Not Again...

The atmosphere became less tense after a while.

The elder was the only one speaking for the past few minutes and the masked girl was just observing them...

The few questions were not really organized at all so sometimes the elder would ask something that isn't serious and then would initiate a conversation.

Then suddenly asking a very serious question which is the reason why there were many awkward silences between the eleven youths and the elder.

Though it's been ten minutes, most of the questions the elder or both the elder and the masked girl have prepared, were not the ones we were expecting.

Could they be warming us up a bit?

But why?

The questions they've been asking were light and easy, despite having serious things, the commoners were currently answering.

If it was out of their capabilities then the three commoners of Wang Zihan's group and/or the twins would answer.

Wang Zihan, Zhao Lina, Yoru, these three were the only ones that were not answering much.

Though it was easy to distinguish the status of the eleven youths, from the usual commoners, middle class citizens, and prestigious people.

The elder and even the young girl beside him was confused whether which category he gets placed at.

He was too calm and acted and had mannerisms of that of the middle class citizens yet the way he keeps his clothes were like the farmer or the three commoners who work with the blonde kid.

"But taking away the way he keeps his clothes, he has a clean and youthful appearance like the girl who has white fading to red hair, and the stupidly bright smiling blonde bastard, ugh he gives me the creeps."

The young girl with the mask thought to herself, it was a good thing she had a mask because she was currently wearing a very nasty look whenever she glanced at the young man.

Stifling a scoff, she thought, "Damned nobles, I'll kill them all one day!"

* * *

Five minutes have passed once more.

The elder hasn't even asked what out names were, almost all of the questions were all about the village.

– How was the inn you were staying at?

– Have the people treated you well?

– The food in this village is tasty wasn't it?

Questions like these.

Though I was seated a bit far away from Zhao Lina and Wang, I could tell they were confused and a little bit tense from time to time.

Sure the questions the elder asked seemed appropriate since he was asking us about his village.

Yet they felt as though there was some underlying threat?

Whatever, I'm not a high noble so I wouldn't get it at all.

Finally after the five minutes passed, the seemingly kind smile of the elders old face suddenly felt eerie now, matching the tense atmosphere.

This time the two high class youths and the other low class nobles and commoners were ready this time.

" Now then, let's start with something simple yes?" The elder started, his voice was no longer cheery and kind from just a few moments ago.

" Names, I don't need all of your names of course."

He then raised a hand and then pointed at Zhao Lina.

"You."

Then at Wang Zihan.

"You."

Then at the two twins but he seemed to have emphasized his words when pointing at the younger twin.

"You and you..."

Bringing his gaze to the corner of his office, the black haired boy who's been calmly and quietly sitting down.

"Ho ho, especially you..."

The young man spared him a glance, his eyes landing on the masked girl behind the elder.

Seeing this he was much more infuriated but kept to himself, trying to keep composed.

* * *

Something gave me the creeps whenever the girl turned to face my direction.

The air around her looked as though it has grown still and a bit dark.

"Could that be her aura?" I thought, but shook my head, "it can't be, she couldn't have been a higher rank than awakened. She's literally the same age as us, so how?"

The introductions have finally started so Zhao Lina introduced herself first, calm and collected, absolutely expressionless.

The elder nodded, though it seemed like he recognized her for some reason. Not Zhao Lina herself but maybe because of her name or she looked like someone the elder knew.

Then the elder asked for her mother and father's name, she looked at the elderly man suddenly with a raised eyebrow as if offended.

She then answered:

"My mother is Zhao Ruiyin, while my father is Zhao Liehan. Is that all?"

The elder nodded and turned to Wang Zihan.

He nodded but it seems he does not recognize or isn't familiar with the names of her family, this means the trial should be set in the past...

Wang Zihan noticed the elder glancing at him and then he sat up straight and then said with a smile:

"My mother is Wang Lumin, like a bright star! My father is Wang Linyue, like the moon that shines on the ra—"

Before he could finish, the masked girl turned to him, scoffed that was barely heard, and then said:

" We don't need the description of your family Wang Zihan."

He laughed awkwardly and then sat back down.

The elder sighed and then turned to the twins.

They introduced themselves as Ren and Rin.

Their family names weren't familiar to the elder or the masked girl, nor was it familiar to anyone else in the room.

Finally, the elder turned to me, waiting for my introductions just like everyone else.

I thought to myself for a few moments, wondering if they will react the same way those ogres reacted...

Sigh...

Facing the elder and the masked girl, I then spoke with the kindest tone I could muster, though it just sounded absurdly weird.

" Yoru, my father is Caelus Veylar and my mother is Althea Vaylith —"

Before my voice could even fade, the masked girl spoke suddenly once again:

"Lies."

Oh for the love of...

"That is not our mother and father's name."

Silence...

Everyone, the eleven youths suddenly looked at the masked girl rather surprised and shocked.

Even the elder was stunned by her words, what the hell could she have possibly mean by that?

"Excuse me?"

Was all that I could say as I too was also stunned by her words.

I did not have siblings growing up, in both my past life and in the present.

So this young girls words caught me off guard.

Sigh...

This time it wasn't me who let out a deep and long sigh, it was the masked girl. Suddenly raising her hands, she brought it to her mask that was covering her face and lowered it.

Everyone was then left staring...