“State the formula to calculate the temporal zone in a given area. Once identified, use the formula to calculate the timestream in the surrounding area, and with it, stop time for the duration of a second.”

This is bad. I affixed my eyes on the question, not looking away for even a second. I stared hard, seemingly trying to bore a hole right through the paper. But, no matter how long I gazed at it, it didn't solve itself. How strange.

I picked up my pen, holding an extra sheet of paper for calculations, and hovered the tip of my pen over it. My mind was empty. I didn't even know these sorts of words existed. Knowing the meaning of them was another question in and of itself.

Unfair. I didn't even know that I would be having a test, and I wouldn't complain if it was only a practical test. I survived an assault from an elite squad of Assassins, so I think I can handle a situation where I have to use my magic.

The use of magic in this situation though, is not preferable. I stared with blank eyes, not knowing where to even start. I seem to recall this topic being discussed back home, but too bad that it couldn't continue.

In the middle of the lecture, a rogue monster from the nearby Colosseum escaped and caused a ruckus. By ruckus, I meant it destroyed the whole room and we, the students, were forced to evacuate. And unluckily for the class, and luckily for me since I was dozing off, it arrived the moment class started.

In the end, it was killed, yet it took a while since another meteor was hurling toward our classroom at that time. A stray meteor I would like to add. The Sensei in that department is really careless honestly.

Going back to my test, I still had no idea how to solve it.

I glanced around and saw that the old man was still looking over the papers of his own. I wanted to ask something about the question, like what do those words mean. But my lips were sealed tight.

Reeling my attention back, I looked at what number I was on and my mood immediately sank. I looked at the clock and realized that only half an hour had passed.

I was on question Number One.

This isn't going well. Giving a sigh, I held my pen and started writing stuff on the paper. I might as well give it a try.

…

“Done Mr. Old Man.”

“My name is Abraham von Knox, not Old Man! You are lucky to be under his protection, or else I might have shattered your soul into tiny pieces.”

A child went down my spine when I heard his words, yet I quickly concealed it and acted like nothing. One by one, he went through every question, his thoughts and expression on it imperceptible as his face was hard to read.

He had a deadpan expression. My palms were sweaty, my fingers constantly fidgeting with the pencil I was holding. My body felt like it was carrying a boulder, while simultaneously climbing up a mountain.

I know the feeling since Mr. Samuel made me do it once that time. It wasn't a fun time that I could clearly remember.

There was one fact though. It's that the person in front of me can shred me to pieces without even so much as blinking.

What if I didn't pass? What if I wasn't able to get into the school? What then?

Questions kept popping up in my head, a solution unclear as I had no idea what to think of it. Suddenly, I remembered what Mr. Samuel taught me about being in high-pressure situations. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Doing it a few more times until I noticed that my hands no longer shook, and I felt a little more calm on the inside.

“Done.”

Never mind it was back. I nervously glanced back at the Old Man, unknown if I passed or not, his countenance showing no signs of whether it was positive or not. He slowly opened his mouth and said.

“Alright, next test.”

“Wait so does that mean I pass-”

Without even letting me finish, he flicked his hand and I soon vanished into thin air. So unfair.

…

Abrahams eyed the spot where the kid disappeared. Not removing his gaze from it. He was lost in thought, thinking about various things about the little kid.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“How did he do?”

Samuel appeared beside him, his eyes still indifferent yet contained a hint of worry. The old man didn't reply, continuing to stare at the spot where Cosmo disappeared. Samuel wasn't offended, instead, he waited as he knew that he was always like this. Fighting it would just become a useless argument that would end with either of them being half-dead or just dead.

“He is an interesting kid you picked up Samuel.”

“I know, that's why I taught him some things. If he wasn't interesting, I wouldn't consider taking him in.”

“Keep telling yourself that.”

Samuel glared daggers at the old man yet he did not seem to be bothered by it. Instead, he stood up and approached where Cosmo sat. He was at his desk, caressing a hand over the surface. Feeling the smooth surface of the wood, handcrafted by himself with the rarest materials in the continent.

“Fascinating.”

“What do you mean?”

“See for yourself.”

The old man motioned at the table, its appearance being that of any table that can be found in any place. The only differing thing it had from the others was its sleek appearance of it, but also the mysterious aura that Cosmo wasn't able to see

Samuel had a doubtful expression, yet he complied and started approaching. When he got close, he felt the aura become faint, like it did not even exist.

