The first group were done with their assessment, about an hundred people failed during the assessment and were pushed out while the others were still in the compactments. The ones that passed came out a little later.
It's time for the second group to start theirs. Iode and Olivia stood together side by side ready to enter a compactment with eighteen others. They took a deep breath before stepping into the compactment.
Iode looked back and saw some aspirant leaving the field with sad faces. Iode has been there before and doesn't wish to be there again. He has promised his love at first sight, Olivia, that he's going to do his utmost best to enter the academy. They all stepped into the compactment and the test began.
The room they were was all white, smooth and plain. The mana pressure in the room was normal until they starts to feel a little heaviness in the air. The pressure was small, everyone was able to take it.
They all walked into the second room. It was the same only a little more heaviness. This continued until they reached the fifth room where the trouble starts.
Olivia was starting to breathe heavily. Iode been by her side noticed this and held her by her hand.
"Olivia, look me in the eyes, breathe in and out slowly, you can do this, for me, for us, our promise". Iode said.
Olivia looked at Iode in the eyes and followed his instructions. She breathes in and out slowly and heavily as she still held on. Iode kept holding her till the fifth stage was finished.
"Olivia let's go, we can do this". Iode said still holding Olivia by her hand as they walked to the sixth room.
The pressure in the sixth room began and Olivia couldn't last a minute. She fainted as her body at the level she is can't handle the mana pressure.
Iode was also affected by this pressure increase but he shook it off as he saw Olivia faint. He kneeled by her side and was saddened he won't get to see his new found love with him.
Olivia was pushed out of the compactment and was treated. Iode could do nothing but wish they were in this together.
"I'll fulfill our promise, Olivia, next year you and I will meet". Iode thought but unbeknownst to him, the purple aura around him was swirling very wildly and fast. Two others were also eliminate with Olivia.
Though Iode just met Olivia, he can't forget her, he kept looking back at her till he could no longer see her as he went to the seventh room.
The pressure increased further and Iode's body was starting to slow down, he wasn't as vibrant as he was before, but he was still determined to pass.
He crouched down and beared the pain of the pressure. He held his chest and was breathing heavily, he doesn't want to give in. The seventh stage ended and are to move to the next.
"I've gotten this far, i don't want to lose, I'll do it for you, Olivia, for us, I'll be waiting for you". Iode said as he struggled to enter the eight room.
The eight room pressure started, bringing Iode further down, but surprising, he started to breathe normally and the pressure around him started to feel light.
Iode didn't understand what was happening, he can clearly see from others that the pressure was high, they were struggling to stand. Iode assumed these people were 2 stars at the bare minimum, why the pressure was suddenly light, Iode wouldn't find the answer to that, but he continued.
Iode was able to clear all the rooms successfully, this means he passed the second challenge for the first time and was even more elated than before.
He and the other aspirants got out of the compactment and Iode was beaming with a huge smile on his face but first he has to find Olivia if she hasn't left.
Iode didn't look far, he saw Olivia standing in the field. He ran to her and tried to comfort her.
"Don't worry Iode, this is just my first attempt, i have someone who is trying for the fifth time and hasn't given up, this is just a stepping stone for me to get stronger". Olivia said.
Iode gave a bitter smile at her remark and said
"Promise me you'll enter the academy next year, I'll also enter and I'll be waiting for you".
"I promise, I'll see you next year, also congratulations on your success, you'll do well in your next challenge". Olivia said as she turned her back, waved her hand at Iode, and was ready to leave.