Catty sat on the edge of her bed. The morning light streamed in through the cracks in the curtains, casting bright lines across the room. She stared at the small crystal on her nightstand, glowing softly with the notification from Multiverse Delivery Service. Exam Day.
A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Before she could answer, the door creaked open, and Serafima stepped in. Her silhouette was as elegant as ever, her heels clicking softly against the worn floorboards. The woman looked over Catty with the same appraising gaze she always carried when serious.
"Couldn't sleep?" Serafima asked. She folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe, tilting her head slightly.
"What's the point?" Catty shrugged, her hands knotting together in her lap. "It's not like I'll be ready no matter how much I rest."
Serafima stepped closer, the faint scent of her perfume trailing in her wake. "You underestimate yourself," she said, pulling out the chair and sitting gracefully. "Which isn't uncommon. Most people are their own worst enemies."
"I'm about to go against people who've been training for this their whole lives. What chance do I have?"
Serafima glanced at her momentarily and asked, "Do you think any of them have faced what you have? Do you think any of them have had to survive on savvy and grit alone?"
"They've probably had a lot fewer people chasing them, if that's what you mean," Catty said, her lips curving into a weak smile. "And they definitely don't have a giant pink dragon out there making them stand out."
"True. But standing out isn't always a disadvantage. You have enough to succeed, Catty."
"What about the others?" the girl sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You know who they are, don't you?"
"Of course I do," the woman grinned. "It's my business to know."
"Well?" Catty prompted, leaning forward. "Who am I up against?"
Serafima leaned back in the chair. "You've got the Sect's prodigy—a dragon rider as skilled as he's arrogant. He underestimates you, which is a weakness if you know how to exploit it. Then there's the djinn with the phoenix. Cunning, fast, and entirely self-serving. I'd keep an eye on that one."
She paused, her fingers brushing the edge of the desk. "The others are less straightforward. The kobold will play dirty, no doubt. The gnome and the valkyrie are disciplined but predictable. And then there's the elf, noble to a fault but proud. He'll be your least troublesome adversary, though not an ally."
"Great. A lineup of people who are better, stronger, or sneakier than me. What's my angle?"
Serafima stood from her chair and brought her face closer to the girl's.
"Your angle," the woman snapped, "is to stop whining, get yourself together, eat something, and drag your ass to the exam! How many times do I have to spell it out for you!"
Catty glanced out the window. The pink dragon rested in the meadow, his tail curled like a massive crescent over the grass. He was watching the horizon, his body as still as a statue.
"I hope you're right," Catty murmured, her voice quieter now.
Serafima smiled, her expression softening. "I usually am."
"Modest as always," Catty snorted softly, her nerves easing just a little.
Serafima turned toward the door, her heels clicking again. "Get ready. The exam won't wait for anyone, and neither will I."
As the door closed behind her, Catty let out a slow breath, her fingers curling around the crystal on her nightstand. She looked out the window again, watching her dragon, who turned his head slightly as if sensing her gaze.
"Well," she murmured, "I guess it's just us." The dragon blinked, his eyes calm and steady, as if to say he wouldn't have it any other way.
The MDS exam was an inner test of skill, hidden from public view. It was a trial in which drivers and their mounts were judged by their ability to embody the values of Multiverse Delivery Service. For the candidates, it was a chance to prove their worth. For the jury, it was a search for drivers capable of delivering goods throughout the worlds under any circumstances.
The exam required more than speed—it demanded exact execution. There were three stages and only one winner. Contestants began with a simple task: collect a sealed artifact from a pickup point and deliver it to a dropoff point. The following tasks were more complex. The trips tested them with unknown worlds, magical anomalies, and beings that could hinder or help. To succeed, they had to overcome obstacles and deliver.
There was a catch from the beginning that the candidates were unaware of. Their crystals informed them of only two main stats: Vitality and Mana, which were set as 100. The jury saw everything—both driver and mount stats.
> DRIVER STATS
>
> Satisfaction: Measures the customer's experience with the driver based on factors such as communication, professionalism, and the quality and speed of the delivery.
