Zero to Hero (Prequel/prototype)

Chapter 1. Selection

"Wake up Ken, we have to get going if we are to make it on time for the selection." As Ken opened his eyes, he saw the familiar face of his sister looking down on him trying to get him to wake up.

"It's that time already?" Ken murmured while rubbing his eyes trying to summon the energy needed to wake up.

"I told you last night that we need to be up by 5! don't you listen to anything I say? geez" The girl was obviously annoyed as the boy slowly got ready for the long day ahead.

While the sky is still dark, the pair set out on their journey to the capital square where the selection process is taking place on this very day.

"Ughh, I wish we had money and could take a cart or horse to the capital instead of having to walk in this cold, been poor sucks" Ken complained before the pair even walked for 5 minutes.

"Are you going to be whining for the next 5 hours until we reach the capital?" the girl snapped back.

With that, the boy took the hint that it's time for him to shut up so his sister doesn't get agitated and the already long and cold day gets more unbearable.

While the two grew up together since infants and are closer than most blood siblings. As they walked towards the capital, the small countryside orphanage they grew up in slowly disappeared beyond the horizon.

After an hour of brisk walking, the pair finally exited the small narrow country road of their small town and got onto the main road heading into the capital.

As the sun begins to break through the dawn, more people begin to pop up from sideroads onto the main road all heading towards the selection.

"FINALLY!" screamed the exhausted boy, after 4 hours of non-stop walking, the pair finally arrived at the city wall of the capital city.

On the 1st day of the new year each year, the selection takes place all over the world where the best of the best gets selected to attend the most prestige school in the world, The Dragonspire Academy. Named after its founder Magnus Dragonspire, who founded the school 2000 years ago to educate and train the most talented no matter the race, wealth or status.

To this day, the school kept its principle of accepting anyone over the age of 15 no matter their gender, race, wealth, status provided they can pass the selection.

For the pair of 15-year-old orphans, this is their one and only chance of attending school and escaping from the cycle of poverty.

The city of Miodod is the capital city of the Miodod kingdom located in the heart of the beastman alliance. While no major wars have broken out between the races for almost 2 centuries, border disputes still occur often with kingdoms on the border regions constantly at odds with each other.

Thanks to its location, this medium sized kingdom without a large army or a talented commander has been a peaceful place for its civilians.

As citizens of age from all over the kingdom gathered for the selection, gate soldiers are working overtime to make sure no one dangerous slipped in with the hordes of teenagers hoping for a brighter future.

As Ken and his sister got to the checkpoint, they were met with the familiar gaze of suspension and discrimination that's all too common for the pair now.

Afterall, with the lack of a tail or animalistic ears, the pair stood out quite noticeably in the heart of the beastman territory.

With jet black hair, dark brown eyes, and good symmetrical features, Ken is a rather handsome boy. While due to the lack of proper nutrition, he is quite skinny, but standing at 6 feet tall, if he was to pack on some muscle mass, dressed in proper gear, he could no doubt fit the role of a proper human Hero if it was only in looks.