Step, step, step.
Silence. Complete and utter silence.
The hair on Samuel's neck pricked up, back was covered in cold sweat while his brown eyes constricting.
Such presence... Samuel, and every other participant minus a few, struggled to hold themselves up.
Who could this be? I've never felt such power, such intimidation.
A loud thud was heard a couple of rows away. Fallen, was a boy, crimson liquid trickling out of his nose and mouth.
He fainted! What?
"This is too much!" A declaration was made towards the back, and a boy with jet-black hair and green eyes panicked. "Someone's already fainted!"
His trembling hands picked up his belongings before he sprinted out of the hall.
What is going on? I thought everyone here wanted to become a Protector badly. Samuel's naïve thinking led him to incorrect assumptions.
Looking towards Diallo, Samuel noticed his neighbor frozen, as still as ice. What's wrong with Diallo? Is he sick?!
Slowly, more and more boys either fainted or left in a scramble, dwindling the numbers of the contestants from 100 to 81.
As they left, the hall, which was a large room with a dome roof and beige walls, turned silent.
Finally, the figure reached the podium, it was a woman with shoulder-length blond hair. Her beautiful blue eyes glimmered while her white suit and black cape fit her body, but did not accentuate her features. Allowing for better mobility but also keeping a tone of modesty.
With two swords attached to either side of her hip, she spoke in a calm tone, "Good day, gentlemen."
The pressure she emitted previously had dissipated, and numerous exhales encapsulated the building.
Then, in unison, they all replied, "Good day, madam." She smiled, revealing a set of pearly white teeth.
She smiled, after that entrance..? What kind of woman is she? Samuel's shoulders twitched.
"Replied in unison, I like that." Her fist covered her mouth as she coughed lightly, "I am Nadia Haidar, one of the Four Salients of Omniscience."
The Four Salients of Omniscience are the most important people, besides the royal family, in all of Lebrad.
"I understand that it is strange for a person of my status to be here today, but unfortunately some circumstances arose and your original Headmaster, Lyon, will be unable to come."
Not a single voice nor murmur dared show its face at that moment.
"You are all here for the Protector's examination, am I correct?"
An immediate affirmation arose, "Yes, ma'am."
"Great, you have all been made aware that this particular examination will last three months." She turned to her side and began to move throughout the stage.
"While we did mention that it doesn't matter where you come from, in actuality it does. Those with pre-existing immense power will thrive, while weaklings will fall." She smirked,
"The Protector's exam will have 2 parts, a written examination, and a physical examination. I assume you have all studied for the written portion, as that will commence in the next few hours."
Four months back, applicants received a handbook, thick as bark, which they had to study.
"The physical portion will take the majority of the total time, you will all be split up into groups of two, and fight against each other, to the death. The remaining 2 groups will be crowned victors, and will become his Majesties Protectors."
Although the listeners were silent, many were collapsing mentally.
A fight, to the death?
I don't have any powers though!
Is that all? Where are we going to go?
I don't want to die! My family!
Fight!
I can't wait!
Killing and not receiving consequences? Now that's what I signed up for!
Are we going to fight here?
What if I don't kill anyone, and let them battle it out themselves? Maybe I can win then!
I can't wait to kill people, I'm going to try all the moves Father taught me!
These guys don't look strong, I think I can take them!
These guys look so strong, how am I supposed to beat them?!
A mix of reactions riddled throughout the audience. Some were afraid, some surprised, some excited.
"Ahh! What's wrong with you? Killing each other, to the death? I just want to become a Protector!" A loud voice was heard from the corner of the room.
Nadia glared silently for a while, before asking, "What's your name, sir?"
Her powerful presence and aura directed at the poor boy, who meekly replied, "John.."
"Enlighten me, John, what do you think a Protector does on a day-to-day basis?"
John's lips quivered, "Uh... protects people..?"
Nadia's stone-cold face remained, "How?"