>
> Performance: Measures route efficiency, physical dexterity, adaptability, and ability to meet deadlines in dynamic challenges.
>
> Magic Level: Represents magical capabilities, including spell use and detecting magical traps or anomalies.
>
> Luck: A wildcard stat affecting random events, discoveries, and opportunities.
>
> MOUNT STATS
>
> Mount Bond: Represents the synergy between the driver and the mount, impacting coordination and advanced maneuvers.
>
> Speed: Determines how fast the mount can move, especially in races or during critical moments.
>
> Stamina: Determines the mount's ability to sustain prolonged activity, endure harsh conditions, and resist harmful magical effects, such as traps, curses, or enchanted terrain.
At the start, both Driver and Mount Stats were set to 0. They were changing during the exam, adding up after each stage, and reaching a maximum value of 100 at the final. Only the jury could see these parameters. Unseen by the contestants, these stats would determine their future.
"Have all candidates read the exam protocol and schedule?" Morvena asked, her voice cutting through the low hum of nervous conversation. She stood at the front of the vast hall. Her silver robes shimmered under the glow of floating orbs that illuminated the space, highlighting her commanding stance.
The hall stretched endlessly, its vaulted ceiling supported by arching columns twisted like growing vines. The walls were alive, pulsing gently with magical energy, as if they, too, were witnesses to the unfolding event. The jury sat at the end of the hall, cloaked in garments that marked their rank and role. They observed the candidates gathered before them in the hall's center, each accompanied by their mounts.
A ripple of murmurs broke through the hall as the candidates finally noticed Catty entering. Tingstan, promoted by the Dragon Sect, folded his arms across his chest, his posture radiating disdain. His dragon, larger and sleeker than Catty's, let out a low rumble as its wings flexed, drawing attention to its polished scales.
"Her?" Tingstan's voice cut through the murmurs. "They're letting her take the exam?"
The kobold, Qreggex, snickered, his wyvern hissing next. "Let's see what happens when her luck runs out," Qreggex added, his grin sharp as his teeth.
Josassod, the djinn, was more direct but no less scathing. He arched a brow and leaned toward his phoenix, whispering something that made its fiery feathers shift in what seemed like amusement.
"I'm sure she'll last… five minutes, maybe six if she doesn't trip over her own dragon."
Silvamor frowned but said nothing. His unicorn snorted, the sound sharp in the growing silence. The elf glanced at Catty, his expression less hostile but still guarded, as though weighing whether to speak up.
Catty's shoulders tensed as their words reached her, but she forced herself to meet their gazes. Her dragon stood behind her, his massive tail brushing the ground as if to remind her he was there.
Kára, the valkyrie, regarded her with pity. "She doesn't even have a mentor from the Sect."
"She's an embarrassment to the dragons," Tingstan agreed.
"That's enough!" Morvena said, her voice calm but leaving no room for argument. "You can all measure yourselves against her in the exam. Until then, save your judgments for something useful—if you're capable."
The room grew quieter, though Tingstan's sneer lingered as he turned away. Catty let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her fingers brushing her dragon's side as he lowered his head slightly toward her, offering silent reassurance.
"The exam," Morvena continued, her sharp gaze sweeping over the group, "is not merely a test of your ability to navigate and deliver. It is a trial of character, adaptability, and resourcefulness. The setting for this examination will be the Maze of Realities—a construct forged by the Multiverse's oldest magics, capable of adapting to test your strengths and expose your weaknesses."
She gestured to a multidimensional map that appeared midair before the candidates. The map displayed shifting pathways, floating landmasses, and environments ranging from fiery craters to icy wastelands, from city streets to lifeless landscapes.
"This maze does not exist in a single location. It is conjured anew for each exam, designed to push you beyond your limits. Its paths will change, its rules will bend, and its obstacles will challenge your skill and your resolve."
