Ch. : 13. Groom test ceremony, Test Starts

After getting inside the Colosseum, he walked toward another counter.

He handed the registration slip to the guy standing on the counter.

Manav got a number slip, which is the number of the test table he has to stand.

There are more than 100 tables in the middle of the Colosseum.

Manav saw that his number was 21, and this was his lucky number in his previous life.

Manav walked toward his table and stood on it.

There was a blank paper, and a pen on the table.

There was also a big black box with 1*1*1 meter size box with number lock on it.

Manav was standing on the table, waiting for the test to start.

He saw that many types of guys have participated in the test.

There are many rich guys, some poor, some mechanic or engineer geeks, etc.

There are more than 1000s of people's sitting arrangement.

There are seven big seats at the head of the Colosseum, where king sits in the movies he was watched in his previous life.

While standing near his table, and waiting for the test to begin.

Manav was bored so he just leaned on the table, and started watching other participants, and tried to observe them.

What type of opponents he has or not.

Other participants are doing the same.

Some of the participants are rich guys, so they see others as lowly rats.

Manav just ignored these participants.

"The Test will begin when the sun will be at its highest." A lady's voice sounded in the whole Colosseum through the speakers.

Manav saw that sun is 1 hour away from at its highest point.

"Another hour to wait." Manav murmured annoyed.

The Whole Colosseum was filled with irritated and annoyed murmurs of participants and watchers.

"Please be silent." Lady's voice sounded back throughout the speakers.

Everyone fell silent.

While Manav was gazing his eyes around, a rich and Nobel guy fell in his sight.

He was different from any rich or Nobel participant in this Colosseum.

And that guy was also measuring Manav with his gaze fixed.

Manav also stared back at him.

Like this, more than half an hour of time was spent.

Manav knew that this guy was the toughest opponent here.

"Test will begin in 3 minutes, please prepare participants." The lady's voice sounded back through the speakers in Colosseum.

The rich guy, Manav was staring the whole time, just smiled a mocking smile at Manav, and turned back to his table facing the seats where judges will sit.

"Interesting, I never thought there will be unexpected surprises in this city." The rich guy said, while looking toward the direction where judges are.

Seven judges came walking slowly, and after waving their hands at the peoples in the Colosseum.

All of them sat back on their chairs.

These seven judges are wearing seven rainbow-colored robes.

Although these judges are colorful, their outfits still clearly reflect the diesel punk theme.

Manav was amazed.

All peoples and participants stood up and saluted toward the judges respectfully.

Manav also followed them, he didn't want to create a problem, and be thrown out of the contest.

Because the ring, which was transformed by Lois, was still with that girl.

"Today! We seven judges of Asylium will host the groom selection for our princess, and we will witness and choose the suitable groom for our princess of the city, Asylium!!!" Red judge gave the speech with whole zeal, proud, and leadership reflecting in him.

"Well, red is suitable for him." Manav commented about red judge in his mind.

Like this, seven judges gave the speak turn by turn.

After the speech was done, another hour has passed.

"Now, we will commence the test for groom selection." The lady's voice sounded through the speaker.

"All participants be ready, in five minutes the first test will begin." The voice sounded through the speaker.

All participants did what they wanted to.

Manav raised his hand toward a staff guy.

When staff guy saw Manav waiving his hand toward him, he quickly approached Manav.

"How can I help you? Sir." Staff guy asked.

"Can you bring me water, you know in this sunlight, we will be very thirsty." Manav stated his problem and demand to the staff guy.

Staff guy nodded, and walked toward the vendor filled with water pouches.

He picked up three pouches and walked back where Manav was standing.

Manav thanked the guy.

"No, thanks, this is my duty." After saying this, staff guy returned to his position.

Manav drank the water through the pouch, and put it aside.

And waited for the test to begin.

"The first Test shall start now." Lady's voice sounded.

Every participant stood and watched toward the position where seven judges are sitting.

"The First test is you have to solve the seven questions given on the test sheet." Blue judge said stated the first test.

Staff's standing around quickly walked toward the soldiers in the Colosseum and took the bags from them.

After taking the bag from the soldiers, they first checked the bag for any damage, after ensuring there is no damage.

The staff torn the bag with a knife, and took out a stack of papers, and distributed it to the participants, according to the numbers written on it.

Manav accepted his paper, and saw that there is still a seal to open before starting the test.

"All participants please check whether the seal on paper is damaged or undamaged." The lady's voice sounded back through the speakers.

All participants checked their seals.

After assurance from participants, voice sounded back,

"The Test will begin now, you have 1/2 hour to complete the seven questions on the paper."

Every participant tore the seal open, and started reading the question paper.

Manav read all the seven questions, and found them very similar to his previous life questions.

All these seven questions are riddles from his previous life.

Manav picked up the pen and started writing down the answers.

[Q.1.

This thing all things devours;

Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;

Gnaws iron, bites steel;

Grinds hard stones to meal;

Slays king, ruins town,

And beats mountain down.

Ans. Time.]

[Q.2.

The beginning of eternity

The end of time and space

The beginning of every end,

And the end of every place.

Ans. Letter E.]

[Q.3.

This belongs to you, but everyone uses it.

Ans. Your Name.]

[Q.4.

A woman shoots her husband, then holds him underwater for five minutes. Next, she hangs him. Right after, they enjoy a lovely dinner.

Ans. She took a picture of him and developed it in her darkroom.]

[Q.5.

The first two letters signify a male, the first three letters signify a female, the first four letters signify a great, while the entire world signifies a great woman. What is the word?

Ans. Heroine.]

[Q.6.

I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?

Ans. A Map.]

[Q.7.

Only one color, but not one size,

Stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies.

Present in sun, but not in rain,

Doing no harm, and feeling no pain.

What is it?

Ans. A Shadow.]

Manav quickly answered the seven question by seven judges.

He was surprised how can simple questions be given by the seven judges.

After thinking for a while, Manav clapped his hand.

"Looks like these the seven judges are testing whether the participant have the most important thing or not, and that is common sense, but these riddles are very hard for those who have not read anything about riddles and structure on how riddles are created." Manav thought to himself.

Manav ringed the bell on the table to announce that he has done his paper.

Whole Colosseum was surprised, how can someone answer the questions given by the seven judges so fast.

"He is making fun of the exam, he doesn't know answers so, he just accepted his defeat." A man in the crowd said, other crowd followed him, and started booing at Manav.

Many of rich and Nobel participants turned their gazes from Manav to their papers back with disdain and mocking smile.

Manav, undeterred by the crowd's reaction, maintained his composure.

He knew that he had answered to the best of his abilities.

The crowd's booing and the disdainful gazes of the other participants did not shake his confidence.

He had faith in his understanding of the riddles and believed in his answers.

Now, all he could do was wait for the results.

The Colosseum fell silent as the judges began to evaluate the answers.

The tension was palpable, but Manav remained calm, his eyes reflecting determination and an unwavering belief in his abilities.

Manav has answered the questions in 10 minutes, there are 20 minutes remaining.

Manav was waiting for the test time to end.

After 20 minutes.

"Test ends now." 

Many participants breathed a sigh of disappointment when they saw that time was very short.

But papers are already taken.

Some tried to stop it, they are beaten down by the soldiers stationed in the Colosseum.

After all the papers are sent to the seven judges, the seven judges started checking the papers.

"Results will be announced in 15 minutes, after this second test will begin." A lady's voice sounded through the Speaker.