Chương 69: The Second Day of Tests – Part 1/3

While Rina returned to the edge of the arena wagging her tail with satisfaction, Sylvara was finishing her exercise with another team. Her group was calmer and more strategic, made up of two elves, one human, and two beastkin. From the beginning, Sylvara stayed in the rear, observing the pattern of the dummies' attacks. When they began advancing more aggressively, she knelt on the ground and placed her palms on the earth.

Thorny flowers and thick vines grew rapidly around the base, forming a living barrier that trapped the dummies trying to approach. The vines moved on their own, wrapping around the enemies and dragging them away from the flag. When it was her turn to climb, Sylvara made small flowers bloom in the cracks of the tower, using them as footholds to scale it more easily and quickly. Her team finished the exercise with a stable but average score.

Sylvara returned in silence, wiping the dirt from her hands on her uniform, apparently satisfied with how her flowers had performed. On the other side of the arena, Lirien was having a very different experience. Her team had been visibly nervous and uncoordinated from the start. Two members had already argued about who should climb first, and the base was left unprotected. When the dummies began appearing in greater numbers, panic started to spread.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Lirien, who had been quiet until then, closed her eyes for a second and began to sing. It wasn't a loud or dramatic song — it was a low melody, almost a whisper. Her voice carried a faint elven magic that calmed her teammates' nerves. The group stopped arguing and began to organize themselves better.

When the dummies attacked more intensely, Lirien sang again, this time creating a subtle illusion of reinforcements arriving from the side of the tower. The dummies were distracted for a few seconds — just long enough for the team to regain control. When it was her turn to climb, Lirien ascended in silence, still humming softly to keep the group calm. They barely passed the exercise, but they passed. Lirien returned with a slightly pale face — using her voice that way had exhausted her more than she had expected.

When all the teams finished the morning exercise, the candidates gathered again in the center of the courtyard. The sun was higher now, and the heat was beginning to weigh down on everyone. Many looked exhausted, but also relieved to have finished the first part of the day. Master Harlan and Master Vorga walked between the groups, giving quick feedback. Harlan stopped near Sylvara and said: — Your flowers were useful. But you stayed too far in the rear. In a real battle, sometimes you need to expose yourself more.

Sylvara simply nodded in silence, accepting the criticism without arguing. On the other side, Lirien was sitting on a stone bench, catching her breath. Marina approached her with a bottle of water and sat beside her without saying anything, simply offering company. Joker was still leaning against the same stone pillar, watching everything with that same lazy expression. Harley, now without her team, walked toward him. The two met halfway. — Your team was a disaster — Harley commented, smiling.

— Yours was too good — Joker replied with a sideways grin. — That's going to draw attention. Harley shrugged. — Let it. I didn't come here to go unnoticed. The two stood in silence for a few seconds, looking at the rest of the candidates still discussing the morning's results. The air felt heavier now. Because everyone could feel that the hardest part of the second day was still to come. End of Part 1/3 (continues in Part 1/4)