Darkness blanketed the hills as a group of boys darted through the woods, their laughter echoing into the evening.
"Got you!" shouted Ino, tossing a wooden kunai toward a figure in the shadows.
It struck something — but only a piece of wood.
"Too slow, Ino!" Luz laughed, jumping from behind a tree.
Jed grinned. "Man, you're slippery!"
The four boys — Luz, Jed, Ino, and Marcus — collapsed onto the ground, exhausted and smiling.
"That was fun," Marcus said between breaths.
From the distance, a voice called out.
"Luz! It's getting dark! Come here now!"
Luz sat up. "That's my mom. See you guys tomorrow!"
He waved goodbye and ran toward the small farmhouse, wind brushing past his sweaty face.
"I'm here, Mom!" Luz called as he opened the door.
His mother greeted him with a warm towel and a tired smile. "Look at you — covered in sweat again. Come here."
She wiped his forehead and fixed his messy hair.
"Where's Dad?" Luz asked.
"On his way home, I think."
Just then, the door creaked open.
"Dad!" Luz ran over. "How was work?"
His father groaned, setting down a sack of vegetables. "Tiring… but it puts food on the table."
Luz's eyes wandered to a newspaper sticking out of his father's bag.
"Can I have this?"
His father nodded.
In his room, Luz unfolded the paper and stared in awe.
"The Light Military Academy: Accepting Applicants Age 15 and Above."
His heart pounded.
"I want to be here..." he whispered.
But his excitement faded as he looked at the date.
"…I'm only twelve."
---
Three Years Later
The sun rose on Luz's fifteenth birthday. The town buzzed with excitement.
"Hey Luz!" Ino called. "You applying to the military academy tomorrow?"
"Of course!" Luz replied, full of hope. "You?"
"Me, Jed, Marcus — we're all in."
But that hope didn't last.
Back home, Luz approached his parents with the application form.
"Mom… can I go? Please."
She froze. "No. Absolutely not."
"But why?"
"I don't want you to die like the others," she said, trembling. "The dark side… it kills without mercy."
"Listen to your mother," his father added sternly. "No one in this family will join the Light Army. You'll work with me on the farm. That's final."
Luz lowered his head. "Yes, dad…"
---
The Next Day
Lines stretched across the academy grounds. Ino looked around, worried.
"Where's Luz?"
Meanwhile, Luz lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, crushed. But his heart burned.
He couldn't give up.
Not like this.
He quietly packed his things and slipped out while his parents slept.
---
At the Academy
Hours later, Luz arrived, sweaty and breathless.
He joined Ino, Jed, and Marcus just in time for the first exam — a written knowledge test.
Some applicants failed. Others passed.
Luz and his friends made it through.
"I need to pee," Luz muttered, running out of the exam room. But on his way back, he bumped into three large older students.
"Watch it!" one barked.
"S-sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"Sorry's not enough," the biggest one growled.
Before Luz could react, a punch slammed into his face, knocking him down.
Jed, Ino, and Marcus rushed in, throwing themselves at the bullies, but they were quickly overpowered and pinned to the ground.
"You're weak," the leader sneered at Luz. "You don't belong here."
He raised his fist again — but chains suddenly wrapped around his arm, stopping it midair.
A boy with sharp eyes and wild black hair stepped between them, holding a kunai to the bully's throat.
"Leave. Now."
The three bullies scrambled away, terrified.
Luz sat up, blood on his lip, stunned. "T-Thanks… What's your name?"
"Den," the boy said, lowering his weapon. "From the Lastimo family."
He extended a hand.
"Don't worry, Luz. From now on, I've got your back — if you've got mine."
Luz grinned and shook it.
"Deal."