When I stepped through the grand entrance of the prestigious hero academy, a wave of excitement and fear washed over me. What if I wasn't prepared, what if I wasn't strong enough, what if my aura control isn't good enough. I took a breath to clear my mind. I looked around remembering what gunther had told me. His words echoing through my mind on repeat. "There are going to be people there from every part of the world. All with one goal, to make it as a hero. You need to stand out among the crowd to gain favor and recognition. The best way to do that is with your aura skills. You have very good defensive skills but to stand out you have to be an unstoppable force. The type of person whose power they can rely on. If you don't you'll just be another sheep in the herd."
As I strutted in the crowded room. There was a coldness in the room; the type of coldness that makes you feel alone. I saw a tall swordsman who looked serious, like something was wrong. "Hello" I say to the guy. "I'm a bit lost. Is this where we were supposed to be?" "Why don't you go ask your parents or something? '' he says. "What's your problem?" I spoke back. " I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you, my english isn't very good." "Then maybe you just shouldn't speak," I interrupted. I didn't really know what was going on but I was starting to get heated. He seemed to have noticed my anger and let out his aura as a violet mist ran off his body. Before I could do anything an instructor got involved. '' Need I remind either of you that the entrance exam will start soon. Prepare your enchantments for the monsters, not each other". This man appeared very intelligent. He talked like he knew it too.
The entrance exam starts and I grip my spear with excitement. This spear was passed down to me from Gunther. As the gate to the beginner level dungeon opened the test started. The dungeon was cold and lifeless until the torch carried by the very monster I was supposed to kill entered into view. There were hundreds, maybe thousands. All marching towards me with the intent to kill. Hordes of the grotesque monsters attacked. Wave after wave getting slaughtered by my spear. Each second is a testament to my resilience. The only thing to get me past this trial is my own strength. My arm grows tired as I reach the end of this dungeon. My body was riddled with holes. Blood dripped down my arm to my spear. None of these monsters would be hard to fight on their own, but as a group they're a threat. If only I had come prepared. My body was too tired, but weakness was not an option. I came here knowing I could die.
I thrust my spear into a medium sized goblin, the ground started shaking. A giant sized ogre crashes through the wall and Swings its gigantic fist at me, I get hit. I moved barely enough to save myself from getting hurled into the side of the wall. The dark hall echoes my experience of near death. I released an uncontrollable amount of my aura ability. As an orange mist covers my body I feel well rested and stronger than before. My body is no longer physical as the ghost core reacts to my aura and grants me its power. "I need to finish this quickly." I muttered under my breath. The ogre hit me with such force that even though I had shed my mortal flesh I could still feel the impact. The attack produced shockwaves and sent shivers down my spine. I used my second skill to encase my body in aura. I felt a sense of comfort knowing I cannot take damage as I pierce the left side of the ogre's neck and move my spear to the right. Successfully cutting off the ogres head and finishing the entrance exam.
As I walk into the room of future students at the hero academy I take a look around. The room was less crowded. As I look around I see two clerics going around healing people with fatal wounds. It looked more like a war infirmary than anything. "Hey man," said a very attractive looking guy. His hair looks brown and wavy, like chocolate milk commercials. "That was really cool. What was that ability." "my aura ability was combined with the core of my spear. Don't you have a similar ability?" I asked curiously. "No," he said kindly, understanding my lack of knowledge." My enchantment is sharpshooter. We use our aura on our weapons to make them hit harder. While lancers and swordsmen use their aura to make themselves stronger. I was just curious because I never learned about a core that could give you ghost attributes. It must have a major drawback." "It does." I start to say. "If I stay in that state for too long the ghost will take over my body and a cleric will have to exercise the monster out of my body. But the reward is well worth the risk." He introduced himself as luke. I also got a good look at the guy who was giving me trouble at the entrance. He had a large two handed blade that I could make out to be similar to a zweihander. No matter what it was, it should have been too big for a fifteen year old to handle. "Hey" the swordsmen said roughly. "It's nice to see that you're at least somewhat competent. My name is Noah becker. We will be seeing more of each other from now on" he said with a menacing grin. The very statement hurt my chest. Like someone stabbed me in the gut and kept on twisting the knife.
The cleric came to heal me shortly. "Congrats," He said. Just then I realized they are the same person who got in the middle of me and Noah before the entrance exam. His jet black hair matched with his white flannel over his gray hoodie. "I should warn you though, unlike the other teachers I won't get in the middle of two people fighting. You need to be careful about who you mouth off to." "I'm capable of defending myself" I assured him. "That may be so but that boy is a becker, one of the most powerful families from Europe and the last of his line." I was speechless, the beckers are the owners of the seventh most powerful guilds in the world. Last year when 15 dungeons fused, the beckers were the ones who lead the charge against the outbreach. I felt as though I had just signed my death warrant.
There was no one of note who entered in the room except for a weak looking bandit that could probably get knocked over in a single push. and a girl clad in armor who gave me a glance of recognition. The speaker in the room came on.``Attention this is your head master magnus smith. You have all passed the entrance exam and have earned the title of hero in training. Now if you look at the monitors in the room you'll see your current standing within your group. Welcome to the adventuring academy." The monitors suddenly turn on and my eyes scan the screen for my name. I saw it at the 19th spot out of 212 people. I thought I was doing amazing but 18 people did better, including noah.
As we move out of the great hall I feel cheated. How could so many people do better than me in the test? The final boss literally could not hit me. I had so many questions and no answers. How could Luke, Noah, and so many others be better than me. Before I get too lost into my thoughts someone slapped me on the back. "Chin up kid" the guy said in an all too familiar voice. Gunther looked as proud as I felt moments before.