Expect the unexpected, as Mr. Samuel always says. After that, I did just that. Expecting every and all possible solutions and outcomes to a situation. Granted I didn't expect him to assault me with a full squad of elite assassins while I was hunting myself, but hey that's life.

Some things just happen without us expecting them to. Like this trip. Thought it was a simple slice 'em and drag 'em mission, but never mind.

“You have failed Cosmo le Strange.”

The old man, who stepped out of the moon as if he lived there, spoke. His snow-white beard gently swayed against the wind, descending to the ground as if he was a celestial judging the mortals from below. His gray eyes containing mysteries to which I did not understand, stared at me with visible annoyance.

I did not speak nor react, my strange state still persisted for I have no idea how to stop it. I continued observing, a passive look etched into my eyes like it was carved there with a sword.

Crouching, I picked up my weapons and gripped them tightly. The sheer aura that emanated from the old man was deep, daunting as if I was looking at a being of unimaginable power, yet disguised as a harmless-looking moon.

He fully descended and the moment he did. Reality seemed to have been warped, the color of everything around me turning black and white, seemingly enclosed in a pure gray space.

He took his eyes off me, switching to Mr Samuel.

“He failed.”

“He was right when he said you were a crackpot.”

The gray and white space vibrated, shaking as if the space came alive. It started encroaching on Mr. Samuel, seemingly trying to devour him. He shrugged, raising his chokuto and slicing at the gray matter trying to consume him.

With his slice, a part of reality seemed to have been shattered, an apparent crack appearing as it showed what seemed to be the real reality on the other side, Full of color and vibrancy, as much life as it can show under the shadow of the night.

“You have wasted my time. He has wasted my time. I will be taking my leave.”

“You two. Stop.”

The two people froze in their steps, abruptly looking over at me, a pair of gray and pale blue eyes boring down on me as if I was the spotlight of the occasion. I brushed off their pressure and pointed my sword at the old man.

“Explain Old Man.”

“Old man? You're just as rude as he was, I see.”

Without even giving me time to react, I was already in front of him as he scanned me up and down. I wanted to counter-attack yet somehow, my weapons disappeared. Hands bound by gray chains, carved with sigils that seemed to be whispering secrets to me.

I tore away my attention from it and affixed my eyes on the old man. He took a glance around me, staring at me as if I was a painting in an art gallery. Then he stopped behind me, I wanted to turn around and look at him yet I could not.

“Simple. You failed. Failed to pass the test I created, and that is to subdue Samuel and take his arm. And you have miserably failed.”

“What is the test for?”

After I asked those words, I caught myself saying something wrong. There was definitely something wrong with me, my first concern should have been the requirements of the test, yet why did I ask what was it for first? This is not me.

But I could not take it back. And, I felt, I didn't want to take it back. Like something was preventing me from saying it like I was missing an important piece that allowed me to feel human

“Do you know which school, or academy you were supposed to be entering?”

“Yes.”

“It's because of that. This child is a test for that. To see if you are worthy of entering the halls of the most prestigious university in the entire continent. To be a part of its ancient and long line of history.”

He paused for a second, gazing at me directly as he iterated his words with precision.

“Aurelian Academy.”

He was in front of me, his eyes filled with indifference.

“But you have wasted it. Gave it up for the petty reason of not wanting to hurt Samuel. How Naive.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

He turned around and flicked his robe in arrogance. I didn't care. Whether I entered that stupid university, I never cared for, nor I ever wanted it in the first place. I have everything I need right here.

Turning to look at Mr. Samuel, he still had the same facial expression, yet I saw him give a sigh. He passed by the old man and started walking towards me. Once he reached me, he raised his chokuto and swung at the chains binding me, breaking it into smithereens.

“Let's go kid, I already got the monster meat for the feast, time to go home.”

He smiled, turned away, and started strolling towards the crack in reality. Something was wrong. I rubbed my sore wrists and keenly observed the old man. He was still there, unhurriedly walking out towards the crack in reality.

I thought of Amy and my previous conviction. Maybe I did not care if I entered or not, but what I care about is their safety. I looked towards the moon, its soft light caressing my cheeks. I closed my eyes, giving an inward sigh, and thought that there was no better way it seems.

My eyes snapped open, electrical currents coursing through my legs as I made a dash towards Mr Samuel. Startled, he raised his weapons intending to defend yet I ignored him. I passed by him in a flash, and soon I was at the back of the old man.

Raising both my weapons, I slashed with immense speed and precision as I intended to slice him in half.

“Immature and Naive I see.”

