Chapter one: One Sunny Morning, Before…

Finally!

The young novice leaped out of bed. This was the day that he had been striving towards for 10 hard years. Ever since he had joined the Novice Academy on his ninth birthday, he had been training for this test.

Corkk Ramirez was finally old enough to take his exit level test. This test consisted of a 2 week survival test, followed by a job application test. If he passed this test, he would finally realize his lifelong dream, he would receive his adventurer's license.

With that, he would be deemed strong enough to join the rest of the world in the profession of his choice.

He strapped on his armor and buckled on his guard. He grabbed his spear, the closest of his weapons and head out to find a sparring partner. Right before he left he woke Friiy. The lazy mage hopeful would sleep through apocalypse if it wasn't for Corkk.

Not bothering to wait for anyone else, he walked out towards the commons, a field that held the archery range, the Peco-Peco course and the sparring dummies, many of which were missing their heads because of a blow from either Corkk or another of the stronger students.

As was the case every other morning, the only person out there besides Corkk was his best friend Colin. They had met in their second year, when Corkk had accidentally thrown his tray at the other during a food fight. After the initial anger about being hit with a hard wooden tray they had settled their dispute and soon became tight friends.

Colin was practicing his archery like always, and was busy pinning a chon-chon to a tree by putting arrows through each wing. When it came to archery no student could rival Colin. In his first year, he could shoot and arrow through the center of a standard target at 100 yards. He only got better with his practice, and now was able to shoot an arrow close enough to someone that he could nock off their cap without hitting them.

But Colin would provide no challenge to Corkk in a close in fight. Cork was the strongest swordsman hopeful in the camp. Whether it be spear, axe, mace, or sword, he could use it better than anyone else in the whole camp save the instructors.

With the lack of any worthy partners, Corkk was forced to goad some other 10th years into fighting with him. All five tried to attack him at once but were met with the staff end of his spear. He was like a whirling dervish spinning around delivering blows to all sides. He disarmed one opponent then another, and by the end of the sparring session, he had liberated a mace, an axe, a two handed sword, and two knives. He had been hit once during the whole session. When he had turned his back to defend against an oncoming blow from one of the opponents, he had received a sound smack in the arm by the mace wielding one.

Content with his work out, Corkk found himself strolling along toward the mess hall on the other side of the Academy. Colin who had become bored and freed the chon-chon was right behind him. They walked in silence for a moment listening to a fight that had broken out in the Orc Tribe dormitory. When they had been fifth years they had lit that same dormitory on fire when they asked Friiy to light the fireplace. They had gotten in so much trouble that they had to do latrine duty for four months. They had gotten lucky this year, because the new Minotaur Squadron dorm was finally built and was out of the way of the younger, more obnoxious students. They had been placed in the Minotaur dorm after they had been kicked out of the Kobold Horde for stealing their counselor's bed.

When they finally reached the Mess hall, the old Scholar that was the headmaster of the academy was preparing to give the morning announcements. They hurried to their table as the headmaster discussed the penalty for exploding the latrines (also Friiy and Corkk's fault) and posted a reward for the student that had captured the history teacher in a snare trap (Colin, Friiy, and Corkk's fault).

Finally he got to the part that every tenth year was waiting for, the pairings. Each tenth year was to be pared with a partner for the survival exam, and if one partner died, they both failed. He began his speech, which was new every year.

"Today the academy is very proud. Our hardworking Minotaur Squadron," hisses were heard from the Kobold Horde's table across the room) "and our brave Kobold Horde," Boo's were heard from the other Minotaurs "are finally ready to take the exit level exams!" Proclaimed the headmaster.

"Now, I know that you are all anxious, and ready to know who your partner is, but this year is going to be different. We have invited some esteemed guests to join us in our most important of tests," he continued.

"Please help me welcome the lovely young women from the Western Academy."

End of Chapter One.