Chapter 12: A Name in Shadows
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As the silver-haired boy disappeared from sight, the atmosphere in the hall shifted. Students started gossiping among themselves, whispers of fear and awe circling around Elba. His heart still raced from the encounter, but he tried to shake it off.
Before he could calm himself, a group of boys approached him, the leader wearing a smug grin. "Oi, newcomer," the boy sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You're dead meat. You should run away before it's too late." His gang laughed behind him, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Elba, not wanting to get dragged into unnecessary drama, took a deep breath and ignored their intimidation. "Hello, I'm Elba," he said, though the confusion in his voice was evident. "Would you mind telling me who that person was? The one everyone bowed to?"
The boy's grin faltered for a moment, and then he crossed his arms, leaning in as if sharing some dark secret. "That guy? He's one of the best students in our academy. He's the heir of the Tenebris family." The name itself seemed to cast a shadow over the conversation, sending a chill down Elba's spine. "They're one of the ruling families, council members in the palace. Higher-ups, just like Ignis' family… though hers is nowhere near as powerful as his."
Elba nodded, absorbing the information. He thanked the boy, but the pit in his stomach only seemed to deepen. The Tenebris family…
Suddenly, a loud voice called out. "Elba? Is Elba here?"
Elba's pulse quickened. He raised his hand, shouting back, "Yes, ma'am!" It was finally his turn.
His legs felt like they were made of lead as he walked towards the exam hall. Anxiety gnawed at him. But something else troubled him—something strange. Why didn't they call me by my surname? he wondered, the thought swirling in his mind.
As he reached the front, a woman dressed in academy robes approached him. She looked serious but calm. "Are you Elba?" she asked, double-checking the list.
"Yes, that's me," he replied.
The woman gave him a brief, unreadable glance before speaking in a low tone. "We haven't been given your family name. In fact, we've been instructed to tell you to keep it secret. No matter what happens, do not reveal your surname to anyone. Further instructions will be provided later." She straightened up. "Now, prepare yourself for the exam."
Elba's stomach churned. What's going on? he thought, but there was no time to dwell on it. The exam was about to begin.
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The first test was one of knowledge. Elba was led to a large room filled with long wooden tables and stacks of books, scrolls, and papers. The instructor stood at the front, explaining the rules. "You will be given a set of riddles and questions. Each of these relates to the history of the empire, magical creatures, and strategic thinking. The goal is to test your understanding, not just your memory. You have 30 minutes. Begin."
Elba sat at a desk, his mind whirling with the complexity of the questions. The riddles were no joke—they demanded creative thinking and a deep understanding of the world. Despite his nervousness, Elba managed to push through. He solved the puzzles one by one, but it left him mentally drained.
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The second test was a test of endurance. Elba and several others were led outside to a training ground. In front of them stood several weighted training dummies and a large wall. The instructor smirked, knowing what came next. "This is a defense test. You will be given a shield. Your task is to defend yourself against attacks for 10 minutes straight."
Without delay, the dummies began launching projectiles—small stones, padded arrows, and other objects—at the students. Elba braced himself, raising the shield. The attacks came fast, forcing him to move constantly. His arms burned from holding up the shield, his legs aching from the non-stop movement, but he pushed through. The barrage seemed endless, but Elba managed to last until the end of the test, though barely.
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The third test was a physical combat test. They were given blunt weapons, and their task was to fight an instructor, not to win but to hold their own and demonstrate physical skill and awareness. Elba was given a short sword and faced a burly instructor armed with a staff. The instructor didn't hold back, swinging the staff with precision, forcing Elba to dodge and parry. Though Elba wasn't a swordsman by nature, he used the quick reflexes he had gained from his experience in archery and hand-to-hand combat. Even though he was overpowered and outmatched, he showed his resilience, never backing down even when he was knocked to the ground.
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The tests pushed Elba to his limits, both mentally and physically. His heart pounded, his muscles ached, and his head was spinning from the intensity of it all. He could barely catch his breath as he waited to hear the results.
The chapter ends here, with Elba having completed the three exams, unaware of the final trial that awaited him.