The Central Tower stood tall and the phoenix statue at its peak seem like it would come alive and take flight across the heavens. It was the first time Kael was within such a close distance to it and, like the rest of the kids, could only stare in awe. So much so that he was distracted from shooting glances at Nar and even forgot about the crowd of almost a thousand people—the rest of sect members—surrounding them, waiting to spectate the test.

At first Kael had grown flustered and awkward the more they walked towards the central tower. He was not a crowd person especially without Dean or Nar at his side. Noticing the multitudes of stares coming from the disciples watching them made him feel exposed. Naked. Kael was so troubled that he had looked at Dean for comfort, but Dean was far ahead and Kael could only catch glimpses of his back. That's when Kael noticed that as they walked closer to the tower it began to change. And soon, Kael forgot about the crowd and the tower became his sole point of focus.

The usual bland and uniform grey structure—that he often saw off in the distance from his window—transformed right before his eyes. Its blandness was gone as if a layer of grime was dusted off by the winds revealing the grand, beautiful, and intricate patterns beneath. Kael could see and admire every single detail down to the brick. They even caused the tower to radiate with an aura that made Kael feel just how important each brick was and how they were placed with the utmost care. Squinting, Kael grew even more shocked.

Runes, he thought. They were carved in the bricks and, strangely, seemed to blend as they ran across the entire surface of the tower—forming an even bigger rune, more intricate and beautiful than the individual runes. Kael had never seen, read or noticed them before.

 Coming out of his shock, his first instinct was to reach for his father's journal and draw them so he could study them later. Unfortunately, once he reached inside his robe—with his left hand holding Eztli—he realized that he didn't have it on him; he’d left it behind as per the rules of the test. Cursing to himself and the rules, Kael turned to the runes and began committing them to memory—tracing his robes with his index finger as he imagined writing them.

Midway through, a sudden commotion brought him out of his study. The kids around him bickered loudly and pointed off in the distance. Turning, Kael saw Brin. He walked proudly and confidently between his father and beast. He had changed. His aura seemed to release greatness and such strength that Kael wondered if that was the same Brin that attacked him a month before. That wasn’t all, his wolf had turned into a monster. It was massive. It had grown so much that it looked exactly like the wolf that attacked him in the yellow side of the forest.

Soon, they reached the crowd. Brin nodded to his father, who smiled, ruffled his hair and said something before walking away to find a seat within the spectators.

Kael felt bad all of a sudden. He’s no longer an elder…he thought. And it’s my fault. In a way it was, but at the same time it was the Council’s decision to make, not his. Still, he felt partly guilty. Kael continued to watch as Brin walked into the sea of kids. The kids immediately made way for Brin—still pointing and whispering, surely talking about the rumors they've heard. Some even looked afraid to get near him. Brin walked without a care, Levy on the other hand, stood his ground, puffing his chest and placing his hands on his hips—trying to look grandiose. The action prompted more whispering and caused Levy to smile.

It appeared that the thirty days without Brin’s rule had boosted Levy's confidence too much. Kael half expected Brin to confront him, but, astonishingly, Brin just rounded him and continued forward—eyes directed straight at him. Kael shuddered a bit and he evaded Brin's intense gaze. The memory of that night's encounter flashing in his mind. Why is he coming towards me? Kael wondered. What does he want to do?

Before Brin could speak, a loud throat clearing resounded in the area. Every one fell silent and turned the same way. Kael followed their gazes and noticed the Sect leader, wearing large maroon robes lined with golden patterns and a phoenix medallion—that shined red under the sun’s morning light—over his heart. He stood on a raised wooden platform, elders sitting behind him, as his gaze travelled through the crowd before nodding.

"Before we begin the test," He said, his voice so loud and crisp it sounded like he was right in front of Kael. "I would like to congratulate everyone for their hard work these past four years. I know it has been hard for everyone as you have been separated from your families for extended periods of time.  But this I want to make it clear that your effort has not been wasted.

He paused for a moment and looked at each and every one of them before continuing. "Even if you were to fail—and to be honest, some of you will—it doesn't mean that your journey into the cultivation world is over. Do not give up! It doesn't mean that everything you have studied until now was for nothing. It's only over when you wish it over. When you stop caring or trying.

"It will come as a surprise to you, but I was in your place once. A commoner like most of you, fighting my way up in the world of the strong. And...I was weak. I failed my aptitude test." Gasps spread through the crowd followed by whispers and a bit of wildness in the crowd at the Sect leader's sudden revelation.

Kael was also in disbelief. According to Dean, the sect leader was at the First Mending, but that meant that what he had said was a lie. No fighter had reached the First Mending since several hundred years ago. But then that means Dean lied to me. Or how else could he fail and be at the First Meding? Kael asked himself as he searched for Dean among the Elder's platform, expecting some type of confirmation; something that would show that the Sect leader was lying.

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Finally, he spotted him sitting near the center and next to the council members. What is he doing sitting in such an important place? Kael wondered. Only the Sect leader and Council members were allowed to sit behind the podium. Elders like Dean sat off to the side of the platform, yet Dean was in the center and he was smiling.

