40. The … World (2)
The next day
"good, now that all of you here" Venti announced "congratulations to all of you here, you all have passed the special Exam, and given privilege to join the special training, it's your choice whether to accept or decline"
There's about 30 trainees over here in one of the room which normally used for homeroom, Lex and Max included on that list
(I don't see Elena, Mashiro, or Neo, or others that I can recognize from our big group, beside me and Max the rest most likely came from the other big groups)
(what's this special Exam, she's stalking about?)
(and what's this special training?) when Lex tried to observed Venti for any hints of these two question, instead his thought the one who got distracted
(….) he speechless looking at Venti, she's tied her hair in ponytail, with her blonde and red hair it is beautiful but her getup is… Venti now wearing a Japanese style school jersey uniform, it was similar to how the Physical Education teacher wore in the Anime Lex liked to watch in his past life
(anime is anime! Real is real!!)
(she's even looks good at that!!)
The others started buzzing around, Lex guessed there must be two or three children from each big groups as he saw the trainees divided to two or three people for each small discussion, Max too influenced by the circumstances come to ask Lex
"what do you think?"
"from how she's look. Venti won't explain what is this Special Exam and training about but" Lex shrugged "99% all of these people will accept it"
Max nodded and replied "me too, leaning on that choice"
After giving the trainees a few minutes for discussion Venti started to talk again
"from the past, there's no one who wants to decline, but still I'm going to ask you this is there anyone who wants to decline the offer? Then raised your hand"
"..."
"let me remind you this, once you accept the training there's no turning back, have you heard {when you peeked to the abyss, the abyss peeked back at you}? once you know your life will change, it won't be the same like before no matter what"
With Venti warning, the trainess started to shaken some of them hesitated will they accept or not, there's some who's stood firm with their decision too but those are in the minority
"of course, the biggest the risk, the biggest the return, high risk high return, if you accept this I guarantee you become much stronger than you are now, 2 times then what you can do now has already guaranteed the rest was up to your efforts"
Then one last sentence sealed the deal to all the trainees
"once you accept, we the Crimson Eagle officially admitted as our member"
Their hesitation disappeared in an instant, why? That's because that is what the trainees the numbers came here for
(while I don't really care about being admitted to the Crimson Eagle, I'm more interested in these special training)
"will you accept it Lex?" Max concerned because Lex is a 'Guest' he doesn't have desire to be admitted to the Crimson Eagle
"yea" he nodded and explained to Max what he feels what he wants
"now then, I assumed you all accept the offer?"
The rest nodded
"then come with me" with Venti as the spearhead the rest followed her
***
The Trainees stirred when Venti went to the exit of the facility, but they did not have time to falter as Venti continued on her step without minding the rest, they quickly catch up to her beyond the exit is long hallway
At every exam which needed to do on outside the facility, the trainees were brought with buses which had its windows perfectly covered with black sheet, except the Exam's spot, the trainees never saw what's on the outside of the facility, this is their first time went out went out of the facility
At the end of the hallway, there's a big decorated door, Venti then opened that door with both of her hands
"here we are, once you pass this door you can't turn back anymore go on" she pushed the trainees to pass the door alone while she waited as the last passing the door
The trainees looked at each other in hesitation at start, but that's only for a while, the trainees here can even be said the Elite of the Elite, from two thousand or more and many eliminations they are the chosen one here, they had in themselves the courage to step forward
Unlike what they expected beyond the door wasn't outdoor, they were still inside a building, it's like a department store main hall, there's a big open land on the middle which can be viewed from any floor. Like a busy morning day there are so many people walking here and there doing their own things,
All chosen trainees who steps beyond the door froze on the spot, they were seeing something massively differences from what they know in their hometown on their orphanage
It was the same for Lex too,
(!!??) Lex was agitated to his core when he saw what's on the other side
"Elves!? and Beast Men!?" the people on the outside some of them have very unique qualities, some have a long pointed ears, some have an animal ears and tail, some have an animal hand and feet, it was far from the human they know
(what in the world-!)
(what the heck! What the heck is this! Elves!? And Beast Men!? What the hell am I seeing here!!!)
(did I enter parallel world from that door!?) it's already uncountable how many times Lex at the door behind him and what's he saw on the other side
(nono! No! impossible! Just What in the world going on here!!?)
Then the last to pass the door was Venti herself "oh, Zero you're a 'Guest' so you must know something about them from video games or others, unlike the other come from orphanage you had that luxury after all" she looks like watching something fun happened seeing the agitated Lex
(suuu haaaa suuu haaa)
(ok, calm down Lex, calm down me!! That's right remember that day!! It's been a year that I forgot about it, I had met a f**king Hellhound before!! Isn't it the same level as this!!)
(yea, calm down… suuu…. Haaa….) It's Lex strength to follow the flow and able to adapt to any situation, but it's also Lex weakness at the same time for him to forgot something important like that
The calmed down Lex, once again observed his surrounding
(somehow I felt like I forget about some others too…, well let's take care of it when I remembered them for now…)
(so this is what that's 'related' thingy they always talking about huh….)
(that's one hell of secret they had there!! Who's gonna believe something like this!!)
"You calmed down?" Venti said looking disappointed
(damn! She absolutely enjoying my reaction there!!)
"well then" Venti stood in front of the trainees like before she opened both of her hands wide
"Welcome to the Lost Civilization! Welcome to the Hidden World"
***
(at that time I underestimated it, I shouldn't have easily step out to find out the truth, I shouldn't approach it in the first place…)
Under the heavy rain in the open land near a jungle
"Max!!" Lex cried "no way, impossible, no…. this is a dream…, it couldn't be real" he saw the motionless Max lying on the ground
(…it's too late to regret it now…)
****
40. The Hidden World (2)