Oliver stood on top of the thin wooden line. As a few drops of blood fell from his hand, he grabbed the arrow between his palms tightly before it snapped. Everything happened within a single second; from the moment the arrows flew through the air to the arrow being snapped in Oliver's palm, only a single second had passed. Afterward, he continued to move forward, swiftly arriving at the pistons. They were pushing and retracting, swiftly and randomly. Oliver didn't care much about the pistons as he had already calculated their movements. Moreover, it was at this moment he did something strange.
He closed his eyes, not caring about seeing in front of him. Instead, he focused on the slight sounds the pistons were making with each push and retract. Suddenly, his body advanced forward. His steps were swift and light, crossing a dozen meters in a few seconds. Even more abnormally, with an almost precognitive response, his body would suddenly stop and accelerate. Within only a few seconds, he had traversed almost the entire length of the pistons. However, the examiner still seemed calm. No, he had an anticipating smile, simply awaiting Oliver's show.
Near the end of the course, Oliver's face suddenly changed, and he leaped up without any hesitation. Just below him, a piston broke the pattern that had been established in Oliver's mind. Of course, Oliver wasn't stupid enough to trust quick observations fully. His feet softly landed on the extended piston, and he launched himself off from it. As his body bolted through the air and towards the end of the course, a small hidden arrow flew toward him silently and quickly. A hidden danger that would strike at the moment its prey had lowered their guard, an almost foolproof plan. Yet, the next moment, the arrow was snapped in half between Oliver's hands.
"A beautiful display, Sir Oliver. Now, if you would, I have just one more test for you."
"Alright. Oh yeah, I have a quick question."
"Please, enlighten me about your query."
"What does it mean when my existence becomes clearer?"
"Ah, you know, that makes a lot more sense. Hmm, how should I explain this? Your existence is tied to your soul, body, and mind. Your body can be changed easily and is heavily influenced by your ancestors. For that, such a message might be an increase in bloodline purity or even you becoming closer to your ancestors. Or the message might be a fundamental change in your soul or mind, although such changes are not fully understood by us yet."
"So, does that mean such a message can be heard multiple times?"
"Mhm, although most will only hear it a dozen or so times. Moreover, most of the time it's a bodily change instead of a more spiritual change."
"I see," Oliver responded absentmindedly, focusing on what might have been the change. He sighed, shelved it for later, and followed the examiner. Eventually, they arrived at an empty room with an ever-changing color sphere, encased in myriad colored glass.
"If you would, please place your hand on the glass."
Oliver nodded and placed his palm on the glass. Nothing happened. Oliver expected a massive explosion of light or maybe a screen appearing in front of him, yet nothing happened. A few more seconds passed, then minutes, and finally, after 10 minutes, the examiner told him to remove his hand.
"Alright, I have everything I need. Would you like me to compose a report on your stats, at least the way we classify them?"
"Mhm, I would."
The examiner nodded and told him it might take a few minutes. He also mentioned his guarantor was waiting for him in the lobby. Oliver arrived back in the lobby and found Rika holding the collar of someone. He sighed and felt this was going to get complicated. With steady steps, he made his way to them and asked,
"Do I even want to ask?"
"Huh? Who the hell are you?"
"Oh, are you done already?"
Both of them responded to Oliver's question, yet he still felt this was going to get worse as he noticed the man's sly smile.
"Yeah, I'm already done, Rika."
"Oh~ a first name basis?"
Rika's eye slightly twitched; however, she didn't bother to correct him. Seeing this, he gained some confidence and continued,
"What? Is he your little boyfriend? Oh, oh, maybe he's your little boy toy. Or maybe he's a nobody, and you want to use him to get out of our agreement." The man's smile got deeper, and his blonde hair slightly blew to the side. His sky-blue eyes stared at Oliver, seemingly questioning and analyzing him. He was wearing an expensive charcoal black suit that was fitted to his body.
"Richard…" Rika's eyes slanted, and her voice got deeper. Her grip strengthened, and when she was about to raise her other hand, Oliver's calm voice stopped her before she did anything.
"Interesting, an agreement?"
"Oh, did you not know? We are to be wed. Well, if she doesn't find a lover beforehand."
Rika glared at him with clenched teeth, but she didn't refute his words. Oliver found the whole situation interesting, to say the least, as his mind thought whether to ignore this whole ordeal. He noticed the examiner coming towards them with a piece of paper, and he felt he might as well pay her back now rather than later.
"Yeah, I am her lover. Do you have a problem with that?" He said with a matter-of-fact tone and put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Her grip loosened and left Richard's collar, leaving both him and her stunned.
"W-what?" Richard's eyes twitched slightly as he barely got his question out of his mouth. Seeing this, Oliver got a mocking smile and provoked him. His actions seemed almost natural and routine, although this was a first for him. Although at the moment the change in his existence was unknown, it was without question his body was still the same.
As his lips moved, Rika slightly blushed at his words, and Richard's mouth fell.
"I don't believe I stuttered. I told you, Rika's mine." His hands moved before they could react and took hold of his collar. He then continued as he noticed his body slightly flinched,
"Ah, did I scare you, little bro?"
Richard's face flushed red with rage, and his body moved before his mind could rationalize his action.
IX