Muttering started up at her announcement, nerves making themselves known. “Knock it off, you lot. It's not that big of a deal. Today won’t make or break you. Either way, all fifteen of you will go through the ceremony.” Her solid voice silenced the whispers. “Today is just to review what you have learned your whole life. It's a preparation for your new path, nothing more. If you paid attention at all, it should be no issue.”

Most of the class settled down at that, except for those who had not paid attention to classes. Zion was mostly placated by her words, having been a decent student. He gave her his full attention, deciding he would do his best; that's all he could really do.

“Good, now that you aren’t peeing your pants at the thought of testing, let's get started,” Melody continued, making her way from behind the podium. “Each of you will get your own instructor today. They will test you on basic and advanced knowledge. Some topics will include aspects of the Weave, and others will be about the governing of the Spheres within Nifell.” Everyone was all ears, so she continued, “While answering these questions, you will be performing physical training. Might be sparring, or it could be a simple pushup drill. Either way, you will be working while answering.”

“I wish you all the best of luck today on your final and for tomorrow's ceremony. I was proud to be your instructor and look forward to hearing of your exploits,” she finished, a loving smile gracing her face. With her final words, fifteen teachers entered the room, each taking a place next to a student. They all wore gray robes, a sign of starting ranks as instructors. A solid man no older than his late twenties stopped before Zion.

“Good morning, Instructor Korian!” Zion accidentally shouted by accident. He held his hand out, and Korian shook it firmly, the grip overly strong. “I look forward to your care and tutelage.”

“Oh, knock off the formalities, Zion. We're long past you kissing my ass,” Korian responded with a smirk. “Let's get out to the yard; the faster we get you finished, the more time you have to rest.” He looked at Zion’s sunken eyes and sighed, “Rest you most certainly need.”

Zion chuckled guiltily, realizing what his state must look like to others. He followed after Korian's receding steps, maintaining the proper distance. He was led to the wide-open practice yard that the school contained. The yard was huge, about one hundred by one hundred yards, filled with dummies, targets, and sparring rings. It was used for the majority of training for both students and Terra’s standing army. At any time, you could find hundreds of people performing one task or another within it. Today, however, only thirty of them graced its sandy space.

Korian turned to him with a sly look, “Ready for your test, Zion?” He gulped, knowing full well how rough Korian could be in his training. He will definitely sleep well tonight.

The pair made their way to one of the sparring rings located at the far end, where Korian discarded his robe onto a nearby wooden post. Beneath the robe, he wore basic leather armor, offering a balance of mobility and protection. It was a common sight among the instructors, who always prepared for combat as volunteers assisting the standing army in times of peril.

"Alright, Zion, here's the drill for the first part of the test," Korian explained, retrieving two wooden blades and tossing one to Zion. Catching it effortlessly, Zion nodded confidently. "I'll pose a question, and then I'll attack immediately afterward. Your task is to answer before I put you on your ass."

"Got it," Zion affirmed, adopting a defensive stance as Korian prepared to launch his assault.

"There are eight stats available after entering the Weave. What are they, and what do they represent?" Korian's question barely left his lips before he lunged at Zion.

Zion deftly parried the incoming strike, deflecting it aside before sidestepping to create distance. "Power and Speed, related to physical strength and combat prowess," Zion answered swiftly as Korian launched another attack, forcing Zion to evade with a roll. "Speed, which encompasses agility and quickness," he added, scrambling back to his feet.

Korian pressed on with a flurry of strikes, testing Zion's defenses. Despite his best efforts to fend off each blow, some managed to find their mark. "Fortitude determines endurance and resilience," Zion managed to say between breaths, narrowly ducking an overhead slash. "Vitality represents health and regeneration."

A blow landed squarely in Zion's abdomen, causing him to double over in pain. Without hesitation, Korian continued his assault, prompting Zion to roll away and gasp out another stat through clenched teeth. "Resolve measures determination and mental fortitude!" he exclaimed, kicking out to create some distance.

Struggling to fend off Korian's relentless onslaught, Zion blocked each strike with increasing difficulty. "Spirit determines magical resistance and mana regeneration," he wheezed, feeling the strain of the exertion. "Acuity signifies mental sharpness and awareness."

