Lyle Welfer followed the signs to the cafeteria of the Abeseth academy for the gifted. The first part of the enrollment had just ended for him and he wanted to eat food and sleep.
The last test was easy, Lyle just had to put his hand on some weird stone that produced a number and was told that he passed. What was exhausting was the time it took for the test to finally be over.
Lyle and the other applicants had waited at the open field just beyond the entrance of the academy for an hour. There was no food and drinks available.
Lyle and the other applicants were allowed to the courtyard after the first afternoon bell had rung. He saw a grassy field with a few students here and there but no teacher or someone that looked like one. Lyle just assumed that the start would be at the second afternoon bell, even though the invitation said that the test would start at the first afternoon bell..
At the second afternoon bell, aspiring students were leaving. Lyle didn't even notice them, busy chatting with his friends. By the third bell he and his friends had become quiet, some of them even leaving. Lyle wanted to leave, this was the first day of testing and the test would happen everyday for a week so he could try again tomorrow.
Lyle looked at his satchel and scanned the surroundings once more. Below the shade of one of the trees, a woman dressed in a servant uniform stood. Lyle realized that other servants were surrounding them, with the only place without was the place going to the entrance.
They were dressed as cleaners and utility workers for the school so no one really paid them any attention besides the few kids that shouted at them or threw tantrums who then promptly left the school. Those kids were escorted by the staff after they blew off their steam. Lyle thought that he might as well talk to them and ask when the test will begin and so he did.
Lyle started walking towards the lady. "Hey, I'll just ask the lady over there when the test would start."
Ariel, one of his friends, looked towards his friends awkwardly. "You're just gonna be escorted out like the rest of those brats from earlier. They may even stop you from taking the exam. Let's just wait." That made Lyle stop and look at his remaining friends.
"Let him do what he wants. It's not like this is the only school in the city." Henry said. With that the rest of his friends shrugged and let him continue.
While true, the Abeseth Academy for the Gifted was the best school to learn cultivation. Ten known core formation experts started from this academy, the most notable being the sword saint, Arthur Hale
Lyle waved at his friends and began walking once more. He observed the woman, noticing that she was only a few years older than him, maybe 16 or 17 years old. When he reached her, Lyle waited for the cleaner to look at him before speaking. When she didn't, Lyle took initiative.
"Ma'am, may I ask you a few questions?" Lyle asked. She finally looked at him, her honey colored eyes meeting his very dark brown. He looked at her face properly and noticed that it had no easily observable flaws, no pimples or pimple scars, no blemishes and her skin looked smooth.
"Greetings young master. I would be happy to answer any queries you may have." The servant bowed.
"Right. Hey when does the test start?" Lyle decided to get to the point. He had enough of waiting.
"I believe it started two hours ago young master." The servant said still bowed.
"What? Why didn't anyone tell us? And lift your head, I can't see your face." The test had already started? Was this the test? Lyle's mind swirled with the possibilities of the test.
He read about this of course. In the stories, heroes often pass hidden tests just by being themselves or thinking things through. It seems the stories his father told him held some truth.
The woman, Lyle wasn't sure if she was a servant anymore, looked at him, no emotion discernible on her face. "This is a test of patience and initiative. Also a test of respect to an extent. If people were told to wait, they will because there is a reward at the end but if they're made to wait without warning, people will doubt if there was even a reward for waiting."
"Then what about the people before me? Why didn't you answer them? They showed courage in talking to you, just like me."
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The lady's lips turned upwards, her face now looking more welcoming, unlike the bored but curious face she had a moment ago. "Did they come to the staff to ask questions or did they come just to throw a tantrum?" It seemed like the lady was warming up to Lyle.
Was he throwing a tantrum? No, but was she thinking that he was? maybe. Lyle began to backpedal. "Miss, I assure you that I am not throwing a tantrum. I was merely tired of wai- um… yes I was merely curious why such an esteemed school would let its future students wait. Yes that's what I went to you."
The lady raised an eyebrow, amusement clear on her face. "This is the other part of the test, initiative. Whatever your reason was, you were brave enough to do what others feared. You came here to ask even if it meant that you might not pass. And for that you passed the second test."
Lyle fell silent at that and looked back. Like the other kids, he didn't really pay attention to the people that gathered around them. He just assumed that they were bored or curious. People probably just assumed that talking to the staff would lead to them being escorted outside. No one really thought about it. With that. Lyle could tell his friends and they could all pass the second test.
But alas fate was not kind. What the black haired lady said next dashed his hopes of all of them passing the second test.
"You may choose an action here now. Either you go back and tell the other applicants about the hidden test and how to pass it or you could not and follow me to the proper testing site. You will not be rewarded if you choose the first option. If you approach any of the proctors they would not respond to you or acknowledge you. If, however, you choose to go to the testing site, you will be rewarded depending on how early you passed the test. Choose wisely young master."
