After giving out his orders, the medical staff moved quickly to complete their duties, working diligently to preserve the sanity of the students.
They began by performing routine check-ups to see if any of them were responsive, those that remained vehemently catatonic were given a solution of a deep purple color that seemed to have traces of opaque black particles within it.
The label on the case from which the staff removed the vials was titled,
"Mithridate Hygeia- Onyx."
They administered the strange solution directly into the student's spine, causing them to momentarily thrash in a violent fit as they were being held down.
As the last of the solution was injected, a sudden calm quickly came over them as their breathing began to fall into a normal rhythm. With the worst of them now in stable conditions, they were quickly rushed to the School's infirmary.
Those that were being treated afterwards had a different treatment prepared for them, but Dr. Arturion reminded them to only administer Mithridate Hygeia-Cobalt to any of the students that awoke within the next half hour.
Carefully, they adhered to his instructions, those that weren't aiding in the return of the students to the Infirmary were expected to return with the cases containing the strange vials and to begin preparations.
The staff moved in tactical unison to efficiently perform their duties until all the students were tended to. Dr. Arturion was sitting outside the hall on one of the shaded benches that littered the campus.
Drawing a puff of smoke with each breath, and producing a cloud that seemed as weighted as the thoughts on his mind.
'It doesn't matter how many times we do it, as a doctor all of this sickens me.'
'Anyone that isn't bothered by this is either a monster or someone who would sympathize with the actions of a monster.' The doctor lamented as he saw the last of his staff exit the hall with the unconscious students.
'I hope for all their sakes…that none of them wake up.' That final thought brought a look of distress to his eyes as he drew in his last cloud of smoke before snuffing out the cigarette and making his way to the Emergency Treatment Centre.
The hall that stood at the opposing side of the school, where the Force Pillar Entrance Exams were held was being prepared for something…some might argue what's to follow was beyond inhumane but all of those participating shared the same thought…even the reluctant Dr. Arturion believed it,
"Everything we do is necessary because self-doubt is a luxury for...while we breathe, we must continue to hope."
The doctor mulled over these words as he entered the Gymnasium encountering the various faculty members who were either waiting by the bleachers engaged in their discussions of finishing the preparations of the Configuration.
"Art, are any of our students awake yet?" The doctor recognized the unusually chipper voice from behind him, and dreaded the thought of who it might be.
"So you're just going to ignore me…or maybe, did you guys manage to kill all of the new students? Our little Headmistress won't be too pleased." The voice added, mockingly.
"Perhaps if you spent more time listening and less time chasing women and acting like a fool, you would know that it's only been twenty-three minutes. Procedure dictates that we wait at least thirty."
"Easy Art, I'm just curious, I don't get to see you this riled up very often."
"Huh, I apologize, I've...never been a fan of the pain that we put them through" The figure relented with his teasing as the doctor sighed.
"You know that if we don't, they'll be dead the moment they step out of the Havens, the Entrance Exams are pretty much proof of that." The figure responds in a shifted tone.
"Yes, sadly they must endure this."
"Are the preparations complete for the Configuration?"
"Yes, we're just waiting for them to arrive."
"Alright, they should be arriving soon…Yes, my staff have notified that a few of them will be arriving right about—now I believe."
Just as suddenly, the sound of thundering footsteps rushed towards the Gym, interrupting the doctor. Thinking that it must be the students, he instructed everyone to prepare themselves.
The educators present quickly fell into order as they awaited the student's arrival. Just a few minutes had passed and they had all made their way into the hall…one of the educators enquired if this might be all of them with a colleague though he simply sighed stating that the number has grown less and less with each year.
The attention of a hundred or so students present had turned into daunting fatigue as the prospect of what's to come brought very little hope when witnessing how few of them had made it.
"Welcome. Those of you who are here are the ones we have chosen–"
"Do you think we are stupid?!" An enraged voice boomed out from within the crowd of students.
"N—None of us are going do anything until you tell us what's going on, right now."
The unnerved teachers began to move in on the insubordinate students, in an attempt to quell their impulsive behavior, though much to their surprise, the students didn't move from their stance. They refused to make way for the educators to the one of their own who had just spoken out.
