Chapter 7: Results of the Exam

Kold's POV

A week had passed yet, no letter has arrived, 'Did I flunk the exams...? Or it just got delayed for some unknown reason?' these kinds of thoughts kept on plaguing my mind. You can call it anxiety over nothing, even though I know I did great at both the exams, I can't really help but doubt that something must have gone wrong.

They must have replaced my exam scores with someone else, or better yet the mailman didn't get the letter, or that the mailman left it at the post office, or it could have been lost… 'This is getting me the chills all over my body…' I shudder at those possibilities of becoming true.

It is night though and I doubt there will be a mail this late, so I guess it's better to check on another day. "Summoner, it's time for bed… you need to rest for tomorrow," a woman's voice said and I look towards my right and it was Battle Sister Ginger.

"I agree with her, you must have the strength to face another battle… this is what most of my seniors told me" Future Knight Llew, said with his arms behind his back and looking at me with a smile on his face.

"ARF!" a bark seconded the motion of the other two. This is Barcgal, a pretty powerful Grade 0 unit that has the ability to call on other Grade 0 units, like Llew.

Earlier this morning, I tried his ability and it was much like my other chant summoning but, this time it did not require any stamina from me, rather it used Barcgal's stamina, which leaves him immobile for at least 5 minutes or so. 'He is a pretty useful unit, especially when I am low on stamina…'

I changed my clothes into my pajamas, to be ready for bed. "I guess this is bye, for now, guys, I retire Barcgal, Llew, and Ginger" I chanted and they slowly disappeared into nothing.

I have been keeping up with my schedule in summoning other units, and let me tell you the news regarding Victory Maker. The Oracle's said he will be just fine, just a lot of rest and some healing magic from Lozenge he will be good as new, that is what Ginger said to me and I believed her. Besides, I am still glad that they didn't punish me or something for harming their brethren.

I lay down on my bed rubbing my eyes due to tiredness; I started to close my eyes and welcomed the darkness to greet me in my sleep. 'I'll check in the morning for my results, if I didn't get a response from them soon, then I'll just have to call them or offer to maybe re-take the exam. I just can't afford to fail, when it clearly involves someone dear to me'

The sun's rays directly spotted my eyes making me welcome a new day. 'Argh… waking up with the sun in my eyes, what a nice way to start the day…' I thought grumbling at the way the sun woke me up from my sleep.

I stood up from my bed and proceeded to go on with my morning rituals, brushing my teeth, taking a bath, and cooking breakfast. But before that, I grabbed 3 cards from the 3 decks at my disposal, and I made sure that it was all Grades 0.

"Call Luck Bird, Brugal, and Flame Seed Salamander to the field" I chanted while throwing each card separately from each other, I don't want to cause a ruckus between clans by summoning them so close to each other, especially the salamanders.

Luck bird is a green parrot, Brugal is a dog unit covered in blue fur and intricate designs of gold, and Salamanders is just a baby salamander with a big head covered in flames. 'I better be careful with the salamanders, they may burn something accidentally'

After my morning ritual, I had gone out of my room towards the kitchen for the reason that I will have to prepare breakfast for at least 3 more stomachs to feed. I have to be someone hospitable, according to my mother that is, 'showing a little kindness is what someone really needs' and 'A little kindness can make some else's life a little better' don't really know which one is the correct one, but it is quite similar to some extent.

I decided to just cook omelette for me, with rice on the side and for the others are dog food, nuts, and for the salamanders a raw fish. I'm just glad that I stock up some food for the units, and surprisingly they eat these kinds of things, I guess they're attitude is much like creatures here too. Also, a plus too because I don't need to cook for them.

After eating the foods I cooked, and they are quite tasty too if you asked me. But, if you asked the units about their food… they say it was delicious but their faces say otherwise. 'I guess this is what other animals here on earth thinks too'

"I hope this will be the day I get the results of the exams" I mumbled while putting the dishes in the sink and decided to wash them later because now, I need to check the mailbox for any news of the exams.

I had gone out to see the mailbox if any letter from UA has arrived, '… Is this it…?' I thought, not really believing what I'm seeing right now. 'This is going to be the day where I will find out if I got in or not, and to tell the truth I am not ready for this information. This will be the moment where I know if my mother will survive or … die.

I stood outside just staring at the letter with no intention of moving until I heard something inside my home. "Arhh! Arff! Sssshhhh!" I heard too many noises from the units I summoned. I look back to see that fire is starting to burn the house. 'Oh… it's just a fire…'

After realization hit, with wide eyes "SHIT! My house is on fire, Salamander!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, if I don't hurry up it will be too late to save the house. 'I have left the cards inside the house!' I thought while running towards the fire in a hurry.

