A test

The night Logan met the prince.

Several bursts melted the air before a loud bang followed by a scream of pain. Blood splatters were everywhere on the floor and walls while a new wound appeared on a frail body. That of the young elf imprisoned in her cell, beaten without mercy with a whip by Raphaël. Her face was filled with rage and frustration.

"Damn it, damn it! Doesn't that bastard know who I am? Fucking adventurers! Even if I wasn't on my guard, I didn't see him move!" (Raphaël)

He spent that whole night taking out all his frustration on the young Elf.

Back to the present

In the Royal Castle, time had continued to run its course until it finally came to the end of the training. One of the most crucial tests to know who would be chosen to become the new heroes of the Sigma kingdom. This last test would take place at the end of the afternoon.

But already early in the morning Maïli and her group composed of : Éva, Éléonore, Beth, Marine, Karine, Max, Dan.

They were already training hard by having little duels between them while giving each other advice. Maïli, the most talented of them, was also supervising everything. Since she had arrived here, she had imposed herself as a leader without any difficulty. In the castle of course groups had been formed but the two main ones were those of Maïli and Shawn.

"I wonder what the test will be this afternoon." (Éléonore)

"Probably a test against slightly stronger monsters." (Eva)

"Me thinks we might face one of our instructors." (Beth)

"I don't think so, we've already faced them a lot and never beaten them, they're way too strong for us. I wouldn't see the point in fighting them again even though we've made a lot of progress." (Karine)

"It's not wrong." (Marine)

"In that case I think duels between us would be the perfect test because we haven't done any duels between us, only training and fighting against monsters." (Eva)

"It's true it would be the perfect opportunity and the best test to determine who would be the most suitable to be a hero." (Éléonore)

"There's a great possibility that it could be that." (Marine)

"Making a bet then on who will be right." Max says with a laugh.

"Why not." Dan then retorted.

"You two look pretty relaxed." (Marine)

"For us, our fate is already sealed, we won't become heroes no matter what the result of the test. (Max)

"That's right the only reason they didn't put us both out like Logan is because we'll still be useful to them. They'll send us to the Blacksmith and Alchemist guild to train us" (Dan)

"Wouh ouh another training." Max said sarcastically.

"Why didn't they send you there earlier anyway?" (Eva)

"Probably to get us to level up with you." (Max)

"Or maybe they were hoping we'd get some fighting skills." (Dan)

"Well let's finish thinking about this and finish our morning training and go eat." (Maïli)

Meanwhile sitting around a small tea and some cakes the King was discussing with his daughter and son.

"The selection of the heroes of the kingdom will take place this afternoon father that's right." (Sarah)

"Yes, during which our six heroes will be chosen and then presented to the kingdom. We will be the first to present ours, the other countries take a little more time." (King)

"Shouldn't we extend their training?" (Sarah)

"No, we are the country that at the moment is experiencing the most dungeon appearances, so we have to act accordingly." (King)

"Sure, but if our heroes are not trained enough, they could die in dungeons which could be very problematic." (Sarah)

"I don't think that will happen these months of training have shown that some are more than talented." (King)

"By the way what will this last test be?" (Raphaël)

"I have no idea, I left it all up to Moïse" (King)

"Knowing him, he's surely preparing something great for us." (Raphaël)

"Did he imply anything?" (Sarah)

"He said it should help them acclimate to the rules of this world." (King)

"While we're at it father I heard that you sent one of them away as soon as he arrived." (Raphaël)

"Yes, he had no talent a real waste of time." (King)

"Ah, ah I would have loved to see his face when you kicked him out of the castle." (Raphaël)

"Ah, ah don't worry you'll have other opportunities." (King)

"Anyway I'm looking forward to this afternoon." (Raphaël)

"Me too." (King)

For our heroes after the daily morning training they went as usual to class. Where as usual they were taught the new world. And the history according to the only human and goddess version. This annoyed many of them, while some of them did not pay attention to it and thought that it was not their problem. After all, not everyone had a sense of justice or high morals. For the most part, they were only thinking about how to live a good life here and how to get there. And the best way to do that was to bend to the rules of this world without question.

