The scorched sun fell upon them, the fierce wind blew heavily, with dusts scattered across space itself!
Present is the Teg Zrula training center of Texas!
They were all gathered, cladded in their military uniforms, cadets of the United State Army!
Just with a single glance, one could tell they were all teenagers, no diversity amongst them even though many came from difference races and spoke different languages, in this barracks!
They were all one, soldiers of the United State!
Their gaze were fixed on the grand ceramic blue painted pillars mounted on the square garden of the barrack, five in total.
With names written on every single pillars and with the cadets forming a crowd, their attention were fixed on the names listed on the pillars, there were jubilations in the air, smiles plastered on the faces of Cadets.
Each cadet had their names listed on the pillars with their place of commission, groomed to be soldiers of the United State.
With various duty posts listed, those who celebrated got the best!
Either assigned to an office duty or a non battle field center, those who awakened their Talents were granted easy access.
Cadets were divided into a group of two, the first being the awakened, those who awakened their gifts, demonstrating their talent abilities.....all were commissioned into different agencies within the military.
Granting them access to grow in ranks!
But for the non awakened, regarded as dirts amongst the cadets, all they needed to do was pray!
If they are lucky, they would be commissioned together with the awakened cadets but if they are out of lucky, they will sent off to their deaths!!
Deployed into the warfront against the enemies of the United States or sent off to die by the hands of the mana beasts!!
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While his fellow cadets were jubilating, filled with excitement, his heart sanked deep, overwhlemed with sadness, his gaze remained fixed on the pillar, staring at his name listed, he remained in a state of shock.
" What's this? Is it because I am a non awakened? why was i deployed to IPac? " He questioned no one in particular.
But his eyes were wide when he discovered, where he would be deployed and after his awakening had announced nothing.
IPac was the land of death, often where non awakeners and various weak cadets were deployed.
He could feel his heart racing intensely, beads of sweats covered his face.....despite the fresh breeze blowing around, he kept on sweating!
" Riley, Riley....Riley " a voice called out!
He tilted his gaze, turning his head towards a direction to see a group of cadets approaching him, three boys and a blonde at their center, their faces laced with smiles.
They were all awakened.
And the fact that they were all smiling meant they were commissioned to a place of comfort, his gaze darkened, his heart etched with venom when he turned his gaze, walking out of the scene!
Ignoring their calls as they advanced towards his direction!
" What's up with Riley today? shouldn't he be excited with us? I thought he's commissioned to the rear faculties just like us? " The blonde asked, the first of the three boys advanced towards the pillar.
Searching through the listed names when his eyes popped out!
" Guys " He called out!
" Yes Sean, what's up? " the second of the three cadets, Oliver asked, he noticed the expression of Sean who remained frozen in shock, they approached him, gently reading what was displayed on the pillar.
The blonde gasped in shock!
" What's going on here? why is Riley the only cadet of this training facility commissioned to the IPac? i don't get it, even other non commissioned cadets were given access to the rear faculties " She spoke out.
" Being commissioned to the IPac, aren't they sending him to his death? " Sean asked!
They tried chasing after Riley but he was nowhere to be found, all traces of himself were erased.
Returning back to his Dormitory, he saluted all passing higher ranking soldiers he came across, making his way into his Dormitory room, a loud sigh escaped his lips.....he stared at the mirror hunged on the wall.
Staring at his broken face....a sigh escaped his lips.
He gently took off his cap!
" Mr. Riley, It's time to die!! " He muttered!
[Cadets, congratulations on your commission.....I trust you all are aware of your deployment, you have only a few hours to pack your bags and prepare for deployment, you will be sent off to your various agencies]
[ I wish you all luck ]
A commanding voice was heard from the speakers imbued in every building of the barrack, Riley slowly took off his uniform, he changed clothes, putting on his casual outfit, a blue jacket with a black pant!
He took his time preparing his clothes together, he brought out two traveling bags, each contained a certain amount of his clothes, Riley lost his parents when he was only three years old.
He's being an orphan since the beginning of his life!
He joined the army at the age of thirteen after being released by the orphanage he stayed in, the army was the only option for him, hoping he would awaken like the rest of his fellow cadets and live a good life.
But fate is his enemy after all!
Not only is he an unawakened cadet of the military, he's also commissioned into the IPac, an agency known for their intense high death rate, IPac is the most deployed agency within the armed force.
Actively sending soldiers to their deaths against other nations, rebels and even hunting down mana beasts, for a non commissioned officer...he knew his fate already!
Being an eighteen years old non awakened cadet!
Death's patiently waiting for him!
A knock was heard on his door, he waited for a few minutes, another knock followed suit, he sighed softly, standing up from the ground, he approached the door, gently opening the door to see his friends.
His gaze remained dead cold!
" What are you doing here? " He questioned!
He noticed the sadness within the eyes of his friend, the blonde ran towards him, wrapping her arms around him as she hugged him tightly, he tried pushing her off him but her grip was more stronger.
" Lyra? " He called out!
" Let her have her moment with you, Riley.....we are aware of everything, you were commissioned to the IPac as a non awakened cadet, we know what happens to the soldiers who are commissioned to the IPac "
Oliver voiced out.
" If you do then why are you here? have you come here to mock me or not? " Riley asked, he's becoming even more agitated, his emotions had no control, he became calm when he heard the sobs of Lyra.
" Why would we come here to mock you, this may be the last time we meet, we came here to say goodbye to our friend " Sean spoke out, Riley gazed at him.
He gritted his teeths, drowned in sadness.....with tears threatening to fall, he controlled himself, gently pushing Lyra off him....
Lyra fell back in shock, Oliver held her from falling!
" Riley? " She called out!
" I'm happy I had friends like you guys but I don't want us to end like this, you guys are all awakened cadets, you will be deployed to high ranked agencies, with endless opportunities knocking on your doorstep "
" You will eventually forget someone named Riley existed "
" That's for the best, after all.....I'm heading to my death, goodbye! " He spoke out, shutting the door swiftly, he rested his back on the door.
Letting his tears flow down freely, he giggled softly!
Unable to cry, what came out was laughter.....he has only a few minutes to leave, preparing himself for a fate worse than death!!
He rushed his packing, closing up his bags containing his clothes, he grabbed other things including his pen knives and other things, he was about to leave the room with ten minutes remaining.
He gently opened the door, turning his gaze!
His eyes met with the green bracelet hunged on the wall, recalling the bracelet to being a gift from his parents, he quickly grabbed it, he tugged the bracelet into his pocket, when he grabbed his bags.
Heading out of the dormitory!
He's on his way to the IPac, the agency of death!!