"Salamander, can you please calm down and suck up the fire?" I asked the baby salamanders, and they reluctantly agreed to what I had asked him to do. But damages are already done in the house, the tables and chairs are burned to a crisp, on the living room the couch was torched and luckily the rooms are all safe and sound.

As I examined the damage they have done to the place, they kept on barking, chatting, and hissing and I am starting to get annoyed little by little. "Would you units just shut up!" I yelled in anger and that made them all settle down and behave. "I know it's hard to get along, but you are on my turf now and you better learn to make up and understand each other," I said explaining the terms I had for the other units I had summoned before.

I heard them grumble in obedience and I think this is the start of a new bond for them, if all goes right in the end of the day that is. "Now I expect you guys to clean this up, and after that, we'll train in the afternoon, so get some rest after cleaning" I ordered the three units and they nodded after hearing me command them.

After that I had gone back to my room to open the letter sent from UA. I sat on my chair inside the room just beside the bed, staring at the letter without any thought of opening it. 'Nothing will happen if I keep staring at this letter' I thought slapping myself from the hypnotic ability of the letter it dawned upon me.

I opened the letter slowly and instead of a regular printed letter, a small device that projected someone in the back appeared. "I am here as a projection now!" A familiar voice started to speak from the projection.

"Wait… it's All Might!" I screamed not really expecting that he will be the one to greet me with my test scores. "Does this mean he will be a teacher in UA this year?" I asked no one in particular but I sure am excited for it. I mean, the number one hero training rookies to be professionals that is going to be a journey worth taking.

"I am here to announce to you young Kold that UA is glad to have you in our school, with the highest score in the practical exams and 5th on the written exam! I am glad to welcome you in the UA alma matter! I must also congratulate you on taking third place in the overall calculation of scores." All Might said spinning around like a clown, but instead of being funny it is quite the opposite. He seems to be like Johnny Bravo, a kid's show I watch back when I was a kid.

"Alright! I never doubted myself for even a second!" I yelled in joy, well technically that isn't right but let's just give this time for me to celebrate. 'Good news too! This means my mother will be alright' I thought happily that I saved her from misfortune.

"I am glad to say that you scored 50 in defeating villains and 40 for rescue points, for a total of 90 overall points! I once again say Congratulations in passing the exams, and we welcome you to Hero Academia!" All might announced offering his hand to me, then raising both his hands to welcome me into the school.

'I didn't thought that being recognized as a hero, even though I am still a student-in-training, be this pleasuring and delightful to feel and hear… I may have to thank mother and that guy for forcing me into this path that I didn't want at first' I thought, thanking the things that happened to me, well except for the abduction of my mother and all that threatening that has occurred.

It is time for the training I promised the units, and they better be ready for it because it is going to be hell of training. They burned ¾ of my house, so they have to suffer terribly for this, and training is the only way for it to be attained.

It is the afternoon and it's their time for punishment, and what made me very happy about this is that the units have no idea what I will do with them for their training. 'Maybe I should give them some mercy because they cleaned the house… and I think I'll just lower it down from harsh to moderate…' I thought while giving snickering glances at the units whose faces are clueless to what I was planning for this afternoon training.

"Okay… how about we do combat training immediately," I said looking over at the three units I summoned and there was no argument who opposed that decision.

"How about we do a battle royale? Each of us needs to fight one another, and teaming up is not allowed. Meaning it is all about how you attack, defend, and strategize at the moment" I explained to the three animal units and lucky for me they understood human language.

The four of us separated from each other with equal distance, it was about 10 meters apart and I have a disadvantage in this. I don't have anything on me to defend myself, well except for some stick I found lying around in the ground. 'This is not going to be a very fun fight for me, but I need to be smart about this. In battle, this is my weakness, I don't have any power to defend myself and I need to be smart to keep myself safe' I thought and this will be harsh training for me.

"Okay… Start!" I yelled and each of them started attacking each other, and that is besides me. I was left all alone, with a stick holding it out like a child playing with an imaginary sword in his hand. 'I thought I explained things thoroughly to them, but I think all they understood was that they had to fight each other' I thought sweat dripping from what they are doing.

Luck Bird was up in the sky firing his feathers towards the units at the ground, but it was no problem for Salamander for the reason that he can incinerate it with its body if it gets too close and there was Brugal that dodged everything left and right, while also firing a howl at Salamander who kept on firing small cinder flames towards the bird and the Dog simultaneously.