“Affinity measures magical damage and proficiency with mana,” he managed to squeak out before a strike struck his windpipe, momentarily cutting off his breath. Gasping for air, he dropped his blade, clutching at his throat in distress.

"Fantastic effort, Zion! You nearly held out for over a minute that time!" Korian praised, helping Zion to his feet as he struggled to catch his breath. "You'll get a breather from sparring now. Next up, push-ups. I know how much you love those."

Zion groaned at the prospect, but he complied with a resigned nod, assuming the push-up position without delay. Korian grinned at Zion's readiness before explaining the task at hand.

"For this task, you'll perform twenty-five push-ups for each part answered incorrectly," Korian instructed, crouching down to ensure Zion understood. "You must remain in the ready stance the entire time you answer. Falling down means you don’t get to finish, resulting in fifty push-ups regardless of your response."

Zion acknowledged the instructions with a determined nod. "Alright," Korian said, rising to his feet. "What are the five tiers of advancement? And what's required to progress through each tier?"

"Gah, the tiers," Zion muttered under his breath, bracing himself for the challenge. "Tier one is the String tier, where one must collect various strings from abilities and skills. Then, they must thread these strings together to form a basic understanding of their path."

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Zion drew in a deep breath, steeling himself before launching into the explanation of the second tier two.“Tier two is the Thread tier. To pass this milestone, one must bring their threads into a braid. Once braided, the individual's abilities truly come forth, enhancing each aspect of themselves tremendously.” His left arm trembled under the strain, but he persisted, pushing through the discomfort.

Continuing with his recitation, he gritted his teeth as he struggled to maintain his composure. “The third tier is Braid,” Zion continued, his words coming out in a rushed blur. “During this stage, individuals must weave their braids into an image symbolizing their journey, encapsulating the trials they've overcome.”

His mind felt hazy from the exertion, but Zion pressed on, desperate to finish. “Finally, there's the Tapestry tier,” he concluded, each word a struggle. “At this pinnacle, one becomes a true master of their power. They truly understand what they are, and their image is recognized as a masterpiece by the Weave itself. Those who reach this tier have the power to change the world.”

As Zion's arms gave out, he collapsed to the ground, sand filling his mouth as he hit the earth. Through his coughing and sputtering, he heard a disappointed sigh from Korian.

“You were doing well, Zion, but technically, you got all your answers wrong,” Korian chastised, his tone stern as he looked down at Zion. ”Before the Tapestry tier, you have the Woven tier. That is the tier where the image has gained its final form, minus some details. It is the brink of mortal potential.”

“Okay, fair enough, sir. I missed one tier. But how were the other four incorrect?” Zion asked unabashedly. He knew for a fact that his previous answers were right. He always struggled to remember the Woven tier because it sounded so much like the Tapestry tier, a fact that he had mentioned several times during instruction.

“What you said wasn’t incorrect, but you omitted some key information. I even left it out of my answer to see if you'd bring it up.” He told Zion with a frown. “You forgot to mention the level requirements for each tier. I know we teach you that the mechanics of a tier are most important, but levels are vital. Tier one is one through ten, tier two eleven through twenty, tier three twenty-one through thirty, tier four thirty-one through forty, and finally, the final tier requires you to get from forty-one to fifty.”

“Damn it!” Zion cursed under his breath, earning a reproachful glance from Korian. He quickly apologized, regretting his slip.

“Rules are rules, Zion,” Korian responded firmly. “That'll be a hundred and twenty-five push-ups. I'll fetch you some water.” With Korian's departure, Zion begrudgingly began his punishment, his arms protesting with every movement.

Korian returned about thirty minutes later to the prone figure of Zion. He was gasping in lungfuls of air and mouthfuls of sand. He had just finished his assigned amount maybe three minutes ago. Zion popped up at the sight of the canteen Korian held, practically ripping it from his hands. He drank greedily, savoring the sweet nectar.

“Don’t down that too fast now.” Korian laughed at Zion's gluttonous consumption. “While you're satiating your thirst, I'll review the next event.” He began to pace around Zion while he drank. “You only have one more series of questions left. Yes, you heard me right.” Zion's eyes had been pried from the canteen at the announcement. He had figured there would be way more to this test.