Morvena paused, allowing her words to settle before continuing. "There are six tasks, divided into three stages. First, you will locate and pick up an artifact—this will test your navigation and adaptability. Then, you must deliver it to a designated endpoint. Each subsequent stage will grow in complexity. By the final stage, only one candidate may claim victory."
The hall grew quieter, tension rippling through the crowd as Morvena's gaze settled on each of them again.
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"Do not forget," she added, her voice growing colder, "the jury watches everything."
Her eyes lingered on Catty for a moment, then shifted back to the group.
"You will proceed to the starting point. There, your crystals will activate, you'll get the first task, and the maze will open. Prepare yourselves—your mounts, your minds, and your resolve. The exam begins now."
At the starting point, the contestants stood on the circular platform, each driver near their mount, waiting for the signal. Ahead, a portal shimmered, marking the entry into the maze.
Catty shuddered when the crystal in her palm flared to life, projecting a multidimensional map with her route: the direct line leading from the portal to the grove in some unknown land. The location of her order shone like a gold dot deeper within the grove.
> Order: Enchanted Orb
> Vitality: 100
> Mana: 100
'Simple enough,' R.I. said telepathically. 'Go in, grab the shiny thing, come out. Easy.'
Catty sighed, tightening her grip on the crystal. 'It's never that easy.'
The contestants around her focused on their crystals, some already climbing onto their mounts. Tingstan, calm but determined, gave his dragon a slight nod before swinging into the saddle. Nearby, Josassod whispered something to his phoenix, his smile sharp and confident. Kára and her pegasus stood motionless, their disciplined poise setting them apart. Each rider exuded readiness and attention.
Catty studied the map carefully. The dragon impatiently shifted beside her, his tail knocking lightly against the ground. The girl looked at the glowing portal ahead when Morvena's voice sounded again.
"Your tasks are assigned. Proceed into the maze and begin. Remember—time, skill, and right choice will determine your success."
The portal pulsed, and the platform beneath them vibrated subtly as the exam officially began. The contestants moved as one, mounts leaping forward toward the glowing entrance. Catty hesitated for just a second, then felt her dragon huff beside her, his eagerness unmistakable.
"Alright, alright," she said, climbing onto his back. "Let's do this."
The dragon sprang forward with a mighty leap, carrying her toward the portal and the unknown challenges.
They flew inside, and the space around them changed instantly. The air was dense and energized, like slipping into a stream. For a brief moment, Catty felt weightless, her dragon's massive body beneath her seeming to float. Colors refracted around them, ribbons of light spiraling and twisting in impossible patterns. The sensation was almost soothing—until the space shattered.
The crystal light broke apart into shards scattered in all directions, reflecting glimpses of a thousand incredible worlds. Their images flashed and spanned around, fleeting and impossible to hold onto.
And then they flew out of the cloud of swirling fragments into the open sky. The air was clear and fresh. Below them stretched a grove, its trees swaying as though welcoming them. Light trails danced between the trunks, weaving patterns across the forest floor.
'Nice touch with the sparkles,' R.I. said in her thoughts, 'but a bit overdone, don't you think?'
'Let's try not to crash this time, alright?' Catty's gaze swept the crystal.
> Vitality: 100
> Mana: 95
The pink dragon banked slightly, tilting his head toward her. 'Crash? I'd never. You wound me.' His tone was light, but she felt the subtle tension in the powerful muscles beneath her, ready for what awaited below.
'Just focus,' her voice steadier than her racing pulse. The grove loomed closer as they descended, the trees seeming to wait for their arrival.
The sky above the grove was alive with movement. The girl saw the unicorn and the griffin, with their drivers, soared above her. Catty's gaze lingered on Tingstan, whose dragon carved a confident arc toward the trees, its wings slicing through the air with precision. Nearby, Josassod's phoenix streaked past in a blur of fiery feathers, leaving a shimmer in its wake. Each rider was moving toward their pickup location, their silhouettes shrinking as they descended to the grove.
