Chapter 195: Rank Up Test (3) (1/2)
The leader's heavenly, melodious voice, that made Sarah's sex an ambiguity for those 'uninitiated', she spoke loudly, reaffirming the rules and stipulations for the test.
”Cole Phamas, Rank 1 Adventurer, we the Highrove Adventurer's Guild's official examiners welcome you on your first Rank Up Test!” She gave a slight pause in her speech, and lowered her hands, grabbing the railing before she continued.
”To pass and achieve a positive result all you need to do is hold your ground against one of the warriors in front of you until I say it is enough. I will not say how long it will take, but you can rest assured that since this is only for the second rank, you will not need to hold out for too long. You can choose which one, but let me warn you, they are of equal strength. The most obvious choice may not be the correct one. The test shall begin once you have made your choice.”
Then she turned towards Aiden and addressed him as well. Although she kept the mystical tune behind her voice, it carried a bit more emotion than before.
”You should not interfere with the test itself anymore. I give my word that the duel will be an honorable one. I will personally punish those that would go against my word.” As she said her last sentence, the bald, unarmed examiner next to her, felt a shiver pass through him, causing him to shiver in fright momentarily, before gulping audibly. He nervously glanced at the black warriors on the ground floor. His eyes telling everything, the warrior on the right, closest to him, gave a long blink and a barely perceptible nod under his helmet, understanding his new commands.
”Then I am relieved.” Aiden nodded with a friendly smile on his face, as he took a few steps to the side and casually leaned against the wall, folding his arms. He seemed completely calm, and nonchalant as if this whole ordeal meant absolutely nothing to him. Truth be told, that wasn't that far from the truth either. While he obviously cared for his friend, even if he only met him just such a short time ago, this 'world of humans' was less and less interesting to him as the days continued to pass. All the cruelty, needless violence against their own kind, the darkness that plagued them made him wonder about the other races of the world.
He was told that besides humans, who populated most of the lands, there are many others out there. Beastkin or Beastfolk, which was an evolved version of the myriad animals and predators found out there, had a whole kingdom to themselves to the far west. At some point, Aiden's master, Number 3 also told tales about elves, the race of his sister's Lily's mother living in small villages, colonies in large forests such as the one where they lived.
Granny and Number 3 told tales about many other beings, some living under the ground, and even some that lived above the skies! At that time, he wasn't that interested as he felt some strange, unexplainable connection to the world of humans, but as he continued to experience their world, he felt more and more disgusted by it as the days passed.
Once this whole ordeal with the main quest and then the consequent deal he made with the prince is finally finished and he regains some of his 'freedom' once again, he decided to set out and explore the world!
The edges of his lips curved a bit higher at this thought, as he shook his head and focused on the duel in front of him that was just about to start.
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Cole, thinking about the leader's words for a bit, decided that in the end will still go with his own, first thought and picked the guy on the left wearing the leather armor and carrying the mace with the spiky, metal ball head.
As the boy raised his hand and pointed to him, the dark leather-wearing warrior nodded with an expressionless face and stepped forward, whilst his partner turned and left towards the side, towards Aiden's position. Halting several steps away from him, he simply stood still like a statue, unmoving and stoic as he continued to watch the battle between the brown-haired youth and his partner. Even if his face wouldn't be hiding behind the helmet, no expressions or thoughts could have been read from it, as he looked ahead insipidly.
Taking a few deep breaths, to calm his inner turmoil and steel his heart, Cole slowly unsheathed his sword and raised it in front of his chest diagonally the edge turned towards his opponent. He had a determined, focused look on his face as he scanned the enemy looking at his smallest movements, actions.
The warrior had an emotionless but cold look on his face as he grabbed the hilt of his weapon, and held it in his right hand. He did not enter any battle stance, the weapon was hanging upside down at his right side as he stood still, looking at the boy in front of him. At a first glance, one could feel that his poise was full of openings and holes as if he was an amateur. However, in the next moment, as he blinked once more, and his eyes opened, suddenly an ominous, eerie aura was released from his body. It was nothing magical, it was the culmination of years of hard work and experience, it told tales about a cruel and brutal life lived on the battlefield, being on the edge of life and death.