Grandmaster Zhou walked into the testing room that was merely a giant circular room with small observation pavilions on the second story of the chamber leaving the children at the bottom he made his way to the central pavilion and looked down at the many children crowded near the back of the chamber. The room had been used since the foundation of the academy to focus the magical energies of the world and concentrate them like a sauna he could feel the almost heavy quality to the air like a hot humid day.

Looking down on the parchment that Captain Takeda gave him that listed all the names of the children... this won't due...there are much to many of them I need to narrow down the field. Thought Grandmaster Zhou as his time was quite valuable and he was the only tester today.

"Alright! I will call you up by tens and you will attempt to do as we ask you to if you pass a glowing light will be shined down on you and you will go to the doors to the right if you do not go to the left and meet back with Captain Takeda" is that understood Grandmaster Zhou said sternly he looked at the large group of children before him. Even if there were a lot of them he sincerely loved meeting the new children of the academy.

“Yes sir!” they all cried out at once in agreement. He called the first group up which consisted of the oldest of the children that could be admitted into the academy they often were not useful starting in the academy at a later age was not recommended and only allowed when it was decent talent. The sooner they could indoctrinate and infiltrate their daily lives with the loyalty to the Imperial pantheon and Imperial family the better for the Sato Empire.

"Alright I want each of you to put your hands out and act like you are cupping a ball between both your hands" he watched them all do as he was told and continued with the explanation "Now. Focus all your will and energy on forming a ball of light between your hands" it was at that moment that looks of confusion sprouted upon the numerous students as they looked around trying to see if the others understood what to do, meanwhile others were sweating profusely trying to do as they were told. Being intentionally obtuse was part of the test if these students couldn’t grasp basic concepts of Ki without an in-depth explanation they didn’t have a natural affinity for magic.

Grandmaster Zhou looked down at them frowning slightly. Not one could even do the first part of the test properly he sighed taking in the disappointment. "None of you passed please exit and the next ten come up." A look of dismay came across some of the students while others looks relieved not all are meant to be Ki users.

The test was a testing for three things. First that they could conceptualize something that wasn't there, but simply a concept or idea in their heads, the second was if they understood the idea of letting their spiritual energy flow thru their bodies, and the final test was to see if they could actually conjure some of their spiritual energy before them...that was when the true test began. Because simply having Ki wasn’t enough to gain entrance into the academy. They needed to to exceptional. A person who could use a low level of Ki would excel with a mixture of martial arts training and Ki training as it could supplement the weaknesses in martial training, but low level Ki users rarely were blessed by deities and if they were they were incredibly minor gods or goddesses who had no business in this academy next to the Imperial Pantheon. The Imperial Pantheon was the primary gods that were commonly worshiped or recognized wide spread in the Sato Empire. Though there were untold numbers of deities many did not have a single follower. Though it wasn’t uncommon for those outside the pantheon to get into the school it simply was preferable for the students to be acknowledged by the deities of the Empire as it was much easier to train and teach students in gods that they already knew about.

Group after group came up before the grandmaster and none were passing several could pass the first test which meant they may one day understand, but they simply lacked the minimum level of talent to be excepted by the most prestigious school in the empire. If they could do the first two steps then they were a mediocre talent and would become an outer disciple. If they could do all three they were considered an average talent. What made one stand out from the rest was how strong the ball of light was when they conjured it from their spiritual energy. Someone who couldn't get to step three would have to work significantly harder to keep up with someone that had talent. Those who couldn't even pass step one had little hope of ever keeping with them therefore would not be accepted into the academy.

After the last and youngest group were up. Grandmaster Zhou's eyes skimmed over the last batch at his point he had little faith that any of these youngsters would pass. His eyes fell heavily on the last young girl furthest to the right of him. At that moment a brief moment of shock flashed across his face that went away as fast as it came. This girl was extremely interesting he thought as looked at her. Those eyes were truly haunting he had never see such piercing blue eyes in his life. Though blue eyes were considered cursed never has a parent or someone with those colored eyes come into the academy. This would be most interesting he thought with a glimmer flashing in his eyes.

"Proceed!" he commanded the children to do as the others did. He kept his eyes on the girl without letting any of the others see he was paying attention particularly on the blue eyed girl.

The girl held out her hands her arms at her side were at a ninety degree angle and her hands held out in front of her as if she were delicately holding a fragile ball in her hands a moment of surprise flashed onto his face again as he looked at the very interesting girl. She was able to perfectly conceptualize that she really was holding a ball something that wouldn't take much effort ought to look natural not any muscles straining to hold it like all the other students did "good" he muttered to himself... "next!" he spoke out more loudly urging them onto the next step. As they all moved onto trying to tap their spiritual energy Zhou felt absolutely zero spiritual energy from the entire group all save the blue eyed girl who he could feel a modest amount of Ki flowing thru her it was nothing to go shouting down the streets over, but her Ki was slightly different feeling. At the last step a small light formed between her hands a look of joy sprouted across his face. 'We finally have one' he thought slightly relieved even if the talent wasn't extraordinary it was good that they caught her at a young age that would help her immensely in the future. Talent was only a small equation… hard work would matter all the more.

