Three young men arrived at the beast hall located at the skirt of a city.

Their red blood robes flew gently as the wind passed by. The young man in the lead has dual sword crest in x-position. Under it written the words, elite warrior, while the other two were wearing a robe written on its crest were 'the warrior'. Walking their way ahead, they attracted a bunch of people.

"Is that the students of the Butuan Kingdom?"

"They did look like it!"

"They're so cool!"

"And so young!

These were the conversations running around on the beast hall. The trio ambled down the road oblivious to the conversations.

"Tala, it looks cool on you!" Uno commented.

Kalipsi nodded. They thought Tala would be stubborn on not be willing to wear it again.

Inside the Beast Hall, the trio was welcomed by a brown robe youths. He smiled at them heartily and respectfully asked, "Are you the students from the Butuan Kingdom?"

"Yes, we are! We're here to leave this beast in your care." Kalipsi responded.

"Oh. This way young men! Register your name and your beast." The brown robe youth led the way to the front desk handing over a book. Kalipsi skillfully wrote his name using his earthly energy.

Beautiful glimmering words slowly emerged. The brown robe youth was dumbfounded. He hid the pen that he was going to hand over to Kalipsi. 'This young man was that skillful? Students of the Kingdom are really awesome.'

The only people he saw doing that thingy was their Datu and elders, and it was a little crude at that.

"It's done!" Seeing the silent youth, Kalipsi resounded.

"Ah. Y... yes!" The youth said. "Wait here."

A moment later, the youth came back with two similar pins. Written on it was Kalipsi's name. The youth hand over one and hang the other one on Lipad's neck.

"Thank you."

"Our esteemed guests, this way place." The youth led the three inside a private room whilst Lipad was accompanied by another youth to the back of the hall.

"Is Elder Katin-aw here? The students from the Butuan Kingdom are already here." The youth asked to another youth guarding the room.

"Yes, he's here. Wait a second." A moment later, he came back and said, "You can come inside with them."

The youth walked inside followed by the three, clasped his fist and bowed.

"Elder Katin-aw, these are the students of the Butuan Kingdom."

Katin-aw scrutinized the three. 'How strong. I never imagine that this kind of budding youth has already a level of an elite warrior.' He could not believe it as he was silently observing Kalipsi.

"Junior Kalipsi pays respect to senior. We are here as per instruction to us by 1st elder to deliver a piece of news. These are Tala and Uno."

They have received a letter containing the arrival of the students of the kingdom delivering a piece of news, so Katin-aw wasn't surprised at all.

"Let me lead the three of you to the palace," said Katin-aw. 'They're too early!'

As far as he knew, these students should arrive in three days more, but they were already here.

Unprepared, he could only lead the trio to the palace.

"Thank you!"

'Kalipsi, Tala and Uno, huh! Let's see what they've got!' The Elder caressed his beards as he muttered the words.

Katin-aw ordered his men to fetch out a kalesa.

In just five minutes, the kalesa was already prepared. Katin-aw led the trio to the heart of the city where a palace stood.

Sitting at the high chair, the Datu welcomed the three with high respect. For all the people in the city, he knew how hard it was to be admitted in the Kingdom and how strong the people there.

The students in front of him were the future of the Kingdom, he wasn't that na?ve to start a misunderstanding to them.

"Welcome to the Lakan City. I hope you enjoy your stay here!"

The Lakan Family was the family assigned to Kalipsi.

Kalipsi clasped his fist followed by the two. "That would be our pleasure!" He handed over the scroll to the Datu.

The Datu gestured them to sit at the empty seat in the front row that was personally arranged by him.

After some time, elder by elder entered the main hall of the palace.

Observing that everyone was present, the Datu finally speak. "The school of the Butuan Kingdom is now open to our young generation. They wanted us to hold a selection that will be overlooked by these three young men.

