CHAPTER EIGHT: IT'S NOT LIKE I DELIBERATELY CROSSED YOUR PATH!

His sea blue eyes are deeply glaring at me, I find this annoying, so I instinctively glare back -who does he think he is anyway?- I am positive he has no right to command ANY respect from me -he's JUST an ordinary mage student- I wonder -I'm up for a hard time if all mage students are this pompous- "Sorry…" I mutter, his glaring expression instantly melts, he seems surprised that I apologized, "Tsk…isn't it only natural for me to apologize?" I undertone as I walk away, "ATTENTION…EVERYBODY" I turn to the area where the podium is set, Rev Waer stands upon it, sleepily looking across all of us, beside her is a new face -a rather ominous aura surrounds this new face- "Students…welcome to SCREENING 2…" -gulp-, the entire hall is instantly thrown into chaos, the man beside Rev Waer smiles slyly, he mutters some words to Rev Waer who nods in agreement "So…pair up with the next three people beside you" she states simply, I feel a tap on my shoulder, I turn to see Taki "I ran all the way" she says breathlessly, I chuckle in humour "Well…I guess I'm with you" a guy walks up to us, "Wait a minute…I'm the only guy…plus I don't recognize any of you so I'm the only mage student too…" he sounds worried, Taki gives him a friendly pat on the shoulder "Not necessarily…" she points to the guy I bumped into earlier, he stands alone -the only one unpaired-, his frown is despicable as he looks around in semi-confusion " I hate to do this but…Hey…we need one more!" our new team member calls to him "Why would you hate to call him?" Taki asks in humour, he sighs heavily "Just look at the stupid look on his face…it's like we're begging him, he's the best in our set…as well as the most annoying" he remarks, truly the guy strolls over grudgingly, scowling -I want to punch him so bad- "I'd like to work alone…" he states simply "But…you can't…so let's just do this and get over with it…" I snap, again he gives me that same surprised look, I fold my arms and look away "Now…originally...you all are meant to take six months for the screening process, but as it is…in both the Mage and Reverred Acadamies…there was an outstanding death rate…so, our plans will be altered…the screening process will take a week in the Dark Vortex realm Gazo here will take you to…" Rev Waer sleepily motions to the man beside her who gives a bow "If you manage to live…" Gazo states while chuckling "Then we'll move you on to the next stage…" there is a tense silence "So.. without further ado…" Gazo snaps his fingers twice, then a huge black curtain-like mass envelopes all of us -I feel a sort of cold wind wafting on my skin as I am transported to -somewhere-.

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I wake up with a gasp, I look around greeted by the presence of a forest – a dark forest- , right beside me, still unconscious is that arrogant guy I bumped into, there are shrieking sounds everywhere, I am instantly terrified -I sure don't want whatever is causing the screams to get to us…but more importantly where is Taki and the other guy?- I sigh in exhaustion -I am already tired of this place-, I walk to Mr Arrogant, who is frowning in his dreams I smack him, he instantly wakes with a start -he's frowning right from sleep?-, his expression softens when he sees it's me, then -he frowns again- "Why are we meeting again?" he asks subtly, as he stands up, I shrug "What's important is that we need to get out of here but…just so you know…it's not like I deliberately crossed your path either!".