“Believe it or not, this test doesn’t really mean anything. Still, it never fails that in any school, in any Sphere, kids freak out about it.” Korian started, seeing the relief in Zion's eyes. “Every question we ask you is just to make your starting life easier. It's all things you already know but might have deemed unimportant. The only thing you need to gain from this test is the ability to process critical information.”

Korian waited expectantly for Zion's acknowledgment, who nodded in understanding, eager to proceed. "Good, then onto the last event," Korian declared, taking the canteen from Zion with a solemn expression. "I'll subject your body to a magical attack for this question."

Zion's eyes widened in apprehension, but Korian quickly reassured him. "Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you," Korian chuckled, dismissing Zion's concerns. "The attacks will sting a bit, but they're manageable. Just focus on answering the question before the pain overwhelms you."

Without waiting for further instructions, Zion assumed an at-ease stance, mentally preparing himself for what was to come. While they weren't soldiers, certain protocols had become ingrained through their schooling, earning a grunt of approval from Korian.

With a practiced motion, Korian raised his arm, a faint yellow glow emanating from his palm as he prepared a spell. "What are the Spheres? How many are there, and what do they represent? How do they affect your life and the process of climbing tiers?" Korian's question was a weighty one, demanding a comprehensive understanding of their world.

Feeling the first bolt of electricity coursing through his body, Zion gritted his teeth against the shock, determined to answer. "Spheres are the domains inhabited by the people of Nifell, encompassing various species such as humans, elves, and dwarves," he began, his voice steady despite the discomfort. "They serve to segregate the tiers of power within the world, preventing stronger individuals from preying on the weaker ones."

As another bolt struck him with increased intensity, Zion pressed on, his resolve unwavering. "Each Sphere accommodates individuals within a specific level range. Once you out-level a Sphere, you're given ten days to leave. Failure to do so results in being cast into the Void," he explained, his muscles tensing against the pain.

Despite the growing agony, Zion continued, his voice strained but determined. "Currently, there are three hundred and ninety-four Spheres, each crucial for adventurers like me to navigate. We must carefully plan our leveling based on the Spheres we enter to avoid being stranded in the Void," he concluded, his words punctuated by a final bolt of pain.

The final shot escaped before his answer was finished and collided with his sternum. It felt like being hit by a mana-cart, and Zion went to the ground for at least the fifth time that day. His breathing locked as electricity coursed through his veins. He started to panic, scratching at his throat, trying to get some oxygen to come through.

In a swift motion, Korian was by Zion's side, his hand emitting a soft yellow light as he calmed the panicked young man. "Keep calm, Zion. You're breathing, even if it doesn't feel like it," Korian reassured him, his touch on Zion's chest a grounding anchor amidst the turmoil. "Imagine the air coming in and your panic going out," he coached gently, guiding Zion to find a soothing rhythm.

As Zion's breathing steadied, Korian patted him on the chest before rising to his feet. "See, you're fine. Just a little panic, that's all. And you answered that question well," Korian praised, offering a nod of approval as Zion struggled to regain his composure. With patience, Korian waited as Zion took his time recovering, silent support in the aftermath of the ordeal.

"This is it, Zion, the last time you'll train under me," Korian announced once Zion had gathered himself, his tone reflecting both pride and a hint of sadness. "You've been an amazing student, always pushing yourself further. I have no doubt you'll excel as an adventurer."

Zion felt a surge of emotion at Korian's words. While he had received praise from many, Korian's acknowledgment held a special significance. "Thank you, Korian. It's been an honor to learn from you. Among all the instructors, you've been my favorite," Zion expressed sincerely, a genuine warmth in his voice.

Korian grinned in response, his confidence shining through. "Well, duh, kid. I'm pretty badass; even I know that" he quipped with a playful smirk. "Now get out of here, squirt. Go home and rest. Tomorrow's a big day!"

With a sense of pride and newfound confidence, Zion bid farewell to Korian and the school. Despite being covered in sand and sweat, he carried himself with assurance as he walked out the school's front doors. Pausing to glance back at the sign for Kar’s Prep School, a wave of nostalgia washed over him, tinged with a hint of melancholy. Yet, as he walked away, he knew that the lessons learned within those halls would guide him for a lifetime.