Exam's End

The last task they had to do was to travel to the designated area marked on their maps. All three of them were asked to go to the same place.

Although they didn't know how urgent it was, they decided to rest a little and recover their energy, especially Ash. They had to find a way to stock and preserve their food supply.

Luckily for Ash, her wounds were not that serious. All they had to do was find some herbs while Vanta forged some bandages for her. Materializing his shadow for such a long period of time wasn't going to be easy, but he was willing to bear it.

Their journey wasn't easy, and it took them months to arrive at their destination. During their journey, it almost seems as if they were hunted down by abominations. They had to constantly fight, both morning and night, to survive.

Abominations are animals mutated by corruption. It is said that them possessing excessive color was the cause, while monsters are different, their origins unknown.

Raymond slumped against a gnarled tree, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "This is worse than that time we fought the cave spiders," he mumbled, wiping sweat from his brow. The stench of decay and the acrid tang of corruption filled the air, a constant reminder of the horrors they had faced.

"Yeah, I don't think this is befitting for an exam," Vanta chipped in.

He stared at the moon; the night skies were clear without any cloud in sight. The breeze was cool and refreshing but also somehow restless. Ash sat with them without exchanging a word as the two boys continued their conversation.

When they arrived at their destination, their perilous journey, it was over eleven months now. The trio had undergone some physical changes; their clothes were worn out and barely holding in place. Their bodies were filled with tattoos of cuts and bruises, a testament to all their battles.

At the designated place, an erected building rose from the ground. It resembled a citadel. Inside the building was nothing but intricate curving of runic languages. It seemed so beautiful and weak.

'Not bad.

When they arrived, they saw three other examinees. The first they noticed was the girl that had attacked them. She was standing at the far end of the room, observing some runic languages with such fascination.

What caught their attention most was her skin. Even after the terrible injuries she had sustained, her skin was neat and unblemished, without a single scar. Her red dress was elegant and beautiful, Asif newly purchased.

The next person that caught their attention was another girl. Compared to the first, she seemed totally normal. Her dress was a little rough but still presentable.

The last person was a boy. Unlike the rest, his aura was pressuring and malevolent. He was tall and had the appearance of someone who had not been in a single battle.

As they all secretly observed each other, a voice vibrated through the room. It was cold and devoid of emotions.

""Welcome,special candidates. You've achieved the Xue Sense and have been picked as irregulars painters to join this year's misfit class. Congratulations on completing this trial."

As the voice was done talking, everything around them turned pitch black.

Vanta shiftedslightly; opening his eyes, he observed his surroundings. He was still at the hall. Slowly, everyone else seemed to have woken up... most of them anyway.

Sasha staggered at the podium, which drew every eye to her. Her nose was bleeding.

"You shouldn't have overdone it." The boy standing close to her remarked as he quickly caught her fall.

"I'm fine, just a little mental strain. The exhaustion should be gone soon," she said as she pulled herself up.

"That's impossible," Vanta remarked, not knowing when he had said sure.

He noticed that not a single time has passed since they were teleported to the strange land. And the other thing that caused him to exclaim was the fact that everything that he had just witnessed had to do with this girl's ability.

"Sorry about that. Please, everyone who passed should head to the dorms; everything will be explained tomorrow; meanwhile, the ceremony will continue later as planned. Enjoy your day and welcome back from year zero."

With that, she left with every other student's council members.

"Man, that's one crazy day," Raymond said, turning to his friend.

He didn't reply. The mental exhaustion of what they'd just endured flooded his mind like an angry wave.

******************

Meanwhile, with a round table in the center, five people were seated around it. The atmosphere was heavy with anticipation, the silence so profound it seemed to have a physical presence.

"So? Your report." The first figure spoke.

"I've finally been able to trace her whereabouts. She is currently at Blueblood Academy." The second figure replied.

"Blueblood?? Why go there after all these years?" Another figure asked.

"I'm not sure, but luck isn't on our side if we're going to capture her under such an environment."

"Luck? Since when have we, the great claws, ever relied on luck? We just burst in there and get her, easy." y" The last figure added.

"We'll have to be tactical with our approach. You" She pointes at the second figure "keep tabs on her, we'll have to evaluate our situation thoroughly. We cannot let this go on for much longer, we have to find the crown, and wipe those people out."