Magnolia's eyes widened. The general released him, and Magnolia quickly wiped away his tears, following him out of the room. His white pants were scorched at the end.
They entered a large room filled with people. All eyes turned to them. Whispers filled the air.
"Another recruit?"
"That's him, the boy who wiped out a platoon of elite soldiers."
"No way, that kid? He looks so scared."
"SILENCE!!!" A commanding voice cut through the noise, drawing everyone's attention including Magnolia's.
"Now that I have your attention, you're all here because you enlisted or were recruited. You will be trained effectively. If you don't have a contract, we will test your comparability for one. Any questions?"
A man raised his hand. "Not to question you, my lord, but why are there children here?"
"Children?" The Pharaoh responded with a hint of surprise. "Yes. These children are the next generation of the assault squad. They have awakened at the ages of five, six, and seven."
"Are children truly permitted to be a part of an 'assault squad,?'" the same man questioned.
The Pharaoh struck a stern glare at the man. "Do you dare question me?"
"N-No sire…" The man said frightened, he closed his mouth so as not to further elict the Pharaoh. A few other men and women looked eerily concerned.
The crowd parted to reveal eleven children grouped. Magnolia noticed that the boy in front, who had been glaring at the pharaoh, was fiercely staring at him.
"My lord, don't forget about our star here," the general said teasingly stepping aside to reveal Magnolia.
"Ah yes, the boy who single-handedly defeated a platoon of soldiers and even forced my general to use his contract."
Contract?
Magnolia felt the weight of everyone's gaze—some with anger, others with curiosity. He felt smaller than ever.
Why did the pharaoh and the general have to single me out like this? Magnolia thought anxiously.
He was jolted from his thoughts by a girl approaching him She looked about his age, with light skin, green eyes, and a baby face, dressed in an assistant nurse's uniform. She waved her hand in front of Magnolia's face.
"Hey, weird-eyed boy."
"Weird me?"
"Listen, come with me if you don't want to get trampled by all of these overzealous men and women."
She led him to a cluster of children near the wall. A brown-haired boy with green eyes, the one who'd been glaring at the Pharaoh, stuck out his hand.
"Mr. Superstar. I'm Poison."
"Magnolia."
"I know. Everyone does." Poison jerked a thumb down the line. "Kibo, pretending to be asleep. Luna, who talks when she has something worth saying. Abraham, who'll correct your grammar. Sous and his sister Sofia, who'll pretend not to like you. Valentina, Matthew, you'll learn them by who hits you first."
A small blonde girl hovered at the back, tugging at her sleeve. Luna caught her wrist and pulled her forward.
"Emma," Luna said. "She's shy. Don't stare."
Magnolia and Emma exchanged a lingering gaze, both unsure what to make of each other.
"Hey, superstar." An arrogant voice interrupted their interaction, drawing Magnolia's attention away.
An adult voice approached the group of children, filled with arrogance. "Hey superstar," he called out to Magnolia.
The man draped his arm around Magnolia's shoulders. Magnolia glanced at his arm, then up at his face. The man had light blue hair, black eyes, an average build, and an average face, but he was definitely taller than Magnolia.
"What do you want, Suegi?" Poison asked, annoyed.
Suegi smirked. "Oh lighten up, Poison. I'm just here to talk to the general's favorite—our little superstar," he said, mocking Magnolia with his tone.
Abraham adjusted his glasses and spoke firmly "Well, your presence isn't wanted so leave."
Suegi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? my presence isn't wanted? What do you think, superstar? Is my presence not wanted?" He directed his question at Magnolia, who remained silent, his words caught in his throat.
Suegi misinterpreted Magnolia's silence as arrogance and grew angry. "So I'm not worth talking to, huh, superstar?"
Without warning Suegi grabbed the back of Magnolia's neck and threw him across the room. The sudden action drew everyone's attention, including the general's and the pharaoh's.
Poison tried to intervene, but Sous stepped in front of him, blocking his way.
"Don't you wanna see what this Magnolia kid can do?"
Magnolia picked himself up, slightly dazed.
Before he could fully regain his footing, Suegi was upon him, landing a punch to Magnolia's stomach that knocked the wind out of him. Suegi followed up with an axe kick, striking the top of Magnolia's head.