"Now, now. Settle down." The Sect leader said calmly as he waved his hands to control the crowd. "I know it seems shocking, but it's true. I failed the tamer test...the first time. I had no talent in control and my bond was terrible, yet I didn't give up. I continued to place effort into taming and refused to accept that I had failed. I was no fighter and I knew that once I took that test I would fail and my cultivation journey would end. Something I adamantly wished to continue until the day I died.

"So, I struggled—using the thirty days given before taking the Fighter test—to train. Every day I would spend hours upon hours without breaks tending to my beast. I did it until I had no energy left in me and I passed out. On the day of the Fighter Exam, I walked proudly, beast at my side. My constant and unyielding effort had paid off.

“My beast had grown faster and stronger than those trained by the ones who passed the test. Then I did the unthinkable, I sat and refused to take the Fighter exam, demanding to take the aptitude test again. My fellow disciples mocked me and the Elders rushed to remove me. I stayed my ground and even commanded my beast to guard me. Then, an even more astonishing thing happened. The Sect leader raised his hand, stopping the elders and looked directly at me for a long time. I met his gaze for that long period and he finally agreed to let me take the test a second time.”

The kids burned with passion and determination as they heard the story of the Sect leader. Kael could even see that some were deeply lost in their own fantasies, probably imagining themselves performing the same thing the Sect leader had done. Kael peeked at Brin, he stood there calmly, his eyes still plastered on him. He turned to Nar, far in the back, holding his fox tightly and frowning.

"Now,” the Sect leader said in a powerful voice. “I'm not encouraging you to take the same actions I did. But if you feel wronged about your results, as long as you work hard for thirty days and show that you really want to be a tamer I will give you a second opportunity to take the aptitude test."

"Blasphemy!" Some elders yelled and stood. "You are going against the rules. Ones that must be obeyed. What you have promised can't be allowed to happen."

The words caused the disciples to be alarmed and their whispers grew to a stop.

The Sect leader turned to face the elders. "I have already talked to the Council about this issue and have given their permission. This is not blasphemy or disregarding tradition, but a means as to allow hard working disciples a second chance at achieving their dreams. Just like the chance I was given. You never know, the next Sect leader might be among them."

The last sentence caused the kids to go completely wild. They screamed and cheered at the Sect leader. Some of the braver senior disciples spectating even yelled at the Elders.

What a load of shit. Can’t even go back to sleep anymore. Eztli's voice rang in Kael's mind.

What do you mean? Kael asked.

Everything. Eztli said. Every single word that clown—that's amplifying his voice with qi—said is fake. Planned. I bet even the outburst and opposition of those weaklings is choreographed.

But why would they do that? Kael asked, looking down at Eztli. Why would they lie to us?

Eztli shrugged. Kid, you really need to take the hints. Weren't you there when we were with that bastard Roan. They mentioned something about the state of the sect. My guess is that your sect is at the edge of a cliff. One push and it falls. In other words, be destroyed.

No, that can't be. Kael said. Dean hasn't told me anything about that. The Council would have made an announcement, it’s their duty to uphold the Sect.

You really expect them to tell you guys? Eztli sent in a mocking way. You’re a bunch of kids that don’t even know about the world. Kid, I’ll give you a warning, don't hold onto that shit about fairness, justice and benefiting the sect or you’ll be greatly disappointed. There is no such thing in this world.

The so-called justice is just a way for people to do their dirty deeds in the mask of greatness. And just like them, I bet your elders have their own motivations. They probably need this sorry batch of disciples to put their all into this test. If not, the sect might crumble. Just look at their eyes and those stupid smiles on their faces and you'll see what I mean. Heck, even listening to the way they speak gives their ruse away. Well…it would be enough to fool kids.

Kael stared at the platform. Ignoring the rest of the Sect leader's speech, he searched for traces of what Eztli said and came to a realization. Everything Eztli said is true. Kael thought, looking at Dean. He had the same smile, yet there was a hint of uneasiness in his eyes. Even Dean knows... Kael thought, feeling betrayed. Unconsciously, he gripped Eztli a bit tighter finding a slight comfort as he focused back on the speech.

"I will now go over the rules of the aptitude test," the Sect leader said. "It is divided into two parts. The first part will test your ability to control and command your beast. It will require you to be separated from your beast. As you enter the tower several disciples will take and place them in an underground maze. You, on the other hand, will be taken to the second floor of the tower. From there you will be able to see the outline of the maze as the formation on the floor will turn it transparent. Your task is simple, you only need to guide your beast through the maze, have them swallow a pill and make them go to the center where a formation will teleport them out.

"We will rank you on the time it took and how efficient your commands were, while also looking at the beast's performance. The second part will test your bond's strength. A formation will put pressure on your bond pushing it until it is on the verge of breaking. Once it reaches that point, the formation will cease to enact pressure and you will be expelled from it. Ranking here is done by how long you can stay within the formation and the color that is shining when you are expelled. There are five ranks: Colorless, green, yellow, blue, and black. Colorless means your bond is insufficient and Black means that your bond is almost perfect.

"Now go. Step into the tower and truly begin your journey into the cultivation world. The one you have spent four years striving for.

“Let the aptitude test begin!"