test

One by one, the recruits called out their names, their voices mingling in a chorus of uncertainty. The inspector stood before them, her slender finger pointing from person to person, making mental notes as she assessed the group. 

When her gaze landed on Garmond, he felt a knot form in his stomach. He had been locked in a silent debate with Ariana, weighing the pros and cons of revealing his true identity. 

"Of course you should! If you say your real name, you'll be recognized, and they'll pay respect to their lord. At least that's what the elves would do," she urged, her voice laced with urgency.

"Pfft," Garmond scoffed, shaking his head. "Humans aren't elves. They'll just mock me! Just look at the two of us. Forget that he's my father—do we even look alike?" His thoughts raced, and he could practically see the stark contrast between his frail physique and the legendary warrior his father had been. 

Ariana rifled through his memories, sifting through images until she reluctantly conceded. While there were some similarities, the difference in their statures was monumental. No one would believe that the gangly youth standing before them was the son of the fearsome lord who had vanquished countless foes.

"And besides…" Garmond was about to continue when the inspector's voice boomed over him, cutting through his thoughts.

"Hey! I think it should be your turn now!" Her annoyance was palpable, impatience radiating off her in waves.

"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Gary Tullen," he replied, scratching at his unkempt hair, the name rolling off his tongue awkwardly. It had taken him far too long to concoct a suitable alias, and in the end, 'Tullen' was all he could muster.

"Okay, so that should be all of you, if I'm correct?" She glanced around, and they all nodded in affirmation, a mix of relief and anxiety hanging in the air.

"Alright, I'll be calling you up one by one. Each of you will perform the test and be graded. I'll determine the grades based on your performance," she explained, her expression calm and composed, almost eerily relaxed. 

It was shocking, to say the least, that she wasn't the typical drill sergeant they had braced themselves for. This was their first glimpse of what was meant to be training, and confusion flickered among them. 

"Is this really the same training that soldiers undergo?" the girl who Darius had saved asked, skepticism dripping from her voice.

"No, there's been a change in the system to create better soldiers. I believe that, with time, we'll see significant improvements," she replied, her words sparking curiosity but also dread. Garmond felt a shiver run down his spine. What was the empire planning?

Suddenly, a soft sigh resonated in his mind. He knew the voice all too well. "What is it? Do you have an idea of what's happening?" he probed, sensing the weight behind Ariana's tone.

"Yes, he's preparing his soldiers for war," she replied, the tension evident in her words. Garmond imagined her expression—one of deep worry, furrowed brows, and concern for her people.

"War?" His stomach churned at the thought.

"Indeed. I gleaned this from the fight you had years ago in your mind. He was weak then—barely able to cast a proper spell without his grimoire." 

Garmond's heart sank. The realization that he had fought Azazel at his weakest felt like a dagger to his chest. There I was, thinking I could defeat him.

"Actually, you could have—if he hadn't tricked you," Ariana countered, her tone sharp yet reassuring.

"Tricked me? How?" 

As they delved deeper into their conversation, the first test commenced. It was a physical evaluation meant to assess their strength, stamina, and agility. 

The inspector called out the first name, "Hendrix, I believe you're up first." The blonde-haired boy stepped forward, apprehension flickering in his eyes.

Ariana's voice echoed in Garmond's mind, "So you really thought the person who killed you was your wife?"

Her laughter resonated with disbelief. "You're so naïve, Garmond. It wasn't your wife, Theresa, who killed you."

"Of course, you idiot!" she exclaimed, annoyance tinging her words.

Rather than feeling foolish, Garmond found a strange sense of relief. What he had believed was a painful truth had been a lie, and for that, he was grateful.

"He's rebuilding his power," Ariana continued, frustration creeping into her voice. "He knows the elves think he's still trapped. That sly, cunning bastard." 

Garmond nodded, feeling the weight of the situation. There was more to this training than met the eye, and he couldn't shake the feeling that it was all part of a larger scheme. What was Azazel after?

Ariana's silence spoke volumes, leaving Garmond with his unanswered questions. But soon, the focus shifted back to the test, where the stakes felt impossibly high.

Hendrix stepped onto the platform, and a light blue hue enveloped it. A large screen materialized mid-air, displaying blank stats.

[Strength: --]

[Stamina: --]

[Agility: --]

Garmond's heart raced as he watched Hendrix approach a massive, round ball suspended by ropes. The test began, and he prepared to unleash his strength against the seemingly innocuous target.

"Don't worry about the arrows; you're standing on a magical array. You cannot be harmed," the inspector reassured him.

"Magical array?" Garmond echoed, intrigued. "Do you know what that is?" he asked Ariana, eager for insight.

"Think of magical arrays as programmed magic. Instead of casting continuously, a skilled magician can create a system that casts spells for them, but it requires a power source," she explained succinctly.

Garmond marveled at the evolution of magic; he had assumed only the system and landscapes had transformed, but the very fabric of magic itself had undergone a revolution. He felt a mix of excitement and trepidation. 

"I can't wait to see what else has changed."

"Wait, you mean you didn't use magical arrays before?" Ariana asked, her surprise evident.

"Not at all! This is all completely new to me." He glanced at the others; it seemed they were just as out of touch. Years in isolation had kept them from the advancements surrounding them.

As Hendrix pulled his slender arm back and shouted, he poured all his energy into a punch. "BOOM!" The impact resonated through the air, yet the round ball barely budged. Instead, his hand sank into it, as if hitting a soft sponge. 

"What the hell?!" Disappointment flickered across Hendrix's face. He had expected to deliver a powerful blow, only to feel like he hadn't made an impact at all.

The screen blinked to life, filling in the rating for his punch:

[Strength: 12]

Hendrix's disappointment deepened. "Seriously? That's it?"

"Hey, don't feel bad. A few of our soldiers could hardly reach that score on their first try. You've got a decent punch!" the inspector chimed in, attempting to console him. The humiliation hung heavy; it stung to realize how far he had fallen from his previous prowess as a hunter.

Shaking off his disappointment, Hendrix moved to the next test—agility. Confidence renewed, he faced the array of positioned arrows. "I'm sure I'll do better here," he muttered to himself, recalling the many times he had narrowly escaped the jaws of ferocious beasts.

In a flash, he maneuvered through the barrage of arrows, dodging them with skillful precision. The others watched in awe as he completed the test, the screen lighting up once more:

[Agility: 25]

Impressed gasps filled the air as Hendrix beamed at his score. Sequentially, the inspector called out names, each recruit showcasing their capabilities, surprising one another with their newfound skills. 

Even Devine, who seemed more reserved in nature, performed better than anyone had expected. 

Finally, Garmond's heart raced as the inspector called out, "Gary Tullen, you're up next." The moment had arrived, and with it, the weight of his own identity loomed overhead. 

With a deep breath, he stepped onto the platform, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The air hummed with anticipation, and Garmond could feel the eyes of his peers upon him, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. 

What would he discover about himself in this moment?