**Chapter 24: The Hall of Choices**
The grand wooden hall of Ragandarok Academy stood as a testament to timeless craftsmanship, its walls, floor, and ceiling all carved from rich, dark timber that seemed to hum with the whispers of countless generations. The air carried the faint scent of aged wood, mingling with the quiet tension of the thirty successful candidates scattered across the room. The hall was vast, its high vaulted ceiling supported by thick wooden beams that stretched like the ribs of some ancient beast. At the far end, a raised wooden platform stood, its surface polished to a mirror-like sheen, waiting for the next speaker to take the stage.
The seats, arranged in neat rows, were also carved from the same dark wood, their surfaces smooth from years of use. Yet, despite the hall's capacity to hold hundreds, only thirty students occupied the space, leaving dozens of seats empty. The distance between them was palpable, each candidate sitting isolated, their postures and expressions reflecting their unique personalities. Some sat upright, their eyes sharp and calculating, while others slouched, their faces etched with exhaustion or indifference. The silence was heavy, broken only by the occasional creak of wood or the faint rustle of clothing as someone shifted in their seat.
The reason for this separation was simple: these students were strangers to one another. They had fought, bled, and triumphed in the exam, but beyond that, they knew nothing of each other's lives, dreams, or fears. The hall, with its empty seats and scattered occupants, felt like a liminal space, a place where destinies were about to intertwine but had not yet done so.
The only exception to this isolation was Fulan's team. The blonde girl, the bald man, the archer, and Fayrouz—they sat close together, their proximity a silent acknowledgment of the bond they had formed during the exam. Though they were still far from being friends, their shared experience had created a fragile thread of camaraderie.
The blonde girl, Lazaria, sat with her back straight, her green eyes scanning the room with a calm curiosity. Her fair skin seemed to glow in the dim light filtering through the hall's high windows, and her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall of sunlight. Behind her, the bald man, Mondo, leaned back in his seat, his brown eyes twinkling with mischief. His tanned skin and muscular frame gave him the appearance of a seasoned adventurer, though his carefree demeanor suggested he was more interested in the journey than the destination.
The archer, Tauro, sat a seat away from Mondo, his white-blond hair tinged with a hint of yellow, like the first light of dawn. His green attire, tailored for mobility, was complemented by the quiver of arrows and bow resting on the empty seat beside him. His golden eyes were half-closed, as if he were dozing, but the sharpness in his voice betrayed his alertness.
Fayrouz, with her striking blue eyes and snow-white skin, sat closest to Fulan. Her black hair, streaked with strands of blue, framed her face like a dark halo. She exuded an air of quiet confidence, her presence both calming and commanding.
The silence was broken by Mondo, who stretched his arms and let out a low groan. "This is boring as hell. When is the guy supposed to show up so we can pick our specialties?"
Lazaria, seated in front of him, turned slightly, her green eyes meeting his. "Speaking of which," she said softly, "what specialty does each of you want to pursue?"
Tauro, his eyes still half-closed, responded in a calm, almost sleepy tone. "We don't even know each other's names yet. How can we know each other's desires? Fulan, we know his name because he was foolish enough to lose two points before the exam even started. As for Fayrouz, we know her name because we heard Fulan call her by it."
Lazaria nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You're right. I hadn't considered that. I'm Lazaria. The family name isn't important, right? I'll definitely join the Knights. What about the rest of you?"
Mondo turned to her, his face suddenly serious as he leaned closer, his brown eyes narrowing as if trying to place her features. "By the way, I've been meaning to say this for a while now," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Your face looks familiar, like I've seen you somewhere before..."
Lazaria pushed his face away gently, her tone calm but firm. "I don't think I'd forget someone with a skull like yours. You must be mistaking me for someone else."
Mondo chuckled, leaning back and placing a hand on his head. "Hmm, maybe I am wrong." He then grinned at the group, his earlier seriousness replaced by his usual optimism. "Anyway, I'm Mondo. Mondo Kondo. Men are born free to live as they please, and I've decided to be an adventurer because they seem so cool. They do whatever they want, whenever they want. No one gives them orders. That's why I want to be an adventurer."
As Mondo spoke, his enthusiasm was infectious, his smile wide and unguarded. Fulan, however, seemed lost in thought, his black eyes distant. In their reflective depths, Mondo's animated figure appeared as a faint, blurred image, a reminder of a childhood memory that had surfaced unbidden.
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In a small, crumbling wooden house, the sound of boiling soup filled the air. Sunlight streamed through a cracked glass window, illuminating the figure of a woman in her thirties—Fulan's mother. Her black hair cascaded down her back, and her dark eyes, so like Fulan's, were focused on the vegetables she was chopping.
"You want to be an adventurer?" she asked, her voice soft but tinged with concern. She paused, setting the knife down as she turned to face her son. "I could never allow you to do something so dangerous. It would be better for you to find a simple job with a craftsman. You're still young, Fulan. Don't think about such things yet."
Fulan, just seven years old at the time, stood behind her, clutching a wooden sword and wearing a makeshift hero's cape. He swung the sword dramatically, his voice filled with childish determination. "Working for a craftsman? That's no fun at all! Bang, slash, boom! I'll travel the world, fight all kinds of monsters, and then buy us a bigger, better house with the reward money!"
His mother resumed chopping the vegetables, a sad smile on her face. "I'm sorry, Fulan. I wouldn't oppose you if you had the talent. If only you had inherited your father's genes instead of mine. We're talentless, Fulan. We have no right to dream such dreams. Everything was decided the day you were born with those black eyes. I'm sorry you're my son..." Unseen by Fulan, tears fell onto her hands as she chopped, her heart heavy with unspoken regret.
Fulan was pulled back to reality by Fayrouz's touch on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked, her blue eyes searching his face.
He blinked, quickly regaining his composure. "Is it my turn? Well, I'm Fulan Nanimo. I want to join the Knights."
The others showed no surprise, as they knew little about Fulan. Fayrouz, however, tilted her head slightly. "I'm surprised. I've never heard you talk about wanting to be a Knight before."
Before Fulan could respond, Tauro opened his golden eyes and spoke in his usual calm tone. "Since everyone has introduced themselves, it's my turn. I'm Tauro. The first name is enough, as Lazaria said. I want to be a member of the Exploration Corps."
Mondo grinned, his earlier seriousness replaced by his usual cheerfulness. "So this is the end of our alliance, huh? Well, since this is goodbye, let's all do our best!"
The team exchanged smiles, their bond, though fragile, genuine in that moment. Each of them hid their true motivations, but their desires were sincere.
Minutes later, a tall man with gray hair and green eyes entered the hall. Dressed in a sleek gray suit that matched his hair, he distributed papers and pens to the thirty students. Once done, he stood at the wooden podium, his gaze sweeping over the room.
"Each of you has one sheet of paper," he announced, his voice calm but commanding. "Write down your full name and the specialty you wish to pursue. Do you want to be a Knight, an adventurer, or a member of the Exploration Corps? Be aware that this choice is final. Tomorrow, your studies at the academy will begin in earnest, so take your time and think carefully before writing."
The students wasted no time in filling out their papers, their goals already clear. Fulan, however, hesitated for a moment, his black eyes reflecting the weight of his thoughts.
'It's not like that, Mother. We were never talentless. We were the pinnacle of talent all along... Three whole years... It's such a long time. The people I'll study with and spend most of my time with will eventually become my enemies. Every moment of joy in this academy will be false for me... To see the King, to assassinate the King, to save the clan... I must sacrifice my life and all my desires...'
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