Catty stared at the map projected from her crystal. Her location—a golden dot—wasn't static like she'd expected. It drifted chaotically across the grove, weaving between trees like a wayward balloon at a festival. She groaned, "Great. My order moves. Because, of course, it does."
Everything in this grove was moving not only her order. All the trees shuffled their roots like spiders, and branches swayed and stretched with the grace of a startled octopus, occasionally reaching down to prod or poke anything that seemed out of place—which, judging by their apparent mood, were Catty and her dragon.
The dragon, R.I., bounded toward the nearest tree with the enthusiasm of a toddler let loose in a toy store. 'Got you!' he hit the trunk with his tail so hard that the tree flew off to the side. Unimpressed, it creaked ominously and ran, moving its roots.
"Stop it!" Catty snapped, yanking at the horns. "We're supposed to find the order, not annoy the entire grove!"
Her words were utterly ignored. R.I. leaped toward another tree, snapping at its leaves, which fluttered indignantly. He spun in midair, swatting at a cluster of low-hanging branches, then froze dramatically.
'I think this one's hiding something. Very shifty vibes.'
"It's hiding its patience!" Catty exclaimed, watching helplessly as the trees moved. The grove wasn't just alive; it was awake now and didn't look pleased.
The first dryad emerged from a tree trunk with all the grace of an irritated librarian catching someone dog-earing a first edition. Her wooden arms raised threateningly as she fixed Catty with a withering glare.
"Control your beast," she said, creaking like timber.
"Oh, he's not really mine," Catty tried, laughing nervously. "I just—uh—borrowed him from the universe."
The dryad stepped forward, her leafy hair rustling. She waved her long hand, and thorny vines shot toward them, slapping Catty hard in the face. Blood flowed from the abrasion.
> Vitality: 95
"Get out of here! They're trying to kill us!" Catty yelled and kicked the dragon's sides with her heels. R.I. dodged and ducked through the grove, clearly having the time of his life.
'Kill? Nonsense!' R.I. twirled midair, batting away a vine like it was part of some game. 'They're just a bit sportive. We're bonding.'
"I'm bonding with my death!" Catty gritted her teeth, leaning low as another vine lashed past—this time, it hit her on the back.
Catty's crystal flashed red again.
> Vitality: 90
Another dryad aimed a particularly thick branch at them, but R.I. spun sharply, evading it with a flourish.
'Ha! Did you see that? They can't catch me!'
'They don't have to! Will you stop provoking them?'
'Provoking?' the pink dragon asked innocently, flicking a twig from his tail. 'I'm just saying hello.'
Another vine narrowly missed her head.
"They don't speak 'hello'! They speak 'get out of my forest'!"
The dryads were gathering now, their wooden faces etched with anger. Catty yanked at the horns, forcing R.I. to stop, "I don't care what you're doing. Just fly higher before we get turned into compost!"
R.I. huffed but obeyed, spiraling upward as the dryads receded into their trees. Catty slumped on the dragon's neck, panting.
'Why do you always make everything worse?'
'I make it memorable,' R.I. corrected with a smug flick of his tail. 'And you're welcome.'
Catty raised her head to protest but suddenly turned her attention to other drivers.
Tingstan's dragon leaned against a tree while the man stood on his back and rummaged through leaves. Nearby, Josassod's phoenix flared its wings, casting golden light as the djinn reached into the crown of a massive tree, withdrawing something sparkling before tucking it away with a smug smile. Even Kára, ever dignified, climbed a tree, and her pegasus snorted disapprovingly.
Catty frowned, watching as one driver after another plucked glowing objects from the trees with the practiced ease of a gardener harvesting fruit. The order is on the tree!
'What are we going to do?' the girl asked the dragon. 'And how are we going to get to our tree after all this mess?'
The dragon turned his head, 'Point me at it.'
Catty blinked. "What?"
'Point me. At the tree with the order,' he grinned, his teeth glinting. 'I'll handle the rest.'
The girl hesitated. 'You're not going to do something reckless, are you?'
'I,' he said with mock indignation, 'am the very definition of caution.' His tail whipped to one side, 'Now, where is it?'