Seeing the path of his colleagues now blocked, the young man who had been bothering the doctor stepped forward and raised his hand to stay his colleague's action.
He approached the group and stopped in front of them, with a growing grin on his face.
"Do you think you can understand what we are doing to you, will you be able to accept the reasons for our actions? Are you certain you would even want to know?"
The menacing grin was clear to see past the elvish figure's blonde hair that fell as thin bangs over his sharp crimson eyes.
The sight caused the students in front to hesitate in their response, but as the grimacing elf scanned the crowd, he eyes were caught by the sight of a few students that remained unshaken from one with snow-white hair to one with striking blue eyes. These students remained stern in their desire to know the truth…
"Sigh…fine, it's not like there's a rule that says I can't tell you." He remarked after taking a step back and crossing his arms.
"Professor Reiss, you can't…" The teachers that stood within earshot bellowed loudly in protest against his actions.
But he simply brushed aside their panic and assured them that it won't change anything, but if it pleases them, he'll be taking full responsibility for what might come as a result of his decision.
Dr. Arturion moved forward to draw him in closer by the pull of his shoulder as he asked his grimacing colleague if he was certain of what he was doing.
The doctor found his answer in the certainty of his gaze in response—letting him be and stepping back to grab himself a seat near where the preparations had been done as he takes out another cigarette from his pocket and began to search for his lighter.
Professor Reiss looked back at Dr. Arturion and smiles at the sight before turning back to the students to begin his explanation
"To put it—mildly, we are...eh were trying to kill you." He proclaimed so boldly without the faintest change in his grin.
"You idiot! Be serious." The doctor scolded him as he tossed his lighter at Reiss.
"Hey, watch it, you almost hit me with that. I was just having some fun, first-years are always so gullible."
"Alright, I'll be honest with you. We're not trying to kill, but we do want to push you as close to death as possible"
"Why—weren't the Entrance Exams enough? How many students do you expect to have if you end up killing all of them on the first day?" A majority of the crowd that stood in front of him cried in unison.
"Huh, you think those exams mean anything?" His expression turned cold as the scarlet light of his gaze began piercing them.
"…." They couldn't bring themselves to answer.
"Out of a thousand, four hundred and fifty entrants, only one hundred and fifty of you made it through all three examinations, some completed them flawlessly while others only managed to barely scrape by."
"Do you think we are here to train and teach the lucky…No, the mortal world faces unimaginable threats every day, and it has been this way for centuries. Do you think any of us could stand against Extinction with luck alone? If you think that's the case then do yourself a favor and leave the gates of our great school."
The students felt a lump in their throat as each of them recounts how they manage to finish the exams…Shynerai is among those who felt the crushing weight of Professor Reiss's revelation.
"The only way for any of you to even stand against the monsters that lie outside the Havens…is for all of you to tear through your limitations, that includes the idea of death."
"That's what our true intentions are, what we have been doing and what we'll continue to do.
We're going to push you beyond what you thought was possible and by the end of it...you'll all become something that can fight even death itself."
"I've told you what I am able, the rest is classified. Though this is something you can all understand, now that I have told you the truth, will you and covet what little life you have in this world…or will you willingly jump into the fires of Hell for the sake of a cause far greater than any before it?"
Reiss pushed the students as far as he could but he remained unworried as he was certain that some would continue, regardless of what he said.
"So, what's you—"Reiss was abruptly interrupted.
"W—What's next, none of us came here only to turn tail at the first sight of terror. We knew what we signed up for." The same voice that stood for the group announced loudly without hesitation…
All students supported his call and remained unmoving in their stance.
"Excellent, then prepare yourself. Activate Riemann's Configuration." Reiss excitedly called to those that were working on the preparations as he left the students.
"Yes sir. Everyone, please step outside the Seal on the floor." Reiss announces as one of the educators ushered everyone who wasn't participating off the Seal.
