The test

"Wha…what?"

"I know right. Who would have thought that someone like me would come across such massive good luck," I sighed, the smile on my face growing bigger with each second that passed.

"What's the color of the flower? Where exactly did it fall? The edge of the forest or the village? Is it big or…"

"I think the test is starting," I hurriedly interrupted Daerk yet ago, before he could go on another rant.

Moreover, It would have been a different case if it was only him he had to explain to, the fact he could actually feel the attention of a couple or more people on him, only made him even more reluctant to build up on his lies.

The test really did begin like I said as a deep hush passed through the crowd as everyone watched about five different people with important auras, wearing expensive looking robes with different kinds of emblems on them appeared and sat in front of a long table that seemed to have been prepared beforehand.

"Sect representatives…" Deark commented and for a second I was glad to have such a talkative person close to me.

Who knows what I would have done if he was an extremely quiet person who barely liked to speak.

"Which one are you going for?" I asked with a curious gaze as I looked forward and noticed how different people began to step forward in front of each of the five people seated there, even if the one in the center got the most attention and the longest queue.

"Truthfully, like everyone else I'm going to all of them but I definitely want to try the Jorani Clan. It's common knowledge that they're the most powerful and influential among the five,"

"The one in the center?" I asked to confirm only to feel Daerk turn to glance and smile at me.

"Looks like your memory isn't as shitty as I previously thought," he said as we both went back to simply staring at the queues that had already formed and how quickly people were being sent out of it.

"Is it usually this fast?" I asked, seeing as how some people barely spent five seconds in front of the next representatives before they were sent off.

"Of course. For instance, look at that fifty year old woman. Do you think even if she was in the final stage of cultivation, any of these sects would want her?" 

Hearing him speak I couldn't help but instantly agree with his logic, while also looking around trying to spot Horan, who was said to also be in the final stage wondering why he hadn't stepped forward first.

"Are we not going to step forward?" I suddenly asked since it was slowly getting tiring to simply stand there and watch only to see Daerk from where he stood beside me vigorously shaking his head with a serious attitude completely different from his usual joking personality.

"Nope. Of course not. Everyone that is slightly sure that they're going to be chosen waits until the very end," he replied pointing to the people around us, who also stood behind the crowd with no intention of moving forward.

I looked around more carefully than before and quickly found Horan, slightly surprised to see Canita and Goren, the two people who had been responsible for the death of my former body's owner, talking to each other like friends.

"I feel with Horan's help their entire group might also be able to pass the test…" I heard daerk sigh in a tone that betrayed how worried he actually was, "if they do them the stakes are bound to be higher this time around,"

"Hmmm…" I agreed and turned my eyes back to the quickly dwindling crowd, knowing that it would soon be time to step forward and also take the test.

A few feet away in front of me and I could see my sister still talking away with her friend who also seemed pretty calm and confident like she was sure that she would be chosen.

"Clara is pretty, isn't she? Apart from Horan, she's the only one everyone thinks might have gotten to the final stage rank especially since her father is a high grade healer and she's his assistant,"

"So you're saying he gives her mana?"

"Of course. As long as it's transma, even if it's between father and daughter getting more powerful is the goal," Daerk shrugged as he explained with a look of longing in his eyes staring a little longer at Clara, while I simply shifted my gaze away.

Ten more minutes of waiting and the crowd had completely dwindled and the queues too.

The people that had been rejected moved to stand at the side and just when I was just about to move forward no longer seeing a reason to wait any longer, I heard a mocking voice speak to me from the side.

"Wow…the trash also dragged itself along. Did you follow your sister…awwn but I don't think she'll be able to pass though…" I heard Horan say as I looked over to see him looking right at me.

"Are you going or not?" was my only response not seeing a reason to glare back or insult him back for calling me trash knowing that the results of the test would be enough to trample all over his pride.

"Of course. If I don't, who else deserves to go…" he replied, raising his hands and combing it through his sleek hair right before he slowly began to walk forward with a hint of arrogance in his gait.

"Proud idiot…" Daerk muttered under his breath, in a way that only I could hear.

Right behind Horan was Canita and Goran who simply threw slightly shocked but unconcerned looks at me before they also walked forward with the intention of taking the test.

The test was pretty quick as all one needed to do was to place their two hands on the round ball that had been placed on the table in front of the sect representatives.

Seeing the three groups of people step forward more people also did the same including Nami and Clara, with Nami throwing a conspiratory smirk my way, before she walked off.