Stepping forward, I breathed out, letting my nerves settle. Instructor Wave stood in front of me, her eyes glistening with interest. Taking center stage, I drew my sword, and the golem appeared from the floor.
"You may begin," Instructor Wave told me.
I nodded, taking a step towards the golem.
What should I do first?
I stopped for a moment before drawing in mana. The blue colour turned a blackish red. Focusing on it, I created a small portal. It swirled for a moment, and I could hear the murmurs from the other candidates. Instructor Wave inched slightly closer as the portal stopped swirling. A low grumble came from within. With a hiss, the Fleshweaver pulled itself from the darkness.
A small scream came from a girl in the line, but she quickly covered her mouth. The candidates whispered among themselves before Instructor Wave told them to be silent. I smiled, then dashed at the golem. Compared to an actual attack golem, an immobile one was nothing to fear.
Covering the edge of my katana with Hellflame, planting my feet firmly against the ground, I launched myself toward its side. The Fleshweaver dashed alongside me, striking the golem in the leg, which caused it to fall to one knee. I timed my slash with the Fleshweaver, allowing myself to drive my sword into its head. The stone buckled, and my sword was buried deep in it. The hellflame burnt it, causing deep black cracks to spread from where the sword was.
How did it not cut clean through!?
I strained, pushing the blade deeper into the golem's neck; the flames raged as I pushed more mana into it. The black cracks spread farther and deeper within the golem, but it did not buckle. I yelled out, releasing one of my hands from my sword, forming a decayed knife in that hand. I smiled, plunging it into the back of the golem's neck. I struggled to push it deep, but as it dug in, the tendrils took hold, and the stone around the wound began to crumble and decay.
I grunted as I ripped my sword from the golem. The Fleshweaver bit down on its other leg, causing it to fall even more. Quickly, I created a ball of Hellflame in my palm before driving it into the golem's chest. The golem's body shuddered, and dark cracks exploded from where it was struck; the golem flew a few feet before landing limply on the ground.
Did I...
The golem creaked for a moment before standing back up.
I didn't...
I watched as its wounds began to regenerate, stone forming where it had been damaged. The eye along my Decayed Weapon slowly closed before the knife fell to the floor and dispersed. I sighed and looked at Instructor Wave. She stood silent for a few moments before opening her mouth.
"Excellent, you may return to line."
I breathed out and walked back into line. The golem descended back into the ground. Standing in the line, multiple eyes fell upon me; I looked down, slightly uncomfortable.
I hope I did well.
Standing next to me, a boy with darker skin and glasses smiled at me. He wore a blue training uniform with yellow streaks. He held a long spear with a sharp golden edge. He stretched out his hand.
"I'm Bozz, future lord of House Kestrel. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said while bowing. "That was some awesome magic."
I took his hand and returned his bow.
"Nice to meet you, Bozz. Thank you."
He shook my hand for a few seconds before letting go. Cassandra Wave called him forward, and he smiled at me for a moment before heading to the center of the training facility. He positioned his spear forward and waited for the golem to appear. He smirked as Instructor Wave signalled him to start.
I lost track of him; a flash of light appeared where he stood. A loud crackle erupted, and streaks of lightning flashed. A blur moved across the field; the ground scorched where it travelled. My eyes widened as, in just a second, the golem had been pierced fully by Bozz's spear.
He's fast... I wonder if I could keep up in a fight?
The stone crumbled, and he lifted the golem off its feet. The spear's golden tip shone, then began to crackle; it sparked as small streaks of lightning rushed through it.
Bozz spun the golem before throwing it to the ground. Black scorch marks appeared upon its frame, and within the hole the spear had created, small bolts of lightning crackled for a moment before going silent. He stepped back a few feet, smiling, as the golem slowly rose.
Instructor Wave smiled slightly as he walked back into line.
"These golems must be an insanely high level; they just keep getting back up right away."
He secured his spear against the harness on his back.
I nodded.
"You're fast... What was that?" I asked.
He smiled.
"Lightning affinity. Though I guess that's pretty obvious. What do you have?" he asked while readjusting his glasses.
"Lightning!? That's awesome! I have Demonic affinity."
"Demonic..." He stood silent for a second. "That's pretty cool too!"
We talked for a while longer before Instructor Wave silenced us and called the next person forward. The other candidates went by quickly, and no one else stood out. The arrogant boy finished the first part of the assessment with a fireball that did far less damage than the blue fireball from the other boy. Instructor Wave smiled as we stood in line.
"The Ability Exhibition is now over! You all fared well, but now it is time for the second part of the assessment, the combat evaluation."
A girl in line raised her hand.
"Yes?" Instructor Wave asked.
"Will the combat evaluations just be one-on-one battles?"
"That's correct," Instructor Wave responded.
"How will our opponents be chosen?" The girl asked.
Instructor Wave chuckled for a moment.
"I will choose them."
The girl raised her eyebrow.
"I'll pair each of you with whoever I believe will best test your abilities."
The candidates murmured.
"And to be clear, winning does not automatically mean you will pass, and losing doesn't mean you'll fail."
