Echoes of Fate: Isaki

The soft afternoon light streamed through the small window of Isaki's room. The dust particles danced in the rays as he slowly blinked awake, his body aching from the battle the previous day. He had fought Jurge, giving everything he had, and had slept since yesterday afternoon, exhausted beyond measure. He could vaguely recall Balko and Riku helping him back to the dormitories, but after that, everything was a blur.

Sitting up, Isaki stretched his sore muscles, wincing slightly. It was rare for him to feel this tired, but the intensity of the fight had taken its toll. He rubbed his eyes, only half paying attention to the familiar sounds of the barracks outside—the clang of weapons, the murmur of voices.

His stomach grumbled, reminding him he hadn't eaten since before the fight. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, feeling the stiffness in his limbs, then reached for his clothes. He dressed quickly and made his way downstairs, hoping to grab something to eat.

As soon as he stepped outside, he was met by three familiar faces waiting for him near the barracks' entrance. Balko, with his usual easygoing smile, leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. Jenia stood next to him, her sharp eyes watching Isaki with a playful smirk. And Riku, always direct, was tapping his foot impatiently, but the grin on his face told Isaki he had good news to share.

"There he is! Sleeping beauty finally wakes up," Balko teased, giving Isaki a mock salute.

Isaki chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I overdid it yesterday…"

"You think?" Riku said, raising an eyebrow. "You looked like you were about to collapse any second after the fight. If we hadn't carried you to the barracks, you'd probably still be lying on the ground in the arena."

"Well, thanks for that," Isaki replied, offering them all a grateful smile. "But what's going on? You're all here so early."

Jenia stepped forward, her arms folded. "We've been waiting for you, Isaki. They announced the names of the cadets who passed the final trial this morning."

Isaki blinked in surprise. "I missed that? So... what's the result?"

Riku rolled his eyes with a grin. "Come on, Isaki. It was impossible for the four of us not to pass. We're the strongest third-years. The result was obvious."

Jenia nodded, smiling. "Exactly. And the ranking hasn't changed from last year either." She paused for dramatic effect before adding, "You're still first, Riku is second, Balko is third, and I'm fourth."

"Same as always," Balko added with a shrug, but his smile widened. "But hey, at least we're consistent, right?"

Isaki let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He knew they were among the top cadets, but hearing it confirmed was a relief. He smiled at his friends. "So we're all in."

"Yep," Balko said, but then his tone turned a bit more serious as he continued. "Not everyone was as lucky, though. Only ten cadets passed the final test. Those who didn't… well, they can try again next year."

Jenia sighed. "Yeah, if they don't pass next year either, they get one last chance the year after that. But after three tries, that's it. The maximum age to enter the academies is eighteen, so if they don't make it by then…"

"They're out," Balko finished, his tone sympathetic but firm.

Isaki nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation for those who didn't pass. "It's tough. But that's how it goes, I guess."

Riku crossed his arms. "Well, we don't have to worry about that. We passed, and now we've got one more step before the next chapter begins."

Jenia smiled and gestured toward the training grounds. "We were actually waiting for you, Isaki. We need to head to Tora's office to collect our certificates. Official proof that we've completed the three years of military training."

Isaki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Right, I almost forgot about that."

"Well, let's not waste any more time, then," Balko said, pushing off the wall and stretching his arms. "The sooner we get those certificates, the sooner we can enjoy our time off before the academies open in two months."

The four of them began walking toward Tora's office, the weight of the last three years hanging between them. It wasn't just the physical training that had been tough—the constant challenges, the competition, the pressure to improve. But now, all of it was behind them.

When they reached Tora's office, the door was already open, and the tall, stoic instructor was waiting inside. His stern face softened into a rare smile as they entered.

"Ah, the top cadets," Tora said with a nod, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "Congratulations. You've all passed the final test and completed your three years of training. Not an easy feat."

"Thank you, instructor Tora," Isaki said, bowing his head slightly in respect. The others followed suit.

Tora moved to his desk, where four certificates lay neatly on top. He picked them up one by one, handing them out to each cadet.

"These certificates are proof of your accomplishment," Tora said as he handed Isaki his. "Keep them safe. You'll need them when you enter the academies in two months."

Isaki looked down at the certificate in his hands. It felt heavier than it looked, a symbol of everything he had worked for over the last three years. He glanced at his friends, who were also staring at their certificates with a mixture of pride and relief.

"You've got two months before the academies open their doors," Tora continued. "I suggest you take this time to rest and spend some time with your families. You've earned it."

Balko grinned. "Sounds like a plan. I could definitely use some time to relax."

"But don't get too comfortable," Tora added, his sharp gaze sweeping over them. "The academies will be much tougher than anything you've faced here. You'll need to be ready."

Riku nodded, his expression serious. "We will be."

Tora nodded approvingly. "Good. Three days before the academies open, meet back here at the training grounds. From here, you'll travel to Fey Bell Village, where you'll board the ship that will take you to your respective academies."

"Understood," Jenia said, her voice firm. "We'll be ready."

Tora gave them one last look, then dismissed them with a wave of his hand. "Enjoy your time off, cadets. You've earned it."

As they left Tora's office, the weight of the certificates in their hands felt both like a burden and a badge of honor. They had come this far, but they knew that the real challenge was only just beginning.

"So," Balko said, stretching his arms again. "What are you all planning to do with your two months off?"

Jenia shrugged. "I'll probably head back to my family's estate for a bit. It'll be nice to see them before everything kicks off again."

