Second Test 2

This marks the beginning of his journey. With resolute determination, he dips his quill into a pot of gleaming ink, his thoughts consumed by visions of flames and warmth. He meticulously sketches out the intricate hand gestures required to shape the mystical energies into a fireball.

Engrossed in his task, he suddenly hears a cry followed by a growl. Startled, he scans his surroundings, finding no one beside him; Alad, who had been seated nearby, is nowhere to be seen. The darkness envelops him, with only the shimmering ink, parchment, and quill illuminating his space.

The growling persists, growing louder with each passing moment. Peering around, he sees nothing, realizing that the creature seems to thrive on fear.

The noise intensifies, drawing nearer to him. Xavier senses an eerie presence as if the source of the sound is observing his every move. The distraction of the noise and the feeling of being watched unsettle him.

"Is this part of the test?" He asked himself. They weren't attacking, but something seemed to be preventing them from doing so. The screams and growls were unsettling, and he could feel a sense of unease. He was certain that whatever was causing the noises wouldn't harm him, but the fear was still present.

Although he couldn't see the source of the sounds, he sensed that it was nearby, observing him. Suddenly, he heard the sound of flapping wings and turned to see a grotesque figure with a skull-like body. Blood stained its mouth, giving it a menacing appearance as it collided with an unseen barrier.

Xavier was puzzled as he couldn't see what the creature had bumped into. It then struck him that he was enclosed within a transparent barrier, providing him with protection.

The creature continued to make a racket with its screams, cries, and growls, which Xavier recognized as familiar voices. Soon, more creatures joined in, surrounding him.

Frustrated, Xavier let out a groan.

Suddenly, he remembered Iloius' words:

//"Now, no noise. This task may seem difficult, but it is also simple. You will need to use your imagination, creativity, willpower, focus, speed, strength, and most importantly, yourself."//

Realizing that Iloius had given them a clue that not everyone had caught onto, Xavier understood that the distraction was meant to enhance their focus.

The test involved using their powers with the quills, parchment, and ink to measure their speed. They were being tested on how quickly they could utilize their abilities.

Struggling to concentrate amidst the increasing noise, Xavier inquired about the time remaining.

The system responded, [You have about 10 minutes left.]

{Do you need any assistance, host?}the system asked.

"No, I'm good," Xavier replied.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, picked up the quill, and resumed his drawing. Focusing on his speed and agility, he skillfully avoided any distractions.

With a look of intense concentration, he sketched the unfolding scene in his mind.

In the center of the parchment, Xavier drew his hand reaching out with determination. Swirling tendrils of energy began to form around it, coming together to create a brilliant sphere of fiery light.

Whispering the incantation from the parchment, he ignited the magic within.

With each stroke of his quill, he brings to life the ancient runes and symbols that form the foundation of the spell.

His drawing goes beyond mere representation, serving as a window into his soul and revealing the depth of his connection to the magical forces around him.

Finally, he reaches the moment of release, the culmination of his efforts as the fireball bursts forth from his outstretched palms with intense heat.

"These Eleven are truly living up to their name. I suppose the next challenge will be even more difficult," he mused aloud as he completed the final stroke.

The parchment, quill, and ink vanished, leaving him alone to drift off to sleep involuntarily.

.

.

.

Xavier, wake up," Alad called out, tapping him.

He then turned to Lily, shaking his head. "Let me be the one to wake him up,"

Lily said with an evil smile.

Raising her right hand, she delivered a slap that echoed through the hall.

"Ouch, who hit me?" Xavier asked in pain, looking up at the girl standing over him.

"I did. What are you going to do about it? Luckily for you, you passed the test. I didn't think you two would," she laughed before returning to her stoic demeanor.

Xavier lightly looked around, he noticed that more than 100 kids were now gone. The second test seemed to have scared many people.

Looking at Alad, he asked, "Are you okay?"

"I am now. They seemed to target our fears the most. I realized that the drawing wasn't the main test," Alad said with a smile.

'This kid is really smart. At his age, I wasn't as clever as he is.'

[I see. It appears that having a system like ours was a mistake.]

{I hope I didn't make the wrong choice.}

Both systems made fun of Xavier.

Xavier's expression twisted in anger.

'Both of you, just be quiet. Don't rub it in my face.'

Isadora entered the hall, her fangs giving off a deathly smirk as she smiled broadly.

"Well done, you're all doing well. Just two more tests and you will be able to get into the academy."

"Now please proceed to the next hall and rest if you need to," she said with a smile. They all nodded and moved on to the next hall.

"That second test took a lot out of me," Alad said, starting a conversation.

"Yeah, they caught us off guard by not giving us any warning before moving on to the next round," Xavier added.

"Do you find it suspicious that they separated us from the Elevens?" she asked.

"Good point, but it doesn't necessarily mean they will test us right away, does it?" Alad replied, caught off guard.

'Yeah, it's like back on Earth when professors would surprise us with tests without any warning. It's exhausting and frustrating, but I ended up dropping out,' he thought to himself.

"We stick together, just to be on the safe side," he said.

"You two stay behind me. I'll protect you if there's any danger," Lily said with a blank expression.

Xavier just sighed. Despite being an SSS-grade user, he knew he still had a lot to learn. The person in front of him was not someone to underestimate.

'Don't worry, things will change one day.'

[Funny host.]

"Don't worry, we'll do this together. Now let's find a place to rest. I'm tired and starving," Xavier said, yawning.

"Hungry in a situation like this?"

Lily asked, placing her right hand on her face in disappointment.

"I can't help it," Xavier replied, both of them busy arguing and forgetting about little Alad.

"You two need to stop arguing," Alad shouted at them.

"When did you get there, little boy?" Lily asked.

"I found a place for us to rest," they both stared at him.

"So quickly?" They both questioned.

"Yes, while you two were arguing. Let's go now," Alad said, almost irritated.

They were adults, and they should have been the ones doing what he was doing, but instead, they were fighting like children.

"I'm the oldest one here in a young body, and this kid has everything under control. Do I deserve two systems?"

[Stop posing such a silly question. It's causing me, a highly advanced system, to question my decision to select you..]

{True.}

'Here's a question that has been bothering me for a while. Who is this mother you keep mentioning?'

[All I can tell you is that Mother is the creator of the universe. She is the unknown, responsible for creating numerous universes, beings, and creatures that you have yet to encounter. She is known by many names.]

'I see.'

"Xavier, are you coming or not? You seem to be distracted lately," Alad said, ready to push him. Memories of his mother flashed through his mind.

He brushed off the thoughts, reminding himself, 'Don't let your past hold you back, Alad.' He smiled, the unspoken words evident in his eyes.

"Stop acting like an adult kid, I'll look out for you," Xavier said with a smile.

"Take care of yourself first, big brother, before worrying about me," Alad replied, wiping the smile off Xavier's face.

Xavier swallowed hard and tousled the boy's hair. "You've been through a lot. Let's go, we shouldn't keep Lily waiting."

They made their way to Lily, finding a spot on the floor as there were no seats available. Xavier scanned the room, observing people having fun, resting, and arguing.

They were locked in the room without explanation, unable to do anything but watch. Xavier sensed that the Elevens were up to something.

Time seemed to drag on in the hall. Murmurs filled the air until a loud noise echoed through the room, sending shivers down everyone's spines.

"Where did that noise come from?" they all asked, on edge. Suddenly, the walls supporting the hall collapsed, causing panic among the group.

The sounds of small goblins could be heard, screeching and foul-smelling. But that wasn't the only thing present.

Xavier could feel it. What was he sensing - was it fear of something larger or smaller? Was it a known fear?