My blades stopped, hovering just above his clothes. I felt my own body freeze, still like a calm lake. The old man slowly turned around and looked at me curiously.

“What are you doing?”

“Passing the test.”

“Passing the test did not include the murder of the overseer.”

I wanted to shrug in response yet could not as I couldn't move any part of my body.

“Another chance. Give me another chance.”

The old man was amused, smiling in response as he said.

“Sure, since I am such a kind person. Bring me that arm of Samuel Westwood and you shall pass.”

“I knew I should have killed you…” murmured Mr. Samuel, his words in earshot of us.

“Another requirement.”

“That's not possible, child. What's been required must be fulfilled.”

I gazed directly at him, iterating my words again with force.

“Another requirement.”

With my words, a golden light seemed to have shone behind me. Once the old man saw the light, he had an annoyed look on his face but just sighed.

“Alright then. But only this one time.”

All of a sudden, my sword continued its motion as it made its way to the old man. He didn't seem to be bothered by it, as he vanished from his spot like a ghost, appearing in another place. I felt around my body, making sure that all of myself could move.

I looked around searching for the old man and he was a few meters away from me. He opened his mouth as he said.

“The request for new conditions has been approved. Two new conditions have been placed, in position of the previous conditions.”

Planting both of my feet on the ground, I stood ready for the new challenge.

“The test is divided into two parts, and so shall the first one commence.”

Reality started altering, the black-and-white space started shaking as the old man rose into the air with his arms raised. He muttered incantations in a language completely foreign to me, I tried sounding it out yet what I only heard was gibberish.

I crouched down in a stance, thunder flowing through my whole body, with my weapons emitting a crackling thunder like a thunderous sky. The atmosphere reached an all-time high, and with a bright light that covered everything around us, I closed my eyes as I dashed toward it.

Slicing down, I felt I hit something hard, and once the light died down I saw what it was. All of a sudden, my cold and indifferent state was wiped off, reverting me back to a previous state.

The object had a flat surface, square in shape as it was made in what seems to be wooden material. On top of it was a piece of paper with a pencil next to it, and to complete the picture. It had a simple wooden chair in front of it.

I lowered my weapons in despair, and my emotions returned as a torrent of various feelings and emotions all at once popped into my head. Despair, sadness, and even more despair were mixed in. Mostly it was despair.

I slumped to the ground, and my weapons disappeared as I looked helplessly toward the sky. I wanted to scream yet I could not as it seemed that there was something that prevented any noise to exist. I peered towards Mr Samuel and he only had a helpless expression on his face, shaking his head as he started strolling towards the crack in reality.

Once he went out, the crack closed by itself as the place returned to a calm serene black and white. The old man sat at another desk, looking through some papers with a quill in hand. He looked towards me with a quizzical glance, saying.

“Well go ahead. The test starts now, you wish for a second chance so now this is your second chance. Start.”

He looked at me with annoyance in his eyes for one last time, before fixing all his focus at the papers in front of him. I wanted to protest, wanting to say that I would rather fight a dragon than this but my mouth seemed to be sewn shut. The old man could speak, yet I could not.

That's unfair.

Sighing, I weakly stood up and used the chair to lean back against it. I continued to gaze at the piece of paper in front of me.

For some reason, sitting in the chair felt a little weird. I don't know how to explain it but it was like being glued to it without it ever letting go. It terrified me, the thought of taking an exam for all of eternity was horrifying.

I calmed down and relaxed.

I scanned it, swimming through every question, and concluded.

It made no sense.

I raised my hand, something I haven't done in years, and glanced towards the old man. The old man visibly sighed and looked in my direction. He flicked his hand and I felt that I could speak again

“What?”

“Mr. Old Man, I didn't study. Can we take the test another day, and skip to the second part?

“No. And my name isn't an old man. I am Abraham von Knox, the most powerful magus in the entire continent. The Dean of Aurelian Academy, and I shall not be disrespected.”

“But I thought Granny Amanda was the most powerful magus…”

The old man's temperament seemed to have flared, as he abruptly stood up from his place with his papers turning into flames.

“You know that witch! Damn that old hag, how dare he corrupt the mind of a young fledgling like you, no matter how annoying you may be.”

There were several things I wanted to say. Like she shouldn't curse Granny Amanda like that, or that I am not a kid. I am an adult. But judging by his rising temperament, with reality seemingly breaking and shattering on itself, I should keep it to myself for now.

He eventually calmed down and started ignoring me again. I felt that I couldn't move my mouth again so I obediently focused on the test in front of me.

What to do…