Moments before.
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"Alright, it's been about 10 minutes now should we call Professor Lop to appear?"
"Yes do call him. They made it through the first session patients" Araiana says.
"It's a shame that some of the students walked back to their dorms or went home" Celeste comments.
"Celeste, do you think your students can pass this exam?" Ariana asks the other two homeroom teachers with her as she covers her mouth.
"Yes, I believe they can." Celeste Carmen says as she stares at Valerus Mariana from behind and then he suddenly looks back at them.
Ariana then turns her body in a different direction"Taz how about you?"
"Yeah am, pretty sure Albeck and Jericho can as well but if they overthink this portion," Taz says.
"Hold on," a voice says in the distance.
"Oh, there he is I hope they dont-" Taz speaks as he cuts off. "Shh let's wait and see their reaction this year," Ariana says in excitement.
"I hope this group is more-"
A roar of laughter echoes throughout the school.
STEP STEP STEP
Captain Percival and Luitenant Alekzader Appear.
"What's happening now" Percival asks.
"Oh Professor Lop," Alekzander says "Uh oh"
STEP STEP STEP
The five student council members appear.
Faith turns the corner with her hands behind her back "What's going on-"
She watched as Ezekiel walked up to the Bunny.
Luna and Axel showed a regretful face.
Issac wore an expression of "Ooh that's going to hurt"
Ceaser stood in silence.
The Captain and Luietnent watched as this played out.
The teachers look in shock and worry.
Faith calls out to him but it's too late.
Ezekiel gets flown around.
"Ughh that idiot," Faith says as she takes off her hat and scratches her head.
"Ahhh" Luna and Axel share the same expression as Faith with their heads down in disappointment.
Celeste crosses her arms and tilts her head "Hmm could've been worse."
"Uh," Taz and Ariana stand in disbelief.
"So that's Leo huh well he isn't so bright" Alekzander remarks.
"He's confident and bold in his abilities but naive at the same time. Leo alright, I want to see him in action" Percival remarks as he surveys the other students "Hmm". Alekzander makes a note of his captain's noise "What is it?" "Nothing am going to prepare to watch the next stage". "Alright, Captain I'll watch this part and catch up a little bit."
Percival heads in the opposite direction towards Stage 2 "So the Pearson Family decided to enroll their son after all. Valerus has grown up Marko. Let's see if he can live up to your name" In his thoughts Percival looks up to the clear blue sky.
The others continue to watch but Celeste Carmen watches as the Captain of the Federation leaves she slowly turns to go back to watching the rest of the exam play out.
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Back to the examinees.
We watched in anticipation to see if Rose and her group would pass.
Rose goes first. Although usually calm her face said otherwise. She stood before the professor for a moment, then finally moved. She moved past the bunny and walked to the side that passed.
"She made it through," I said.
The others continue to watch how the rest of them do.
Sunneta the girl with short yellow hair, a bob cut, and a pin on the left side of her hair, was up next as she looked nervous as well, but ultimately passed in the end. After she was the two girls that faced off Faith and Luna in a losing effort Bella the girl with long purple hair light purple eyes, and bangs that almost covered her forehead, and Lily, the girl with short white hair that she tied with a plaid bow, golden brown eyes. They both passed.
"Hmm her group isn't just all looks" Eriko remarks.
"They did fair pretty well against Faith and Luna," I remark.
"But did they beat them?" Eriko follows up.
"No"
Albeck then walks by us as he stands in line to answer the three questions. With Jericho still babbling his mouth to him.
"Am going next"
"Wait hold on Eri you gotta think this through"
"I got this I believe in my ability do you Val? Now come let's go" she says as she drags me along.
"Guess am going too" Ezekiel follows.
With Eriko and Ezekiel in front of me, I watched as a couple of mages passed then it was Albeck's turn who was a couple of mages in front of us.
He steps forward a short moment after he steps to the passing side.
"Hmm not even a minute," I said to myself.
Jericho goes next. He passes as well. "Too easy," he says to himself.
The mages who were in front of us didn't as they let out remarks such as "It was that why. That's so confusing. how can it be"
The last one then "turned to us the last one is a trick question do not fall- woaah" He then gets tossed and gets caught by the ones who failed.
Eriko steps forward.
Complete silence between the two a minute goes by a Eriko takes a deep breath. I waited for a response was it a sigh of relief or defeat? She turned around a gave us a thumbs up and smile.
"Alright my turn," Ezekiel says.
It's funny watching Ezekiel answer these questions he grunts, and contemplates with his hands on his chin, and when he tries to answer he then thinks again. After a couple of nods and noises, he walked passed the bunny. "You got this Valerus dont sweat this."
