Elemental Zodiack

Chapter 7: A long road...

---After the exhausting test battle against the principal Laure, Yoso is still resting in his bed inside his house. His incredible affinity-changing power had a really big cost that made him faint. Big power in this world comes with big prices after all... but that should have been stopped by the use of catalysts until now. This means that Yoso's potential might still be on the underwater side of the iceberg.

 "Huh...? Where am I? Oh, I see... I am at my house. Does that mean that I failed the test?" says Yoso after just waking up. However, a voice breaks in and negates Yoso's thoughts out of nowhere.

"No, you actually passed. Congratulations! That was some incredible power for a little kid like you, not talking about the unprecedented "Affinity Change"."

"I passed?! What do you mean? I lost... and more importantly... Who are you and what are you doing in my house?!"

"Calm down a little, shrimp! I am Saki Kurata, and you will be in my care after we go to Melyndor. Nice to meet you."

"That means I really passed?!"

"Yes. For more details, you can go to your living room. Your friends are waiting for you there."

"Alright! Thank you miss Kurata!"

"Leave the formalities alone. I am not that old..."

"Okay!"

 Yoso then starts running towards the living room and then realizes that the atmosphere is kind of hot inside. He walks closer to the jacuzzi and sees Kein, Shouko and Shizuo standing inside in their swimsuits.

"What are you guys doing there?!" shouts Yoso

"Oh, kid! Come in, the water is great! We even bought you a swimsuit!"

"I won't come in! And why does this swimsuit have ducks on it?!"

"Why not though?" asks Shizuo

"Miss Kurata said I could hear more details about my challenge if I come here!"

   In the background, Kurata can be heard screaming: "I told you I am not that old!"

"Well, the only one of us that saw your test was Kein..." says Shouko

"Yes. Your fight was amazing, and your ability is quite... How do I put it...? "Illegal". I don't know anything more about it. But remember that the principal actually told you that you don't have to win, but if you ask me, it was more like: "you don't have any chance to win". He is known as "The Stone General" after all. Even though you have some incredible power for a kid, you still have like 30 years less experience than him," explains Kein

"I actually don't remember much of what happened in the middle of the fight..." says Yoso while keeping his right hand on his forehead.

  Then in the cloud of steam, behind Yoso, Kein sees a huge silhouette approaching.

"Run, Yoso! A huge gorilla is behind you!" shouts Kein

"Gorilla huh? Funny joke Shimada... By the way, what do you think about the weather outside?"

 The "gorilla" has proven to actually be Laure.

"Why is he wearing a swimsuit with ducks?" thinks Yoso while looking at Laure that was standing behind him.

"Sooo, Shimada... Do you like the weather outside? Wanna verify how could it is out there?"

"Umm... Yes! Wait 'till I get dressed up!" says Kein

"It won't be necessary. I see you are already dressed up enough! I'll help you get out easier, my fellow 'student representative'..." says Laure that grabs Kein by the hand, and then throws him towards the window.

"Umm. Mister principal? Do you realize that the window was closed right?" asks Shouko

"I think he does..." thinks Shizuo

"Then that sound was..." thinks Yoso

"Now, Yoso, get in the jacuzzi," says Laure and grabs him, then way gentler than with Kein, throws him into the jacuzzi.

"Do you realize I was dressed up?" says Yoso after spitting water like a fountain

"Ah, yes... sorry. Put on your swimsuit, and then come. We have to talk."

 As he was told, Yoso puts his swimsuit with little ducks on him and enters the jacuzzi. Shizuo and Shouko seem to hardly keep their laugh in. Meanwhile, Kein also comes back trembling.

"How was the weather?"

"Certainly not too hot..."

"Now... Let's talk!" says Laure with a pretty scary tone

*gulp* "That's the tone he uses when he scolds me!" thinks Kein

"As you might have heard from Saki Kurata, Yoso, you passed the test." then Laure raises his arm and shows it to Yoso

"This is the damage that your blade did to me after it fell from your hand. It actually damaged me through my rock skin. There aren't many people that can do this damage to me while awake, and you did it while fainted... And also, this wasn't even your full potential."

"But I can barely remember a thing from the fight..." says Yoso

"Yes... You used way too much power for your actual level. You see, you aren't strong enough to withstand such power... Your body is extremely weak. In our fight, I could have killed you before your first attack failed. You have technique and speed, but your body is way too frail... Also, because of the military training of Authorania, your life force didn't develop well, so your life force is just a bit above the average student. This i***t over there is incredibly talented when it comes to life force use and power..." says Laure pointing at Kein,

"I hope you understand where I am going... But you've been blessed. There wasn't a thing such as a person with a life force that can change its affinity at will. In your actual state... You might defeat a regular soldier of Authorania, but by no means its king or your friend's killer."

"Yes... I am weak. But I have to do this! I will dethrone Authorania's king! And I will take revenge for Kuro! I don't care if I am weak! I might die trying but I will do it!"

 Then Laure's face began to brighten and he starts laughing.

"This is what I wanted to hear! Now you have passed the exam!"

"...What...?" asks Yoso dumbfounded

"You are not that weak as I said. It's true that at your actual level, you won't be able to defeat Braum Thinker or the king. You are only a kid after all. But Authorania's power isn't the power of their soldiers. It is in their numbers. Authorania is the biggest kingdom and has the biggest army, but only the generals are strong in their army. The biggest problem is their Zodiack team... It is known to be the strongest amongst all the kingdoms. Yoso... your potential is incredible, but you are too young and our kingdom isn't really that strong. We have many resources and this is what makes the strength of our kingdom. You and Saki Kurata will go to the kingdom of Melyndor. You will get training in their army for a few years."

"Does that mean that I have to go away from here for a few years? And I just lived there a few days. I really liked this house." says Yoso

"This house is yours. And to spice it up a little, since you passed the final exam and are now a Dinsfurd Knight, I have a mission for you. Get as strong as a Zodiack in those years away. And after you come back, your mission will be to defeat all the Dinsfurd Zodiack members in a duel. If you do this... I will send you to participate in the war against Authorania."

 Hearing all this, Yoso didn't even have to think much. He accepted the mission and then rested a week at his house with his friend. A weak to be together with them just before leaving them for a few whole years... And that week passed really quickly...

"See you soon, kid!" says Kein to Yoso that was about to get in a ship to Melyndor with Saki

"Take care!" says Shouko

"Hope you get taller kid!" says Shizuo while patting Yoso's head. Yoso then bites Shizuo's hand.

"Aargh! Don't act like a kid just because you look like one!"

 Watching this scene, Laure tells Saki: "Take care of him, Kurata. He might become a bright light for this war in the future.

"I will. Take care principal."

 And just like this, Yoso and Saki embark and the ship sails away to Melyndor, preparing a new adventure for Yoso on his road to becoming a real king.