Chapter 66: A Horrifying Nightmare (1/2)

”No!”

Mei had a startled look hearing his exaggerated 'No' and was about to ask when Arion continued, ”I mean, there is no need to go to all that trouble. I am pretty sure that I have the Darkness Aspect. I can feel it in my heart. As for potential, I don't really care since it's something I will anyway find out on my own. All I want to do now is train and also register for the Ironheart Test.”

Arion inwardly hoped that Mei wouldn't persuade him to take up the test and berated himself inwardly for almost making himself appear suspicious.

Mei had a confused expression wondering why he did not seem that excited about taking the Pranic Root test and guessed that it was because he was tired of the long waiting time.

Still, what he said made sense, and she also didn't feel that there was any special need for him to take the test. It was mostly for those whose Aspects were too weak to be detected or those who didn't have their Aspects awakened.

So she left that thought and said with a smile, ”Alright, as you wish.”

Her expression then became hesitant as her lips parted and closed a few times before saying, ”By the way...do you really want to really take on the second trial?”

Arion's expression became thoughtful as he knew why she was asking that question. He had no idea what the trials exactly were since each year, they changed the rules and everything.

But one thing he was sure of was that the chance of passing even the first trial was too low to make one feel despair. Even he thanked the gods he did not believe in just because he easily skipped the first trial.

And he was also not sure if he could really pass the second trial, but he had faith in Mei and Old Zi's training, thinking that he should be well trained and prepared after a year.

Of course, he could take it easy for now and join a Rare tier school. But would he still be safe after joining? Would those schools train him well enough to face Dreadlings that had already killed a lot of Dreadslayers? Would those schools have enough resources to make him powerful within a short amount of time?

In fact, he knew that most of the aspiring Defiers took the Iron Heart Test at the young age of 15 since that was the minimum and also because the earlier they join a training school, the more time they get to train themselves and become powerful since even a few years of difference could make a large difference since the life spans of humans were inherently not that long.

Sometimes some people may be close to jumping to the next stage by just a few years, but if they die before that due to old age, then that's that. And this was considering that they survived long enough to not get killed by any Dreadlings.

He said with a sigh, ”Sister Mei...I...do you trust me? Trust me to win the second trial?”

Mei took a deep breath and said with a soft smile, ”I will trust you no matter what.”

Arion's expression became a bit complicated hearing her words, but he just shook those thoughts away and said with a smile, ”Then I won't disappoint you. I will pass not only for my sake but for you as well so that I can once again see my precious Sister Mei.”

Mei smiled as she dipped her chin, hiding her bashfulness.

Arion's facial muscles suddenly tightened when he forgot to ask about one important thing.

He asked with an evasive gaze, ”I actually wanted to know something...You will be with me even after the training and the trials..right?”

Mei slowly looked up to see the chaotic ripples in his eyes while also the hidden expectation and worry behind them.

She felt heartened, but at the same time, certain thoughts that had been buried in the back of her mind started to prick her conscience.

Still, she replied with a smile, ”Of course. Where else would I go without you?”

Arion felt like the final heavyweight from his heart had been lifted as he let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

”Great, that's all I needed to hear,” Arion happily said as he laid on the mat with a serene smile.

Mei's smile slowly faded as she also laid down with a complicated expression.

She turned off the lantern as the whole room went dark while the two of them were lying on the mat, face-up, feeling a bit awkward.

Usually, the two would hug before going to sleep, but now both were feeling hesitant for their own reasons.