Lyle knew the correct answer and faced the lady with a determined face. "They didn't pass the test, I did, so why should they get rewarded? I would like it if you bring me to the testing site please."
"Very well young master." The not-servant walked towards the gate and Lyle followed. Lyle followed the lady with shaky steps towards the gates of the school. He slowed his steps, thinking about the test once more. Is this another test? Did he actually fail by saying that he wanted to go alone? Lyle ultimately decided to follow the lady and see where this goes, if he’s led to the gate, he’ll complain.
Cultivators, which Lyle was pretty sure this lady was, were often eccentric and unpredictable. One cultivator might give you a beating for insulting their enemies or they might reward you for disrespecting them. Lyle stayed behind the lady so as to not lose sight of her. The woman looked back and smiled, suddenly swerving to the right and into a building that was fairly unnoticeable.
It was a large hall, in the stage stood a clear ball the size of Lyle's head. Behind it was an old man that looked like he was a 30 year old mortal. He had crows feet from smiling and laugh lines in his face. He was wearing a nondescript robe but still stood out.
There was no one here besides the three. "Why is this place empty?" Lyle asked aloud.
The man on the stage smiled at Lyle at that question. "Congratulations young master. It would seem that you are 23rd to pass the second test. This will reflect well on your final assessment at the end of the enrollment so be proud.
“As for why there's only the three of us, it's because the others are already in the cafeteria talking amongst themselves. Now come up here and let's begin the third and final test of the day so you can rest and eat some decadent food prepared by the academy's best cooks."
Lyle realized that he was staring. "Uhh... Thank you elder for the opportunity." Lyle walked towards the stage and performed a quick bow towards the elder. He heard the door opening and quickly looked at the now empty space that the woman had been before.
The elder chuckled. "Now now, no need to be so formal. I get that enough from old people. You kids should behave as kids! Laughing, being hot headed and making friends and enemies along the way. My name is Gregory Kuhn but you can call me Greg or mr Greg if you want to be formal."
Lyle stared once more. This was not how he imagined an elder to act. They were supposed to be serious and intimidating, not friendly and kind! The etiquette lessons he got from his tutors all said that he should still act politely but they also said to follow the words of cultivators, lest you gain their ire, whatever ire means. So he went with his gut. Maybe hunger and tiredness also played a part but Lyle would never admit that.
"Um, sure el- er, mr. Greg. Lyle Welfer. So what do I do to pass this test?"
"Oh nothing too serious, just prick your finger and touch the crystal."
For the third time in as many minutes, Lyle stared once more. This has got to be a joke, right? The first test was hard, the second test was harder and now he just wanted a bloody finger on a crystal ball. Cultivators really are eccentric people.
Deciding that thinking too much about it would do him no good, Lyle retrieved a pocket knife from his satchel and pricked his index finger. He gingerly placed his palm on the surface of the crystal. The ball glowed brightly and Greg placed a piece of paper in front of him.
"This method of testing one's talent is quite simple and ingenious you see." Greg started speaking, his voice soothing, it reminded Lyle of the scholars that taught him the best. It was a voice wanting to teach.
"The crystal ball reacts with the talent you possess, what talent means in this case is the raw amount of qi in your body right now. And the brighter the ball glows, the more raw qi you possess and thus talent.
"The paper is the really genius part. Here I have papers made from the see through leaf. If I can see light pass through one sheet, then you pass the third trial. But I can stack these papers you see. The more papres I stack until I am unable to see through the paper, the higher your score will become."
"Aren't cultivators rich or something, especially the cultivators from the most successful academy? This looks quite simple and cheap." Lyle blurted out, forgetting that he was not in one of the discussions with his tutors.
Seeing the look of schock in his face, mr. Greg laughed. "True, but are you willing to spend money on an expensive gadet when a cheaper one will do just as well?" Mr. Greg stacked two pieces of paper together and looked at it in front of the orb once more
"I guess not."
"Then you got your answer." When mr. Greg got to three stacks he stopped and made a thinking noise.
"Hmm, above average talent. You are doing quite well in this enrollment so far, young Lyle. Keep it up and you might get a good reward when this is over. Now off you go, somebody is already waiting at the door."
Mr. Greg placed his hand on Lyle's back and gently guided him towards different door from the one he entered. When it opened up, Lyle saw a hallway with signs at the side that all pointed in a single direction. Below the arrow was the word Cafeteria.
"Follow the signs until you reach the cafeteira. I have high hopes for you Lyle, I wish you the best in this enrollment."
Lyle did not forget his manners this time and bowed just like he was taught. "Thank you for your guidance and encouragement mr. Greg. I hope I could live up to them."
"A last advice before you go: question those who do not want to be and find your own path to immortality." Mr. Greg patted Lyle's head before going back to the testing hall.