“With recommendations out of the way, and you knowing what to do, we shall begin. Once again in groups of five, step forward when your name is called. First to do the course, Mathew, Coral, Joseph, Stephen, and Felix. You may begin when ready, once you reach the end you shall be informed of your score by the knight there.” Roland finishes off his introduction of the course, standing aside so as to not impede the summoned.

Watching the five do the course, I’m pleasantly surprised by their speed. After watching the spars that happened before, I was worried that they wouldn't be able to do very well.

Continuing to watch as more summoned run the course, I notice that some of them made movements that were drastically different then the rest of their run. Thinking that it must be thanks to their skills, I feel a slight jealousy that I didn’t receive any major skills.

Aside from my innate ability that is, though I feel that there is more to it than being a simple random chance to acquire. Besides, a healthy dose of competitiveness and jealousy never hurt anyone. Right?

Don’t answer that.

Noticing a man walking towards me in priest attire, similar to the ones Lady Arwin was wearing, I break away from my silly wonderings and turn my attention to him.

“My apologies Hero, I was instructed by Sir Roland to treat any injuries you may have.” He says. Curious as to how he would help, I give him a nod of conformation.

Placing his hand on my chest, I wince as it was the same place I was hit by Sir Roland. A slight light emanates from his hand and a feeling of relief washes over me.

Relaxing and letting my thoughts wander yet again as to why I may have received my innate ability while the priest worked some interesting magic, I fail to notice Sir Roland approaching me.

“Sir Erja, do you mind if I talk with you?” He asks.

Looking up from my thoughts, I come to attention and greet him. “Sir Roland, of course. If I may be impolite for a moment.” I receive a nod of confirmation, “Why is it that you are being so formal as to call me Sir? I am aware of the status implication along with the honour that accompanies it, so I can’t help but wonder what it is I did to be rewarded with it.” I ask.

He looks at me for a moment with slight surprise, “I thought you were going to ask something else, and you aren't being impolite. If anything you are a higher status than me, with you being a Hero.”

He pauses a moment, as if to think over his words, “If I’m being honest,” he says, “The spar we had and your skill makes me not able to bring myself to address you with disrespect.”

Being caught off guard, not expecting Sir Roland to bring up respect over something like a simple spar, I take a minute to completely understand his words.

Stating my mind, I say to him “I enjoyed the spar quite a bit, I doubt I would have been so immersed in it if I was to be fighting against someone with less skill then yourself.” I give him a small bow out of respect, which he returns.

“Keeping in line with the spar,” I continue, “The axe you let me use, allow me to return it.” I say, holding out the axe to him in a polite manner.

“Keep it, it’s not a particularly special axe in how it’s made or its history. But let it be special because it was the first weapon you used, and as a sign of honour that you performed well.” He returns, pushing the axe back towards my chest.

I feel a sense of pride, yet don’t show it. “Thank you Sir Roland, I shall keep it as a symbol of respect towards your kindness.” I tuck it into my belt, caressing it for a moment before giving another full bow to Sir Roland.

“Haha! You really are humble aren't you?” He says, giving me a rough pat on the back. “While I can’t call you Sir as an official term or in front of royalty, I am more than happy to call you Sir while in the company of just you. And even if I don’t, word of mouth will make the rest of the knights call you Sir anyway, whether you like it or not.”

While normally I would nip any sense of pride in the bud, so as not to be arrogant, I continue to let it slide and ride the high it brought, enjoying the feeling for the moment.

“Thank you, Sir Roland.” I say with a genuine respect, not the placebo emotions I had shown before.

“Don’t let it get to your head too much. You still have much to do.” He says, “Having said that, it’s your turn to run the course. Good luck.”

Giving another small bow, I move to the front of the course where I do some light stretches. Readying myself for the run, I make sure that the axe at my side is snugly secure. Confirming that it was not going to fall off while moving.

I do a small jump, and the moment my feet touch the floor, I sprint. Leaping over the first hurdle, I mantle up the next in a quick motion. Followed by a fluid roll into another sprint.

Well ahead of the other four that had been called forward at the same time as me, I pull my full focus and nearly fly over the next few obstacles, before landing in front of a climbing wall.

Using the arena’s wall as a jump to get over, I spring up and haul myself over the last part before landing on the other side and finishing the course.

The knight at the end seeing me land startles. Not expecting me, or anyone for that matter, to be done with the course so fast. I take a few fast breaths, before slowing down and breathing in deeply.

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Having caught my breath, I look to the knight, “What was my time?” I ask. Expecting 30 or so seconds, as that would be an acceptable and even arrogant time for me to guess, I’m surprised to hear his answer.

“It was… 11 seconds…” I look at him, simply staring at him for a few seconds too long, as he starts to fidget under my gaze.

