> For the safety of exam participants, every simulation system needs to be equipped with emergency shutdown switches in case of imminent danger. What classifies as 'danger' could range from system failures, unexpected Soul Rifts, natural disasters, or war.

Excerpt from "Socen Promotion Test Rules & Guidelines"

Melodi Baggardo

Father is as much a rational person as he is superstitious. He prays to the shrine behind Lady Tanaka's resident every month on the full moon, and he used to pray before every battle. He gave me his ring for divine protection, and told me that faith would guide me through tough times. He also told me that when my left eye twiches, be on guard because bad things might happen.

And I wake up with a twitching left eye. And it kept twitching until I finished my theory test in Mechanic Leviathan's workshop, which is way too disheveled a place to conduct a test. Metal parts are everywhere on chairs and tables, apart from the one I'm sitting on, though his workshop isn't nearly as messy as it should be for a room with tens of different unfinished machines and a space big enough for only five people to fit in. Leviathan likes to call it his 'decor', a kind of orderly chaos.

Leviathan's real name is Long Tran, but as with everyone with a nickname, we never call him Long. He's a short man with a neat black comb over and a messy moustache, a mishmash he never bothered to correct. His outfit's always filled with grease and Soul Dust, the heart and pulses of every mechanical creation he's made. I remember being terrified of him when I was a little kid, partly because of his unhumanly deep voice, and partly because of his right eye. His right eye isn't an eye. It's prosthetic optic, one that glows a frightening laser red whenever he stares at something. I never know how he lost his actual eye because he never talked about it to anyone and I never gathered the courage to ask him. Azra told me a Cercelian infantry gouged his eye out with a spear. Tamara said it had something to do with a freak accident in his workshop back in Socen. Father told me the socket that should've housed his right eye had always been hollow to begin with.

He's supposed to keep an eye out when I do the test, but all he's been doing is poking at some glowing globe with a screwdriver.

"What's that thing, Leviathan?" I ask as I give him my test sheet.

"Trying to upgrade my own Distortion Orb. If I can tweak the frequency, I might be able to call upon more than one Soulbound Companions." He takes the sheet from me, his eyes still glued to his creation.

"What's wrong with Alexa?" Alexa is the name of his SC.

"Nothing. But different SC has different bodies of knowledge. Alexa knows a lot about marine monsters, but when I'm fighting in, say, a forest like Likimi, I'd want more than question marks on my opponents' stat menu." He flips my paper over and take a glance, but I know he's not actually reading. "How do you think you did?"

"Satisfactory. But darn it, I won't get a perfect score. There's this one question about aviation warfare that made me go completely blank when I read it."

"Mhm. You can head over to the Training Ground for Solo and Teamwork."

"Okay. Thanks, Levi."

"It's Leviathan. By the way, out of interest, who did you pick as your partner for Teamwork?"

"Eugene."

"Interesting." He says nothing more. I can't even read from his tone if he regards it as a good choice.

When I arrive at the training ground, the faces who should be there are already there: Eugene, Tamara, and Father. The General has already sat on the umpire chair, staring down at me with a scrutinizing look. Today he's supposed to lead his men deep into the forest for hunting, and he almost never misses a session. But he's here.

"Father."

"There is my daughter. You are a minute late," he says as I walk up to him.

"I apologize."

He crosses his arms over his chest. "I came here to see you pass, and pass with flying color. It is about time you live up to the name of a Baggardo. You will not disappoint me, will you?" He coughs and covers his mouth with his hand as he finishes talking.

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"Yes, Father. Also, Father. . ."

"What is it?"

"You seem to be coughing a lot more today. Do you feel alright?"

"Focus on your exam."

"I-I'm just worried about you."

"If you're worried, you should pass this exam."

My heart drops when Father doesn't even look at me as he talks. He turns away, his hand rubbing his throat.

"Yes, Father." I lightly bow to him.

As I walk to the field for the Individual portion of the test, I feel my fingers shaking.

***

You passed.

I drop on my knees as the words run across the dashboard on the other side of the field. The giant octopus Kokal was one of the hardest opponents, but I've fought against it no less than five times. I know the drill.

I jump from the rendered ship to a small canoe and 'row' back to 'shore', which is the starting mark, to finish my test. Waiting for me there is Tamara who's clapping with a delighted grin and Eugene with hands in his pocket, chewing a bombom leaf or whatever he can find in place of actual gum. Tamara congratulates me and Eugene mouths a 'you did good'. I feel happy for a second.

Then I walk over to Father. He gives me a single nod and say, "when you were near the ship bow, you could've duck below the metal bar to avoid a Tentacle Slap. Instead, you lost one-fourth of your health bar."

