Not alone

Mizayaki was standing outside Ms. Mina's house. He tried to open the gate, but it was locked. Two guards approached him and asked, "What do you want, boy?"

Mizayaki said, "I'm here to meet Ms. Mina."

The same guard asked, "Do you have an appointment?"

Mizayaki replied "No, I don't."

"Then leave," the guard said.

"Please, can you at least tell Ms. Mina that a boy named Mizayaki came to meet her?" Mizayaki asked.

"Okay, but if she says she doesn't know you, then you'll have to leave."

"Okay," Mizayaki said.

The guard turned to his partner. "Go tell her a boy named Mizayaki is outside."

The other guard went to Ms. Mina's room and knocked on the door. "I'm busy, come later," Ms. Mina said.

"Sorry to disturb you, ma'am," the guard replied. "But there's a boy outside who says he wants to meet you."

"Who is it?" she asked.

The guard replied "I don't know, but he said his name is Mizayaki."

"Oh, so he's here," Mina said. "Bring him in and show him the way to the waiting room. I'll be there shortly."

"Okay, ma'am," the guard said.

The guard went back outside and told his partner, "Open the gate, let him in."

Mizayaki came inside and saw maids and butlers cleaning the house.

The guards led Mizayaki upstairs. When they reached the waiting room, one of them said, "Wait in here. Ma'am will be here shortly. And don't touch anything."

"I'm not a thief, okay!" Mizayaki said.

"Yeah, yeah," the guard replied. The two guards closed the door and left.

Mizayaki looked around the room. There were two sofas with a small glass table between them. On the right and left corners of the room were two bookshelves filled with books. The room also had two windows.

Mizayaki sat on the sofa. It was dawn, and he stared silently at the glass table.

Mina came in, opening the door. "Hello. Sorry to make you wait," she said.

Mizayaki stood up, and they shook hands. "No, no, it's okay," he said. "Hello, my name is Mizayaki. Nice to meet you, Ms. Mina."

"Just call me Mina," she replied. "I prefer it that way. Come on, sit."

They both sat on the sofas. "Did you read the letter Ms. Milana sent you?" Mizayaki asked.

"Yes, I did," Mina replied. "So, before we start talking about anything else, I want to know how much you know about the Magic Academy and why you want to enroll."

Mizayaki was silent for a brief moment. "I don't know much about the Magic Academy. And as for why I want to enroll, it's because I want to be strong. I want to be strong enough to protect the people I care about." Mizayaki smiled.

Mina nodded. "So let me tell you about the Magic Academy. There are five ranks in the academy: Beginner, Starter, Disciple, Master, and Ruler. These ranks are based on your strength and achievements."

"What achievements?" Mizayaki asked.

"Once you enroll in the academy, they will hand out quests. You can either do them alone or make a group. Completing difficult quests will increase your rank quickly. If you reach the rank of Disciple or higher, you can join the kingdom army. Most students dream of being a part of the kingdom army, but reaching those ranks requires years of training."

"Oh, I think I understand it now," Mizayaki said.

"Good," Mina said. "And one more thing: once you enroll, the academy will give you your own room. So, do you have any place to rest for the night?"

"No, I don't," Mizayaki replied.

"Then you can stay here for the night, if you want."

"Of course I want to stay," Mizayaki said. "I will gladly accept the offer."

"Haha," Mina laughed. "Dinner must be ready by now. You can eat and then go to your room."

Mizayaki ate, and a butler showed him to his room. The room had a bed and a window next to it. It was dark, and moonlight was shining through the window.

Mizayaki sat on the bed and thought about when Mina asked him why he wanted to enroll in the academy. "Why I want to enroll?" Mizayaki thought. "It's because I want to know the truth about those men who came to our house that night and why they were searching for my mother and father for years."

Mizayaki lay on the bed with his right arm over his face. He fell asleep. The next day, he woke up, ate, and got on the carriage with Mina. They started heading to the Magic Academy.

They reached the Magic Academy, and their carriage stopped outside. Mizayaki got off. It was noisy. So many families and people were there, and music was playing loudly. Mizayaki covered his ears.

Mina said, "I have a meeting to attend, so I'll be going. Go in there, and you'll see a man sitting on a chair, and some students standing in line. Get in the line. They will ask you for your age and name, and then he'll give you a color card, okay?"

Mizayaki replied, "Yeah, okay."

Mizayaki stepped into the Magic Academy. He looked for the guy from the directions when a lady wearing a navy blue outfit came up to him and grabbed his arm. "Are you here to enroll in the academy?" she asked.

"Yes," Mizayaki replied.

"Come, follow me then," she said.

The lady took Mizayaki outside the academy. "Why are we leaving the academy?" he asked.

"It's crowded in the academy, so we decided to move outside," she replied. "There's a battle arena behind the academy where most of the fighting tournaments are held. That is where we're headed."

"Why is it so crowded?" Mizayaki asked. "Is it because of the entrance ceremony?"

"No, it's because of Princess Tiana, the king's daughter. People heard she's going to enroll in the academy, so they gathered up to see her. No one has seen her in ten years.”

The lady and Mizayaki reached the battle arena. "Thanks for showing me the way," Mizayaki said.

"No problem. Bye now, take care," she said.

"Bye," Mizayaki replied.

Then Mizayaki's turn came, and the guy sitting on the chair said, "Okay, what is your name?"

"Mizayaki," he replied.

"And your age, and your father's and mother's names?" the guy asked.

Mizayaki paused for a moment. "Milana and Jaff."

The guy handed Mizayaki a red card and said, "Come back tomorrow. It's too crowded, so the tests are tomorrow."

Mizayaki went in front of the Magic Academy and waited for Mina.

At dawn, Mina came in her carriage. She saw Mizayaki standing in front of the academy. "You're still here? Didn't they give you your room?" she asked.

"No, they said the tests are tomorrow because it's too crowded," Mizayaki replied.

"Hmm, I guess many people heard about Princess Tiana. Okay then, come on, let's go back to my home."

"Thanks, Mina, for helping," Mizayaki said. He then got in the carriage.”