Practical Skills Exam(1)

Liam brows furrowed.

Don't tell me he's being bullied just because they thought he's gay?

Liam found this ridiculous as his head subconsciously glanced at Lorthon's direction. He observed him for a while before glancing back at those people who said those words. They were already long gone.

However, he could vaguely see some disdainful gaze directed towards Lorthon.

"Are you serious?" he blurted out. This is ridiculous.

The three heard him suddenly speaking, they are startled.

"What is it?" Lorthon asked curiously. But Liam paused before shaking his head.

He look at his watched before saying, "We need to go now."

Right after he said these words, the badge pinned on his clothes vibrated. Liam immediately insert his mana inside. As expected the location for the second test were listed there.

Their score for every test will be listed later after all the exams were finished.

"What rank are you three?"

"Right now, G+." Eli said it casually but she seem proud. Liam rolled his eyes.

"Same."

Lorthon was silent for a moment.

"F-rank." he seem shy.

The twins were surprised and admiration immediately filled their eyes. Especially Elisha who love strong people.

"Wow!"

"That's amazing!"

"So young yet powerful!"

"What's the secret?"

After a whole five minutes of praising, Lorthon's face is already burning with embarrassment. He look like a bright tomato.

"Let's go. Everyone is already leaving." Liam reminded them.

Even though he appeared disinterested, he still asked a question towards Lorthon.

"Early, middle, or peak?"

"Peak." he softly answered.

Liam made an 'as expected' expression on his face. Lorthon was in section A in the novel. So it's obvious that his rank was high.

"What, seriously?!" Elisha pouted. "I felt like I'm lagging behind."

Eliana just smile helplessly. She also felt the same way. Liam just rolled his eyes.

Lorthon was the only one who was flustered. "I don't think so! A G+ rank was very high! You're doing really great." Lorthon comforted.

Eli glance at him and saw his 'please believe me' expression in his face. She almost laughed out loud.

The four continue to walked until they reached the inside of the building. The location for G-rank is fifth floor of this building while F-rank was sixth floor.

The two were left alone after the twins got to their own floor.

After reaching sixth floor, Liam recognized a few people who were mention in the novel.

Like Justin Baller, Jannette Inna Remorin, Brittany Aliah Oserno was particularly eye-catching. She's shining and her looks stand out.

It's actually a good thing so no one will pay attention to them. Liam sneaked a glanced towards Lorthon who was also shining. His good looks made Liam who never pay attention to his face a little ashamed.

He silently back away from Lorthon.

Lorthon didn't noticed Liam's actions and was looking around the surroundings curiously. Like a child who was ejtering a toy store for the first time. He's very excited.

The sixth floor was filled with youths and were talking in a group. The floor was wide and the lights were bright allowing Lorthon to see the whole floor.

It just looks like a plain room without nothing on it aside from a few bleachers for the examinees to sit on.

Brittany who was chatting with Jannette, caught sight of a familiar figure. She narrowed her eyes and skimmed through her memories.

After recognizing Lorthon, a smile made it's way to her lips.

Jannette noticed the change in her mood and follow the direction of her gaze.

She saw an attractive man standing tall on the side with his eyes shining. He seem naive and innocent. Very youthful.

However, Jannette's lips pouted when she saw the man. It was Lorthon from the television news. She peeked at her excited friend and sighed.

She's not interested at someone with the same level of strength as her. She like stronger men.

The two girls made eye contact and they walked in different direction. With Jannette walking towards Justin while Brittany walking towards Lorthon.

Liam who was paying attention to his surroundings, was the first one to noticed about Brittany's action. He casually walk away, trying to act normal and blend in the surroundings. He was an extra in the first place, so it didn't took much skill to do that.

Liam didn't know whether to laugh or cry becuase of this.

There was a group of people on the side, nervously talking with each other. Liam tried to mix with them.

Lorthon finally finished looking at the place and turn towards Liam but found out that he's missing. He look around, trying to find him but he couldn't even see his shadow.

