"You are over your head!"
'What?' Tiagon stared at the woman who just yelled at him befuddledly.
"Sorry…It's just that many of us are putting our lives on the line for important means, for you to just claim that you are entering for a test of strength is selfish, I can't accept it."
'Oh really? I never thought of it that way. Yet, I understand. Many of them are in this to alleviate their sufferings and to put themselves in deserved spots of power, it's selfish of them and of everyone in fact, mine is just as justified.'
"We all have our reasons for entering, I believe mine is just as suitable as the others and I'll crush everyone that stands in my way."
Aarin sighed and leaned back.
"I wasn't asking you to give up, I don't want a half-assed answer, there's no way a person… a person like you is just in this for a strength test."
"Ahhh, so this is what this is. I'm sorry Aarin but that's just it. I'm in this to battle people and to observe different magic."
Tiagon realized Aarin's problem, she had put him on a high pedestal and she couldn't accept that a person like him entered such a dangerous exam with a half-assed reason just like herself, she wanted to be anywhere but the exams but the expectations of her family weighed her.
"You mentioned that your brothers are Imperial mages, which means they have taken first-class exams."
"Yes."
"Did they tell you stories of their exams?"
"Ah yes, they always bragged about theirs when they realized that I would soon take mine. They're all so silly, all three of them." She said with a smile.
The two chatted for a short while and left for their destinations.
The third day came and went and it was was all but a mundane day for Tiagon.
Tiagon arrived at the guild, he spotted Aarin leaning on a pillar close to the entrance like she was waiting for him, she waved and Tiagon returned the gesture.
There were a lot fewer people around this time, they were in the hundreds at first but now, they were just a couple of dozens.
Finally, a mage came up and it was the elf lady mage.
"The next exam, you all are to survive through a dungeon and possibly defeat the boss. I've picked a suitable one that has been resupplied with monsters and magic that will prove to be a challenge, you're betting your lives so be careful."
Immediately after our announcement, the teleportation crest beneath the mages lit up and they were transported to a place unknown to them.
Thick trees acted as walls from behind and in front of them stood a monstrosity of architecture. A large palace with multiple tall entrances like it was crafted for giants stood.
A statue of elven warriors and royals was etched onto the walls that separated the entrances.
Multiple exclamations of surprise left the group of mages as they were entranced by the awesome work before them.
The Elf lady mage stood in front of them, she spoke, "To pass the exam, you've to pass through the other end of the dungeon fixed at the deepest part of the dungeon, monsters and maybe even more eccentric things will appear on your path."
She continued, "I'll be waiting at the bottom of the dungeon until sunset, the exam ends by sunset, and any dead or lost mage shall not be accounted for."
Some mumbles left the crowd after her statement, they were dissatisfied with the statement.
"This is an individual exam, I'm sure you all know that but nothing stops any of you from making suitable alliances, just get to the bottom before sunset."
She suddenly disappeared like a flicker.
"Clyde!" Erin called out, the little demon was happy she had spotted Tiagon and quickly ran to him.
He also heard foot steps coming and stopping behind and he turned to see that it was Aarin. Turan followed Erin from behind.
"Clyde!" Erin yelled again.
"Let's go in as a team." She suggested.
While some individuals went in by themselves, most people joined groups and began entering the dungeon. It was a no-brainer that chances of success are much higher with numbers.
He looked at Aarin, she maintained her noble poise and looked away once his eyes met hers then Turan and down at Erin.
"It's hard to refuse when all of you are looking up to me as your savior, I'll take the task of leading you guys." Tiagon joked with a hint of sarcasm.
Erin and Turan laughed, Aarin on the other hand didn't find it funny and maintained her uninterested look.
Tiagon and the team then turned to the entrances, there were six of them, six paths laid in front of them.
The team strode into the fourth entrance and pushed the intricately designed concrete gate with a light push of breeze.
They entered a spacious hall with stone carvings on its walls, massive pillars stood holding the large roof of stone above. The doors behind them jammed by themselves.
"Red." Erin whispered and her voice echoed through the room.
"Well well well." Tiagon joined in the fun.
They walked further to the extreme end and spotted a door, the only one in the hall and took it. It had a large door as well and they pushed it.
This one however didn't bulge with a light blast of wind, they had to apply more force to have it bulge.
"Very interesting."
"Whoa, this is...this is. What is it?" Aarin questioned looking at the eldritch work of architecture before her.
Erin and Turan merely looked in consternation.
The next room was one of a kind, it was more like a puzzle than a room.
The room appeared to be zigzagged in various directions, it also twisted and turned like it was alive and a strange purple mist drifted inside.
Erin swallowed and spoke, "Is it too late to take another door now?"