Magnolia fell, blood trickling from his mouth.
"Is that all from the so-called superstar who made the general use his contract?" Suegi taunted as he lifted Magnolia by the neck and tossed him to the center of the room.
"Guys, he's not fighting back," someone murmured nervously.
Sous responded, "Hold on, I could feel something's about to happen.
Suegi approached Magnolia in the center of the room, his gaze fixed on the necklace around Magnolia's neck. "Hey, what's this?" Suegi reached for the necklace.
"Don't touch that…" Magnolia muttered weakly.
"What? It's not like you're going to stop me." With a yank, Suegi ripped the necklace from Magnolia's neck and dropped him to the floor. He walked back toward the children more arrogant than before.
"Sigh, Amelia go heal him-"
But as soon as Amelia prepared to approach, Magnolia stood up. His eyes were shadowed by his hair, and his fists clenched in rage. Smoke began to emit from his palms.
He slowly walked toward Suegi, the room eerily silent except for Suegi's bloating.
Suddenly, Magnolia ran at him.
"SUEGI, BEHIND YOU!" A soldier yelled, but it was too late…
"Why so angry Magnolia?"
SLASH
Before Suegi could fully turn around, Magnolia's strike severed Suegi's hand, which had been holding the necklace. The dismembered hand flew through the air and landed in front of the children. Suegi screamed, but the wound was cauterized, leaving no blood.
Magnolia stared at Suegi, then walked over to the severed hand. He picked it up and removed the necklace. As he looked up, the children realized how dangerous Magnolia truly was.
The Pharaoh watched with a smile. "Atta boy"
"He did that without breaking a sweat? This boy…" the Pharaoh remarked, impressed.
The Pharaoh teleported next to Magnolia.
"Good one Magnolia, you've yet to disappoint me."
Magnolia's wounds began to heal as he opened his eyes, finding himself in an empty void. He wandered, noticing his injuries had vanished, there, he saw a familiar figure: Ra, with ragged clothes and a hawk's head.
Ra, limping slightly approached Magnolia.
A white light surrounded Magnolia, which then turned bright orange as Ra appeared.
Ra placed a hand on Magnolia's shoulder.
"Do you want to become strong? Or do you wish to be true? Do you wish to hold the power of the sun?"
A blue flame appeared on Magnolia's hands. "Now, what will you do? This power will reveal itself to the world…"
Magnolia awoke next to the other recruits.
"When will he wake up?"
"Any time now. He must be exhausted from the damage he received."
"I guess you're right, Matthew, he is stronger than expected."
"Yeah, you're right about that," Luna agreed looking down at Magnolia.
Magnolia opened his eyes and saw the other recruits around him. "What are you guys doing?"
"Making sure you're okay," Poison replied.
Emma peeked from behind the door to the infirmary, admiring Magnolia.
"What you did back there was amazing kid, seriously, we should spar some time," Poison said enthusiastically.
Emma approached Magnolia, her voice shy. "You-you did a great job, Magnolia."
"Thanks," Magnolia said. "Can you help me with my necklace?"
Emma hesitated but nodded "Y-yeah."
She shorter than everyone else. Her deep blue eyes looked up at him, while her blond hair slightly flowed due to her uneasy movements. She was gently tugging on her plain white shirt that paired with her yellow pants.
She helped fasten the necklace around Magnolia's neck. "Thanks. Emma."
Emma blushed and quickly looked away.
The general walked over, standing tall, his broad shoulders taking up the infirmary room. "Follow me children," he said, guiding the children to an outside area.
"Now sit down" commanded the general.
The children sat on the sand as the general addressed them. "Hello, children. And future soldiers. This first test will test your intelligence."
The general handed out sheets of paper to each of the children, Magnolia grabbed his sheet looking intently at it. He stopped, remembering that his father taught him everything that's listed. The test had questions including, battle scenarios, agriculture, and resource management.
Father taught me all of this. How did I manage to lose him?
Eventually, Magnolia and the rest of the recruits finished testing. The pharaoh soon walked over collecting the tests. Quickly reviewing them alongside the general before speaking up.
"Which of you will demonstrate your supernatural abilities. Who would like to demonstrate first?"
