1 Chapter 1- The Test

I was starting to get tired of my father.

All the nagging and expecting me to do better. I guess all dads are like that even though mine is more harsh and strict.

"You need to know when to strike and when to fall back", he said.

"Well, gee, I'm sorry dad, but not all thirteen year olds know how to fight with daggers", I replied.

"Enough with the comments", he commanded. "You know full well why you have to train. You need to be strong because you are different Draven. You are expected to carry the family legacy.

I did know why I had to train. I need to get to the best school for people like me. I always hated that special part of me, always envying the normal kids.

Even if I didn't want it, my... Ability, will always be a part of me.

My name is Draven Reyes and I am thirteen years old.

I have been training for two months now. I've wasted my whole summer for one test that will choose which school I go to. Actually, scratch that, I haven't only wasted my summer training, I've basically wasted my whole childhood training.

So instead of watching a movie about talking cars, I "played" with dangerous and sharp weapons. Yay! So much fun!

But anyways, the test that I have been waiting for my whole life was finally here.

I was with three other friends patiently waiting outside a dome shaped building.

"Are you nervous?", my friend, Jonathan asked.

I replied with a quick no while putting on a brave face that hopefully hid my fear. I tried to act confident, but how could I not be nervous when the test that I have been training for my whole life was finally here.

"What a lie! I can tell when your lying Draven", my other annoying friend, Gabbie, pointed out.

"Leave him alone Gabbie, everyone is terrified for the trials to come", a person behind me said.

I recognized that voice, it was my best friend, Adrian.

Adrian was Filipino, like me, with glasses and whole lot of pimples. He always tried to kill me every time I talked about it. We have good times.

Finally, the spokesperson finally announced that the test will begin soon. As soon as he finished his announcement, the aura of the building tensed. I can tell that everyone started getting serious.

A few minutes later, the principals of the schools that will be choosing their future students came out. I knew that the test was going to start.

"Greetings future agents, I am the principal of Boniface, my name is Alastair Stewart, but I would like to be addressed as Mr. Stewart. If you would kindly follow me and the other principals, we would like to lead you to your test now", Alastair said.

Boniface was my first choice. It was probably almost everyone's first choice. It was the best school with the strongest instructors that teaches with high quality equipment from all around the world.

About 100 of us followed the principals. It took some time considering the number of people but we finally made it in the building.

It was weird, on the outside it looked like a normal building, but on the inside it was a much much bigger stadium.

"I shall begin explaining the rules now", Alastair announced. "You will fight in groups of four. You may choose your members, but choose wisely according to your abilities. Each group will be fighting a summon from one of the teachers in our schools.

A summon is basically a monster or evolved animal that is created by a summoner.

"Alright we already have the four of us", I whispered. "And we also already have a battle plan. This should be a price of cake"

We sat in the seats around the stadium waiting for our turn to fight.

Maybe an hour or two later, the spokesperson has announced our names meaning that it was our turn to fight.

We nervously got up and I picked up my weapons. I was the only one in the group who had weapons. I had two daggers that was passed down in each generation of my family. It was black, fused with the strongest materials known to mankind.

As we went down to the arena, I looked up at the principals who were going to judge us.

"Pick the school you wish to enter", the spokesperson said.

"We pick Boniface", I answered.

Suddenly, the principal of Boniface stood up. Many people challenged the summoner from Boniface, but not many succeeded. Most ended up seriously injured. So it wasn't a surprise when he looked at us like we just signed our death warrants.

"Alright, you will fight our strongest summoner", he told us.

"We agree", all of us said at the same time.

"Very well", he looked at the other side of the stadium and nodded to a woman.

She raised her hands, eyes turning back inside her head. She looked calm yet she had this dangerous aura around her.

"Guys, I'm not sure if we can beat her summon, she looks very powerful", Jonathan said wearily.

"Don't worry just try your best", I said, but I also didn't know if we can do it.

In the middle of the stadium, dust started to rise forming a mine tornado. In the tornado, a shape started to form. It looked like a wolf but it had the size of a bear.

Finally, the dust settled, and in the middle, was the most horrifying animal I've ever seen.

It looked like it could swallow me whole in a second. It had the teeth of sharks, and eyes like it's master.

I couldn't help imagining that beast tearing me apart. But I forced myself to have the courage to fight this thing.

"You still think our best can defeat her?", Gabbie asked.

I can hear the fear in her voice.

"Definitely", I replied, but I wasn't so sure myself.

I felt my power surge throughout my body. I imagined myself in darkness. I've always been attracted to the darkness as a kid. And when I manifested my powers, it finally made sense.

"Okay just remember the plan and we might actually do this", Adrian said

We went down to overcome the trials ahead.

We readied our powers and faced the beast, filled with hope that we could actually beat it.

The wolf beast looked at us like we were its prey. It was probably think, oh great more food.

The spokesperson announced, "ready you, the fight will begin in 3-2-1...FIGHT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT!"

And with that, I sunk in the ground.

I didn't really sink in the ground. It was my ability, I went inside my shadow. I was inside the shadow realm.

I quickly went out and found myself behind the beast.

"Gabbie now!", I shouted.

Gabbie held out her hands controlling the air above the wolf.

The wolf fell and it couldn't get back up.

I quickly ran to the wolf's head and jumped. I withdrew my daggers and stabbed its neck. It was weird, it had really strong skin.

It wouldn't go down without a challenge. It got back up on its feet. It was in a rage.

It tried to hit Jonathan with its tail, but Jonathan casted a barrier between him and the tail.

I used my shadow powers and blinded him. But it could only work for a 10-30 seconds.

With the speed and strength of a bullet Gabbie started her throwing rocks at the wolf.

My blindness on the wolf started to wear off.

Adrian saw this as an opportunity to show off his powers to the wolf.

The wolf tried to attack him but his claws just kept passing through him. The wolf gave up on Adrian because it was obvious that it wasn't going to land a strike.

It then focused on me.

I jumped up on its back and stabbed it in its eyes.

The whole arena shook with the wolf's howl.

My shadow blind was temporary on him but now he's really blind.

Once again, Gabbie use her power to knock the wolf to the ground.

Now, the wolf was just flailing around, obviously panicking.

I tried to stab him, but it wouldn't work. It was like his skin was metal.

"Adrian, can you go inside him using your power?", I asked.

I saw the disgusting expression on his face like he couldn't believe that he was going inside a super wolf.

A few seconds later, he came out with a strange object in his hand.

That was the thing that powered the wolf, its core.

In the audience, we heard clapping. Even the principals all joined in.

"You emerge victorious young agents", Alastair started. "Now the principals will raise their hand if they want you and you will pick your school.

All the principals raised their hand. Even Alastair raised his and that was rare. Only few kids get picked by Boniface.

"Obviously, we pick the best school, we pick Boniface", Jonathan said.

I was amazed at our results. I didn't expect the test to go this well.

"Please go back to your seats for now, and when all the students have finished their battles, you must follow your new principal", the spokesperson said.

We silently went back to our seats as he ordered and patiently waited until everyone was done.

As I sat, I had the strangest feeling like someone was watching me. I looked up at the ceiling and I swear I saw a shadow.

I told my friends that I'll be right back and I went up to the ceiling with my ability. There was no one there.

I don't know, it could have just been my imagination.

And with that, I went back with my friends and waited patiently for the tests to end.