Turning

Turning 5

“I was actually quite nervous.”

“…I’m not. I’m alright.”

Why would he be nervous about something he’d already experienced once with an obvious result? But he couldn’t say that, so he swallowed his words.

“I don’t think you really know. More than anyone I’ve ever seen… I’m sure you will pass the Cavalry test right away.”

“Yes, that’s right. I will pass.”

Gakane gave a brief blank look at Yuder’s answer. And soon he couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

“Pfft. What is that? Do you have the ability to see the future? What about me? What do you think I’m gonna be like?”

“I don’t have the ability to see the future, but I think you will pass.”

Gakane laughed even louder.

“Oh, by the way, you’ve said all these pleasant things with that look on your face. Thank you.”

He seemed to think it was empty words, but Yuder was telling the truth. Gakane would really pass through to the Cavalry.

He wanted to say something more to Yuder, but he couldn’t because he heard a call from inside.

“Okay. Get in there. I will be waiting at the exit.”

Yuder tried to say that he could go without waiting, but Gakane was faster to turn around. Yuder stepped into the Blue Crown. The application would be finished soon anyway. The important thing was the test after the application.

***

The test was not conducted at one time every day because of the large number of people wanting to join the Cavalry. Once the application was completed, the test was conducted on the site of the Imperial Knights for three days. And whether or not the test was passed was immediately determined.

Yuder was instructed to take the test on the third day, the last day, and Gakane took it the day before. He didn’t come back to the inn, so he seemed to have passed just like before. Yuder took his simple luggage bag and left the inn with it on his shoulder.

The Imperial Knights site for the test was not far from the inn. A training camp on the site of the Imperial Knights, consisting of several tall buildings, was the place where applicants would join the Cavalry.

Yuder looked at the tense faces of those hovering around the building and identified several familiar faces. They were the faces of those who would pass the test.

“Your turn number 423!”

Countless people were called into the building. Now it was Yuder’s turn. Yuder walked leisurely into the building that hadn’t changed from his memory.

Now the test was only conducted by renting a training center for the Imperial Knights, but a few years later, the position of Imperial Knights and Cavalry would be completely reversed.

The knights who were mostly ordinary couldn’t beat even the natural Awakeners. The commander of the Cavalry continued to be trusted by the emperor and was given half of the buildings once owned by the Imperial Knights and half of the newly built buildings to show off their prowess.

“I am number 423.”

After following the guide, Yuder faced the five test-examiners. He hadn’t known before, but now he could see most of their faces. From the left, the deputy commander of the Imperial Knights, the assistant of Chancellor Mooker, a mage sent from the Pearl Tower, the court mage, and…