he is about to take an exam for entrance to a very prestigious academy. A fact he hadn't completely come to terms with until now.
Valion's Heart begins to thump louder and louder as it consumes his eardrums. His hands start to contract his anxiety as they shake. His breathing starts to quicken in anticipation and finally, 'bing' A chime exits from the speaker before the school tone plays. Immediately after the chime finishes, the hall is filled with the sound of papers swishing and pencils scratching on papers. Valion quickly follows suit, diving into his exam paper as the seconds tick down. The sun rises to its apex and begins to fall as the hours pass by.
Valion continues to frantically write through his exam as thoughts race through his mind at the same time. 'What if i don't finish in time?' 'Why am i even doing this?' 'Should I even care if i get in or not?'. Before he can internally address his thoughts, he flips over his exam page after filling it with his answers only to find the next page completely blank. He shoots the page a blank look, as he turns that page only to see the marble table underneath. He slowly rises out of his seat in bewilderment and staggers toward the podium. Out of the corner of his eye, a figure also rises. Valion turns his head to bring the figure into focus. Osiris has risen out of his seat, and confidence fuels his stride as he walks to his brothers side.
His proud demeanour rubs off of him and onto Valion as they both share a smile with each other, and continue their strides to the podium. The raven practically stares into their souls as he slowly gestures toward a low-humming machine on the desk at his side. "Your results will be quickly calculated and displayed on the Academy board at the entrance. If you have passed, an academy package will be sent to your registered addresses with instructions for the future." They both lay their exam booklets on top of the machine that begins to whirr with activity. The sudden shift of noise causes the rest of the auditorium to gaze in surprise, as they all scan the rest of the room, only to notice that there are only two empty seat in the auditorium.
The two brothers realizing that they had been the first to finish their exams, bashfully exit the auditorium with a new found urgency. They quickly pace toward the academy board, and scan its contents before locking onto the section labelled 'Entrance Exam Results'. An entry is already Visible on screen.
Osiris Faraday - 98 Points (pass)
He lets out a breath of relief as his shoulders lower. his muscles release the tension they've been holding throughout the day. Valion's heart begins to thump a familiar beat as he slowly leans toward the screen in anticipation. Seconds turn to minutes as his gaze goes undisrupted. Finally, the screen beeps with and update and a new entry materializes.
Valion Faraday - 93 Points (pass)
He releases a large exhale, as if he'd been holding his breath the whole time, as he hunches over, supporting his upper body on his knees. "I never had any doubt" His brothers supportive voice helps to unwind his tension gently as he feels his hand wrap on his shoulder. They both stand upright, admiring the results of their hard work and determination. The wind blows around them, rustling the trees as it passes and signifying the change of their fates. They both turn with their chests full of pride, ready to take on whatever the academy has to throw at them.
