Purotekuta

CHAPTER ONE

Training for today is finally over and I leave the training room, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.
           Father is training me rigorously for the entrance exam to the prestigious protector school, Mamoru High. He wants me to be the number one protector, and for me to surpass him, but I don't want that.
          Although I do want to be a protector, and I do want to be number one, I don't want him to make me do it; I want to do this on my own so I can feel that I accomplished something.
          I guess it doesn't matter now; I'm already on the path Father has made for me, and there's no veering off of it.
          I arrive at the door to my room and make my way inside, making a beeline for the shower. I turn the shower knob to a lukewarm temperature and start getting undressed.
          Looking into the mirror, I barely recognize the person standing before me. I never thought I would get to this point—I never thought I would participate in the entrance exam for Mamoru High.
          Lowering my head, I close my eyes. I turn around and step into the shower, washing away those thoughts.

I am lying in bed, reading the book Mother had gotten for me right before she was sent away. I have already read the book a hundred times, but I still don't understand it.
          Maybe she knew she was going to get sent away? Are these her last words to me? I don't have enough time to think about it before Father calls for me.
          "Hajime! Dinner! Come eat!" I sigh, putting the bookmark in between the pages, and begrudgingly getting out of bed.
          I am walking down the long hallway to the dining room when Father yells again,
          "Hajime!"
          "I'm coming!" I yell back, slightly agitated.
          I'm walking through the doorway into the dining room, looking at the usual Friday meal Father makes to keep my diet in check. I sit down at the table, waiting for him to take the first bite.
          As he sits down he looks right into my eyes.
        "The entrance exam is on Sunday." He takes the first bite, but I don't eat yet. I tuck in my wings so I don't get feathers in my food.
          "I know, Father." I'm not too stoked about taking the entrance exam, but I have to do it anyway—I have to make it in. I take a bite of my food.
          "Do you believe you are ready?" He asks carefully.
          I know this question, I've gotten flashed for it many times because I said the wrong answer. I said no when he wanted me to say yes.
          "Yes, I am ready for the entrance exam Father." He closes his eyes and lowers his head slightly, his mouth widening into that sickly smile of his.
          "Good. If you don't make it in, I will be sure to whip you myself, understand?" I don't hesitate with my answer, even though I want to.
          "Yes, Father. I understand." I sit there with him in silence, eating my food. Once I finish, I ask him if I may be excused.
          "Yes, Hajime, you may. You will be off training for the weekend, get some rest for the entrance exam, I can't afford for you to fail."
          As I get up out of my chair I lower my head, raise my ears, and extend my wings, making a slight bowing motion out of forced respect.
          I turn around and start walking back to my room.