*AETHERIUS*
Today, the exam would finally take place. Yesterday, while everyone was in the libraries helping me understand shadow magic, they came across a poster outside the academy with information about the exam.
Even a messenger sent by the headmistress arrived.
"Good evening, young Aetherius Emwind. Due to your relationship with Young Trevor, you are informed about the information and exact location of the exam, as mentioned in the ceremony, the exam will take place in the southern forests, heading towards the eastern side of the forest."
"A group of people will await you and your relatives there. The families of the other young participants will settle in that place, where the exam will be broadcasted from various camera perspectives to keep an eye on you and know if you are in danger.
That's all from me. I hope my private information to you is comforting. Sincerely, The Headmistress." And with that, she concluded her letter.
"Well, thank you," I finished and burned the letter.
Setting off to the northern forests, we found the place where everyone would settle. Nadia, Rachel, Anatia, Celia, Otto, Fredic, Atheria, Sara, Nora, Valentina, Trevor, Layra, Elowen, finally mom and dad, attended.
"Good morning, family and participants. Please, follow me this way to show you to your seats," the assistant led us, and more families began to arrive. The place was large enough for almost 300 families of those participating in the exam.
Out of the 300 participants, fewer than 100 withdrew due to the risk their children faced in the exam, leaving us with 230.
Of the 230 participants, only half could pass the exam, and that would be seen in today's exam.
After two hours of finishing building a stage and the seats where the directors and Descendants would sit, while waiting for everyone to arrive and settle down, the directors finally appeared.
The headmistress cleared her throat and began to speak, "Hello, everyone. I'm glad to see that many of you decided to continue with the exam despite the risk. I salute your courage. Please, if you haven't finished settling down yet, do so. I'll wait as long as you need," the headmistress smiled.
After a few minutes, I felt a tremendous pressure coming from the sky. "Let's give a warm welcome to the Descendants who will be with us today to assist in this exam, taking their time to be here," the headmistress raised her hand, pointing to the sky where the Descendants were coming from.
"Let me introduce you to my right, Cassian Prescott, Ksenia Karpova, and Ricci Barbieri. These will be the ones to help you in case you find yourselves in real danger. But let's not leave it all up to them. On my left, there will be the teachers and medical assistants who will protect you in action, while the others will heal you during your exam," there were only 30 of them, 20 of whom would watch over us among the 230 exam participants, so I knew the Descendants here were to fill in the gaps in numbers.
Director Hans Herzog spoke next, "Participants, please follow me to the starting point so you can begin the exam, and parents, bless your children and say goodbye."
"Mom, I really don't think I can do this. It's too dangerous. I wasn't trained to do this. It was supposed to be an evaluative exam in a room and then a written exam. I'm not—" I overheard one of the participants speaking to their parents, and then some others who looked anxious followed suit.
"I understand if you're not ready. If you wish to withdraw, please do so. You have two more years to better prepare yourselves. I wish you all the best in your training, and you are welcome to stay and watch the performance of the other participants," after the headmistress's words, the number decreased again. Out of 230, we were left with 170. Sixty participants dropped out and returned to where their families were.
(Author's Note: To abbreviate "Headmistress," we'll use "H.M.")
My parents looked at me, and I at them. I just shrugged and laughed, and they laughed too. The others followed Director Hans.
We walked for 30 minutes away from where we were before. "Now that we are far away, it's time to give you the instructions," the director began, and there were boxes with bracelets beside him. I became curious about what they were for.
The director took one of the bracelets and showed them, "These bracelets will be placed on either hand, and once you imbue your mana into them, in the control room where we will monitor your movements on a map to know your location, we will send what we call Drones to watch over you in real-time and display it on the projector for your parents," he finished explaining. We lined up, each taking a bracelet. I imbued mana into mine and felt it absorb.
A familiar shadow loomed a few meters away from me. I turned and saw the girl from the pond. I looked at her for a while, and then she felt my gaze, startled, and moved away. "Very well, young ones. Inside the forest, there will be many beasts. Keep your eyes wide open. The exam will last for 8 hours. It's 10 in the morning, and the exam will end at 6 in the evening. If you cannot calculate the time, your bracelets will make a noise. That means the time is up, and you should return. There will be a light in the sky, and you will head towards it. That light will be this place," he pointed upwards, and there was a tall bar as thick as a tree with a spotlight at the top, indicating that it was the light.
"With nothing else to say, I wish you luck," he pressed a button he had in his hand, and a flare shot into the sky. "Good luck, now..." he raised his hand. I infused mana into my body and got into a running position. "The exam begins," he lowered his hand forcefully, and we all started running.
I looked in the direction of the girl from the pond, hoping not to bump into her. I turned again and distanced myself from the group.
*****
*DORIAN*
I watched Therius walk away and looked at Altea, who was scratching her neck, a sign that she was nervous. "Calm down, dear. Our son is strong; he'll be fine," I reassured her, though I was nervous too.
I hope he doesn't overexert himself, I thought. After half an hour, a flare appeared in the sky, and a huge projection appeared behind the stage where the directors and Descendants were.
So we could all see it, a voice brought me out of my thoughts. "That's in real-time, so we'll see whatever happens to Therius at the same time," Layra explained. Though I knew about the projection, I thought it would be smaller.
"Relax, Altea and Dorian, you've already said it; he'll be fine," Fredic put his hand on my shoulder as he looked at me, and I nodded.
I watched as the group of kids there started to run, but my eyes followed Therius's body, clad in a light black and white armor covering his arms, chest, back, and legs.