"The letter says that whatever our way is, the top 20 will be immediately admitted to their school. This is a chance for us to send our younger generation to a more secure future. Does anyone disagree with this selection?"

Every elder shook their head.

"Good! Then we will be having our selection a week from now. Let the whole city knew about this selection. The participant must be 13-20 years old."

The elders and the Datu start their conversation on how they will hold a competition. It would be the largest selection they will be preparing.

Fortunately, the Kingdom didn't put much a restriction about the selection, so they easily made up their plan.

The Datu arranged for the living quarter of the three.

"Finally!" Uno limply stretched his body as he lay on his bed. When he closed his eyes, he immediately fell asleep.

Kalipsi was no far from him too.

They've been traveling for three days. And though they stopped after some time, Tala used that time to harness their skills by sparring to each other and hunting beasts.

The night was just the right temperature to sleep without being disturbed.

...

"Big brother, mother is sick again!" A sobbing 7 years old boy, Saz hugged his 18-year-old brother Laz.

"It's okay. Mother will be okay. I will get medicine for her this afternoon." Laz reassured.

"Big brother, tell me if there's anything that I can help. I'm strong you know!" Saz raised his slim arms to showcase his little muscle.

"Okay!" Laz laughed in his heart. "Big brother is going to work. Take care of mother while I am away. Okay?"

"Yes, big brother." Saz saluted.

"Here 10 bronze pilancitos. Buy foods to eat."

"Was this all your money left? How about you?"

"Big brother can take care of himself." Laz gave him a warm smile as he patted little Saz's head. 'Although the money was not enough, this little brother of mine wanted to share it with me. What a good boy.'

10 bronze pilancitos can only buy a slice of bread and that bread will be divided by his little brother and mother into two meals already. Laz didn't want it to be divided into three.

Laz kissed the forehead of his unconscious mother and his little brother before he headed out.

"We'll wait for you big brother," Saz shouted to the disappearing silhouette.

...

Laz arrived at the stone hall where he worked.

"Elder Pati, do you need anything to be done. I'm available." Laz asked. If an elder assigned a task to an apprentice they were given extra payment.

"No. I'm okay. I'll call if I do." Elder Pati responded.

"Elder Tantina, if you need little things to be done, I'm just here." Laz sounded as he approached the elder.

"Okay. I'll make you know." Elder Tantina responded.

Laz asked every elder he bumped to.

Two elders asked his help and give 10 bronze pilancitos each.

"Mother's medicine was almost hundred pilancitos. I just needed 80 more. My lucky day! If I will add 5 pilancitos a day to my savings, I might let my mother see a physician next year." Laz said positively. 'Time to take care of some business.'

He was tasked to welcome guests, visitors and etc. at the hall that specializes in appraising different kinds of stones.

At noon, Laz went out to buy some food when he saw the group of Baka, a bunch of troublesome rich kid, blocked three young men.

"They look so young. I guess 14-16 years old. They don't stand a chance between those bunch of bullies. I should help them," having made up his mind, he ran towards them.

...

Three young men were strolling on a buzzling city.

A lot of people busying themselves going to and fro.

Stalls were everywhere.

"Tala, where are we going? Are we not lost?" Kalipsi was baffled. They just keep walking around.

"We're heading to the stone hall," Tala responded.

"Have you been here?"

"No."

"No? Then why don't we ask around?"

"No need." Hearing those words Kalipsi was going to rebut but Tala's next words stunned him. "I know where we are heading."

"You know? Sure enough, because we've been just circling around." Kalipsi sneered angrily.

"How can you say so?" Tala was perplexed to Kalipsi's words.

"Did you see that signboard." Kalipsi pointed out the signboard on his left, written were 'Blue Bakery'. "I've seen it three times already. That statue too. The old man in that stall..." Kalipsi pointed out the things he remembered while they were walking in a circle.

Tala looked at Uno seemingly asking him if Kalipsi was right.

Uno discernibly nodded.