Book 2: Chapter 2 – I Choose Him

Kwame stepped forward, clearing his throat. The murmur of the crowd died instantly, the weight of his presence demanding silence. His gaze swept over the gathered trialists, pausing momentarily on Jabari before he spoke.

"First, let me start by saying congratulations to all of you for participating in this trial. For some, simply making it here was a trial in and of itself."

Though he didn't say it outright, everyone knew he was referring to the trialists from the slums. Unlike those from noble or established tribes, they had no sponsors or guardians to ensure their safe passage. Many had been forced to travel through the wilderness alone – an ordeal that, for most, was a death sentence.

"However," Kwame continued, his voice firm, "the institute does not accept just anyone. We are an institution built on strength, resilience, and an indomitable will. Only those who prove themselves worthy may step forward and claim their place.

"On behalf of the Western Branch of the Beast-Warrior Institute, I would like to welcome the following:

"Ibrahim of the Uzo Tribe's Slums,Emmanuel of the Jaraki Tribe,Lennox Ari..."

One by one, names were called. Of the 320-plus trialists, only 146 made the cut.

Jabari blinked, surprised by the number. In his mind, the fifth round had been a real challenge, but the 33rd step? That had barely registered as a test to him. And yet, so many had failed to reach it.

He glanced around, noting the crestfallen faces of those who had fallen short. At the same time, he realised something else – every slum-born trialist who had made it to Hell's Stairway had at least reached the 50th step.

'I guess growing up in the slums has its benefits after all,' Jabari mused, his eyes sweeping over the dejected youths.

Kwame allowed a moment for the weight of his words to settle before continuing.

"To those called so far, congratulations. Though the year ahead will be the hardest of your lives thus far, you should take pride in what you've achieved. However, a select few among you have gone above and beyond.

Would the following trialists please step onto the stage when their names are called:

"August Owusu of the Owusu Tribe,Jamal Marley of the Great Shura Tribe,Danso Musa of the Musa Tribe,Azurian of the Great Shura Tribe,Chantelle Marley of the Great Shura Tribe,Chidi of the Nuwanu Tribe,Malia of the Bikara Tribe's Slums,And lastly, Jabari of the Great Khaldun Tribe's Slums."

A round of applause rippled through the crowd as each name was called, but when it was Jabari's turn, the cheers erupted into a deafening roar.

Only then did he truly grasp what Heba had meant – he really had won over a lot of people with his last performance.

He stepped onto the stage alongside the other seven, taking his place among them. Kwame offered him an encouraging smile before addressing the gathered trialists once more.

"As a reward for your outstanding performance in the fifth round, the eight of you will be granted the rank of seeded students. This means you will receive additional rewards and privileges beyond mere acceptance.

"Normally, rewards are distributed in order of total score, from highest to lowest," Kwame continued, his voice carrying an undertone of something deliberate. "However, due to exceptional circumstances, we have decided to make an adjustment."

His gaze settled on Jabari.

"Jabari, due to your unprecedented performance in the Test of Will – not only finishing first but setting a new and virtually unbeatable record – the Beast-Warrior Institute has decided that you will receive your rewards first, despite your total ranking placing you second from the bottom with a score of 15 stars."

Jabari had already been informed by Heba where he ranked, so the low placement didn't surprise him. What did catch him off guard, however, was the institute's decision to let him claim his rewards first. That meant one thing – he would have the first pick of mentors.

Instinctively, he glanced over his shoulder to gauge the reactions of his fellow seeded students. His gaze landed on Jamal Marley, who was glaring at him with an expression bordering on hostility.

Jabari understood why Jamal was upset. If their positions had been reversed, he might have felt the same way. But at the end of the day, this wasn't his choice. If Jamal had an issue, he was free to take it up with the Elders standing before them.

Without acknowledging the unspoken challenge in Jamal's gaze, Jabari turned back to Kwame and stepped forward, standing beside him.

"As a seeded student, you are entitled to three rewards," Kwame announced, his voice carrying across the silent arena. "The first is a high-quality weapon, crafted by some of the finest forgers Ulo has to offer. With that being said – do you have a weapon in mind?"

He paused for a moment before adding, "If you're unsure, you may wait until you enter the institute, where you'll have the opportunity to test various weapons before making a decision."

Jabari immediately recalled his conversation with Heba after the combat assessment. She had admitted that, not being a warrior herself, she wasn't the best person to advise him on weapons. But she had given him one piece of wisdom – when in doubt, trust his instincts.

And that he did.

While he had been unconscious, Heba must have suspected his natural affinity for polearms, given his reaction to the glaive in the combat test. She had gone so far as to have Lateef procure a brochure detailing different types of glaives and spears. Since they were just images, he hadn't been able to use his spirit to assess them, but one had immediately caught his eye.

So when Kwame finished speaking, Jabari didn't hesitate.

"I would like a standard adult-sized jagged 'Y-shaped Glaive,' please," he stated firmly.

Though she hadn't been able to guide him on which specific weapon to choose, Heba had warned him against selecting one that fit his current size. His body was still malnourished from his years in the slums, but with proper meals and rigorous training at the institute, that would change. His height and muscle mass would grow significantly over the next year. Choosing a weapon suited to his current frame would be foolish.

Kwame opened his mouth to question the choice. From Jabari's performance, it was clear he had no real experience with the glaive. But when he met Jabari's steady gaze, unwavering in its resolve, he chose not to interfere.

