Fear

It did not take long for the mages to make an appearance again, tasked with transporting the cages through the air using magic, in preparation for the second test.

As the cages floated to the ground through the control of the mages, the light in Areis eyes flickered.

His lightened mood was suppressed.

His eyes hawking at the contained creatures.

Wild, savage and bloodthirsty goblins no more than two feet tall, with rough green skin with tattered rags for clothes were locked within them.

A dreadful stench spreading through the air.

A shudder ran through Adam as he examined them for the first time. It was not a sight he had expected. They neither looked weak nor foolish.

As they clung to the bars of the cage, their sharp and needle-like faces ran through the bars like a pianist would the full sequence of piano keys. Their nails dark, that scratched the metal of the cage, a sharp piercing sound ringing.

The goblins, their eyes beady with sclera matching their irises, leaving their eyes fully coal-black. The goblins bared their sharp, yellowed teeth as they held the bars of the cage. Their tongue was long, and the saliva ran thick and viscously down their tongue.

They were likely held in the castle's dungeon, or prison. Alternatively, they were just captured.

Where they were held did not make Adam immune to the fear that came from sentient life that looked like they wanted nothing more to break free and tear him limb from limb.

If they somehow got out... he could die...

Adam felt keenly foolish, he had believed it would be a fairly easy test if they were behind bars.

Rather than easy, if one person didn't run away being face to face with them, that would be an exceptional result.

'No,' Adam paused, not averting his eyes from the goblins before inhaling the fresh outside air, then a deep exhale.

He wouldn't be dying. Areis strange as he was seemed to be was keeping alert.

There were other knights around, and for the time being so were the mages.

He would be fine.

The thought that if he didnt go first would be preferred, remained.

Elaina who had done well the last test had a lost look on her face.

The light in her eye shrank as she backed up a few steps.

Her legs quivered.

Adam resisted the urge to fallback himself.

Unlike the other heroes, he didn't have an offensive skill, meaning it would be a hand or hand battle if things got ugly, or his death. With the goblins feral nature, and their long nails, he would be a definite goner.

The desire to level up flooded his thoughts for a degree of protection.

However, just barely, comforted by the distance between the goblins and himself, he resisted.

Marcaine was alert similar to Aries. But, the new sight did chip at his spirit, leaving one of his feet to be planted towards the goblins, and one the other way, his hand reaching for a gun, which he did not have on him.

Absurd as it sounded, Adam's will to avoid moving, not that he wasn't scared, put him in the best position to start this test of bravery.

The other heroes had already fallen on their back.

They were not ready.

As if to say otherwise, Areis started speaking: "Your feelings now, this anxiety that is oppressing you, is what the peasants feel everyday that live on the frontier near the battlefield. Only, the monsters aren't contained, they are free. They hunt and devour without abandon."

For the first time since being summoned, Adam understood the importance of heroes, and why they were so valued.

His heart felt a odd sense of weight, taking in Areis's words.

Areis continued: "To remember this feeling, you must come near breathing distance of the goblins."

Pointing to a hero sprawled on the ground, he declared, as if condemning them: "You are first."

The hero's face flushed, becoming extremely pale at Areis judgement.

Areis voice taciturn, stated: "Go over to a cage, or fail."

The hero overwhelmed, pulled on their hair, crying out: "N-no, I refuse."

Rubbing his nose bridge, Areis asserted: "Then you have failed the test of bravery. We do not need heroes that are cowards. Although you may stay in the castle, you are not welcome. Know that."

Despite the harsh judgement, learning of goblins and being able to imagine just how terrible demons are, he could not hold it against him.

A hero who can't face a goblin, won't be any use to the Kingdom in fighting the demons, the sole reason they were summoned.

In a weird way inspired him, lessening the anxiety seeing the goblins gave him.

The hero that rejected to take the test, who remained on the ground was carried away.

Waving his finger around, Areis pointed to another person.

Learning rather than defy Areis, the next hero that was pointed to made their way towards one of the cages, taking half-steps to delay going nearer, even a second sooner.

The goblins jovial at the heroes expression jumped around their cage, laughing maniacally. Their laughter resembling the sound of phlegm leaving one's throat: "Kekeke~."

The goblins screeched: "Human scared of us. Human pitiful." Hearing those words, the hero backed up before turning around at breakneck speed, scrambling to flee.

Another hero's cowardice was revealed, getting hauled away swiftly.

Clicking his tongue, Areis resumed his selection.

A few more heroes went up.

A few more heroes ran, the only one who was able to remain still before the goblins was the teenager, who lasted for a few seconds before the goblins tried to reach through the bars, towards his throat having him run for the hills.

Areis was neither pleased or displeased by their result.

The female teenager who got spat at, also ended up sprinting away, tears crashing down her face in a bid for the castle.

Next was Elaina.

When she was told to stand at a cage, fear quickly grasped her heart, for the goblins gazes were wicked. The goblins did attempt to grab her, Elaina who was a step too far however, was safe.

She ended up doing slightly better, admittedly her spaced gaze and light, rushed breaths showed Areis what he needed to see to know it was the best showing yet as she did not move. But, was lacking, for it was not bravery but fear that trapped her in place.

Marcaine got picked next.

Unlike how he expected Marcaine to take the top spot in the test, when he assumed a defensive pose standing before one of the cages, a goblin was able to reach an arm through. Scratching their arm causing Marcaine to scream, shattering their false bravado.

Having been wounded, he only managed to stand still for just under 20 seconds before collapsing on the ground, hugging their wounded arm.

Areis was not content with Marcaine's performance, for it was Adam whose Areis's hopeful and expectant gaze was shone at. The dreaded pointer finger directed at him.

Adam assembling a trace visage of calm took a breath, and walked forward one of the cages.

His gaze locked on a goblin, it's eyes ebony shards, on its face sat distinct dimples, greeting him with an excessively wide smile.