John didn't answer, his eyes darting to his neighbors for answers. Nadia smirked before continuing,
"You see, John, a Protector, a bodyguard who serves the king himself, must be ready to kill at any time. Whether it may be an intruder, or a 'friend', you must be ready to strike and kill. This examination will help us figure out which one of you will be able to kill instantly, put your life on the line for his majesty.''
Her eyes focused on him as her voice deepened, "Frankly, I have no idea why you decided to apply, John. People like you have no business becoming a Protector."
John's eyes began fading, the blood from his face dropping. "Leave my hall, John. Never show your face in here again."
John did as he was instructed and left the hall, faint crying could be heard on his way out.
Nadia made eye contact with one of the guards at the back, he immediately chased after John.
She then exhaled before speaking, "Reactions like that will not be tolerated. Understood?"
The audience replied in affirmed unison, "Yes, ma'am."
What a powerful woman.. Samuel was shook. He began to imagine his sisters acting like Nadia and smiled.
"The written portion of the exam will happen in 2 hours. Please proceed to room A for inspection before waiting in room B. Any sort of dishonesty caught will result in immediate termination from the Protectors exam."
In an orderly fashion, the boys lined up to enter room A.
Samuel stood up and stretched, looking down, he noticed his neighbor still frozen. Samuel decided he would help Diallo and wake him up.
"Diallo, it's time to move on..." He shook the frozen boy by his shoulders. After repeated shaking, a card fell out of his right pocket.
Samuel picked it up and read it, An ID card... why would Diallo have one?
ID cards were common to have in Lebrad, but only for adults that became parents or are just care takers, it made no sense why Diallo would have one.
Wait, Diallo said his mother killed his father, then she left him and his siblings... Maybe he has this because he became their provider?
He read the name, Diallo Haidar.
A familiar last name.
Haidar... where have I heard that before?
Samuel looked towards the stage, as Nadia was instructing people on where to go.
His face twisted, Nadia... Haidar..
"Diallo!" He shook his neighbor, who finally awoke.
They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity before Diallo broke the silence.
In a cold, broken tone, he somberly said, "She's.. my mother."
Samuel didn't say anything. He couldn't say anything.
Diallo continued,
"Nadia Haidar is my mother.
"She's the one who brutally murdered my dad in front of me and my siblings.
"S-she then stood there, and...
Tears fell from his eyes,
"...She laughed."
. . .
Glento, Lebrad.
Amariel was running silently drawing in her sister's room. She was humming a tune that her mother loved to sing to her.
Her cute grip on the crayon faltered occasionally.
A gentle knock was heard outside the room, and Amariel's head jerked to see who it was.
A smile plastered itself across her adorable face, "Papa!"
Julian embraced his daughter and looked down at the drawing, "What do we have here?"
Amariel beamed with joy as she exclaimed, "Hewp Hawt!"
Looking down at the drawing, Julian's eyebrows pricked up. It was a messy picture of a girl in a bed, and a smaller girl's arms extended wide who was releasing magic.
It took Julian a while to understand, because of Amariel's extremely poor representation.
She smiled at her father,
"Hewp Hawt!"
. . .
Trila, Theales.
The beautiful, blond-haired General Alanus walked into a large, monotone office.
"Commander Alvaron." He greeted,
The bald, jagged-looking commander replied with a nod.
Alanus took initiative to speak, "Sir, I have been ordered to head to Preole Grye with a couple other generals."
Alvaron raised and lowered his chin. "I see."
Alanus' eyebrow twitched, "That means I'll need to apply for Trusted Scroll 26A."
Trusted Scrolls, when recited, grant the user temporary abilities. The smaller the number, the less potent to scroll's abilities are. As of now, there are no drawbacks when using a Trusted Scroll, which is they were named that way.
The reason as to why people don't just use the strongest scrolls? No one knows, well, that's what a selective group of people wants you to think.
Alvaron nodded and tapped the ground, immediately after, two attendants walked through the door holding a worn-out beige scroll.
"Use wisely."
"I will, thank you, sir."
He was off, on a mission to explore the mysterious and dangerous island, Preole Grye.