Days flew by, and the day of the Whispering exams arrived swiftly in the capital of Sylvaneth.
The city was buzzing with activity, with both the outer and middle city thrumming with excitement.
The streets were filled with people from all walks of life, eager to witness the grand event.
Vendors lined the roads, selling trinkets and refreshments, while children darted through the crowds, their laughter blending with the hum of conversation.
In the Verdant Arena ,Verdantia Coliseum, the atmosphere was electric.
The stands were packed with spectators, and the air was thick with anticipation.
The participants entered the arena one by one, their expressions a mix of determination and nerves.
They stood in the center, a sea of hopeful faces ready to prove their worth.
Elder Aric stepped forward, his voice booming across the arena and echoing through the middle city.
"Welcome everyone to Sylvaneth for the Whispering exam!"
The crowd fell silent, all eyes on the elder as he continued.
"Today is a special day for the kingdom, and we have special guests with us." He began introducing the distinguished guests.
"First, I will introduce the leaders of the eight great noble families."
"From the Pecunia family, Cyrus Pecunia!" Cyrus stood, his commanding presence felt by all, before taking his seat again.
Aric continued, "Now, from the Ignis family, Draco Ignis!" Draco rose, his fiery aura unmistakable.
"Next, from the Bluemoon family, Conri Bluemoon!" Conri's calm demeanor belied his formidable strength.
"And from the Riverwind family, Lady Aurora Riverwind!" Aurora's grace and poise drew appreciative murmurs from the crowd.
He went on to introduce the remaining leaders.
"From the Frostveil family, Amara Frostveil! From the Stormcaller family, Orion Stormcaller! "
"From the Emberclan family, Thalia Emberclan! And from the Shadowfen family, Varian Shadowfen!"
Each leader stood in turn, their unique auras and presence adding to the grandeur of the event.
"Now, the leader of Verdantial Academy, Sir Leonardo Graymare," Aric announced.
Sir Leonardo's scholarly yet imposing presence commanded respect.
"Lastly, as we all stand to pay our respects, I introduce you all to the Queen of Verdantia, Queen Elara Evergreen the Verdant!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, the respect for their queen palpable.
Once the introductions were complete, Elder Aric turned his attention back to the participants.
"Now, for the Whispering exams. We have 101 participants. Of these, 92 passed the preliminary trials, and we have 9 from the great noble families."
He continued, "Some of you may already know what to expect, and some may not."
"You will all be transported to the Whispering Woods and will have access to the first and second layers."
"The rest of the layers are dangerous and have been sealed by a defensive array, minimizing the danger."
He explained the rules for passing the exams.
"All participants are expected to be able to kill F-rank mystic beasts and be capable of making E-rank beasts retreat. It will be dangerous."
"Those who fail will have to repeat next year. Those who pass will enter the academy. The top 10 candidates will be rewarded."
"For each F-rank beast you eliminate and preserve the beast core, you will earn 2 points. "
"For every E-rank beast you fend off, you will earn 4 points. And for every E-rank beast you kill, you will earn 7 points."
"Additionally, you keep all the beast cores for yourself. The exam will last for 2 weeks."
The arena buzzed with excitement as the participants absorbed the information.
The stage was set for a challenging and thrilling exam, and the future of these young aspirants hung in the balance.
"Did you see my old man, Oasis?" Zane whispered to Oasis as they stood in the arena.
"Oh, so he is your old man, I see," Oasis replied calmly, glancing around.
Unbeknownst to him, Mira was watching from a distance, making sure he didn't notice her gaze.
"Now let the Whispering exam commence," Elder Aric announced.
"All participants, come and stand on this array." As all the candidates stepped onto the array, Elder Aric began to activate it.
A brilliant glow enveloped the participants, and in an instant, they were transported to the Whispering Woods.
The scene shifted dramatically. Oasis found himself in a dense, forest. The trees were tall, their leaves whispering as a gentle breeze blew through them.
The air was thick with mana, creating an almost palpable energy that pulsed with life.
"The mana here is dense. This place feels good for cultivation," Oasis thought to himself, taking a deep breath and feeling the energy flow through him.
"I wonder where the others are. I landed here alone.
With a sense of determination, Oasis decided to analyze his surroundings.
He sprang up into the nearest tall tree, using his agility and wind magic to propel himself upwards.
As he reached the top, he was greeted by a breathtaking view.
"Wow, I'm on a cliff," Oasis exclaimed silently to himself, his eyes scanning the vast expanse of the Whispering Woods stretching out before him.
From his elevated vantage point, he could see the dense canopy of trees spreading out in all directions, as far as the eye could see.
He noticed the ground of another area far below him, hinting at the vastness of the forest below.
The sheer scale of the landscape was awe-inspiring, and Oasis couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the beauty and majesty of the Whispering Woods.
"This place is so big, I can't even tell where it ends," Oasis mused, marveling at the enormity of the forest.
Determined to make the most of his time in this mystical realm, Oasis prepared to descend from the tree.
With a confident leap, he gracefully jumped down from the top of the tree, landing lightly on the forest floor below.
"It's time to hunt,"
Oasis declared, his senses sharpened as he prepared to navigate the dense undergrowth and face the challenges that awaited him in the Whispering Woods.