I step forward waiting for my questions. Thoughts begin running through my head again. "No not this again this feeling that I felt. I hear a woman's voice in my head. "Max, you'll never amount to your cousins not even a sliver. You must pass this test. We didn't pay for all this schooling for you to not pass" I thought that I remembered. "Max its alright man dont listen to her you'll do fine just try your best," a male voice says.
"Hmm interesting indeed you are Valerus Marina a voice calls out in my head" I look up it is the voice of the bunny.
"What are these memories that am seeing? Hmmm. Are you not of this world? Hmmm. Well, this is a matter that I can look into later. In this world, you are the Valerus Marina the Son of Marko Marina and Lila Marina. But you are a mystery indeed. What are you? Or who are you?
"What? Is this part of the test" I ask Professor Loop telepathically.
"No, it is not I shall let you know when the questions I ask are about to be spoken. The questions I ask now am for my pure imagination"
"Am Valerus Marina I live in the southern part of Aiz in Kubridge"
"We're sticking with that for now. Ok. The exam questions will now be asked."
I take a gulp.
"Speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have nobody, but I come alive with wind. What am I?
"What"
"Speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have nobody, but I come alive with wind. What am I? Since you are interested I'll let you have 1 redo for any of the three questions." The talking bunny tells me.
I repeat the question in my head "Speak without a mouth and hear without ears" no thats not where it is but I come alive with wind. An echo I answer.
"Is that your final answer?"
"Uhh"
"Is it not"
"It is !"
"Correct. Question 2 Name me the 7 overlords and 7 demon lords from hell.
"This is an easy one.
Overlord of Weapons
Overlord of Curses
Overlord of Time
Overlord of Death
Overlord of Understanding
Overlord of Illusion
Overlord of Love
The demon lords are Wrath, Envy, Lust, Greed, Sloth, Pride, and Gluttony
"Correct. Last and final question"
I eagerly wait and see what the question he will ask.
"I am always near, but never far.
I am always around, but never seen.
I am often avoided, but I always catch up.
I will come when you are old and grey, or maybe even the very next day.
I will come with cold embrace, and give you rest with a chill kiss on your face.
I come in many forms whether it's irony, love, laughter, or hate.
I am everyone's final fate.
What am I?"
"Death" I speak it without any hesitation. "Why did I just say that? How?"
"Congratulations Mr Marina you pass. Please head on over there to the side where the others are"
As shocked as I was I couldn't help but be happy as I strolled on to my friends.
"Mr.Marina remember this. Death awaits everyone. And I have seen what you saw. They will come back. They'll come for you. You must be careful. Hold your friends dear. Cause the end is drawing near."
I continue to walk forward disregarding what the telepathic just told me.
I passed the first stage.
"Good job Val I know you could do it" Eriko says as she smiles and hugs me,
"Great Job man that was fast faster than me" Ezekiel responds and Eriko adds "honestly you were faster than me"
"Really was I really that fast? It felt like an eternity answering those questions" I say to them as I look back at Professor Lop. "Who is he," I ask myself.
He then turned towards me and smiled at me as if he could still hear my thoughts.
"Hey you passed Valerus that's good" Bianca walks over to us as she passes Lop it turns out she was a couple of mages behind us.
"Bianca you passed as well good job how were your questions"
"Pretty easy"
"Hi Eriko Ezekiel"
"Hi Bianca" Eriko smiles.
"Sup"
"You guys ready for the next stage?"
"Yeah-"
"It should be really easy"Eriko again cuts me off and answers for me. "So Bianca how do you feel" Eriko says as she walks away with Bianca.
"Man she's jealous"
"I know. I know"
I also feel looks from Rose and her group Albeck and Jericho.
VOOSH
A familiar figure appears before us. Issac Di Angelo The Treasurer of the Student Council.
Issac speaks and claps "Congrats on passing"
Everyone begins cheering.
"Yes, we get to fight," Ezekiel says excitingly.
"We must find out our partners first.
"part 1 of the stage 1 exam"
"What" a commotion erupts.
"What the hell was the point in that then?" "Why?"
"I guess I was wrong," Jericho says.
Rose and her groups looked ticked off in fact everyone was ticked off about this revelation.
Our first-year class was almost cut into more than half from a group of 150 it was cut down to a mere 50.
"Why you all ask because its too narrow you folks down to the very best of the best. That first part with Professor Lop taught you about patients waiting in the hot sun for 10 minutes while some of your classmates dropped out. The second being is the riddles that were given all of you had at least 1 riddle to solve the other two. The point of it is a social or instructional tool, as well as a means of testing someone's wit and originality. In battle, you will have to think outside of the box and use your creativity to think regardless if you are alone or with the team"
CLAP CLAP "Alright we shall now start part 2 of stage 1" he creates a rectangle with his hands
ILLUSION MAGIC: CLASSROOM
A classroom is then built from his magic. Time to take a test he says with a pair of glasses on.
"UHHHHHH" Ezekiel moans out.