Poison raised his hand, he had light skin, a round face, brown hair, and green eyes. He was taller than Magnolia.
He walked over to the Pharaoh before creating an orb of toxin within his hands, throwing it at a nearby mouse, killing it instantly.
"Yeah that's the real deal" Valentina said enthusiastically.
Magnolia looked at. poison then at the mouse, astonishment across his face. There's more like me?
"Good, good." Says the Pharaoh. "Next."
Matthew walked up, he had light olive-colored skin that glimmered, dark curly hair that spiked at the corners, and wore a bronze-colored shirt and pants.
He raised his hand, and created multiple small barriers with blue outlines around them.
"Good," the Pharaoh stated.
Amelia walked up
She looked about Magnolia's age, with light skin, green eyes, and a baby face, dressed in an assistant nurse's uniform. She waved her hand in front of Magnolia's face.
then lifted her index finger, suddenly transforming into a small white bird.
"Whoa, a bird?" Poison said surprised.
"It's so beautiful" Luna said calmly.
Amelia transformed back.
"Wonderful, wonderful," the Pharaoh said.
Valentina quickly walked up, she had bronzed colored skin that showed visible scars and long chestnut colored hair with loose strands showing. She had emerald green eyes, her clothing consisted of a pale shirt and black shorts.
She Squats down near the sand, and raised her hand, causing the water within the sand to float up. She created a small ball of water before smashing the ground, causing a deep hole to open up, and causing the water within the grains of sand to sprout out. Creating a slight rainfall.
"That's good, very good," Says the Pharaoh.
Abraham walked up next and walked over to Matthew "Could you create another barrier for a moment?"
Abraham had light brown skin, sharp amber eyes, and thick black hair tied behind his head. He had black shirts and black shorts on.
Matthew nodded his head, creating another barrier with a blue outline around it.
"Thanks," Abraham said as he stared at the barrier, walking around it for a few seconds. He then hovered his index finger above one of the bottom corners of the barrier, swiped it, and a golden line forms for a mere second then he immediately shattered the barrier. The other recruits had a look of shock on their faces.
"How did he do that?" Kibo inquired as his eyes fixated on the shattered barrier.
"Is he that strong? Or was the barrier weak?" Valentina asked.
"No," the Pharaoh said, walking over to Abraham, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"This boy found the inconsistencies within the barrier, and shattered it with precision." He elucidated, removing his hand from Abraham's shoulder.
"Now who wants to go next?"
Father, where were you?
"I'll go," Magnolia said, quickly fixing his necklace, thinking back to his father. He snapped his fingers, creating a small yet potent flame on top of his fingers. Causing everyone except the pharaoh and general to back up immediately due to the heat.
"That's too hot" Amelia said stepping back catching herself as she almost tripped.
"See he's the real deal" Poison said looking at Sous.
"Yeah, I can see that now" Sous replied glancing over at everyone else backing up, noticing Emma wasn't backing up. The other recruits also looked at Emma.
"It isn't hot for her?" Matthew said.
"Emma, you alright?" Valentina said walking slowly to Emma.
"Y-Yeah, I'm good," Emma said slightly blushing due to all of the eyes on her.
"That's enough," the general said to Magnolia, as Magnolia snapped again extinguishing the flame.
Luna walked up cracked her knuckles and walked over to the dead mouse.
She possessed fair golden skin and long braided silver hair that fell to the back of her head. Pale blue eyes, and wore a light robe.
She lifted her left hand and began to levitate the corpse.
"Wait what?" Kibo said.
"That's so cool" Poison said intently as he watched.
Luna dropped the dead mouse back on the ground. Glancing over at a nearby lily flower, she lifted a finger and individually raised each leaf on the plant.
"Plants too?" Amelia questioned as her eyes widen in shock.
"Oh? How contrary." The pharaoh smiled. "Who would like to go next?"
Sous walked over, he had light bronze skin, a faint scar on his right forearm, short, neat black hair, and golden eyes. He wore a deep purple shirt and grey pants perfectly folded, without a wrinkle in sight.
He glanced at the area around him, thinking. He squatted and punched the sand a few times before standing in the sand he punched. He clapped as the sand rippled and he was suddenly flown high in the air, landing smoothly.
