Ch 51 - The Outcasts (Part 1)

I started walking down the aisle heading toward the arena in a proud manner.

I knew it! I knew that my name would be chosen among the exemplary mage candidates.

I had managed to reach 1st tier mage even before I could attend the 3rd ceremony trial. Not to mention that I managed to survive the onslaught of a berserk mage's golem attack. There was a setback like how I failed to reach 2nd tier but even geniuses have a bad day. Anyway, my mana art showcase was the final trick that let me get selected. As the saying goes all is well that ends well.

I am Benjamin Almond, a genius born once in a millennium so there should have been no room for doubt, to begin with.

It's just that it really doesn't settle well that my name was the last to be picked. It was like I just barely made the cut. Anyway, no point in brooding over this any longer.

As I headed down the stairs walking towards the arena, a condescending smile appeared on my face. My walking style by default changed to this elegant posture suited for a king. I still clearly remember when my wife, Gloxinia, hammered me on the way to walk in this gentlemanly posture just days before my coronation ceremony in the demon realm.

After I ended all the wars in the demon realm, Gloxinia started training me to live my new life as the royal Overlord of the demon realm. My new task as the king was to learn the way noble walks, talks, dances, hunts, etc, down to the note. Gloxinia's training was harder than any battle that I ever faced but I still enjoyed the time we spent together.

As I reminisced about my wife, a wave of sorrow hit me again. The condescending smile disappeared and my brows narrowed with firm determined eyes- 'Enough! I had grieved long enough in that pitch-black dimension. Now all I should focus on is the trial in front of me. Vengeance can wait a little longer,'

As I walked through the seats, the other ordinary 1st tier candidates were all glaring at me. Their eyes were filled with anger, disappointment, and surprise.

"Heh" I scoffed after remembering this was not the first time I experienced these glares.

Kinda reminded me of those stupid demon nobles ogling at me during my coronation as the Overlord of the Demon realm. They put a charade of being loyal and happy but behind my back, they loathed me and almost wished me for my death.

These 1st ordinary kids had a common expression as those of the demi nobles, the feeling of envy. How laughable.

As I climbed down the stairs I quickly entered the arena.

The white marble tiles of the arena were crystal clear like new, I could even see my own reflection on it. I had to be careful to walk on these smooth tiles so that I won't slip and make a fool of myself. I have to give some credit to the head mage for fixing this arena, it almost looks brand new.

Sigurd stood in the center of the arena. I stood before him and greeted him with a respectful bow. The head mage nodded and then turned back towards the crowd in the front.

I finally got to get a good look at the head mage.

Sigurd was a rather short hunchback old guy with barebones and loose skin. His eyes were soggy and sunken deep like he had almost seen all the world had to offer. His lousy beard was just frills of a couple of hairs hanging from his chin. Without the support of his staff, I don't think he could stand for more than a few seconds before falling on his back.

To be honest, Sigurd looked like any other old man that you would find in a village. Such old people would rather spend time playing with their grandkids as they waited for their death. These old people always are dependent on others, you would never even expect such old people to be even able to defend themselves. Just a tight slap across the face of an old man would be enough to send him to his grave.

But Sigurd's a mage, so don't get fooled by his appearance.

Despite looking barebones, he can easily fix such a large-scale arena back from the dust and still not be tired. Not to mention he also is the head mage of the ascension ceremony, so I am sure he is more powerful than your average mage.

I then walked back to where the fellow exemplary candidates were standing behind Sigurd.

But right after I took a few steps, I felt open hostility coming in my direction that I had to stop right then and there.

I turned my head looking at the front, there stood the rest of the exemplary candidates from where the open animosity was coming. Many of the candidates were straight out glaring at me like they were holding a grudge or something. Among these guys, was that eight-arm freak as well who was just gritting his teeth, ready to pounce at me anytime. Although some of these candidates were not even glancing at me and didn't seem to even care.

These were all the 2nd tier candidates gathered together who were right now standing shoulder to shoulder like a bunch of united proud apes. Just because they had a good harvest during the blessing ritual they were really high and mighty. This bunch of snot-nosed brats was already acting like those shitty arrogant nobles.

As I glanced at this crowd my brows started throbbing.

Alright, I understand the purple candidates, but why were even the black-collared candidates acting like they are hot shit. Not long ago they were being treated like a bunch of low lives chained like livestock. These black-collared candidates had lifeless eyes and almost no will to continue living back when I saw them climbing the ceremony. But now look at them!

Their personality totally shifted to 180 degrees.

There were only a handful of exemplary candidates that belonged to the black-collared but they were the cockiest bunch of all. Seeing them standing with their arms folded as they looked down on me like I am some rundown stray dog down the lane or something.

There was now a silent standoff between them and me.

As I was looking around, I finally noticed 2 other candidates who were standing at the corner away from these 2nd tier candidates. These two were none other than my fellow 1st tier candidates who were also picked like myself.

I just turned around and went to where they were standing. It's not like I wanna even be near these cocky 2nd tier brats anyway.

As I walked toward the 1st tier candidates, one of the candidates started waving at me.

It was the guy in glasses who was waving at me with a smile.

'Do I know that guy?'