Many teenagers were standing in an open area, everyone was standing there as if,were waiting for someone.
Arya too was one of them, they were standing in the same open area, where they were teleported to, after the first phase.
Not just him, but everyone who had their second phase, is looking towards the sky waiting for the voice, that spoke to them every time before and after the trial.
As the two-week gap is finally over. Soon they will be transported to the second phase.
While standing there, Arya started recalling the conversation he had with Hutiya, and the possibility of him being a clan member.
....
"I can't tell you the Clan which I belong to, till I confirm your origin.
But as there's a possibility of you being a member of my clan.
I will tell you a few things, you need to know.
Hutiya said to which Arya nodded as this was very important. Hutiya then continued after seeing that he have Arya's full focus.
"After the trial, I will confirm it with the clan, if you are a part of the clan.
If yes, then you will be invited. If not, well you do what you want.
Now, for those things that every young member of any clan should know is, that after the trial, there will be a tournament in the clan that will decide your future.
As theirs a possibility of you being a son of exiled members of the clan.
This is the way to help your family join again. And this is the duty of the parents to tell their child about the clan and importance of the caln.
But, well yours can't."
Hutiya said and looked at Arya if he is still following him. And when he saw the full focus of Arya on him he continued.
Hutiya then told Arya about the tournament and that this is something that every clan does, and this tournament is nothing secret to the world, but they only know the Participants not it's importance, as many people come to watch the tournament.
After telling him all the basic things like what the tournament is, why it is held and it being holding before the academy starts.
He again had that toothy grin he always have, and with that the heavy Atmosphere to disappeared. And then he said.
"Well, that's all the things you need to know about the tournament. And let me tell you something interesting."
"You know Setanta, he is also a member of a Clan."
This information shocked him at first, but then recalled his feats and his rivalry with Hutiya.
And if Hutiya is a clan member then it will be more likely Setanta too.
Arya nodded to himself as he thought of all this.
"Thanks, for telling me all this information." Arya thanked him genuinely.
As if Hutiya hadn't told him this he wouldn't have known it.
And this also took him one step toward his goal of knowing his father's secret.
Seeing the reaction was not as grand he expected, Hutiya clicked his tounge.
And soon, Hutiya took his leave and left Arya alone in his room.
Arya then decided to read the book, he received as the reward.
"World Knowledge for Monkeys- IBW" he held that worn-out book and then saw the title and recalled that originally the 'I' was 'J' according to his previous party members.
It had all the basic knowledge about both worlds.
This book had an interesting way of telling the information, as it is like novel about a guy, set up in their world, and as he learns more about the world.
So, in the remaining few days, he completed the book,and got to know it has a second part.
He decided that, he would buy the second part after the trial, as it had the continuation of the story after the second trial.
....
[Phase two of the First Trial will now begin.]
[This Trial will be Half a year long.]
As soon as the announcement rang, many were shocked as they didn't know the trial was six months long, but few didn't act as they already knew it from senior members.
Arya too knows that as Setanta already told him back then, when he disbanded the party.
Then suddenly a black band appeared on everyone's hand.
Seeing it everyone was astonished, but before they could even voice out their thoughts. The voice spoke again.
[It is a support yantra, during the trial it will act as a storage for your items and a few other things that will be informed later.]
After listening to the announcement they calmed down and many looked at the band in a new light, as this was something they were seeing for the first time.
"It's just a simple storage yantra, why are you acting as if it's some national treasure."
A boy who was looking at everyone with this disgusting look as if they were mere insects, said.
Before anyone could even say anything to this person, the announcement of teleportation rang.
[Now, every one of you will be teleported to the designated area of phase two.]
[The goal and other important things will be told there.]
[This is a random teleportation, so you all will be teleported to random places.]
[The Phase Two of The first Trial will now commence.]
And with the announcement, every participant started glowing and started teleporting.
Soon the area becomes devoid of life as everyone gets teleported to the new area.
...
In an area filled with 50-m tall trees, with a thick canopy that was stopping the sunlight from even from passing.
A strange cylindrical light suddenly appeared, though it soon died down, a person appeared in its place.
Not just here but all over the area, such a thing was happening.
During the teleportation, due to the bright light, everyone closed their eyes, and when they opened their eyes they found themselves in completely different locations.
Arya, when he opened his eyes saw he was in a dark place.
He looked around and noticed, he was in some forest. He also saw that due to the thick canopy of the tree, it was dark there.
As he was observing his surroundings. The announcement rang again.
[This is the second phase of the first trial.
This phase will be based on exploration.
So for the next 180-days, you will explore this area and will have to kill the Phase boss. That is present in the center of the area.
In the area there are many beasts, ruins, and even dungeons. By killing the beasts, you will earn the points.
The points you earn will be added into your final result.
So, Let the phase begin.]
After the announcement, people started exploring the area, but no-one headed towards the center.
As they knew the boss will be very strong, that's why they are given half a year to kill it.
But Arya didn't move as he was confused due the description of the stage, as he knew about the stage.
The children's book he received as the reward had the same stage.
He was shocked, as he was thinking that the story was fictional and was there just to make understanding the world easy.
But that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
"Wait, didn't Anaya say everyone had this book. Does that mean everyone knows about this stage?
Or is my book just different from all the others. As it was a reward from a dungeons.
And she also mentioned that the writer is different, as the name were not same.
Is that name changed due to poor condition or is there something more to it?"
Arya not knowing what to do decided to do what the protagonist of the story did, as if everyone knew the story they will for sure will do the same.
As this is something no one will like to miss.
Now this turns into a win-win situation for Arya.
Because, if he finds everyone there he will know about the book being different or the same.
And if everyone also knows about the stage.
Or, if only he knows, that means his book is different from everyone and the story is true then.
If that's the case He will receive a great power, that will help him in the future for his goals. Though if it's the first case he still fights and gets that reward.
And last, if this is even the same stage as in the story or it is just a coincidence that the stage just turns out to be similar, nothing else.
Then Arya decided to climb the tree to have a good look at the area to see if he in the same place or not.
He climbed the tree and saw tall mountains toward the centre while, a vast expanse of forest in all the other directions.
After coming down, he started thinking about the plan.