While they were all quietly in class in the castle the preparations for this afternoon's event were underway. Multiple cages had been brought in under the mischievous gaze of Moses. The King had left it to his most trusted man to prepare everything and he himself was eager to see what he had prepared. During this test all the instructors who participated in their training would also be there and they too were unaware of the nature of the test.

After lunch, everyone had free time until 4:00 p.m., the time of their tests. Maïli was walking in the garden of the castle which was really for her the most beautiful thing here. These flowers and roses of multiple colors approached by multiple butterflies. In this one was the princess from behind a butterfly put on her finger. She finally turned her eyes to see Maïli and gave her a smile.

"How are you Maïli?" (Sarah)

"Fine and you princess." (Maïli)

"A little tired from my royal duties, I must say." (Sarah)

"I would not like to be in your place." (Maïli)

"Neither would I, being torn from her world to be brought here cut off from her friends and family. Having to obey people you don't know and who ask you to risk your life. And I know there are aspects of my world that make you sick to your stomach. (Sarah)

"It's true, I'm struggling and I'm afraid of what I might be forced to do." (Maïli)

"That's why you came here so you could relax if only for a moment." (Sarah)

"Yes." (Maïli)

"To tell the truth, I am like you Maïli this place is one of the few peaceful and beautiful places. So beautiful that we forget the world around us as a barrier that protects us from the horrors of the outside world and our responsibilities." (Sarah)

"In that case, we can say that it is our own ivory tower." Maïli stated with a smile.

"I like this term, let us meet more often here then in our ivory tower." Replied Sarah while smiling.

A smile that immediately vanished when an all too familiar voice rang out.

"Wouldn't it be my sister and our heroine Maïli it intrigues me to see you together." Raphaël announced as he appeared and walked over to his sister.

"It was short, but it was a pleasure to talk to you Maïli." Said Sarah as she began to leave.

"Where are you going sister I would like to talk too?" Said Raphaël holding the arm of his sister to prevent her from leaving.

The two, looked then both right in the eyes the tension being papable under the very annoyed glance of Maïli which did not escape to Raphaël.

"Would I have interrupted something why so much aggressiveness towards me." (Raphaël)

"Let go of me." Sarah asked with her hand trembling from Raphaël grip.

Mana began to escape from Maïli and after a few brief seconds where everything could get out of hand, Raphaël finally let go of his sister with a smile. Sarah then walked past Maïli with a shaky voice and arm to quickly walk away.

"Be careful with the test this afternoon." She whispered as she walked away.

Once Sarah left there remained only Maïli and Raphaël alone in the garden.

"What's your problem?" (Maïli)

"I just wanted to talk to my sister nothing more." He replied with a shrug.

"Pff!" She sent before she finally also left.

When he finally found himself alone Raphaël couldn't help but lick his lips viciously as he watched Maïli leave. And after this event the time finally arrived, all now gathered on the training ground. The King, sitting on a specially arranged stage with his son and daughter and all the instructors lined up further away.

On the field there were multiple cages all closed like when they first arrived where they had faced monsters.

"I knew it." Said Max quietly.

"So we're going to face monsters again huh." (Éléonore)

They all whispered among themselves until Moïse spoke up:

"This as we talked about will be the deciding test for the choice of Sigma's heroes, but this test will not be like the others." He announced playfully.

The mischievous smile of Moïse provoked a bad feeling in Maïli who looked more attentively at the cages. And what seemed to be in the cages was different from common monsters.

"It will allow you to adapt to this world and become aware of reality while assuring us and showing your allegiance." (Moïse)

Moïse snapped his fingers and the boxes then opened and what came out at that moment caused shivers of horror. They were not terrifying, ferocious monsters, but yet it seemed even more horrible to them.

"What does that mean, Moïse?" Zem immediately asked.

"It's their test." (Moïse)

"Don't mess with me! What you're doing goes way beyond that!" (Zem)

"That's right, I teach them." (Moïse)

"They're still teenagers!" (Zem)

"Well it's time for them to grow up!" (Moïse)

In front of them what had come out of the boxes were young children of another race, half-wolf type beast men.

"Here is your test youngs heros prove your allegiance to the kingdom of Sigma, but also to the goddess Hamnesia by killing these abominations of nature." Moïse declared aloud with excitement.