The Best Excuse

Nami's excitement was palpable as she walked quickly urging me to keep up with her even though all I wanted to do was casually walk there, something she was completely against.

But even at our faster than normal pace, I still had more than enough time to look around at the other people around us hurrying alongside us to what seemed to be the center of the village where the Village Chief's house was located.

It didn't take long to get there since it wasn't as if the entire village was massive enough for the houses to have ample spaces between them.

The first thing I noticed was the small crowd that was already waiting there full of both old and young people, with many more still steaming forward from behind.

It was almost like half of the villagers were there to take the test.

"Is it usually this crowded?" I asked and although Nami sent me a strange look that informed me that I had been there multiple times, she still went ahead to answer.

"Yeah. Every single time even though the people chosen are never more than three or two.." she sighed with a wistful expression on her face.

"I just hope I'm one of the lucky ones,"

"Wait…you're telling me that most of the people here have taken the test before,"

"Of course…but everyone hopes to try their luck,"

"Then why didn't Kern and Moey come along," 

And again she sent me the familiar strange look that allowed me to know that I'd said something wrong.

"You know why it's hopeless for Kern and Moey is too old. Moreover the thought of leaving Kern would never occur to her," Nami responded as she also looked around in a clearly excited manner, her eyes scanning the crowd in a way that showed that she was looking for someone in particular.

Soon she found her and she was gone.

The girl she went to meet was somewhat familiar but I knew that trying to remember her name was a lost cause so I didn't even bother as I simply stood alone, quietly looking around and waiting for the damn test to start.

I also couldn't help but be slightly annoyed at some of the extremely old people I spotted, with me quietly wondering why they bothered to show up in the first place.

Ten minutes became twenty and just when I was considering going back to the house and coming right back, I felt a familiar hand drape itself across my shoulder, struggling slightly to do so.

"What's this?" A familiar voice said from right beside me, which I instantly turned to look at, not surprised to see Daerk, staring at me with a slightly confused look on his face.

"You grew taller in the space of days? It's already bad enough that you were slightly taller than me but now, you're practically hovering over me," He joked and I couldn't help but smile right back.

It was nice to have a familiar face among the huge crowd of strangers that surrounded me.

"You look well too," I replied back before going ahead to ask the main question I was curious about.

"What rank are you in?" 

Of course, I got the same look Nami sent me when I said something she found strange, especially if it was information I was supposed to know.

"You know I'm in the center stage. I'm pretty close to the final stage. My mum sold all her yams in exchange for mana for me. If I don't pass this time around, the whooping I'm going to get is bound to be phenomenal," He complained and for a second I thought of transferring mana to him, wondering if transma and cultivation were the only two ways to do it.

Curious, I grabbed his other hand and looked straight into his eyes.

"I could always just transfer to you," I said holding his hand knowing that if it were possible through body contact he would hint it through his actions.

But the next second he jerked his hands away and visibly shuddered.

"Sorry dude but I only do transma with girls. Well…maybe if the guy is offering about 1000 mana points then maybe I could open my ass a little," he said and although he chicken as he said it, I couldn't help but see the mild fear in his eyes. 

"I would have taken you up on the offer but I'm quite low on Mana points," I replied and I watched him chuckle out loud and instantly relax compared to before.

"I should be asking you what you're going here when you've not even entered any of the cultivation stages," He smirked at me, even as he continued to talk.

"...but since you usually come every year, I'm not surprised that you're.."

"I've entered the cultivation ranks," I quickly informed him before he could say any more, especially since I noticed that the test was about to start and everyone was starting to queue.

"Really…seriously…that's great…wow.." I heard him igj with clear delight on his face.

"Finally you're in the beginner stage. I'm proud…"

"Actually, I'm in the final stage…" I again interrupted him when it seemed like he was about to go on another long, cherry and heartfelt monologue but I guess what I said didn't register in his brain as he continued speaking.

"Your hard work finally came through for you. Tell me was it through cultivation or through Transma. Funny enough it might actually be…"

"I'm in the final Stage!" I repeated myself in a looser tone than before, glad to watch him jerk his face to stare right into my eyes, watching his jaw drop down at the same time.

It was obvious that my words finally registered in his mind, and a few others around us who's attention became fixed on me.

"You're pulling my legs right? How the hell could you possibly be in the final stage when the last time I saw you, you hadn't even entered the ranks?" Daerk asked with genuine curiosity and shock on his face covering whatever other emotion he was also feeling as he fixed his gaze on me in a way that showed that he was not going anywhere until he got an explanation.

"Truthfully…" I sighed with a completely serious expression on my face as I began to explain.

"I ate a flower that fell from the sky,"