The Test

Sweat poured off of Gerald's forehead as he checked and re-checked his test over and over, rereading the instructions and questions again and again.It was so freaking easy! A bunch of 8th or 9th-grade math questions, and a reading comprehension questionnaire. He was done in less than an hour, and then he spent nearly an entire hour combing through the questions, again and again, in case he had missed something, or if some mistake slipped through.Only toward the end, when a few already handed over their work, did he finally stand up and hand over his sheets as well."Go sit over there." One of the examiners pointed him away from those still writing and then focused his attention back on the group under his watch."Hey, Gerald!" Alyx loudly whispered and waved him to come closer. He was also one of those that finished early and was then grinning ear to ear.[How did it go?]"What do you think?" The guy answered with a wide grin. "It was a bit easier than last year, so I aced it for sure!"[Oh, yeah? How so?]"Last time we had to read an old legend that was full of metaphors and double meanings, and I had no clue what it was trying to say."[Wait, did you have math too then? Wasn't it different?]"Of course! It's always math and reading comprehension." Alyx answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "But it's a different topic every time." Meanwhile, Gerald suddenly had the urge to slap him silly.He was worrying for no fucking reason when there were just some simple math problems in these tests?! Talk about bullshit!But, that was all behind him, and he decided to reign in his aggressive tendencies and try to solve things peacefully, if possible. So, he just sighed and sat down, waiting for the tests to be over.A few minutes later, the examiners announced the end, and a few of the youngsters nearly burst into tears as they handed over the papers. Clearly, it didn't go that well for them.They were made to sit with the rest while the answers were examined and the results announced.Chief Almar Tholes appeared in high spirits, while some of his neighbors appeared especially sullen."What's with the grin, Almar? You only brought about 20 participants, while the rest brought more than 40! You'd better hope they all pass or you will be the last one again, haha!""Not to worry, Shira Boru, my friend." Almar Tholes answered with a knowing grin. "The batch this year is of high quality. I have spent a lot of time personally teaching them!""You did?" Another one made himself heard. "You didn't teach them Cultivation, did you? That would skewer the results and would be considered cheating!""Oh, no, not at all! I wouldn't dare!" Chief Almar quickly denied it. "Their Souls are all in pristine condition, I guarantee it. I only wonder if your quantity will be able to beat my quality, hmm?" A teasing grin escaped his lips, and he wasn't even trying to hide it. "I got pretty lucky this year.""You… You already tested them, didn't you?!" Chief Shira Boru suddenly realized the meaning of his words."Haha…" Almar Tholes didn't answer and just calmly waited for the announcements.Not even an hour later, the results were ready. The Cultivator examiners were capable and could rapidly read through the answers and determine if they reached the desired degree of competence. Meanwhile, the math sheets were graded in seconds, and the results were announced."Attention!" An examined raised his voice again and began his announcement. "We have completed the first part of the test, and will now call out names. Those that hear your name called, go back to your guardians for you have failed!"He then cleared his throat and inhaled deeply. "Let us begin! Silver Boar village, Wemuk Boru! Silver Boar village, Ruhack Boru! Silver Boar village, Mussi Boru…""Damn it!" the chief of the Silver Boar village quietly cursed as the names of his youngsters came out one after the other. Worst of all, they were all his nephews! He was too soft on them, it seemed, and they slacked off instead of studying. He would have to be more strict this time, and personally train them for the next year.As the names came out one after the other, Almar Tholes held his breath. His village's name wasn't yet called, however it was bound to happen any time now. And indeed, it did. He winced as the name of his home was heard and prepared for the worst."Old Plum village, Flaxia Bell! … Green Bean village, Ruzo Saha! Green Bean…""Wait, what?" Shira Boru gasped with a red face. "Just one?" He had lost a third of his people in the first test, while the grinning bastard beside him lost just one!"Oh well, she's young anyway…" Almar sighed and watched a small girl return to him. "Come here, Flaxia. Don't worry, you can go again next year, just make sure to study hard!""M-hmm!" The little girl nodded."Um… She doesn't look 15." One of the other chiefs made a quiet comment after taking a closer look at her."She isn't." Almar confirmed, his smile widening. "She just reached 14 last month.""14?! Damn! And her Soul is already mature enough to Cultivate?"Almar did a small but immensely proud nod as Shira Boru rolled his eyes. "Lucky bastard! Another Earth-grade talent, eh? Congratulations…" His words were laced with sarcasm."Haha, thank you! You are too kind!"***The first round came to an end, and on average, about a third of the participants were eliminated.[What now?] Gerald asked. They were supposedly going to measure talent, however, he had no clue how they would do that."Now comes the test of the Soul, to measure if your talent is sufficient to Cultivate!" Alyx answered.