I watched him run and then disappear. This kid just dove into the forest like that, I thought with a wry smile.
The camera, or drone as they called it, followed him. He was the first to encounter two wolves. He placed electricity in his hands and a whip of lightning emerged. He jumped and lashed the whips at the wolves. I noticed his face crease, perhaps thinking his aim was to split them, not just stop them. Electrocuting them, they stiffened, and Therius spun in the air. With the same electricity from his hands, he moved them to his legs, creating a white circle. He kicked downwards, and a wolf took the blow, creating a small crater, killing the beast.
He spun on his heel and maneuvered on the ground, delivering another blow from above to the other wolf, his foot piercing it, killing it.
He pulled his foot out, covered in wolf blood, and shook it to get rid of it. I looked towards the directors, and Trevor spoke up, "Ha, look at them evaluating Therius," he said, and they all turned and laughed. We returned our gaze to the projection. The camera changed and moved to another participant who had also strayed from the group, surrounded by boars and fighting them. He lost his concentration, and a boar hit him from behind, sending him flying forward where two more boars hit him.
A teacher appeared and eliminated the boars that hit the boy. He was injured, so they rescued him and took him out.
Not even ten minutes had passed since the exam began, and one had already been removed. A voice sounded from the speakers.
"The first participant has exited the exam and will now be treated in the medical area. Parents, please come with me," the announcement ended, and the boy's parents followed him.
"Not even ten minutes and the first one's out," Nadia said. "Poor kid, better luck next time," Celia added.
"We had it easy; they have to prove their worth against real beasts," Anatia responded, irritated by Celia's comment.
Only 8 hours, isn't that a lot? I wondered.
****
*AETHERIUS*
An hour had passed since the exam began, and 10 participants had already been eliminated. I found a small river and washed the blood of the beasts I had killed, hoping that the girl would appear again.
After washing up, I set off. My mom gave me a small backpack with water and food for the 8 hours I would be here.
Another hour passed, and no one had been eliminated, which relieved me as it indicated that this exam wouldn't be too difficult.
I ate a bit and rested for a few minutes before moving again.
As I ran, I felt beasts approaching. Three bears lunged at me, throwing a punch. I dodged it, jumping backward as I spun. I pulled out my scythe and positioned myself beside a tree, gathering momentum before launching myself at the bears.
This time it wasn't difficult to finish them off, as previously my physical strength had been lacking rather than mana. Once again, I found myself splattered with blood. "Ah, not again, that's too many times," I complained as the smell of blood began to overwhelm me.
I cleaned myself up as best as I could, and for another 2 hours, I continued to fight against beasts. Four hours had passed since the exam began, and 10 participants were eliminated, leaving 150.
I felt a dozen beasts gathering, at least 6 gryphons and another pack of wolves fighting among themselves.
I tried to avoid that place when suddenly someone emerged from the bushes and began attacking the beasts.
It was the girl from the pond, covered in dirt and some blood, launching thick, transparent crystals, killing two wolves and a gryphon. The gryphons began to rise while the wolves surrounded her.
She cast another spell from the ground, piercing the wolf's stomach. I was stunned by her control. I thought she was one of the participants who had been eliminated, but her magic, she evolved her earth magic into crystal magic. I thought with a hint of envy.
A gryphon launched towards her, forcing her to cover herself, causing her defense to fall and a wolf to attack her.
I reacted instantly, imbuing mana into my body and lunging towards the wolf, cutting it in half, then moving towards the gryphon, blocking its claws with my staff to prevent it from harming her.
Now only 4 gryphons and 2 wolves remained. I charged my blade with electricity, sending a bolt towards a gryphon, causing it to fall, and as it fell, I cut it, and its lifeless body dropped.
"Girl, do something!" I shouted to snap her out of it, and she did. She recited a spell, and 3 crystals appeared between her arms and head. She launched them and killed the gryphons still in the air while I took care of the wolves.
The girl fell to her knees trembling. I heard something fall from the sky with a loud thud. I left her alone for a moment and went to check.
One of the drones had been attacked with a crystal that had pierced a gryphon, showing cables and sparks.
I hope that doesn't cause any problems, I thought, still looking at the drone, and then returned to the girl. "Hey, are you okay?" I offered her my hand, and she took it. I helped her up, and she wiped her knees.
I looked at her closely and at her clothes. At first, I thought she was just wearing a dress without armor, but her arms were wrapped in armor as light as mine, her chest and back covered with a leather and metal vest, her skirt was part of her vest like a cape, and she only wore shorts knee-length.
At least knee pads and leg guards, I thought as I untied my hair and tied it back up.
Returning to her, I spoke, "If you're okay now, I'll leave. There are 4 more hours left for the exam to end. Goodbye," I walked away, and she grabbed my arm. I turned to her, and she had tears in her eyes.
Now what? "What do you need now?" I asked her. "Can I go with you for the rest of the exam?" she asked with puppy eyes.
She looked at me with teary eyes. I tried to resist, but her eyes reminded me of Elowen's when mom scolded her, and she came to me for defense.
I closed my eyes tightly and clenched my teeth. "Ugh, fine, fine, fine, you'll come with me. I hope you can protect yourself since I can't do everything," her tears disappeared, and her eyes sparkled. "Yay, thanks, and I will. I'll take care of myself, after all, I endured 4 hours alone," she said proudly.
Aaahh, I hope I don't regret this, although I think I've done enough, and I just have to hold on until the end of the exam.
I treated the girl's minor wounds with the ointments my mother gave me, and after a few minutes, we resumed our journey.