"Riemann's– that's Spatial Magic." A whisper uttered by a figure draped in a gold and red fabrics beneath those of his uniform
"Ren, are you certain of this?" A girl with deep red hair that stood beside the figure asked.
Shynerai overhears a bit of the exchange between the two and as he looks for the source of the comment when his eyes are captivated by the sight of the vermillion haired girl with the sudden thought of Sarah coming to mind.
He tries to shake the thoughts as he approaches the duo.
"Sorry to eavesdrop but did you say that it's Spatial Magic, the seal that they called Riema—Riemann?" Shynerai spoke to them as he felt an intense sensation from one of the figure's presence, making him stumble as he tried to speak.
The figure looked down on the approaching individual, though small in stature he did not see a child in front of him, which intrigued him.
"Riemann's Configuration. It's definitely a kind of Spatial Construction Magic, you could tell that much from the Seal they laid out but…"
"Yeah, there's something up with it, there are elements of Temporal and Summoning Magic among a few…it's almost like a layered Seal." Shynerai told the figure.
"It's possible, but I'm still certain that at its core, it remains a Spatial Magic spell. Oh, where are my manners, my name is Ren Gladiolus, a vassal of the House of Illses and this is my Lady, Alleiyna Illses Uthern, heiress to the House of Illses." He introduced them to Shynerai.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, my name is Shynerai Astrapordt."
"It's nice to meet you, Sir Astrapordt. You seem quite certain that this isn't just a Spatial Magic spell, even if the Seal is suggestive of it being so?" Alleiyna asks him as the three of them turn to face the educators working on the seal
Six of them stood at the points of the hexagon that encompassed the Seal as they began the incantation…
"Spatial Construction Magic: Riemann's Configuration."
The glyphs etched in the Seal began radiating a powerful glow that grew brighter and brighter, completely enveloping the entire hall.
The sensation of an unnatural cold quickly followed, raising the hairs of those that stood in front of the bright light…without the slightest breeze.
Moments continued to pass and the temperature dropped, by this point the air in the room was growing stale until it felt completely devoid of moisture, the sensation of the cold dry air filled their noses and washed over their skin.
Finally, the incarnation was complete, with the sudden gust of the cold dry air rushing forward intensely, coalescing at the Seal before being pulled into what seemed like a void of utter darkness…when suddenly a massive stone room appeared in the centre of the hall.
The educators stepped away from the Seal and remarked that the Configuration was complete, they could begin when they were ready.
It took a moment for the students to recover from what had just happened, some tried to catch their breath while others were rubbing their eyes to restore the vision as best they could.
"Listen carefully and heed my warning. If you seek to still be a member of our school, then step forward and enter the Configuration. Once inside your objective will be simple, merely find your way out of the structure…or survive long enough for us to end the Trial." Cried the doctor.
Reiss walked through the ambient violet light and informed them of what's to come.
The students had all but a few got to their feet.
"If we find a route, we can take it and be done with the Trial at any moment" Ren stepped forward and asked Reiss.
"Of course, now shall we begin" The grimacing elf responds before walking to the stone room and opening the door…revealing the appearance of…
'NOTHING!' The idea filled the student's minds as they witnessed Reiss open the room and they managed a sight of what lay within.
Ren turned to Alleiyna with a stern look in his eye and asked her to trust him as her vassal.
She told him that she hasn't doubted him before and will not start today.
He bowed to honour her confidence in him and the two of them enter the stone room…vanishing into evanescent silhouettes as they pass through the nocturnal barrier.
"Well, who's next?" Reiss gestured to the crowd.
The students began making their way to the stone room, though their pace was ardent and terse, doubt still stymied the rush as only a few made their way through the door at a time.
It took a few minutes but all of the students had made their way into the Configuration.
"You can start the timer now. How long was it until we had to enter?" Reiss asked one of the invigilators about the spell as he heads over to the doctor and has a seat beside him.
As he sat cross-legged in front of the Configuration, the doctor offered him a cigarette which he kindly accepted but told him not to worry about the lighter.
"This is the part I hate the most, Reiss."
"Sending them into Hell, Art?"
"No… it's waiting for the monsters that come out of it."