[How are they going to do that?]"Well, it's… I don't know the specifics, but you can see for yourself."Just as Alyx Bell said so, the second round had begun, and the announcer did his job once more."Attention! Now we will measure your Soul's maturity! Be warned though, if anyone has already Cultivated, say so now, or if you are later found out, you will suffer the consequences!"Nobody said anything, and the participants all waited in nervous silence."Very well! Then let us begin! Each group will have its own examiner so we can speed this up, so please gather, each village, at a place of its own!"The children split and formed groups, patiently waiting for the final examination.Gerald sat on the stone ground, slightly nervous, but confident in himself nonetheless.The examiners began once again calling names, and the called ones stepped forward to be tried.There was a peculiar one among them. "Silver Boar village, Broku Orpha!" they called him. "Step forward!" He was bigger than the rest and looked older. The lad shuddered and took a few steps, coming to a seat of the examiner, and turned around, presenting his back.The Cultivator placed his hand upon it and spoke. "Hold on for as long as you can, but if it is too much, tell me to stop."The boy nodded in return and gritted his teeth, for he knew what was to come. Unlike most before him, who experienced this examination without much of a change to their expressions, his visage almost immediately twisted in pain.Beads of sweat gathered on his forehead as his face became crimson, with veins imprinting themselves on his neck as he held his breath. Soon a trail of blood began to flow out of his nose and his entire body began to shake."You have failed." The examiner announced in a flat tone and removed his hand. At the same time, the boy's heart dropped."No... No, no, no! You didn't finish, I didn't say stop!" He shouted."Your Soul was about to shatter, you have failed." The Examiner once again replied in a flat tone, unconcerned for the boy's cries. He wasn't the first one, nor would he be the last."You are lying! Do it again and you'll see, I can take it!""No, no you can't." The examiner pointed at the blood pouring down his face. Then he took the list of names to call for the next one."This? This is nothing! You can't do this to me! I demand you test me again! I demand-!""Broku!" Shira Boru barked loudly to get his attention. "Stop shaming the name of your ancestors and come here! That is no way for a man to be acting."As he heard his village chief calling, Broku Orpha felt like he had been betrayed by the world. "It's not fair…" His head lowered as tears gathered in his eyes."Come, it's okay." His chief said. "Not everybody is destined to be a Cultivator." His words, however, fell on deaf ears."No! It's not fair! Just because my talent is a bit worse than the rest?!""It's fucking trash is what it is." Gerald heard one of the kids murmur under his breath."I've put forth so much effort! Why do horrible things keep happening to me?! Why am I the only one isolated from the rest?!"He wasn't. Many others also failed the second test, not as badly as he did, but they failed nonetheless. But he either ignored them or simply didn't see it happening due to his mental instability. However, as tragic as his breakdown was, the examiners didn't come here to be babysitters."Broku Orpha, from the Silver Boar village, for your insolence and disrespect, you are, from hereon out, banished from participating in the entrance exams for the Myriad Beasts Sect! Leave the stage now!" The examiner thundered. A red stamp was pressed onto his name on the list, marking him banished."N-no… No, you can't do this!""Broku, get over here!" Chief Shira Boru called once more."No! You are all wrong!" His cries became increasingly hysterical and deranged. "I'll show you! I'll show all of you!" He then ran away, escaping into the forest that surrounded the arena, and away from the mountain range that was the Myriad Beasts Sect."Broku!" Chief Shira shouted after him, but the boy was already gone.[Huh, that was weird...]"Well… He's gone…"Chief Shira Boru sighed. "Poor fellow, he failed the test three times already. It seems he really isn't meant to be a Cultivator. First, his parents met with an accident, and now this… Heavens are unjust!"There was a momentary silence among the village chiefs, but then the Green Bean chief did something unthinkable. He reached into his leather vest and…"Five Spirit Stones, I say he's going to get eaten by some wild beast." He loudly announced."Gare Ban!" Shira Boru exploded. "How dare you bet on the fate of my people! And with five Spirit Stones too! Outrageous!" He gave him an angry look and put his hand in his pocket. The atmosphere became tense. Nobody could have imagined what happened next."Two Spirit Stones, not one more!" Chief Shira said and two small translucent white stones came to light.The rest of the chiefs barely held back their laughter."Shira Boru, man! Stingy as ever… Fine! Two Spirit Stones, I accept your bet!" The two chiefs shook their hands, with the rest as the witness.Meanwhile, the testing continued, some of the young guys and gals failing and returning while holding back tears, but the majority passed, though some of them just barely.There weren't many left to examine and soon came the long-awaited call."Gerald Fireborn!"Gerald perked up. It was his turn.