The candidates stirred slightly as she spoke.
"You will be evaluated on how you fight. Your judgment, your control, your ability to adapt when someone is actively trying to defeat you."
Her smile widened slightly.
"So don't disappoint me."
She pointed toward the red-haired boy who had used the blue flames, then toward the black-haired girl who travelled through shadows.
"First up, Michael Merka and Riley Veyne." The two of them stepped forward; Michael smiled slightly, while Riley calmly removed her glasses.
"I prefer just to be called Merka," Michael told the instructor.
She nodded.
They approached the facility's center, and both bowed to Instructor Wave. They then turned and walked away from each other. Instructor Wave smiled and raised her hand.
"Begin!" She shouted, her hand descending quickly.
Almost instantly, Merka dashed away to distance himself from her, summoning his fire lizard. He smiled.
--------------------------------------------
Race: Ember Salamander
Tier: Tier 1
Level: 8
---------------------------------------------
It's strong...
The salamander roared, heat radiating from its body. Merka threw a small ball of fire into the air, which lingered above. It brightened the room, and Riley scowled. She dashed back towards the far wall and dove into the shadow that lined it. Merka cursed, his eyes tracking the field.
Instructor Wave's eyebrow raised slightly.
His eyes fell on his own shadow, which rippled slightly; quickly, the salamander blew a wave of fire, making the shadow shrink. A hand emerged holding a dark knife but quickly retreated into the darkness.
She changed her weapon... So she isn't just a spear user?
Merka smiled as she retreated. Small balls of fire surrounded him. He shot each one throughout the room, dispersing the shadows that lay still. His smile quickly turned to panic when Riley didn't appear. His eyes darted around the room, scanning for any remaining shadow. His eyes shifted toward his salamander, then dropped to its shadow. He cursed, but it was too late; Riley flew out of the salamander's shadow.
The creature roared, but Riley delivered a devastating kick to its face. Its head slammed against the ground, and its eyes rolled back. It lay on the ground, still breathing but unconscious.
She knocked it out with one kick! Wow...
Riley chuckled while Merka backed away. He bit his lip while making direct eye contact with Riley. She winked at him while summoning a shadow spear.
Merka shouted as he summoned a large fireball. Riley dashed head-on towards him. Merka yelled out, releasing the fireball. Riley yelled out as well, throwing the spear straight up. Merka's eyes widened as it flew through the air.
The spear began to unravel as it passed through the heat, but it held together long enough to strike the fireball hanging above. Darkness spread across its surface before the flame sputtered out.
The light around Riley vanished.
A shadow formed beneath her feet.
Riley smiled.
She dropped into it; the ball of flame flew right over where she just stood. The ball hit the wall and exploded, sending waves of heat throughout the room. My hair blew slightly as the flames dissipated. Merka scanned the room, but it was too late.
His eyes fell upon the small flame he'd been using to suppress his shadow. Darkness had already wrapped around it.
The flame sputtered.
His shadow spread beneath him.
Riley jumped out holding two dark knives. Merka raised his hands and formed a sword of fire. He slashed out, but Riley blocked it with her knife. The flaming sword bit into the dark blade, causing its edges to unravel. She sneered and flicked her wrist, stopping her free blade right next to Merka's neck.
"That's enough. Riley wins."
Riley pulled away, dispersing her weapons; Merka coughed slightly, dispersing his flame sword.
"Damn it," Merka said while rubbing the back of his head.
Riley laughed, took out her glasses, and put them back on. They bowed to each other before bowing to Instructor Wave.
"Great duel, you two. You may both return to line."
Merka sighed, and Riley smiled cheerfully. Instructor Wave stood at the center and clapped politely.
"That was the first battle of the combat evaluation, and both candidates showed everything that I mentioned," she said, pointing at Riley and Merka.
"They demonstrated judgment, control, and the ability to adapt to each other's strengths."
Merka's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"But there is much for them to learn."
Merka and Riley looked at her nervously.
"That's why you're here. If you're accepted, Crownspire will push you to heights you wouldn't reach alone."
They both sighed.
Instructor Wave pointed forward.
"Now, for our next fight."
She called upon candidates. The battle was interesting but not nearly as exciting to watch as the first. More and more fights happened; the girl with the wind elemental beat the arrogant noble. Bozz and I chatted while most of the fights took place, but as each one came to an end, neither of us was called up.
Will I have to face Bozz?
A strange feeling appeared in my stomach.
I'm nervous to fight him... But also excited.
I replayed his ability exhibition in my mind. How he turned into a blur, how he created lightning.
He's fast... But I doubt he can turn when travelling at that speed. If he can, then he's very strong.
I looked at him, his golden-tipped spear glistening under the facility's light.
If I can avoid his first attack... Then I'll have a chance.
A bead of sweat rolled down my temple.
Bozz looked at me, realizing what was about to happen. He extended his hand.
"Good luck."
I took his hand and shook it.
"Thank you, good luck to you as well."
Instructor Wave yelled.
"For the final duel of the Combat Evaluation, Luna Ashvale and Bozz Kestrel."