Riku smirked. "I will also head back home and than i'm going to train. There's no way I'm going to slack off now, not with the academies just around the corner."

Isaki smiled, feeling a sense of calm settle over him. "I'll probably visit my father for a bit. It's been a while since I've been home."

Balko grinned. "Well, whatever we do, we'll meet back here soon enough. But before we go we need to celebrate, let's head to the village and grab something to eat."

Riku stretched. "I could use a good meal after all of this."

Jenia laughed. "You're always hungry, Riku."

Isaki smiled as they left Tora's office and made their way to the village. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the streets of the village came alive with the evening crowd. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as villagers talked about the cadets and their final exam. Everyone seemed to know who Isaki, Riku, Balko, and Jenia were.

Inside the local tavern, the mood was joyous. Laughter and conversation filled the air, and the smell of roasted meat and freshly baked bread made their stomachs growl. The villagers greeted the four cadets with hearty congratulations, proud to have such strong warriors among them.

"Isaki! Riku! You've done us proud!" a voice called from across the room.

Balko waved at the well-wishers, grinning from ear to ear. "We've got a lot of fans, huh?"

Jenia rolled her eyes but smiled. "Don't let it go to your head, Balko."

They found a table near the center of the tavern, ordering a feast of food and drinks. The night passed in a blur of laughter, stories of their training days, and excitement for what lay ahead. The bond between them was stronger than ever, forged through years of hardship and battle.

As the night came to a close, they stepped outside into the cool evening air. The village was quieter now, the stars twinkling above them.

"I guess this is where we part ways," Balko said, stretching. "At least for now."

"Yeah," Jenia agreed. "We've got two months to relax before the academies. Let's make the most of it."

They all nodded in agreement, and after exchanging goodbyes, Balko and Jenia headed off in opposite directions, each making their way back to their families.

Isaki and Riku lingered behind, walking slowly through the village together.

As Isaki and Riku walked through the quiet streets of the village, the warm glow of lanterns cast flickering shadows on the cobblestone roads. The laughter and noise of the tavern behind them slowly faded, leaving only the sound of their footsteps and the occasional rustle of the evening breeze.

"So," Isaki began, glancing at his friend, "are you going to enroll in the Fate Academy?"

Riku smiled, but it was the kind of smile that hinted at something more. "Actually, no," he said.

Isaki stopped in his tracks, blinking in surprise. "Wait, what? You're not going to Fate Academy?"

Riku shook his head, a small chuckle escaping his lips. "I thought you'd be more surprised."

"I am surprised," Isaki replied, still trying to process the news. "I thought for sure you'd end up there. I mean, we've been through all of this together—the training, the fights, everything. Why not Fate Academy?"

Riku turned to face him, his expression thoughtful. "I was torn for a while," he admitted. "At first, I was seriously considering it. But as time went on, I started thinking about other options. In the end, I chose Espoir Academy."

"Espoir?" Isaki echoed, genuinely surprised. "That's in the Elpis region, isn't it? Why there?"

Riku nodded. "Yeah, it's in Elpis. It was a tough decision, but Espoir has a different kind of training, more focused on strategy and flexibility in combat and i think it's perfect for someone like me. It's not just about Aura control like Fate academy; they emphasize tactics and adaptability. And that's something I want to master."

Isaki scratched the back of his head, still taken aback. "I guess that makes sense, but I just figured... you know, we've always trained together, competed together. It's weird to think you won't be at Fate Academy."

Riku smiled again, but this time there was a spark in his eyes. "Don't worry, Isaki. We'll see each other again, sooner than you think."

"What do you mean?" Isaki asked, intrigued.

Riku's grin widened. "During the second year, there's an inter-academy tournament between Fate, Espoir, and Potentia Academy. Cadets from all three academies will face off in a series of battles. So, who knows? We might end up meeting again in the arena."

Isaki's eyes lit up at the prospect. "An inter-academy tournament? That sounds amazing! I'd love to see how the other academies train their students."

"And," Riku added with a smirk, "it'll be my chance to finally beat you."

Isaki raised an eyebrow, amused. "Beat me? You've been trying to do that for three years now, and it hasn't exactly worked out in your favor."

Riku laughed, the sound echoing through the quiet streets. "That's because I wasn't strong enough before. But after a year at Espoir, things will be different. I'm going to train harder than ever, and next time we meet, I'll make sure I'm stronger than you."

Isaki couldn't help but grin at the friendly challenge. "We'll see about that, Riku. You've always been a tough opponent, but don't think I'll just let you surpass me. I'll be training at Fate Academy, and I'm planning on pushing myself to my limits too."

Riku nodded, his expression determined but playful. "Good. I wouldn't want it any other way. When we face each other in the tournament, I want it to be a real battle, with no holding back."

"You got it," Isaki agreed. "I'm looking forward to it."

The two walked in silence for a moment, the weight of their conversation settling between them. Though they were taking different paths, they both knew that their rivalry and friendship would continue, no matter the distance.

As they reached the crossroads where their paths split, Riku stopped, turning to face Isaki one last time. "Take care of yourself, Isaki. We'll see each other soon enough."

Isaki nodded, clasping Riku's arm in a firm handshake. "You too, Riku. Don't slack off—because I won't."

Riku grinned. "Never."

With that, they parted ways. Riku disappeared down the road that led to his home, his figure gradually swallowed by the darkness of the night. Isaki stood for a moment, watching his friend go, before turning and making his way back to his own home.