EXAMINATION (1)

T H E O P E N A R E N A

Adrianne, together with her classmates has entered a bus that can fit roughly fifty students. She didn't know where were they going. Mrs. Belva, their teacher, hasn't said a word since they left the room.

The vehicle was surrounded by deafening silence. No one was talking as if they were scared to even open their mouth. Two men wearing black clothes were in front, driving. They looked very familiar to Adrianne, but the woman couldn't remember where did she saw them.

Hmm, Adrianne glanced over the window as a hump on the road made them slow down. They were entering a large place, covered with high walls. It was higher than what they have in the Academy.

It was not that far away from the school. It has only been ten minutes since they left their previous location. And now, going in a new one that made Adrianne's interest reach its peak.

She nodded as she roamed around her eyes in the area. With the moving vehicle, Adrianne can easily look around. She rolled her eyes, Mrs. Belva uttered earlier that the examination would already begin in 15 minutes.

The woman didn't even say that they belong to the second half of the group. That means they were not needed this early. The start of their examination will be after lunch.

"Kids, this is Quivo Arena. The largest open Arena in the whole Quirenne. This will be the venue of your examination. The examination is already starting. Make sure to be quiet as we enter the venue."

Mrs. Belva stood up in the middle the moment the bus stopped at the entrance. Giving reminders to her students, her eyes stopped at the child sitting at the middle part. It was Abigail who was looking at her intently.

Belva noticed that something had changed for the child. Its eyes were reflecting happiness and enjoyment, far away from the cold gaze, the kid has in the past. Did something happen?

"Mrs. Belva, the council was waiting already." Her attention was disrupted by when a voice called out her name.

Belva nodded at the man. "Let's go kids, follow me,"

The kids followed their teacher as they entered the large gate. Irene and some other students got amazed at how good-looking the place was. Adrianne, on the other hand, felt something unusual about the location.

Loud cheering students greeted them. Adrianne's lips quirked in amusement. The school didn't tell them, that they will be examined together with the students from different schools too.

Her gaze went on the middle, 20 students standing still on the ground. They were sitting in the middle with their legs crossed. A huge television was at the front. In there, all of them can see what was happening.

Mrs. Belva leads them to the left side of the Arena. In there, Adrianne can clearly see what was happening in the middle. It was a mental test to test the capabilities of each student.

After 400 years, it seems like their place had grown a lot. Their knowledge had widely increased to.

One by one, loud screams echoed in the entire place. The students in the middle had started to get reduced, little by little. Twenty, down to fifteen until only three students were left on the ground.

Those who already failed were already sitting on one part. In there, they could already relax and rest their tired bodies. Even if they only sat on the ground, what they saw when they closed their eyes, were a complete different thing.

A loud whistle resonated. The remaining students achieved Level A as they successfully passed the five challenges.

"Abigail, do you think we can successfully pass the test too? Their screams were making me scared." Irene uttered as she watched the examination closely.

Adrianne rolled her eyes first, secretly before turning her gaze towards Irene. "I'm scared too! Huhu," She sobbed, placing her hands on her mouth. "Do you think we can do this? I'm scared, Irene."

"Shh, we can do this, Abigail." Irene shushed as she watched how Abigail went in fear. Pity surrounds her heart. The girl was only 10 years old and already experiencing this.

Even though she's not that older than Abigail, they were not the same. Growing up, Irene's parents continuously taught her about this place. Adrianne, on the other side, nodded wiping the fake tears on her eyes, She didn't know that acting was part of her talent.

Hours had passed and the fourth batch of students taking the examination was about to end already.

Adrianne looked over the other side where Irene was already seated. The kid only achieved Level E. She shrugged her shoulders, the kid was the one supporting her, and yet she can't even get a higher level? 'What a pity," Adrianne chuckled.

"Calling the attention of students 81st to 100th. Please proceed at the middle."

With glimmering eyes, Adrianne went down the stairs. She chuckled as she arrived at the middle. Looking all over the place, her smile grew wider when some students from their school said their hateful comments towards her.