However, one thing that I notice is that they all have pretty bad aims. I mean, they all have missed each other by a mile, but they still dodge it nonetheless. They definitely have training when it comes to power and power output, but they severely lacking in precision and anticipation. 'I guess they don't really have much training in Cray. Unlike the other grade units grade 0s oftentimes practically are just for support, so there was no point in focusing their training in attacking'

'Okay… they just left me out of the fight like a person who has no importance to the story' I thought annoyed by the thought that they ignored my very existence in this battle. But I guess that was a plus, I did need to fight on the battle royale, but they are not letting me so, whoever stands at the end of this, I'll battle that unit.

A pretty common battle tactic when dealing with people having an internal battle, better stay out of it and wait it out until everyone is tired, then that is the perfect time to strike them out. 'I know it is an underhanded technique… but you've got to do what you have got to do, especially in a battle wherein everything is not in your favor' I thought justifying my own actions as something good.

All the actions were happening from the three of them, but here I am… sitting at the pavement waiting for them to finish their fighting but I think it will take some time for that to happen. 'When are they going to get tired, and stop…?' I looked back towards the fight and they were still at it, and it was like Cat and Mouse in action. Fighting pointlessly without any plan in mind, except hoping to hit their moving target who knows how to dodge and anticipate moves.

"Okay… STOP!" I screamed and all three units stopped all their movements and looked at me with wide eyes. 'Well… it was a first for me to scream at any units loudly, even though I did so during the 10 months of training' I thought. "Okay, you three are uncoordinated and all of your attacks are passing each other," I said to them crossing both of my arms in my chest.

"Arf…" I heard a unhappy sound from Brugal and sad faces from the other two units.

"Well… that just so happens to be something we need to train and overcome!" I said positively, trying to lighten their mood a lot. 'I guess it was understandable that they don't really have any battle skills. I mean, they are grade 0s after all, and they are mostly used for support and defense and in those equation there is no mention of offense' I thought concluding that they may have lack of training in their planet, Cray.

"Let's start with you aiming and firing, because that is your biggest weakness. I noticed that you guys are just randomly firing, hoping that you can get a hit" I said, while grabbing three planks near the back of the house. I used this also for practice, especially with other units who specialize in marksmanship, and one of those units is Battle Sister, Chocolat who has a really bad aim for a battle sister.

"Okay… here is the thing you need to look at the target head on, remember you are aiming at the target not around the area. Focus on that one spot you want to hit using both eyes, anticipate where your opponent may move, and fire on that specific spot" I explained and they nodded in understanding and started to fire without my consent.

'I guess they were very excited to learn more on aiming and firing' I thought shrugging it out of my mind and look over to see if they were hitting the target or not… and they were doing great, some attacks missed but overall it was like 8 out of 10 and that is good enough I guess.

I let them fired over and over again until they got tired of it, and that is clearly seen because Luck Bird is starting to stagger and land on the ground, same goes for Salamander, while Brugal is already on the ground breathing in and out. 'I guess they are pretty tired now…'

"I think it's time for you guys to take a break and after that how about we train on moving objects?" after I said that they were full on laying on the ground like a dead animal waiting to be decomposed by termites and other decomposer species.

"Okay… that will be 30 minutes of resting time and then after that how about 2 hours of target practice" I said but I think none of them are listening to me. I just decided to shut myself up and let them get their rest, and it might be better this way.

I sat at the grassy pavement just outside our house; I look up to the sky with my hands behind my back and stared at the clouds. 'I never really had the time like this… just me and myself and time' I thought closing my eyes feeling the breeze of the wind like none other.

As I was lying down on the ground I felt sudden warmth in my stomach, and I look towards it and noticed that Brugal is laying his head above my stomach. Then Luck Bird landed on my chest, while Salamander turned off his flames 'didn't know he could that…', and is snuggling at my side. The unit might be concern that he could burn me because of his natural high temperature, but I feel warmth rather than burn from his presence.

I rubbed each of their heads, while smiling at them and my heart is filling up with love and adoration for them. They act like pets, who treasure their owner… that is what I am feeling now. I guess they are not much different from people and domestic animals, they too feel emotions.

During the night, I dismissed my units and replied to the text that the kidnapper sent to me. I mean, how do they even know I passed when it was clearly handed out privately. I just hope that this doesn't affect my mother in any way. 'Oh! who am I kidding, they must have known at some point, but it's not wrong to reassure myself that I did what I could, for now, at least' I thought putting my phone away, and proceeded to head into bed for the night.

I can't ignore my own health, mom would be mad and worry if I let myself be sleep-deprived or something. I just need a plan to get to the kidnapper without him noticing, or better yet notify the pros without the kidnapper knowing I did so behind his back.