Field of Vision

Prologue

The perpendicular crosshair defiantly rustled. The slightest rocking would throw off his aim. Just steady a little already! It locked for less than a second. His index finger snapped the trigger back.

present time

"Nicholas, is something wrong?"

"No... it's nothing. I'm fine."

"If you say so..."

"Silence!" demanded the instructor.

They don't apologize. They bow their heads down obediently, as is procedure, and proceed to take out notebook paper to write down the worst punishment they could imagine that they hadn't already been put through.

System's rigged. If the teacher dislikes someone... well, I guess they become more resistant and have less fears. Or they drop out. Nicholas thought to himself, writing about jumping off of a five-story building and body slamming into some salt water.

His colleague, Benjamin, is thinking along similar lines. However, the worst case-

Scenario...

Would be...

"Early army drafting," they mutter.

The schools in the Empire of Nara were switched over to military training or any specific courses that would help with the battlefront when the students turned sixteen. A punishment worse than expulsion would be early army drafting, where they send the trouble student to boot camp where they train for only a year and are used as front line fodder.

Their enemy, the only other World Power strong enough to hold its edge this long -allied with the only remaining nations: Ander, Tyran, and Fruma- was the World Power known as Kunden.

Nara and Kunden. Kunden definitely had more soldiers and able-bodied men, but Nara, Nicholas's home, had been preparing and advancing war technology just in case another 100-year war started. They even had women serving in the army, unlike Kunden, and they had better offensive equipment and aerial units at their disposal. And it was Year 86 when Nicholas was fifteen.

The start of a new school year. Their sixteenth. This would be their head start for specialization on the front. Only the top thousand in the country, at this time, would be able to choose specialized careers unless there is more demand for something other than regular infantry.

Nicholas was sitting in his seat, writing the last entry of his School Life Diary with no composure, his frustrated bits would make his black hair burn red with fire. His mournful pieces would make his eyes form tributaries, and most importantly the summary set him into a hopeless mess.

The door opens. Everyone seemingly zaps to their seat and the first step is taken. Then the teacher is revealed with the principal of the school, walking in with a folder. They ignore the desk at the front and stand firm in front of it.

"This is the year that all worker-class citizens are replaced with machines or technical learning devices, that will aid with the demand for more men on the warfront while taking care of our home. However, it is also all of your sixteenth year in education. You will no longer see 'teachers' like me, but only have learning helmets.

"These will assist you with your learning and help prepare you for the challenges you'll face for the 13 years of the war you'll face. After that, whatever remains will be at peace, no matter how much land is taken or lost. I thank you for your time and contact, and I wish you the best of luck during the school year." They disappear into the hall without saying a word. No, they march out silently.