National Exam

When Luke arrive at the scene he couldn't sense the malicious energy at all.

Damn! If only he knew he would have just stayed on the arena. His shoulder dropped low out of dissapointment. That was when he saw Rane. He swifly went over his way and interrogate him about the matter.

" Maybe I saw and maybe I didn't?" Rane give him a vague answer. He became even more irritated. He think he's playing with him at this time?Well he's not. He showered him a deathly glare and grabbing him on the collar of his uniform. " I am serious this time." His look can kill a single person at that time.

Dangerous.

" Why was it, your such attached to that energy? Is there something going on that you kept from us? Ola, that was against the code of knights.You should disclose everything and gave up your past. But if you can't I can lend you all ears. It will be our own little secret..." This man is useless. He can't extract information on him. Why does a king like Gausfino brought him?

Disappointed, he leave him on the side.

***

Ash and his comrades was able to pass the first hurdle of the exam. Now that the time limit is approaching everyone is rearing to pass the second one.

A bunch of human size golems are on their way. Each of them serve as an obstacle in reaching the flag. Once touch by them one couldn't be able to breakway.Lots of them have already been captured and only Ash and Warren was left beeing freed by the touch of these elementals.

"Warren, can you slice it up with your ultimate magic?"

Warren sharpen his blade and tried to cut the monster however it was too hard to cut. He ended being seize by the thing. Shit! Now it all comes to this. Everyone has been captured. The only one standing is him, however it seems that all of the golems attention are on him that they are running full force towards him.

They was like playing tag where he is the target of such attention.

He turn around, running in all corner trying to dogde every golem on the way and when he reach the dead end when both sides of him are being block by the thing he begun to be desperate. One golem tried to reach out of him, he dogde it quickly making the two golems clash with each other. He find his way to escape. Ash was pretty confident that they were after him but when he look back, both of the golems that clash to each other begun to fight on their way.

Huh? Why are they fighting? Wait this is a good chance for them.

He know how many hours did he run already and now his having his full round run over the whole arena. It was tiring and exhausting. Yet he didn't give up. He's aim is to make the golems follow his trail and when everything is set cordially he will immedietly slip out. Destructing the balance of the first one following him and producing an effect of falling. The action will continue to the last golem creating a domino effect.

That's when the part the golem would let it's guard down and would loosen it's grip to his comrades.

Ash didn't have much time to tell everyone so he'll just gonna give it a go.

His idea was put into action and when he knows it's that time before the golems collapse he shouted from the top of his voice towards the kids."JUMP!" His loud voice was clearly disseminate to everyone. Warren was the first to have a hint and when he started to jump the other kids followed him.

The golems started to fall in a domino effect and everyone was freed by their grasp thus running towards the redflag

Horray! Now everyone on their batch passed!

Warren came running towards him.

"Thanks"

" I'm glad you hinted my plan. If it wasn't you this wouldn't gonna play" Ash was bashful being thank frontly.

"Well let's just assume it's everyone teamwork."

Ash smile towards Warren and they run together towards the redflag.

"Oooouiii" Aien came towards them flashing the flag on her hands." We made it!"

"Yes"

"Horray "

"Let's celebrate after this"

" I'm in"

Now he couldn't tell who is who. They all just flock together in front of him and started their own rendezvous. However, all their merriment were crashed the moment the mc annouced that the exam is not yet on it's finale. Loud roar of dissapointed was scattered on the arena. Now, the uproar even became louder when the four knight Leiutenant enter the scenario. The mood was hyper at that moment. The crowd grasp in admiration upon seeing the Legendary Knight Lieutenant.

"Now then, the judges have arrive. Let's move on the third phase of exam!" As the mc announce the exam, the crowd became silent. Maybe they are expecting a much more exciting deal of obstacle now that the major 4 is here.

Warren became warry the moment he knew it's not the end. Who knows what's more difficult exam they will require. The look of worriedsome was plastered among the contenders face. Ash didn't know who instigated it first but somehow, they ended up holding each other's hands while anticipating the next battle.

As they look up upon the wild beasts above and think that they would be devoured anytime the group can't help but scared, but when his hand was touch by a tiny little hand which is warm he couldn't help but felt inspire. That's right, they didn't win being alone, they won because of everyone's cooperation.No matter how hard their next obstacle, if they're be together they can make it.

As everyone are eagerly anticipated the next exam , the mc didn't hesitate any moment and announce the scenario.

This is it.

The last stage of the test.

Ash puffed his chest and lead his ear for the announcent

"Everyone, each contender..." Mc stall of few glanced to the knights that as if he's not so sure if he would really announce it.

Was that really hard. Ash couldn't help but to ponder.

"...oh well the last test is for you chickpeas who passed the test to answer this question (why do you strive to be a knight)"

Eh?

