Merciless Compassion

Welcome

It was a strange thing,what this world had become. It still seemed the same as before,but... Something had changed. That much was obvious. The way people stood by silently while others were mercilessly beaten or taken away by the Shepherds. After the chaotic mess of the World War that had burst in flames yet died down within years just decades before, the world had seemed to change. It transformed to a strange serenity of quiet, never speaking of the ill events of those years, much less against the now world wide controlling company of Keranthus. Keranthus, the very name sparked the ambiance and words of unwavering loyalty, respect and fear...

'Through Agony Comes Order and Peace.' A poster displaying the smiling expression of the well known American governing head, Heath Torik, stared down at me as I walked past the main offices of the Prae Dolore Academy.

I gazed around the common area of the Academy grounds, the entrance and its territory, amazed by the unusually peaceful serenity of the area. I didn't know what to expect from the Academy, but I had thought there would be a darker sort of aura to the buildings and its student body. I looked around,my eyes roaming the buildings scattered around the area dotted with trees and foliage. The students of the Academy milled about, talking with each other calmly or watching the file of young applicants with which I was a part of as we walked towards the now looming building,wherein the entrance exams would be conducted. My pitch black hair blew in the breeze of the sunny day, bringing a beautifully peaceful ambiance to the Academy despite the dark rumors that surrounded it among the common people. Rumors of twisted lessons, dark punishments and harsh conditions. As much as I had denied to my family why I had applied, telling them that I had received an invitation, which was true as they had seen and read it themselves, I did silently admit to myself the rumors were part of the reason why I had accepted the invitation.

"Hey, aren't you nervous?" A voice spoke up just behind my shoulder as we entered the inner part of the building, barred in to the front by a massive wall with perfectly spaced gleaming white doors aligned along the back wall. I glanced back to see another young woman with dirty blonde hair in a simple pairing of jeans and t-shirt walking behind me.

"Nervous? Is there a reason we should be nervous?" I laughed softly, turning to the girl as the building was empty save for the applicants that had just entered. I felt more excited, joyful at the chance rather than nervous. I wanted to see the truths behind the rumors, to experience the joyful delight I had seen the Guardians within the cities take part in.

"We don't know what the entrance exams are, the Academy is so secretive about everything."The girl said with a nervous chuckle as she glanced around to see others beginning to talk among each other. "Ah, my name's Cora by the way."

"My name's Vyola, nice to meet you. It's interesting isn't it? Such a mysterious school,shrouded in rumors and secrecy, with it being government sanctioned and all." I shook Cora's hand with a light smile.

"Interesting is a good way to put it. I'm just curious about this whole place and if the rumors are true." Cora laughed

"Who isn't? This place is an elitist school, its where those who become Guardians graduate from. It trains the best of the best in every field. It's amazing."

The murmurs of the applicants died down as our attention was pulled to the front of the building where a ruby red haired woman in a formal red dress and black heels stepped out to the center, accompanied by a tall,somewhat buff man whose skin was littered with scars, his eyes dead and void of emotion. Who is that man, where did those scars come from? I watched him curiously as he simply stood by the woman, his eyes gazing far off towards an invisible distance. Cora nudged my arm as I watched him, mouthing unreadable words and glancing to the man. Even she seemed curious about it, most if not all of us applicants were. Although we didn't bother questioning it as the woman seemed to be issuing a silent challenge to those who were expressing their curiosity in words. She didn't want us to know, as the following collective silence simply asked 'Why not?'

The woman then clapped her hands to get our attention as we settled, standing in three rows often. "Welcome to the Prae Dolore Academy Entrance Exams. We look forward and hope to see you all at the assembly for new students this coming school year. I am Lora Cyanth, the acting administrator of the yearly entrance exams and a fourth year student of the Academy."She offered a thin smile as her seemingly warm-hearted eyes roamed over the applicants. She took a deep breath as her eyes bounced from us to the doors at the back. "Now, this is a simple two part examination. We'll have you enter one of the rooms just behind you,"She waved a slender hand towards the back of the building as she spoke, "and afterwards, we'll ask a few simple questions and we're done. Understood?" She didn't wait for a response as she spoke again, "Please, step up to the doors just behind you and we will call in one individual to enter each door."

Just like that, the mood changed to nervous tension. Steps echoed around as we all turned to face the gleaming white doors, people spread about to face each door which only three stood. Without realizing it, I ended up as first to enter the one of the doors while Cora stood behind me. Lora's heels clicked along the polished wooden flooring, while I couldn't help but smile,staring at the unusually shining door, nervously delighted of what was to come, what these exams were.

"Please enter the room,an attendant will provide further instructions within." Lora's voice seemed to be laced with what sounded to be wicked enthusiasm.

I glanced at her as she stood at the end of the row of doors, her hands clasped formally in front of her, a thin smile on her lips while the man stood just behind her. She seemed to be looking forward to these exams, as if she had planned something she would immensely enjoy, as if it was a show of entertainment to her. My eyes sharpened as I watched her, while she did not meet mine, her smile spread almost as if she knew I was watching her. With a soft sigh, I looked back to the door and stepped through...