"Where's Liam?" he murmured, puzzled.

Just then, he heard a sweet voice spoke. It was a soft and feminine voice that seem to be a voice of an angel whispering in his ears.

"Excuse me. I thought you were familiar. Are you perhaps Lorthon Wayne?"

Lorthon turn towards the direction of the voice and was speechless after seeing the beautiful woman in front of him.

Her long and wavy golden hair fits perfectly with her angelic face. Her skin is fair and smooth. With no sign of imperfections. She also have a good figure and very approachable. The purple eyes seem pure and untainted by the cruelty of the world.

Like the mankind's dream goddess.

Lorthon immediately blushed after taking one look. He was flustered and nodded dumbly.

Liam, where are you?!!!

Brittany enjoyed his reaction. She smiled kindly.

"My name is Brittany Aliah Oserno. I don't know if you've heard my father but he's an SS-rank hero. His name is Bernardo Oserno." her tone is humble and didn't sound overbearing.

Lorthon nodded his head.

"Of course. Sir Bernardo is the only SS-rank healer. It's impossible not to know him."

He felt a little shy and even though he's flattered that Brittany took the initiative to speak with him, he felt uncomfortable as he felt numerous eyes staring at him. Lorthon look around once again.

He kept doing it that Brittany have no choice but to noticed.

"Are you looking for someone?" she asked.

Lorthon was embarrassed and nodded. "Uhh, yes. I'm trying to find my bestfriend."

Brittany raised a brow. Lorthon Wayne's bestfriend? How come she didn't know this? She did a background check and from what she found out, Lorthon was a loner because of a few reasons.

"You came with a friend? Who is it?" she also started to look around.

Liam who was silently watching from afar couldn't hear what they're talking about hut seeing Lorthon's action made him exhaled sharply.

This idiot. Don't look for me! Brittany means trouble!

"No, I just met him here..." his voice sound happy and proud.

But Brittany felt weird. You met someone in less than two hours and you call him bestfriend? It took years before she was able to accept Jannette as a friend let alone bestfriend.

For her, it just sound like someone trick Lorthon who was famous to clout. Brittany almost frown. She hate this kind of people the most.

But she still maintained a curious expression.

"Where is he?"

"I also don't know..." Lorthon have no idea where Liam run off to.

Liam saw them seriously looking for him and glance at the wall clock. The exam was about to begin.

As he thought of this, the lights on the room suddenly brightened, blinding the examinees for a moment. All of them, even Liam who kmew what's going on, close their eyes for a second.

Liam felt something fast approaching him and immediately activate his skill,

Then he jumped high, avoiding it.

The thing just now is a wind slash, sent by the overseer of the second phase of the exam. It was to test examinee's reaction time. The wind slash has no lethally at all and will only cause cuts on the skin.

But to be sure, Liam chose to avoid it. Since the one who send it is not to be underestimate.

After his eyes get used to the bright light, he saw a figure standing majestically in the air.

He have long grey hair due to old age but his eyes beneath the gold-timmed glasses were full of vitality. He is wearing the uniform of the Milan Academy's professor. But the aura adound him signifies that he was atleast S-rank.

Liam and a few people in the room instantly recognized such a respectable person.

The wind mage of the first generation heroes and one of the SSS-rank heroes in the world.

Ramon Collins.

***

On the top floor of the tallest building in Milan Academy.

A woman with noticeable wrinkles on her face was currently reading a paper filled with a whole essay.

This woman is the headmaster of the Milan Academy.

She was smirking as she read the answer of a student.

[Since it's founding, the Milan Acadmey have been producing numerous high-ranked heroes. It has been praised and a school full of glory. That's why, my answer to the question 'Why do the Milan Academy need to accept me?' is very simple. To maintain it's prestige, the school need promising youth who are strong, eager to learn, and have boundless potential. And I'm that youth. So I hope the Milan Academy won't make such a bad mistake of rejecting me.]

"How interesting..."

***