Ehhhuh?

Is that all?

Everyone loosen their grip to each other and begun to be alive, as if a large Boulder has been lifted to heir hearts.

"Please, don't let your guard down everyone. This is still part of the test" Warren shows his undeniable convictions.

***

The first to step and answered is Warren.

Looking at the panel of the judges above, his answer for the question " why do you strive to be a knight?" Was generic. The most expected answers to be heard. But Ash knew that it was all true.

" I want to become a knight and strive for the betterment of my people. A knight should possess beyond characteristic and these characteristic will be for the goodness of the public. Where the root of evil is residing, I shall vanquish it with all my might. No matter what the circumstances, I'll be of always on the help of the common people."

( Warren don't you think you've become a literature scholar. Your words might shaken a master with that!)

Next was Aein

" I strike to become a knight because it is the legacy my father left me. My father was a proud knight and he sacrifices himself in order to protect the kingdom"

(Eh? That's just selfish Aien, you should follow what your hearts wants to)

Next was the girl who was alsways with Aien.

" I strive to become a knight to help my poor family. It is said that a knights wages is high that could even provide a whole land"

(Your just poor kid)

It wasn't that long since it is Ash turn to recite.

Throwing a glance up above, he puffed his chest and confidently told his reason.

" I strive to be a knight.....no I dont strive to be a knight, I just enter the exam to find my brother who was striving to be a knight! You hooligans, where did you hide my brother"

A massive gasp was filled the air. The four knight was put into a tight spot learning the atrocity this boy is spouting. The crowd began to form their opinion and whisper among the others. While he didn't fail to bat an eye on each of the knights ahead.

"What is he talking about"... Knight Lietenant Dumble Door whisper through Mimica's ears.

"How the heck do I know" Mimica shrugged innocently

"Ohhh, this is something to do with lieutenant Luke's squad. Why don't you fill us the filler huh leutenant?"

"What do you mean?" Luke ask in confusion.

" Oh, remember the kid who went AWOL"

Now everything is trying to sink in to him. He remembered that there was a passer who never reported on his first day of duty and was marked as AWOL.

"Is he a brother?"

"That's what I could see" Rane shot a decisive glare at him.

Luke stood up and look down on a bold child in front of him.

"As you can see we haven't gotten report of him. And that's what I could only inform you*

"You killed my brother right?! I know it, that's why I don't have any trust on you knights, your are all full of lies."

The whole arena was filled with commotion. Ash is on the disadvantage, everyone is looking at him with spitful looks. What's wrong all of you, he was just laying the information of his brother's disappearance...why are they looking at him with such nuisance? Isn't it wrong to find for your missing brother?

It's all the same after all. There were all such wicked. Hiding a person and denying. They are outrageous!!!

They don't deserve to be called a knight!

If only he didn't give up his power, hell kill them all!

Not just kill them. He will tear every limbs on their body and feed to the Hyena's.

He was panting in anger that he couldnt help himself but to tremble.

Warren and Aein came tapping his shoulders. That's when he came into his senses.

"Oh, right!" Rane broke the silence and stood up talking to his three comrades. " I guess by his actions neither of you would take that child right"

All of them kept silence. He guess it right. " So it's up to me then"

RANE jump out from the highest position of that arena and landed in front of the kid.

He look upon Warren and Aein while glancing a look at Ash.

" Don't worry, i'll take care of him"

With one punch over his stomach and Ash looses his conscious. He was carried by Rane unto his shoulder and they went to disappear outside the arena.

***

Somehow, away from the scene a suspicious shadow was lurking. His identity is unknown, he was just casually observing the event. Just for now he means no harm but who knows in the next future. He's gaze was strongly fixated on a certain person. Now that he was satisfied on the situation, he silently slid on the busy crowd and disappear on the darkness.

***

Ash woke up in an unbearable numbness of his body. When he woke up he was being binded by a vast mascular strength of magic. He tried to breakaway but the seal was just too strong.

"Ola, you awake trouble seeker boy"

Oh no. It's that voice again. The somewhat irritating and flirtitious that he tried to bury on his memory.

He decided to go back to sleep again. Maybe by the time he's awake hell be not infront of him.

"Oh no no! Just try me and I'll give you a French kiss"

He felt shivers on his spine and he stood upwrighted.

"What do you want"

"That's not a correct tone for your knight captain"

Knight captain my ass. He's just here for fun.

Ash just really want to find Tim and run away from all the happenings. Wait! What! He's knight captain. " He look at him suspiciously.

" Yes dear, you've already pass the national knight exam and your one of my squire now.

Haist, fate really likes to play with him.

He wants to go home now...

Where are you Tim?...

That time his eyes darted towards the door and was stunned to see a person.