"We made it," Paolo cheered as Shinzo dropped the anchor into the waters of Nito Island.
"Let's go drink to celebrate," Luna suggested, only to receive a slap at the back of her head from Aline.
"Don't be an idiot."
Luna pouted, rubbing the smacked spot. "We still have two more days to the exam. Let's party."
"We have to train and get as much information as possible," Aline snapped. "The adventurer's exam is no joke, so take it seriously."
Paolo brought a small notebook from his shorts pocket. "I have a little information that I gathered over time." He opened it, reading through it. "So the exam is really hard and the main reason they host it is to filter the amount of people wanting to become adventurers."
"That's harsh," Luna said.
"The demand for the adventure business is high because of how valuable a license is. The adventurer's guild uses the exam to remove the weed from the chaff. The exam changes every year, so it's extremely difficult."
"What's the passing percentage rate?" Aline asked.
Paolo raised one finger. "One percent."
"What!"
.....
Two days later, the five adventurers stood in front of the Nito Island Adventurer's Guild fully ready to conquer the mountain in front of them.
"I'm getting bad vibes," Luna mumbled. "Like we'll encounter beasts once we open the door."
"There are about a hundred people in there wanting to get their license," Aline said. "So everyone is our enemy, don't let your guard down."
Shinzo pointed at Paolo who stared at the door, looking giddy. "You should worry more about this idiot."
"Aren't you worried?" Octavius asked Paolo.
Paolo grinned. "No."
"What if we fail?"
"Then we'll come back next year and the year after that. I'm going to become the greatest adventurer, aren't I?"
"What a stupid captain," Shinzo said, failing to hide his creeping smile.
Luna giggled. "We must also be stupid because we followed him."
"Let's open the door, I think I'm ready," Octavius said.
"On three," Paolo said. The five of them placed their hands on the big wooden door, the rough feeling reminding them that this was all too real. "One, two, three."
They pushed the door open, taking their first step to their dreams and the future.
.....
The people in the room turned to the door as it opened, ready to scout out their competition. Disappointment rose once they spotted the kids, some seeing this as an opportunity that determined their success during the exams.
The room filled with chatter. Some ready to bring hell upon the newbies while others were nonchalant about them, believing they would get killed on their own.
The crew made their way to the receptionist's desk, Paolo tapping the gold bell. The receptionist, a woman in her late forties smiled at them.
"Are you here for the exam?"
Paolo nodded. "Yes we are."
"Okay, I need the name of your team."
"Cross Heart Adventurers."
She nodded, writing it down in a book then brought out five blue head ties. "These head ties show that you're on the same team. The examiner will arrive in a few minutes, so please wait."
Paolo took them and handed them to his crew, thanking the woman as they moved away to stand somewhere among the examinees.
"The atmosphere is so tense," Shinzo whispered.
Aline nodded. "They've been eyeing us like meat."
Octavius popped a piece of candy in his mouth. "Ignore them."
"Is this your first exam?"
A boy with brown scattered hair with a few people behind him frowned down at them. Their leader had his arms crossed, his lips crunched up and his eyes casting downward in a condescending manner.
"Yes why?" Paolo asked.
The guy chuckled, a snort coming every five seconds. "You guys sure have guts." He flipped his hair. "Because I'm nice, I'll tell you."
Everyone in the room listened as the boy explained to Paolo how things worked. "Newbies never pass on their first try. It has been a thing for so long. Everyone in this room has written the exam at least once. So just give up, and come back next year."
Paolo dismissed the idea, the word give up not in his dictionary. "I won't know until I try."
The boy frowned. "You must be pretty confident."
Paolo grinned. "Of course, I'm the one who will become the greatest adventurer."
Silence chewed through the room until the boy erupted in laughter, the whole room joining him except a certain blue haired adventurer leaning on the wall away from the commotion.
"You must be joking, it would take a million years for a shrimp like you to take such an elite title as the greatest adventurer."
"But I'm serious."
The boy scoffed, not buying his words. "You must be dreamer."
Paolo laughed heartily, his crew members smiling at his charisma. "What's wrong with a little dreaming?"
"Suit yourself newbie, but I warned you." He started walking away, then stopped and turned back. "The name is Lichto. Don't forget this face because it's the one that will be laughing when you fail and I pass."
Paolo smiled again, this time more harmful than before. "Well we'll see who will be laughing."
He walked away, Shinzo frowning at his back. "This isn't going to be easy."
"I know, but we'll do our best, won't we?" Paolo said.
"Of course," Luna said. "We promised to be in your crew, so it's our job to make sure you pass."
Paolo smiled. "I'm glad to have such good crew mates."
A door at the side of the door opened, revealing a man in a suit. He cleared his throat. "My name is Seton, I will be your first examiner. Please follow me to the exam room."
Paolo exhaled. "This is it guys."
The door of the exam hall pulled open, a blinding light coming from it. The light reminded one of the light from heaven calling one to their judgment. In our adventurers case this light called them to events that would define their future.