The morning of the next day, Martial Redemption Dojo.

"…What do you think this gathering is for?"

Cleo asked Jock, but for some reason, he didn't answer her and kept quietly observing the room.

She looked confused at Jock's reaction.

Ever since the yellow rank test, Jock had distanced himself from everybody, and that included Cleo.

He had barely spoken a word to them anymore and had been completely focused on his own doing.

Every student was sitting inside the dojo, at the open space, with the lantern dangling above from the ceiling.

They were called here by Kiernan, and it was the first time that he had done this.

Lumian and Shiro were eyeing the children of the forest, who were sitting at the sidelines, and ever since they came, they haven't really spoken with them.

They were practicing separately most of the time, so they didn't have the opportunity to speak.

"Mmh~"

In that moment, some of them heard humming and turned to the yard, where Renette was taking care of the cherry blossom tree.

The students had only talked with her a couple of times, and from what they could tell about her, she seemed like a mysterious and kind-hearted person.

At that moment, Kiernan came down from the upstairs, walked to the front of the sitting students, and stood tall.

The students quieted down and unconsciously straightened their backs.

"…Yesterday, I received an invitation to the Martial Arts Meet in Real Rokyo."

Kiernan said.

Those words made Cleo, Lumian, Shiro, and the other students gasp in shock, except the children of the forest, who didn't know what that was.

"That means we are going, right, master?"

Cleo said with a bright smile.

"…A few of us. Each dojo can bring their master and five students. Today, I have to choose five students to come with me."

Kiernan said.

The students all looked at each other, and silent competition sparked between them.

It was a very huge honor to participate in the Real Rokyo's Martial Arts Meet, and they all knew that only the best would be chosen to attend.

"I have already chosen the five."

Kiernan showed a notepad, and tapped it against his hand, which made the students tense up.

With a nervous gaze, Jock clenched his hands into fists and wondered whether he would be chosen.

It wouldn't have even been a question before, but after the arrival of the children of the forest, he wasn't sure anymore.

He thought that since he was the first student of the dojo, he should be chosen, but this Martial Arts Meet was extremely important for the ranking.

Thus, the smartest thing to do was to just send the five strongest students, but Jock wasn't sure whether he belonged in that top five.

"…Shiro."

Kiernan said.

Shiro stood up with hands behind his back and a small smile playing on his lips.

"You are the strongest student, so you'll be the first chosen. Do you think your family will allow you to travel to Real Rokyo?"

Kiernan asked.

"Of course!"

Shiro said with a smirk.

He knew that his family would be drooling in anticipation after hearing about him going to the Martial Arts Meet.

At first, they were very much against him joining the new Martial Redemption Dojo, as they would've preferred him to join a stronger dojo.

However, his family didn't have that much money, but they believed that he could've been sponsored because of his talent.

Still, Shiro decided against his family's wishes and followed Kiernan.

"…Lumian."

Kiernan said.

"Master."

Lumian bowed with a smile, stood up, and joined Shiro at the side. They fist-bumped each other.

They had become decently close to call each other as friends.

"…Cleo."

Kiernan said.

"Yay!"

Cleo jumped to her feet, then bowed with a smile, and ran to Lumian and Shiro, where she high five'd them.

She then turned to the rest of the students—more so at Jock—and looked at him with a mixed bag of emotions.

"…Alpha."

Kiernan said.

"…Master, I don't really know what this Martial Arts Meet is, but I'll accept this honor."

Alpha said.

"You can ask Cleo about the Martial Arts Meet. I am sure that she would love to explain it to you."

Kiernan said.

"I will, master!"

Cleo saluted with a bright smile, and Alpha nodded at her with a silent, "thank you."

Kiernan intentionally made Alpha interact with other students beside the children of the forest so they would get closer.

They had been pretty distant, as the children of the forest were afraid and nervous to talk with others.

In that moment, the tension grew in the dojo as there was only one spot left, and everyone wondered who would it be.

Jock sat straight with a nervous look on his face, and his hands were shaking uncontrollably.

"…Omicron."

Kiernan turned to one of the children of the forest, who had dark purple hair and eyes.

"…Thank you, master."

Omicron stood up, bowed, and sat back down. The rest of the children of the forest congratulated him with smiles on their faces.

"…"

Jock lowered his head, gritted his teeth, and stayed silent.

Lumian and Cleo were surprised that he wasn't chosen, but they decided to keep quiet and understood why Kiernan chose Omicron.

Omicron was sixteen years old, which made him the second oldest among the children of the forest, and more importantly, he was High Stage Martial Recruit.

It was the same rank as Alpha, and one rank higher than Jock, which made him the fifth strongest student.

"Go back to training, and after the Martial Arts Meet, I will hand more yellow headbands to some students, and maybe even orange."

Kiernan said.

The students bowed and went back to training.

Jock, on the other hand, took a moment later to stand up, and when he stood up, he headed back to the sand cauldron with his head hanging low.

He focused his attention on the sand cauldron and started punching it.

"…"

Kiernan looked at him with arms crossed and smiled.

A strange smile.

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