Nodding in acknowledgment, he moved on to the next reward.

"The second reward," Kwame continued, "is a vial of beast blood – the key to becoming a true Beast-Warrior."

A ripple of envy spread through the crowd. Jabari could feel the weight of countless jealous stares, not just from his fellow trialists but from the spectators as well.

"The most critical factor in becoming a Beast-Warrior is willpower," Kwame explained, his gaze sweeping over the trialists. "The more resilient your will, the greater your potential upon transformation."

Jabari frowned slightly. That left him with more questions than answers. He had assumed the transformation relied primarily on physical strength or talent, but according to Kwame, willpower played the dominant role.

"However," Kwame continued, "due to your severe malnourishment and lack of physical conditioning, you cannot receive the beast blood just yet. But don't worry, you'll definitely receive it before the end of the school year."

Jabari simply nodded. He had already heard as much from Heba.

Kwame's expression shifted, a hint of anticipation in his tone as he announced, "Your final reward is one that has even drawn the attention of our esteemed Western Branch's Supreme Elder."

Jabari's eyes widened in surprise. His gaze instinctively flicked toward the older man he hadn't recognised before – the one who stood at the forefront of the Elders with his golden-patterned uniform.

Heba had already told him that the Grand Elder, the second-in-command of the Western Branch, would sometimes make an appearance if a trialist crossed the 90th step. But the Supreme Elder? He had never once shown up in the history of the trials. Then again, no one had ever reached the 100th step before.

"The final reward granted to you as a seeded student," Kwame continued, "is the right to personally select your mentor from the Elders present on stage."

A hushed silence fell over the arena.

"Whoever you choose," Kwame went on, "will provide you with one-on-one guidance for the entire year. This decision is yours and yours alone. No one may interfere, and there will be no second chances…

Choose wisely."

Jabari exhaled slowly. He had known this moment was coming, but now that it was here, the weight of the decision pressed down on him like never before.

Jabari wasn't surprised by the information – Heba had already told him about it. Still, he silently appreciated Kwame for indirectly pointing out that the imposing older man was the Supreme Elder.

He knew the invigilator had done it for his sake. The frustrated, helpless expressions on the other Elders' faces made it clear – they had all been hoping to be chosen. Someone with Jabari's potential was a rare find, and every single one of them wanted to be the one to mould him.

As he prepared to make his decision, Jabari replayed his conversations with Heba in his mind. She had explained that, among the 14 Elders of the Western Branch, only three were truly worth considering.

The first was the Grand Elder, Nala Asare.

Standing at a towering 6'5" with a build as solid as a fortress, she carried twin battle axes strapped to her back like they weighed nothing. Heba had told him she was the strongest among those likely to appear today – second only to the Supreme Elder himself, though he was unlikely to appear – Grand Elder Nala is a fierce, dominating warrior, known for her raw power. She was so fearsome that people called her the Humanoid Beast of the West.

But Jabari had no interest in the axe, nor was brute strength his path. No matter how powerful she was, she wasn't the right choice for him.

The second option was Elder Idir.

He appeared to be in his early thirties, just under six feet tall, with a thin sword at his hip. His long, curly hair was tied into a bushy ponytail, and he stood with a casual, almost playful smile. His charm made him the centre of attention, especially among the female trialists.

Even though he was a swordsman, Heba had suggested him for one key reason – his reaction speed was unmatched.

Jabari had already demonstrated remarkable reflexes, and she believed Elder Idir could push that talent even further. It was an intriguing possibility, but in the end, the sword wasn't his path either.

The final option was Elder Zaire.

The embodiment of serenity. His calm aura had an almost hypnotic effect on those around him. Standing just over six feet tall, his light skin, short curly hair, and piercing blue eyes gave him a distinct presence.

Zaire was a master of the spear, famed for his fluid movements and unmatched flexibility. According to Heba, he was the best spearman in the Western Institute – perhaps even in the entire Institute.

If Jabari truly had such a high affinity for the glaive, then despite the differences between it and the spear, Elder Zaire was likely the best choice for him.

More than that, Zaire had something else in common with Jabari – he had once been a slum resident himself. He had risen from nothing, carving a path for himself through sheer determination. That alone made him the most compelling of the three.

But there was one more possibility. The one Heba had called the perfect choice, though she had believed he wouldn't be here.

The Supreme Elder.

A spear-wielding warrior said to have unparalleled reflexes, capable of striking an opponent's weakest point with frightening precision. While his pure spearmanship was rumoured to be slightly inferior to Zaire's, his overall strength was second to none in the Western Branch.

Jabari's gaze drifted over the Elders, pausing on each of his shortlisted choices. He could sense the faint anticipation in them – each hoping to be chosen.

The only ones who seemed unaffected were the Supreme Elder, who looked as if he couldn't care less, the Grand Elder, whose attention was oddly fixed on August behind him, and the brown-skinned man with crimson eyes, who still seemed more like an amused spectator than an actual Elder.

Finally, Jabari's gaze settled on the Supreme Elder.

A ripple of frustration passed through the other Elders, as though they had already guessed his decision. Some even shot accusing glares at Kwame, who coughed lightly and looked away, pretending not to notice.

"I can choose anyone on the stage?" Jabari asked, wanting to confirm.

Kwame nodded. "That's correct."

Jabari took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, his mind was clear.

He raised a hand and pointed.

"I choose him."

The entire arena followed his finger, straight to the crimson-eyed man standing quietly in the corner.