Catty sighed, looking at the crystal. The glow pulsed brighter as she turned toward a massive tree moving at the grove's edge.
'That one.'
'Finally!' and R.I. roared, surging forward with a mighty flap of his wings. Catty clung to his neck as they shot through the air, weaving past shifting trunks and snapping branches. The target tree seemed to sense their approach, its roots dragging through the ground as it tried to shuffle away.
"Don't let it escape!" Catty shouted.
'Oh, it's not going anywhere,' R.I. growled, swooping low. With a triumphant roar, he extended his claws and latched onto the tree's crown, his grip tearing through branches and scattering leaves. The tree shuddered violently, its roots clawing at the earth, but R.I. held firm.
And the dragon gave an almighty tug. The tree resisted momentarily, creaking and groaning like a ship in a storm before finally giving way. With a thunderous crack, it came free, roots dangling awkwardly as R.I. hauled it into the air.
'You pulled it out of the ground!' Catty was horrified.
'Well, you wanted the order,' R.I. replied, 'and I don't see them handing it over politely.'
Below them, several dryads shrieked in outrage, their voices echoing through the grove.
'We should probably leave,' Catty guessed.
'Excellent idea,' R.I. said, angling upward with the tree still clutched in his claws. 'But I think this counts as a pickup.'
'Depends on where we should deliver it,' Catty muttered, watching the furious grove move away below them.
THE JURY
The jury discussed the results of the first task.
A B C D E F G 1. Tingstan / Dragon 15 16 12 14 15 16 15 2. Josassod / Phoenix 14 15 14 13 14 15 14 3. Kára / Pegasus 13 14 11 12 14 14 13 4. Qreggex / Wyvern 12 13 11 13 13 12 12 5. Silvamor / Unicorn 13 12 13 11 13 12 11 6. Bron / Griffin 11 11 10 12 12 11 10 7. Catty / Dragon 0 9 0 0 5 10 10
> Driver Stats:
> A - Satisfaction, B - Performance, C - Magic Level, D - Luck.
> Mount Stats:
> E - Mount Bond, F - Speed, G - Stamina.
Krabelli slammed the table with his palm, his frustration barely contained. "I told you! Look at this—last place. She's floundering out there, Ganzor. The dryads practically chased her out of the grove!"
Ganzor raised an eyebrow, unperturbed. "She retrieved her order, didn't she? That's the task. I don't recall specifying 'how' they had to complete it."
Krabelli leaned forward, his voice sharp. "Dragging an entire tree out of the ground like a lumberjack is hardly the dignity we expect from a driver. She's reckless, untrained, and worse—her dragon encourages it."
Morvena cut in, her tone measured but firm. "Recklessness aside, she did it. That counts for something."
"Tingstan dominated the task, as expected," Krabelli shot back. "He and his dragon are a model of efficiency. The rest are at least playing by the rules. But her? She's a liability."
Ganzor's lips curled into a faint smile. "And yet, she's still in the running. Isn't that the point of this exam? To push them, to see what they're made of under pressure?"
Krabelli snorted, crossing his arms. "If you want to see what she's made of, you'll need a broom to sweep it up when she falls apart in the next stage."
Morvena tapped the table to regain their focus. "Enough. Tingstan leads, and the rankings reflect each candidate's performance fairly. Catty has time to prove herself or not. Let the results speak as we proceed."
THE CELESTIALS
"Well, the djinn isn't first—yet—but close enough. Steady, efficient, and unrelenting. He'll outpace Tingstan soon enough. My bet's as good as won."
"Close enough isn't good enough. My kobold's lagging, but he'll strike when the others least expect it. You're far too impressed by flashy results."
"And yet," the third voice interrupted, light and calm, "neither of you seem to be addressing the most exciting part of this stage."
"If you're about to mention that ridiculous girl again—"
"She's in last place. Her dragon flailed around like a hatchling. That tree stunt? Absurd. She barely scraped through."
"Perhaps. But every great story needs a wild card. She's mine."