"I will do better," I reply, biting back my words. I just defeated one of the hardest bosses, and he could've give me a single compliment. The General left Eugene and all the others for his other officers to train, and he's never been this critical about anybody else's performance.

"Am I that bad a fighter to him?" I ask Alleria, who I've summoned to aid me in the test.

"Awww, sugar," she replies in her honey-coated voice. "You know he never means for you to take anything he says in a negative light. Man's got problem with communicating his emotions, but he means well and swell."

"You don't live inside his mind." I grit my teeth.

"Neither do you. Nothing good comes from second guessing."

Eugene's whines ring out from afar. "Can we do Teamwork now? Waiting is such a bore, I almost nodded off."

The first four parts of the Teamwork test were a stroll. Out of the four tests, there were three we didn't practice together for, but we've fought alongside for long enough so that our coordination shone through.

Now, for the fifth test.

When the test is rendering, I close my eyes and pray.

Please be the Ghost of Sasimari. Kalavenka Birdwomen. I'd even take the three-headed Hydra. Please. Please. Please, don't be. . .

"Ah, darn." Comes the voice of Eugene. When I open my eyes, I realize why he exclaimed.

Before my eyes is the way to the dragon cave. The noise of augmented wind blowing on the rock weave into the cacophony of sounds I can't find the sources. Every now and then, a shadow in the distance moves closer then fades away. I don't know if it's my imagination, but this level is already freaking me out.

Maybe this was why my eye twitched.

I turn to my father, who returns my gaze with a slight frown. Maybe I let my fear shown. I can already imagine the disappointed look on his face after I finish this test.

"You have a plan, sugar?" Alleria asks.

"I had a plan. It didn't turn out so well."

"Just go with the flow, dude," Eugene assures non-assuringly. "I'm well-rested today. We're gonna outrun that reptile."

All of a sudden, an idea hits me. I grab Eugene by his wrist, causing him to yelp, "Domestic violence equals ten years in prison!"

"Listen. I've got something. You know how we can't beat Kleisow with speed, right?"

"Debatable. What about it?"

"Let's switch roles. You provide distraction. I take the chalice. When it executes its final skill, I set up a barrier. That way I can make it out alive."

"Better than trying a known failing method again."

We proceed as planned. The first half of our attack was smooth sailing. We succeed in pulling both levers. Eugene is obviously more than capable to dodge Kleisow's fireballs, and I've already hid under the closest rock to the chalice. I'm not as fast as Eugene, so I need to time my run right.

When I hear the sound of fire leaving the dragon's throat, I know that it's prime time. I can't run like the wind, so I slide across the ground. Dust splurts as I grab on the chalice and jerk it off the ground.

This is where the Tail Swipe comes.

I can't dodge it like Eugene. But there's one thing I can do.

I activate Soundwave Infusion and load it into my flail. The weapon glows, then I smash it on a scale as the tail comes. The swipe sweeps me off my feet, but the power I put into my weapon helps deflect the hit at just the right angle so I glide up the cave. The chalice is still in my grasp.

"Run!" Alleria screams. And she's right.

Don't look around. Don't turn back. Just run.

I don't have eyes behind my back. I can't feel changes in temperature. I need to use my other senses to spot danger.

I hear the sound of a Fireball approaching. I dodge to the right.

Then I hear another one. I dodge to the right again.

And the third one. The sound comes from a different angle. I dodge to the left.

I evaded them all. Auditory detection is one of my finer skills.

Right then, the ground below me starts to turn into a blinding white, some spots brighter than others. Hearing senses won't help me here.

"Toughen up, sweetie! Blazing Inferno is coming!" Alleria warns, then flashes the stats in front of me.

Blazing Inferno Remaining HP 20,867 Fire Pillar Damage 40,000 Sonic Barrier AOE Damage 25,000 Physical Damage Absorption 5,000

I have to time my barrier right. If I don't stand atop of a fire pillar and have my barrier up in time for the AOE, I will survive. Barely, but I WILL survive.

The spot I'm standing on seems much brighter than the others. It's getting dazzling, too. This must be the moment.

I roll away from the spot, hold my hands together into a single fist, then slam it on the ground. This allows me to direct the barrier face down.

Kleisow growls. Then the flame bursts.

Invisible pressure clenches on me so hard I almost choke. The lightbulbs around my body beep in chaos. I grasp the chalice, patiently stays inside my barrier until it breaks. Then the pressure pushes me away from the cave entrance, where I can see the words Test In Progress still on the dashboard.

The AOE passes. And I'm alive.

The dragon will not cause me any more trouble from this range. I dodge another fireball and rush to the entrance ahead. The night sky greets me with its twinkling star and a promise of success. Just pass the entrance and you will pass this test.

An banging explosion erupts. The simulation system shuts down.