"How did he do that?" Luna said.
"He redistributed the force," Abraham said, readjusting his glasses.
Kibo walked up, stretched, before speaking up. "I'll need someone to make a sound."
Kibo had tan skin, large eyebrows, and amber eyes. His long shaggy, black hair and baggy pants gave him a relaxed appearance.
Poison stepped up and began stepping loudly but to the recruits' avail, there was no sound.
"There's no sound?" Valentina
"I don't hear anything!" Matthew exclaimed.
Magnolia gently struck his head, trying to piece together all of this.
Powers? Pharaoh, general?
Sofia walked up, "I'll need a volunteer."
Sofia had pale bronze skin, deep crimson eyes, and long black hair that fell barely to her waist, tied together with a white ribbon. She wore a dark green shirt and long black pants that were rolled up at the ends.
Valentina walked up and stood in front of Sofia.
"Okay, just run as fast as you can okay?" Sofia asked gently as Valentina nodded her head. Valentina began to run, she gained some distance at first then her movement begins to slow down. Eventually, she was not moving a single inch
"Did she pull her back?" Kibo questioned.
Abraham's eyebrows rose as he stepped forward slightly.
Poison momentarily tilted his head.
"That just leaves Emma," the Pharaoh stated, the recruits stared at her.
"I-I'm coming," she uttered, walking up. Emma slightly twitched as she raised her hands creating a small hole. She blew into the hole creating a giant stream of air that pushed Amelia and Luna back a sizable distance.
"S-sorry!" Emma said nervously biting her lower lip.
The pharaoh walked to the front of the recruits, the general following right behind him.
"Now, you will brawl with your subordinates to showcase your abilities in a battle scenario. But first, I'd like to introduce someone," the Pharaoh said, lifting his hand. All eyes turned to the entrance door, as a boy walked in. He had black hair, his left eye was blue while his right was golden, brown skin, and a slim yet muscular build. His clothes were well-worn and he bore signs of recent fights.
"This boy is Ren, your newest comrade."
"Now, for the rounds to test your usefulness."
"Round 1 will be Ren versus Kibo."
"Round 2 will be Valentina versus Luna."
"Round 3 will be Magnolia versus Poison."
"Round 4 will be Matthew versus Abraham."
"Round 5 will be Emma versus Sofia."
"And finally Round 6 will be Amelia versus Sous."
"You have one week to prepare for your fights. I suggest you train hard."
"YES! I get to fight Magnolia just like I wanted!" Poison exclaimed with excitement.
"Abraham huh?" Matthew muttered, walking away.
"I-I have to fight Sofia?" Emma said anxiously.
"This should be easy" Valentina replied.
"I fight Valentina… This will be tough."
"I must fight a girl?" Sous questioned.
"Don't underestimate me just because I'm a girl… You will lose," Amelia warned
"Now remember, you all have one week to prepare. Go now!" The Pharaoh commanded, dismissing the children.
As the children all disburse, General saijew walked back into the main hall. Staring at all of the adults within the room, he lightly cleared his throat before speaking.
"I'm aware all of you know that children will now be apart of our military." Saijew declared, taking a second before continuing.
"Only a few of you will make it through the process of becoming full-fledged soldiers."
Saijew stared at the remaining men and women, some looked startled, others looked intrigued.
"Your primary occupation will be protecting these children with your life's."
"Failure to obey will result in imprisonment, banishment, and even death," he said unapologetically.
This caused a mix reaction from the men and women, all of them burst in chatter, some completely with it, and others against the possibly of consequences.
Saijew loudly cleared his throat, causing the entire room to become silent.
"Am I clear?" He inquired, all of the men and women were in agreement.
A collective "yes sir," they said, however one man didn't respond. Saijew noticed instantly.
"Suegi. I assume you heard me, so why did you not answer your commanding General?" Saijew declared, staring directly at Suegi.
Suegi cleared his throat and held his stump, then began walking forward as the crowd separated.
"I want in." Suegi said in a deep, calm tone. He walked further, now only a few feet away from the General.
"Good." Saijew replied staring at the man before raising his hand, and dismissing the following crowd.
Suegi turned his head from the general and slowly walked off, a faint smirk formed on his face.
…