Wake up call

My eyes opened to a blinding light. 

Heaven?

"Oh hey, you're awake now." 

I turned my head to the side and saw another bed. Laying there with at least two thirds of his head covered in bandages, was the one and only...

Arthur Starlight.

No, it was hell.

I cursed under my breath and slowly turned my body around. Regardless of the stinging of the casts around my arm and the needles injected into me. I just didn't want to look at this kid.

"Hey! I know you heard me! Turn around and speak to me! Hey, can't you see me making an effort to..." 

Promptly ignoring him, I checked my status window. Only feeling it now, my abilities or skills must now be fully restored to the original Khael's level after integrating my memories with him. 

=================================

Ability : Greatsword Proficiency (F -> E)

_______________

Skills :

[ Desert Drifter Arts ] (F -> E- Rank)

=================================

My hypothesis was indeed correct.

...

Surprise surprise, it took no longer than half an hour of enduring Arthur's incessant whines and self-motivation to himself for both of our bodies to fully heal. Thanks to advanced medical technology and magic, we rapidly got restored to full health.

As nurse had helped us unwrap and take off the casts a familiar figure strode through the door. It was Instructor Claire coming to inform us of our 'exam'.

Just as mesmerising as before, Arthur watched transfixed as she entered the room. I looked at his slightly open mouth and frozen body, this was always a thing with him and women.

"Khael and Arthur, I'm instructor Claire" Almost forgot we haven't properly met. "You boys have been placed in a rank according to your performance. If you'll watch this tablet, I'll show you your ranking."

Her icy voice was succinct and straight-forward. The way her tone stayed still pushes one automatically at a distance.

Instructor Claire held her tablet before us and opened up an extremely long list. My eyes blurred as she rapidly scrolled to the very bottom.

Perhaps she was showing Arthur's first?

As the names and scores kept decreasing I realised what points could be gained from the test. There was three main categories out of 50. There was power, technique and control...

Power would obviously refer to how physically fit an individual was while technique was basically self-described. As for control, from the novel I remember it being more commonly interpreted as intent.

The list finally came to a holt as both Arthur's and my name were present.

_______________

2,748th : ...

2,749th : Khael Sonja - P/T/C 15/45/5

2,750th : Arthur Starlight - P/T/C 15/20/25

_______________

I suddenly realised how weak and reckless I was during the fight. This body of mine came from the desert, albeit conditioned to the elements, it was malnourished in the lack of food it had.

I obviously lacked the amount of muscle average students had in this academy's caliber. So my strength was incredibly underwhelming.

My technique was scored very high however. It seemed combining advantages of welding a greatsword, the tricky nature of my movement art and my uncommon battle attitude made for a sought after score.

As for my control...

It was valid in a way. I couldn't ignore how much I let myself get so vengeful and petty. As for how I attacked, the face, the knees... It didn't make for all that good of an impression.

The categories made sense for an academy to judge their future students based off. They needed them to be strong, tactful but also upright in their intentions.

Overall, there was a lot of reconsider and improve on.

Finishing my internal thought processes, I pitched in onto what the instructor was now saying to Arthur.

"...will be determined through further examinations. The one you boys participated in only marked the first of three tests." The woman then put away her tablet seeing how the both of us were now content. "The next one will be conducted in five days time, so prepare yourself and you will be notified where to go on the day... Good day to you then."

"Yes, farewell."

"..E-er, ah good... bye?"

The both of us found our eyes met by the stone-faced individual before she swiftly and methodically turned and left the room.

"Whew... close call eh?" Arthur nudged my side which only now made me realise how much damage the teacher did to me.

"...Yeah, I guess." 

Silently twisting my arms I saw a noticeable streak of new tissue along my forearms. A massive scar extending for about two thirds of my forearms. 

Was this from Instructor Donny?

As I magically found the both of us leaving the testing halls together, my mind was absent. Common knowledge was a thing in the past and I had to now adjust myself accordingly.

Regardless of whether or not this was a dream or not, seeing the massive scars scared me a little. Made me realise strength was the most sought after currency and not the more pronounced concept of money.

"...so the instructor was pretty hot eh?" 

I looked at Arthur with scrutiny wondering when I became 'friends' to him. With a scoff I turned away and started heading to my apartment, a place the previous Khael rented for the time being.

"Wow, you think your a cool guy yeah? Well guess what, I'm going to beat you in the upcoming exams and shove that look of yours up your ass!...Bastard!" 

Hearing Arthur shout I was irritated. Not irritated because he was blatantly annoying, but because he was going to be right. He was going to awaken the 'Sword God' in himself.

I sighed and shoved my hands in my pockets, there was a lot I needed to do in five days.

My memories of the first part of the novel were sketchy due to its inconsistency. But it was later on in the novel, when the author's writing had been refined, were places like this revisited which contained hidden power-ups.

There was a certain one I had my eyes on, but I needed some preparations and a little cash.

With those on my mind, I watched the sun paint the sky a beautiful collage of orange and grey clouds.

There was no room for my past life to interfere.