"GOOD!" he cried out "everyone but the young girl to the far right may leave. Young one you are going to exit out the opposite way I will be over there in a moment along with the other masters... be mindful when speaking in the other masters presence, understood?"

The young girl nodded before silently leaving towards the next room. She’s a quiet one… good I enjoy someone who knows when to speak and when to listen.

Grandmaster Zhou turned to leave as well a small smile on his face. It truly was rare to get a new disciple before the annual test happened there would be high expectations for her, plus with her eyes he doubted that even in a place for the unique and gifted she wouldn't stick out. Hopefully.

...

Fort Edo was bustling with activity as the new conscripts had been training for several days and since they were all almost exclusively hunters they were put into a ranger battalion of roughly 300 archers. This was a good thing because they would be more detached from direct fighting, or at least that is what Kijuro thought when he first was put in charge of a small portion of the battalion which consisted of 50 of the men mostly from his town. He was quite surprised to be given a commanding position among the conscripts, but took the title without question. This way he could more readily guard them for the battles to come. It wasn't until they gave him this position that they said our battalion was forward deploying battalion that were put in charge of ambushes and scouting enemy positions making it one of the highest mortality rates of all the empires armies besides that of front line meat shields also known as conscripts. Those words caused Kijuro quite a lot of anxiety over the last couple days.

Kijuro felt a heavy burden as he spoke to his unit "you all know that our first mission in a couple days is going to be a real test as we have little experience with warfare" the previously hardened hunters all knew that it was a daily struggle to survive when hunting dangerous beasts in the Great Northern forest, but fighting another who was just as intelligent and bent on survival as they were was not the same their eyes for many of them showed fear something Kijuro didn't know what to do about, because... he was terrified as well.

In three days’ time his fellow men and himself were going into enemy territory to scout and destroy their supplies that were being shipped towards the enemies frontlines and this was something that most would consider a suicide mission, but Kijuro knew that no matter what happened he would survive to see his wife and daughter again.

Nyoko... Rize... wait patiently your Kijuro will be back he thought to himself as his men let loose another round of arrows at targets.

...

In the next room Minako Rize stood silently waiting for the masters to show up. Though from the outside it looked like Rize was calm in her head she was still in a daze, never in a thousand lifetimes did she think she would have the opportunity or the talent to be accepted into the most famous academy in all of the empire, but what really excited her was the look her father would have when he came home. It really was too much for her young mind to take in fully yet.

As she waited she thought about the moment the energy flowed through her body. She had never felt a more elating feeling in her life. It made her feel strong and secure something that she never really felt even in the warmth and protection of her parents. The pure raw power was almost addicting to the young girl.

"Minako Rize!" a thunderous voice came from above where the masters all stood on their own individual pavilions she looked up at them with determination.

"You have shown enough aptitude to be accepted as an outer disciple of the academy. As such you will not have a formal master until you reach the point when your spiritual energy awakens to its innate nature. Until then you will live and study in the academy along with doing upkeep and learning the martial arts. The other masters have all agreed to this result as I have informed them of your ability." Grandmaster Zhao spoke with a thunderous voice on a totally different level than he spoke with before.

There was a long pause as the Grandmaster finished his sentence Rize still didn't know what to say at this point "Is there anything you would like to ask?" one of the other masters asked who was a young beautiful woman who couldn't be older than 19 years old. Her voice was soft and gentle and she was more beautiful than anyone she had ever encountered before in her life even her mother who many considered a great beauty couldn't hold a candle to this women her frame was slender and delicate with fair skin and deep well like eyes that accented her foxlike face. This truly shocked Rize as she never thought that someone would be able to achieve such skill at such a young age to be considered a master, then again she never heard of spiritual energy or any of the things that people were referring to before so who was she to make a judgement. Though the other masters were significantly older than her as far as she could tell. It was still a shock that a ball of light came out of her body so deep down Rize had not yet comprehended it fully as of yet so she choose to except it.

At that moment she did think of one question "I do have one question" she paused as the master smiled lightly "will I get to see my family again?"

The women nodded "yes disciples are allow to see their family once a year during the lunar New Year festivals. Besides that they are allowed to write to their loved ones."

Rize's heart dropped like a boulder that rolled off a cliff. She wouldn't get to see her family, but one time a year?!? How could she do this? Seeing her mother, but once a year and only writing to her was earth shaking revelation.

"Child I know what you are thinking. Each and every other student goes thru thoughts like this at this moment, know this once you graduate this academy you will be able to freely come and go as you please, your family has an entire lifetime to see you, this opportunity is only now."

The words sounded similar to that of her father's words and at that moment she nodded accepting that life was full of challenges “thank you for your words of wisdom master" she bowed respectfully to the young female master.

"Good we will send a letter to your guardian informing them of your choice" the women smiled one last time before they told her to go meet the person who would escort her to the living quarters for outer disciples.

Rize looked towards the exit one last time before moving forward her tiny frame standing stoically in the giant room. Maybe here…just maybe she won’t be rejected because of who she is.