I blink a few times, ‘11 seconds? Knowing my running speed and agility from before, I should not have been that fast…’

Bringing up my stats, I stare at the likely culprit of 13 agility. ‘I didn’t think that my stats would boost my speed by so much.’ Looking at my overall status sheat, I notice a change that I missed before.

[Name: Erja

Race: Humanoid

Class:

Vit: 14

Agi: 13

Str: 12

Mag: 11

Def: 13

Status: Fine,

Innate Ability:

:Voice of nothing: - (Hidden)

Skills:

Lower water affinity: lvl 1, Lower blood affinity: lvl 2, Axe handling: lvl 3,]

My Axe handling skills prefix changed, and it increased a level. ‘I assume it increased when I was fighting Sir Roland.’ I start to move towards the rest of the people who finished the gauntlet, hearing the other four summoned finish at a similar pace to each other.

Walking towards the summoned, I overhear them talking about how they arrived here. “I’m pretty sure I was brought here after falling asleep.” “Lucky, I died in a car accident.” “I also died, I don’t really want to think about it…”

A sombre tone sweeps across the group, seemingly broken when one of them notices me approaching.

“Hey, isn’t your name Erja?” one of them asks. Almost like a flock of birds who all saw a piece of food on the ground, they all look towards me, some with looks of awe, others with fear, and others with jealousy.

They just watch me for a moment, before I respond “I am, why?”. Almost like a single to go ahead, they start asking questions.

“How did you get here?” “Who were you that you’re that good at fighting?” “Why did you make that face when you were sparring with Sir Roland?”. Not being able to answer everything at once, and not feeling obligated to in the first place, I just wait for the din to die down with a scowl I fail to hide as my agitation climbs.

Luckily, or not, one of them speaks up over the crowd. “Guys, calm down!” Gathering the attention of the group, I watch him with curiosity. Seeing how he held himself, talked, and the others listened and reacted, I assumed that he was one of if not the only unofficial leader of the summoned.

“I understand why you are asking him so many questions, but please do it one at a time in a civil manner. We were all brought to this place for a reason, and I believe we need to work together to accomplish that reason. But to do that, we need to be organised!”

Listening to his speech, I can’t help but want to shrivel up and hide from second hand embarrassment. Not letting it show on my face, I mentally scream for him to either shut up or get over with his words.

“Now that we have quieted down, I’ll ask fellow Hero Erja the questions you had.” “Why should you be the one to ask him?” Another demanding voice yells, moving to the front of the crowd steps a girl who seems to be roughly 17, maybe 18.

Worst of all, and weirdly fitting for her attitude, she had pink hair. ‘Why is it always fucking pink hair in novels???’ I think to myself, yet again getting washed away by second hand embarrassment.

The guy from before looks toward her, “I am simply taking initiative. When we are working together to do things, we can get better results.”

There it is, yet another wave comes to swallow me whole.

“Don’t be a goody two shoes, you don’t run this group!” says the girl, “Yeah, you aren't the boss of us!” “Stop being a jackass and making all the decisions!” Almost like a trope, two guys seemingly appear out of nowhere and support the girl.

‘I’m being drowned! I can’t take another wave!’ Praying to the supposed gods of this world, I begged to be freed of this situation.

Letting the two groups duke it out, I memorise the two people that started this whole situation so I can remember to steer at least 24 miles clear of them at all times.

Much to my growing suspiciously perfect luck, I am saved from dealing with whatever it was that I was witnessing because I simply existed.

“Due to an unforeseen issue regarding the kingdom at large, myself and the knights guards are unable to give the time to continue with the planned second spar.” Sir Roland calls out.

Having gathered the attention of all the summoned, myself included, he continues on for a moment going over what I could only describe as pleasantries before hurrying us off to the next part of our evaluation.

Not before reading out what sounded like a rehearsed script mind you, always have time for a few of those.

“Now that all of you have completed the course. You will move along to magic theory and comprehension. Once you are done with that, you will be shown to a room that you may call your own for the time being. While testing your magic skills past what the appraisers can do, you will also be given more information on how your next few days will go. I do apologise for postponing the second spar due to a matter that arose requiring my, and the rest of the knight captain's present, attention.” Sir Roland declares.

The two that were arguing just moments ago give each other one last look, one a scowl, and the other a poorly faked calm.

Guess who which gaze belonged to, I have a hunch you’ll get it pretty quickly. The group starts to follow Sir Roland back into what could only be called a castle that we were summoned in.

Wondering what it was that called Sir Rolands attention, I end up writing it off as some sort of military issue or meeting. Though curiosity does make me wonder a bit more as we continue walking for a few more minutes then one might expect, eventually arriving at what looked like a small lecture hall.

Standing on the main podium in the middle, backed by a massive black board, was the priestess Arwin that spoke way back at the beginning.