The sun of Eidolon rose like crimson sentinels, bathing the great Sarutobi Academy in golden fire. Atop the stone steps of the ancient fortress-school, young warriors gathered in tense anticipation. They had trained their entire lives for this moment—the Sarutobi Exams, the gateway to becoming official Wardens of the fallen kingdom. This year's exam would test their resolve, their strength, and most of all—their hearts.
Among the hundreds who stood in line, three stood apart. Not because they stood at the front, but because the rest gave them space—out of fear, admiration, or both.
Xzavier Shishiroma sat cross-legged on a pillar, arms folded and head low, shadows covering his sharp, brooding features. His black hair burned with red at the tips, like a dying ember. His eyes, half-lidded and unreadable, hid the storm of rage he'd carried since he was a child. He wasn't here for glory. He was here for purpose. To survive.
"Late again," said a voice beside him, cool and measured.
Yagumi Daisuke, tall and expressionless, adjusted his gloves. His twin blades, sheathed behind his back in an X-formation, shimmered ominously in the morning light. His silver-gray eyes scanned the crowd like a hawk watching prey. "You slept through final drills. Again."
Xzavier shrugged. "Didn't feel like getting lectured by Sensei Roku for the tenth time this week."
From behind them, a louder, lighter voice interrupted, full of infectious energy.
"Come on, guys! Can't we just enjoy the moment before they throw us into that meat grinder they call an exam?"
Hageshi Senshi bounded onto the stone rail beside them, one hand tossing a piece of candy into his mouth. His breath puffed visible frost, a side effect of training with the Frost Blade. His turquoise hair was wild, his eyes wide with mischief and too much brilliance for a single soul.
Yagumi didn't even glance at him. "You're standing on the edge of a 200-foot drop."
"So? Adds flavor to the moment."
Xzavier scoffed but allowed a smirk to form. "One of these days, you're going to slip."
"And I'll do it with style," Senshi declared proudly.
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed across the academy grounds.
"All cadets to the Grand Hall. The written examination begins now."
As they walked, the atmosphere shifted. Dozens of cadets from all over Eidolon filled the ornate hall—some whispering about the trio, others sharpening pens like they were weapons. The written test was only Phase One—but it was brutal.
The exam covered history, tactics, Warden ethics, and situational command. A hundred complex questions, timed. Designed not just to test knowledge—but to break spirits.
---
Two Hours Later
Sweat dripped from foreheads. Several cadets had passed out. Others stared blankly at the final page, broken.
Xzavier tapped his pencil in frustration. The words danced on the page like enemies refusing to be struck. Every question felt like a trap. Who cared what year the Bladekind Rebellion began?
He turned in a mostly blank sheet.
Hageshi, seated nearby, was grinning as he wrote, finishing with time to spare. Yagumi, as expected, had already handed in his paper 15 minutes earlier, and was leaning against the wall with arms crossed.
---
Later That Day – Training Grounds
The instructors read out results from the towering balcony.
"Cadets who have passed the written exam: Hageshi Senshi. Yagumi Daisuke. Mina Okabe. Rento Kazan. Arya Shiin…"
Dozens of names followed.
"…Xzavier Shishiroma—FAILED."
A wave of gasps swept through the courtyard. Murmurs followed. Some laughed. Some sneered. The prodigy with the Flame Blade couldn't answer a few history questions?
Xzavier stood motionless. He clenched his fists. A flame flared from his blade's hilt at his side, just for a second. Hageshi reached out a hand but stopped short.
The voice of the instructor cut in again.
"All who failed the written exam may redeem themselves through the Practical Combat Trials. Only five can pass. The rest—disqualified.**"