The Chess Piece

The day was turning out much better than Max had anticipated. Not only did he get to have lunch with Emily, but he also convinced her to accompany him to the end-of-year ceremony. Max couldn't have been happier. After their elementary Bible studies class, he made his way to his sister's class.

On the way, Max noticed that Emily seemed quieter than usual. Concerned, he turned to her and asked, "Emily, is everything okay? You seem a bit different." Lost in thought, Emily looked at him and replied, "No, everything's okay. I'm just a bit tired with everything that's been happening lately."

Max flashed her a reassuring smile and said, "It's normal to feel that way after witnessing the things you and the others have seen. But I promise you, I'll do my best to convince Bishop Marley." Emily mustered a smile and nodded in gratitude.

After a short while, Max and Emily arrived at the classroom door, where Samantha stood, her noble demeanor intact. "Hi, Samantha!" Max greeted her, causing her to blush slightly. Samantha replied, "Hello, Max," and nodded at Emily, who returned the gesture.

Curiosity got the better of Max, and he asked Samantha, "Where's Olana?" Samantha responded, "I'm not sure, but it's unusual for her to be late like this."

Just then, they heard footsteps approaching. However, instead of Olana, it was Alex who came into their view. Max was the first to greet him, and soon after, Olana appeared, apologizing for her tardiness.

Once inside the classroom, Olana explained that she had been in a meeting regarding the upcoming end-of-year exam. Max, having made friends with older students, knew how crucial the final exam was for determining one's rank. Based on what he knew, the exam was normally conducted in the same format every year. It was a survival test where students fought against each other and golems controlled by the church. In this exam, students could use magic and martial arts to earn points and demonstrate their skills.

That's why Max was shocked when Olana informed them that this year's exam would be different. Due to their rank, he didn't know what to expect, but he was certain that it wouldn't be easier than last year.

Olana then proceeded to give pointers on how to perform the new exercise. For Max, it wasn't entirely new, as he had already trained it with his sister in the past. He took a deep breath, recalling the feeling of practicing his powers with her when they were younger. Soon, a green ball of elemental power appeared before him. He focused on deepening his emotions to enlarge it, but he found it challenging. However, when he glanced at the others, he noticed that only Samantha and Emily had smaller balls in front of them. This realization brought him a sense of calm, knowing that he was still the best among them.

After a while, Max heard his sister's voice and opened his eyes. She was speaking to Alex, who was struggling to produce an elemental ball. This brought a sense of satisfaction to Max, as he knew that Alex's talent was remarkable. Even without any prior knowledge, Alex managed to surpass everyone in just a few attempts, which was both impressive and intimidating. Max felt at peace, knowing that he was better than Alex. However, as he entertained these thoughts, the air around him grew hotter and hotter. His elemental ball started fluctuating rapidly, and he lost control of it. The elemental energy became frenetic. He followed the waves and saw Alex seated with a gigantic ball that was rapidly expanding. Panic spread among the others, and Olana shouted Alex's name, accompanied by Emily's alarmed voice. Olana cast a spell to contain the ball, but it wasn't enough, and the spell was destroyed. They feared being consumed by the uncontrollable elemental ball.

Just as the situation seemed dire, the classroom doors swung open, and Arnold Frey, the director of EIL, entered, raising his hand in Alex's direction. A spell was directed at Alex, and his elemental ball began to decrease in size. Olana joined in, assisting with her own spell, until the ball finally disappeared. Exhausted, Alex fainted, and Arnold commanded Olana to take him to the hospital. Olana nodded and swiftly carried Alex away, with Emily following close behind. In the classroom, only Samantha, Arnold Frey, and Max remained.

Arnold took a seat, coughing and looking visibly tired. Max offered to help, but Arnold got up once again. Max took that as his cue to leave the room. As he gathered his belongings, Samantha, the only person left in the room, asked him, "Max, do you think Alex is scary?" Max paused, looked at Samantha, and replied, "No, I think he is terrifying." With those words, he left the classroom.

Despite the day's unexpected turn, Max knew that the most challenging part was yet to come. He proceeded as usual to the cathedral, making his way to the third floor and entering a spacious room filled with an abundance of books and manuscripts. In the center of the room sat Bishop Marley, a man in his 50s with greying hair, adorned in the green robes of the Church. Max respectfully approached him and greeted the Bishop, saying, "Hello, Bishop. I have come here today to seek your help and guidance once more."

Bishop Marley, who had been engrossed in writing and reading the papers on the table, paused and looked up at Max. As he stood up, he asked, "Tell me, Max, what is troubling you?" Max's nerves intensified, and he replied, "Some classmates have asked for my assistance."

Listening attentively, Bishop Marley responded, "Helping friends can lead to long and fortuitous relationships." Encouraged by his words, Max continued, "Yes, and it is because of that that I'm here today. They informed me that in the church warehouse, currently under construction, they heard terrifying tera roars. They are requesting your assistance." Bishop Marley's expression darkened, and he spoke with a menacing voice, "And do you believe these people?" Sensing the escalating tension in the room, Max hurriedly said, "At first, I didn't believe them either, but then they showed me a recording of the roar, and..." Before Max could elaborate further, Bishop Marley interrupted loudly, exclaiming, "Stop! Are you telling me they recorded this alleged roar?" Max nodded, his fear intensifying as he had never witnessed Bishop Marley so angry.

After a brief silence, Bishop Marley spoke again, his tone composed. He said, "Well, Max, if you believe them, then I will believe them too. I will provide assistance. However, I need to know every detail." Surprised and relieved by the bishop's response, Max eagerly replied, "Of course! They told me that there are live teras in the warehouse, and the guards have been using mimic cubes to mask the roars with construction noises. They also mentioned a man who followed them, was wearing the Ashen Blades uniform." Bishop Marley smiled and asked one more question, "And who informed you of all this?" Max hesitated briefly and then confessed, "It was Alex Stern and Dr. Feller's son." Bishop Marley's smile disappeared, and he spoke with a serious expression, addressing Max, "Do you expect me to believe that those two individuals whom you despise could convince you to come and discuss this matter with me?" Max immediately regretted not mentioning Emily's involvement and hurriedly added, "Emily was with them too..." Bishop Marley looked at him intently and said, "Max, there is no shame in protecting the ones we love. However, you must understand that I would never put your loved ones in a dangerous situation." Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Max, can I trust you with a secret?"