Jack neared the stage just enough to see and hear as clear as possible what the people on the stage had to say. There was too big of a crowd in front of him, and he didn't want to be part of it.
On the stage there were two middle-aged men, one middle-aged woman, one old woman and one old man who was standing on the front. They were wearing some long black robes that gave them a mysterious appearance.
"Good morning everyone. And welcome to the Glowing Star Academy's entrance exam." The old man at the front was the one who started talking.
"I'm very pleased seeing that the number of candidates has grown so much this year. Both in quality and quantity." The old man's words brought a smug smile to some of the most prideful candidates.
"However, I must warn you. Talent doesn't equal success here in this academy. I have personally seen greatly talented individuals failing the entrance exam and not even being allowed to get a glimpse of the academy's interior." Hearing those words most of the previous smug smiles disappeared and serious faces replaced them.
"I understand that some of you are considered geniuses or heavenly talented people where you come from. But if you manage to pass the entrance exam, inside the academy you will not be able to rely just on talent if you really want to succeed. Talent will just give you a small lead at the beginning, and it will depend on the individual if they manage to benefit from that small lead." Hearing the old man's words, Jack sensed that the academy would not be as simple as he imagined.
"Now that I have already explained that, let's talk about what you came here for today. The entrance exam and how it will be." The old man gathered all the young people's attention.
"We can't tell you exactly how the exam will be, but we can tell you that we will be testing your body, mind, heart and soul." The old man continued explaining.
"Well, I guess they want all candidates to do the tests blindly." Jack looked at the huge crowd and saw that everyone had some weird expressions hearing the explanation. But he could see that some small groups and some isolated individuals didn't change expressions, as if they already expected this explanation.
"I guess some people had information about the tests. Maybe I should have asked that Klaus guy if he knew something." Jack didn't dwell too much on the topic and continued paying attention to the old man's explanation.
"And that's all the explanation. Good luck, and I hope to see some of you again in the future." The old man suddenly announced.
"What? That was all?" Everyone on the crowd was surprised, and not even Jack expected something like that.
Before anyone could react, a big magical ring surrounded everyone before they disappeared, leaving only the stage and the people above it.
"Old man, do you really think this wave of students is good?" The old woman asked the man in the front.
"I expect great achievements from some individuals I saw." The old man smiled before turning around and walking back towards the academy.
"Great achievements..." The old woman muttered with a pensive thought.
Jack closed his eyes when the big magical ring appeared, since the light it transmitted was too much even for him. After opening them once again, he found himself on the top of a mountain. Heavy winds were blowing and a storm was raging. Thunder fell furiously and the black clouds above seemed to announce the world's end.
"What the hell is this?" Jack felt chills at this sight. He had never seen something like this in any of his lives.
He felt so small, he felt like he couldn't do anything to avoid being obliterated by mother nature.
Jack looked towards the black clouds, and strong resolve appeared on his face as he gathered all his courage and screamed towards the heavens.
"You want to kill me? I already died once, and I'm not planning to die again. My adventure has not even begun yet. So come and get me!" Jack screamed at the top of his lungs and the black clouds seemed to answer him furiously and sent him a big thunder.
Jack's body received the impact and every cell in his being seemed to get active and scream of pain.
"It's that all you got? If you wanna kill me you will have to try harder!" Jack screamed to the heavens like a madman, but no one answered. No one but the clouds.
Another thunder, double the size of the previous one, came Jack's way. This time his body felt numb after receiving the impact, and he didn't feel neither his legs nor his arms anymore. But Jack's mouth was still working.
"I'm still standing! Bring it on!" It seemed like Jack was venting many of his past life's frustrations on these clouds. All the anger, regret, and sadness from his previous life was slowly leaving him with every thunder that fell.
The clouds seemed to be preparing to send another thunder his way but something suddenly changed. The thunder that was being accumulated seemed to disperse and a purple color started gathering. Jack saw this change and felt like this purple color was more dangerous than the previous one.
"If I die here today, that means that I was not fated to get farther." Jack prepared for the impact as he prayed.
He prayed to no god, but the person he always prayed to. "Mother, this will be the last time I ask for your help. Give me courage and strength to stand, because my will is wavering and no Immortal should ever fear facing any foe, bringing shame to our name."
Just as those words left his lips, warmth enveloped him and a small tear left his left eye. "Thank you mother, for always being there. I think it's time to move on. Please don't hate me if I go visit you soon. You may be at peace, I will take care of myself from now on." Jack was chocking at the end of his words as he felt a hand holding his felt shoulder.
He didn't want to look, he didn't want to turn around. He knew there was no one behind him, he knew there was no hand on his left shoulder. He also knew deep down everything was on his head, and there was no way for his mother to be by his side right now. But he wanted to believe that his mother was there when she needed her strength and courage. This would be the last time he summons her, and from now on he would face all dangers on his path by himself.
The purple thunder was ready to strike and Jack said his last words. "Even if you leave, both you and dad will always be with me. I will see you again in the far future."
Purple thunder crushed on Jack, and the pain he received was different this time. The pain didn't come from his body, but from his very soul. There was no greater pain in the universe than the one that came from the soul.
Jack bared his teeth as he struggled to not lose consciousness. "I will not die when I got a second chance to live in this world!"
Shortly after another purple thunder fell. Once again, the second one being bigger than the first one. This time Jack couldn't take it anymore as he lost consciousness. But not before a thought surfaced on his mind. "You lost."