"Stop your foolishness at once. If you use your unrefined mana arts to grab those crystals, there's a good chance those crystals might just blow on your face."
The cold stern voice belonged to none other than Trisha Valencia, the apprentice knight. She was one of the few people who didn't join the mining crystal group. Unlike the rest of the 2nd tier candidates, she was quite level-headed in such precarious situations.
"Why you?!" Suddenly the boy standing next to Trisha glared angrily, "Why don't you let those fools do what they want?! What good will it be for you to interfere in their business."
"Henry, was it?" asked Trisha.
The guy got even more agitated,
"The name's Hendrickson! Get that right."
Hendrickson is also the boy with the monster claw. His name was the 2nd to be called out after Trisha during the exemplary candidate announcement. The candidates here treated him with the same respect as Trisha as they thought he could be almost as powerful as Trisha. I mean just because people's names got drawn out early doesn't mean they are stronger. That was just random luck, that's all it is.
"Oh apologies." replied Trisha, "I just didn't want to see my fellow candidates getting hurt by their mistakes. That's all."
Hendrickson's forehead started bulging,
"You don't need to save their petty life. If exemplary candidates are stupid enough to be lured by their greed, then death is the better punishment for them. Also, their death will lead to more suits for the remaining of us. Stop with your lame chivalry act, it is sickening."
Trisha's gaze turned icy cold,
"I see, you are just a heartless douche. You are in no position to tell me what I can or what I cannot do. If you are so scared of getting your seat snatched by others then it's best that you don't even get a seat in the first place. I don't wanna see blood spilled before the ascension ceremony."
"Is that right! I guess I should show you, your rightful place", suddenly Hendrickson's hand transformed into his horrendous monster claw.
Now that I got a closer look, the monster claw was huge. It was almost thrice the size of his original hand. Also, his right arm was covered with scales and huge curved claws almost as big as his finger. One hit by that arm and it shall leave some pretty serious wounds for sure.
In response, Trisha's eyes sparkled the next instant. Sparks of lightning surged from her body and surrounded her life with a barrier of electricity. There were hundreds of white bright electric sparks circling around her body.
The candidates standing next to Trisha and Hendrickson quickly scattered away.
There was soon a heated battle to begin between the top two rookie geniuses of the exemplary candidates.
Lightning Elemental mage, Trisha, and a knight apprentice in training vs some underdog hot-headed monster clawed-boy, Hendrickson.
I suddenly cupped my mouth and shouted,
"Oi, head mage Sigurd is watching you."
All of sudden both Trisha and Hendrickson stopped right in their tracks.
They both quickly turned their heads toward Sigurd.
But to their surprise, Sigurd was still standing in the deep meditative state still in his squatting posture.
For a second they just stood there dumbstruck until they realized I tricked them.
In the next instant, Trisha and Hendrickson glared in my direction.
"You guys fell for such a dumb trick. Pathetic, haha." I said smugly as I rubbed my nose in pride.
Jason grumbled,
"Benjamin, why are you picking fights with them, also why are you standing behind my back. Stop using my back as a cover, that goes to you too Marcia,"
I don't know why I said what I said. Maybe it still bothered me that Trisha and Hendrickson's name was called out before mine. Also, the way these two stood so calm and composed was really bothering me. These two candidates were being revered as the shit because of their newfound powerful affinity, so I was even more intrigued to mess with them.
It would have been better if these two just fought each other and took out one another.
I just saw the opportunity to have a jab at both of them and insult them in front of the whole crowd, and that's exactly what I did.
Right now both Trisha and Hendrickson were looking at me coldly.
But if these two sprang on me for a fight, I might not be able-... I might have a little difficult time taking on these two with just my current abilities.
Hence, I stood behind Jason's back as he did tell me that he wanted to be friends.
"Oi, Jason. Didn't you say that we three should stick together? This is the moment of truth."
"Are you for real?! You wanna drag us into your mess," Jason exclaimed angrily.
But just when Trisha stopped her glaring and chuckled instead,
"Thank you, I needed that."
I was taken aback, did miss knight just thank me?
She finally lost her marbles.
"I should keep my emotions in check, that's what a knight should do. I was about to squabble over something so petty. Thank you for bringing me back to my senses." said Trisha in a heartfelt voice.
Hold on, that's not what I was trying to do at all.
"No! Actually, I was really trying to pick a figh- Ow!" Jason jabbed me in my abdomen.
"My friend is a bit foolish. Please pardon his behavior," said Jason as he covered for me.
Meanwhile, Hendrickson was still pissed.
"Tch. I can't believe I fell for such a lousy trick," he suddenly turned his head to the illegal crystal mining candidates, "Oi, you lads! If you don't bring your sorry ass over here right now. I will personally kick all of you from this platform down into the ravines."
The 2nd tier illegal mining candidates finally had a change of heart.
"I think it's not really a good idea to take out these crystals."
"Did she just say these crystals explode?"
"We might be expelled for taking these crystals! This must be a hidden test!"
"Hey! I told you this is a bad idea! Why don't you just listen before!"
"Bitch, please! You were trying to make a pendant for yourself just a minute ago,"
The 2nd tier candidates finally decided to abandon all thoughts about mining those crystals.
Thankfully Hendrickson and Trisha's little conversation had really opened their minds, otherwise, they wouldn't have reluctantly backed away.
Finally, the peace was back on the platform.
Sigurd was still in his squatting meditative posture as the platform descended further and further deep into the ravine.
Although Hendrickson and many of the other 2nd-tier mages were glaring at me. Although I didn't give them much thought, they surely won't be stupid enough to attack me as we are almost there for the ascension ceremony.
But still, I don't get why there are condensed mana crystal deposits under this city. The aristocrats and nobles should be swarming over these mana crystal deposits like flies. Not using these mana crystals is a waste.
I wonder if these-
"We are here," Sigurd spoke suddenly.
Everyone turned their head towards the head mage.
He was still in his squatting posture although he had finally opened his eyes. His pupils were still glowing as the energy from the floating fortress channeled into him.
Everyone stood back in anticipation.
As the platform descended, the surrounding cavern walls lifted like a curtain revealing the grand stage where the ascension ceremony will take place.
To everyone's surprise, we found ourselves in a ginormous chamber. The chamber was almost twice the size of the amphitheater.
As we candidates were all busy observing the majestic beauty of this chamber, we were suddenly interrupted by Sigurd.
"Listen, children," Sigurd spoke in a deep voice, "I hope you behave on your best behavior. If you manage to anger any of the grandmasters, there will be a fate worse than death awaits you."