(an/: Chapter was really short, I had planned to place it in with chapter 27 but the content was lost at some point and only just retrieved and ch29 is already proving long enough and I hadn't planned it to have this content so this is getting a chap of its own)
On the topic of candidates and importance, Crusch hadn't truly comprehended the sheer magnitude the trials held on an annual basis. The silent waves and cheers slowly shifted towards streets lined in festive decorations with what she could only assume as the country's national flag, a chimera surrounded by the colors red and black that draped over the high rise buildings that clouded this part of the city. The people themselves were so well dressed as well and the streets so empty as if to accommodate their passing, there were few words that could describe the emotions it all invoked but there was truly wonder.
This receded as the journey continued but not into oblivion, they didn't seem to be going far either.
"It takes place in the middle Districts capital" smiled Ronvel although not looking her direction, the expression reflecting of off the window, "Every year"
"The middle district? There's a hierarchy?" She hadn't thought off it but the possibility had come and gone during idle moments of thought when she'd first realized that noble's in this world were still a thing but a clear distinction so great was appalling.
"Dear me, Lady Ludmilla, you ought to go outside sometimes!"
"I was stuck in a house for fou—do I need to explain myself much?"
Ronvel put on an air of apology and explained, three districts situated in Luran, the lower, middle and the upper. Each was self explanatory as to its inhabitants, the lower district being home to the povertized and unfortunate while the middle district was home to those either reasonably well off or able to get by, the upper District was home to the nobility such as herself. Ronvel's explanation was oversimplified but easy to digest for her, she was a little sullen on distinctions but there was little she could do as a child and a part of her suppressed any unnecessary pity; she wasn't on the receiving end and wanted to enjoy the luxuries of wealth without the guilt that it brought now.
"How many trials do we have to face anyway?" Crusch asked, watching the buildings recede in vibrant nature and high quality. They weren't dilapidated or ill kept but there was a sense of age towards them that became prevalent as they passed, large billboards seemingly the norm.
"Nobody knows, last year's had only one and mind you it lasted at least three months" Crusch looked aghast.
"Oh, that was on accident" Ronvel laughed, noticing her expression, "it isn't supposed to last so long but special situations held everyone up"
"Right, death?" She asked.
"You're far too grim, you know? The nature of the trial was simply too long"
Crusch rolled her eyes, "Naivety only brings failure"
"Geeze, I was under the impression that Lady and Sir Ludunhime were very amicable parents, partners can be quite useful"
Crusch raised a brow but didn't answer, she could tell where the conversation was steering and wasn't wholly acclaimed to the idea.
'She's too nice…' She thought.
The nicest people, ironic as she found it, weren't always the most innocent, at least in her previous world's experiences. It unnerved her to a point of unconscious reclusiveness, was she hiding something? And more towards the topic of partners, the trials were excessively competitive where betrayal was a matter of who'd pull the trigger first so why allow it?
Too many things she couldn't understand about her but outright rejection wasn't a good idea either, if it was a matter of who did what first then it was as simple as never placing too much trust and committing the act before her. She despised betrayal but there could be benefits from having a partner, as it stood Crusch had barely any confidence in her capabilities that she'd have the guts to waltz through the trials explicitly on her lonesome. Her mentor himself hadn't so much as given her the idea that this was anything smart nor something she could achieve, everyone said that the trials participants were not friends, not people to trust but the more she thought about it now and they weren't exactly telling her not to use them, just that she shouldn't ever fool herself into treating them anymore than beneficiaries.
"Do you plan on having any?" She asked dismissively, not committing to the idea but just this much seemed to send Ronvel into a spur of delight.
"Course I do, it's only natural since I'm not that great of a Witch either"
Crusch glanced back, "Really? You look more capable than myself"
"Hahaha, appearances can be deceiving but I'm no better than what I—oh!!" She pointed out at the window, "We're nearly there!"
Crusch instinctively followed the direction of her finger, sure enough and the slightly aged buildings and rampantly following apartment quarters tightly knit together in what was most likely a mess of alleyways in between had gained new life and sparsed out. They were rapidly spiralling towards new celebrations again but Crusch could tell this time that they weren't exactly directed towards them but the plethora of other dark vehicles sidling ahead of them.
"Their the middle District's candidates—participants actually," She smiled wryly at Crusch's questioning glare and then pointed towards the spiralling construction of a tower in the distance, "That's where we'll be having our trials"
"In a tower?"
"A magic tower, of course"
She glanced over the construction, a dark towering jagged building that pierced from the ground as though having ran through the earth's crust. It wasn't alluring and was far from a comforting sight to behold, it made her nervous and cast upon dark images of what was inside.
"Nervous?" Ronvel inquired to which she didn't answer but it seemed as though a snarky remark would've boded a lot better for she cast a sly smile at her, "They won't give us anything we can't handle"
She sat back swiftly and stared out of her own window, aware that the conversation had reached a lull but Crusch's worries were far from settled.
'That's exactly why I'm nervous, what ARE you supposed to handle at this level?'
Soon enough, the base of the tower had enlarged, covering at least forty feet of their vision above and the true scale of the tower made itself well known to her but it was far from their final stop. They made a junction for a tall inn situated not far from the tower and many other vehicles seemed to be making a stop there.
"I thought we were going to the trials?"
"Right off the bat?" Ronvel chuckled, "They need to address the stakes first, not to mention the incentives~"
Crusch's clothes buffeted to the winds and so did Ronvels coat although oddly stiff, there were many others stepping out to which her eyes widened a bit at the magnitude but before the unsettling dread that she'd bottled up for so long could sprout again did a booming and melodic voice wash over the crowd.
"Welcome Participants and future scholars, our pride and joy, our gems and treasures!!! Welcome to the Naustis Hotel, your reprieve before the trials!"