Chapter 1: Left Behind
Inside a small room in a small hut in a small village, a fairly tall, eighteen-year-old young man with short black hair, aquamarine eyes, and a rather toned body that would turn the heads of young women his age sat on his wooden cot, staring at the ground in suppressed frustration and endless disappointment.
"Wait for the good news, Mom. You know how I've always felt I'm destined for greatness, right? Heh, even Korren and the others think so! I'll definitely be one of those 'diamonds in the rough!'"
Those were Hal's claims before he and seven others his age from Poporo Village left for the nearest city to try their hand at overturning their bland fate by taking the Grand Magic Academy's examination.
In his generation, he had always been the leader, the trailblazer, the problem solver, and whatever other positive term one could think of.
Hal was the bona fide, acknowledged, blessed one of his bunch, and for good reason.
He always helped people in his village whenever he could, accomplishing things others thought were impossible or had already given up on.
Above all, his personality was as warm and bright as the sun above, and his confidence was unshakeable.
At least it had been...
He had all the makings of a "diamond in the rough," as the entire empire called the talented ones among the common folk.
Hal was poised to be "him".
But then...