37 First trial

Alex had learned several things after reading the memories of the muscular man.

The bastard's name was Marcus and he was one of four brothers that plied the black market as mercenaries for hire.

They were hired by Oliver Goldberg at the behest of a strange lady with a single mission.

'Retrieve the hearts of the members of the Regulus household'

He had a few ideas as to why the lady wanted their hearts but he couldn't be sure of it.

However, what he was certain about was that Oliver was the one that hired the thugs and kick-started the whole thing.

Arthur pursed his lips as the trio sat at the dinner table.

"How did you find out about this?"

Alex casually responded. "My memories of that night are starting to come back. I remember the bastard revealing everything while playing with me."

"I see." Arthur frowned. "I had no idea the Goldbergs had gotten so bold. I think I should visit them."

"Uncle." Nadia suddenly spoke up. "You should know that going there without evidence would not work. At this point, it's just our words against theirs."

Alex nodded. "She's right. We can't just head there and cause trouble for them."

"So what do you suggest we do?" Arthur inquired.

Taking the time to adjust his lies to fit the already existing narrative, Alex remarked. "From what Marcus said, they are currently hiding in the basement of the Goldberg Manor, along with the woman that asked for Oliver's help."

"Is that why you want us to go for the ball?" Nadia asked. "To find out if that's true?"

Alex nodded. "More or less. We get to catch the culprits responsible and if possible, save Douglas if he happens to be kept there."

"It could be dangerous. You may be a genius, Alex, but don't forget that you just recently completed your Origin. Your enemies are most likely Mystics that have broken their 2nd Lock. You can't take the risk of entering the lion's den." Arthur said.

"I know. But that doesn't mean we'll let this opportunity pass."

Arthur sighed as he rose to his feet, pacing the room for a bit before glancing at Alex.

"It's currently the 17th. You have 13 days to get past your first Lock. We need to figure out what the trial is so we can help you."

Alex nodded while adding inwardly. 'I guess I'll be meeting Adam tonight.'

With that, the meeting was adjourned till the morning.

While Arthur and Nadia retired to bed, Alex prepared to meet with Adam.

However, a problem quickly arrived.

How was he to meet him?

***

Alex opened his eyes to find himself in that strange forest again.

With birds chirping and butterflies moving about, it indeed felt like paradise.

Glancing at the ball of light in the sky, Alex looked away before sitting up.

"You are back."

He looked toward the origin of the voice.

Sure enough, Adam was seated on his favorite boulder, gnawing on a red apple.

"How…"

"How did you get here?" Adam cut him off.

Alex nodded wordlessly while waiting for his response.

"As long as you wish to return, I will grant that wish. Without your permission, I can't bring you here." Adam explained.

Taking in the sight, Alex asked a question he hadn't asked the last time he was here.

"And what is here exactly?"

Adam paused while trying to bite into his apple as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"I like to call this place, Eden."

"Eden?"

"Mn, it has other names… the collective consciousness of human existence, the birthplace of mysticism… that is this place," Adam explained, however, his explanation was too vague for Alex to make sense of.

"I don't get it."

"There's no need to." Adam casually replied, cutting off any other questions.

Sighing heavily, Alex tactfully changed the topic. "I'm ready to take the trial."

"Hoh… that was fast. You were the one that said slow and steady."

Alex rolled his eyes. "And you weren't so talkative the last time."

"Hmm." Adam smiled as he tossed the half-eaten apple in his hand aside.

Rising to his feet, he walked over to the arched gate and placed his palm on the first circle at the bottom.

Closing his eyes, he muttered something strange.

To Alex, it sounded like a buzzing of bees so loud, it gave him a headache just hearing it.

Just as it began to get on his nerves, the sound went away and Adam's voice was heard.

"I see."

"Huh?" Alex raised a brow.

"Become a beacon of hope for the people without revealing who you are. It doesn't matter what force you fight against to make your name known. It might be the oppressive government. It might be rebels. What matters is that you become a name that unfortunate souls can look up to."

Upon hearing Adam's explanation, the image of a certain caped crusader with bat ears came to Alex's mind.

The next moment, however, he tossed the idea away before revealing a complicated expression.

Adam continued like he didn't notice Alex's expression. "Note that for the duration of this trial, you must not under any circumstances take a human life, else…"

Alex's complicated expression switched to a frown almost immediately. "No killing?"

"You are not to kill humans, anything else and you are free to do so." Adam casually replied.

Pursing his lips, Alex quickly understood what Adam meant.

"How wide is the scope of this trial?"

"Do I have to tell you that as well?"

"What happens if I am caught and my true identity exposed?"

"Isn't it easy to tell?" Adam raised a brow as he added. "If a person deduces your identity perhaps due to a close relationship with you but keeps it to themselves, it won't count as being exposed so you can rest assured."

Alex sighed as he got to his feet. "That's good to hear."

"I will be the judge of whether you pass the trial so for your sake… do your best," Adam muttered.

"I understand." Alex nodded. "Now send me back."

"As you wish."

With a wave of his hand, Alex was gone from the garden.

Adam smiled as he brought his hand close to his mouth.

As an apple appeared on his palm, he promptly took a bite from it before glancing back at the gate and the circle he had touched.

The circle was gone and in its place, a circular space with floating words at its center.

Chewing slowly, Adam muttered. "It seems I was right to pick you… now then, I wonder how long it would take for you to complete the sephiroth."