His hair stood on end yet he stayed beside it and soon sat down. The moment he did, he understood what the old man meant.

Samuel felt a suction of immense force, feeling as though he was stuck on the chair, unable to remove himself. And that was a better option, Samuel thought.

Samuel felt like he was being drained of mana like a pig being drained of blood. Groggily, he forcefully stood up and backed away from the object. Bewilderment was apparent on his face.

“What the hell is that?”

“I would like to know as well.”

The old man approached the desk, placing a hand on its surface, feeling his mana being sucked away. Where the man was going, he had no clue

“This was an Artefact I accidentally acquired, the specifics of where and how you don't need to know, but its uses, I can tell you.”

Samuel looked on with eyes full of suspicion, yet he didn't show it and masked it with a face of puzzlement. Though it's not a lie that he also felt that way.

“As you can see, it can suck away the mana of any individual that either touches the desk, though it is minuscule in comparison once the person has sat on the chair.”

“How? Indeed some artifacts can drain someone's mana, yet what's the use of this artifact that greedily takes away mana.”

“I don't know. But there is one clear truth, once someone stays long enough, it won't be long till they become a husk of their former selves. Neither dead nor alive, a state of in-between where they can still feel they are alive, yet not at the same time.”

He gazed away from the desk, directing his attention back to Samuel. He realized that there was a look of murderous intent in Samuels's eyes, his hands seemingly ready to grab him by the neck and shake him as hard as he could.

“Don't worry Samuel, I won't actually let the kid die. It was just a test is all.”

“…”

“Moving on, the last person who sat on it, lasted for about 5 minutes and as I said, was put in a state between life and death.”

Alarmed, Samuel stared at Abraham and coldly asked.

“How long...”

“One hour.”

The air stilled, seemingly freezing on itself. Samuel didn't know what to say, he felt that at best, he could last for twenty minutes if he controlled his flow of mana, yet he knew that he would be extremely weakened after. So he thought, how did the kid last that long?

“Where did you pick him up, Samuel? That boy, he shouldn't even exist.”

Curiosity was apparent in his eyes, yet also fear, fear that someone like that can actually exist.

“The test. How did he do on the test?”

Samuel moved the topic, not wanting to dive into that topic. Abraham saw it and reluctantly agreed, still wanting to find out who the boy really is. A piece of paper appeared in front of him and he pushed it to Samuel.

Once Samuel saw the test score, a slight sigh escaped his mouth. He lightly held his face and felt utter despair. He did see that the questions were complicated but complicated for a 9-year-old that is.

“He is an idiot.”

“Indeed so. But he still passed the first phase, not to worry. His knowledge will be cultivated in the Academy if he passes.”

The reality around them started shifting, Abrahams's eyes turned into a gray hue, and soon enough the desk and chair were gone, the strange space that occupied their vision.

They were back in the forest, and the moon still hung in the sky for an inordinate amount of time. Samuel stood beside Abraham as they both looked to the stars, unknown of which they were feeling.

“Samuel, where did you get him?”

“The stars are shining as bright as ever I see, that's good that's good.”

There were no stars in the sky, as the moon was the only thing that could be seen in the great big body of the sky. Abraham didn't seem to mind him not answering and instead kept silent, aware that there was no point pushing this fellow.

“The next phase is, I believe, something he can handle. There is a problem, unfortunately.”

Samuel didn't seem to be bothered by the last thing he said, so he asked.

“What's the problem?”

“He might die…”

“Everyone dies.”

“You seem to have misunderstood but he really might die this time. I do not know what sort of tests you put up on this kid, but this time… This time he really might die.”

Samuel was startled, not understanding what sort of test could be enough to kill Cosmo, but then he remembered a certain someone that he brought along with him. A sigh escaped his mouth as he continued to gaze at the moon.

“The moon looks shit tonight Abraham.”

“Indeed.”

They stood there, time passing as Abraham gently looked at the moon. Memories resurface in his mind, a time where it was so long ago that he has almost forgotten. He looked to his side and realized that Samuel was gone.

“Damned rat.”

Abraham soon vanished also, leaving a quiet and serene place in their wake, no traces that a battle ever occurred.

…

“You want me to do what?”

“Indeed, you heard me right.”

What have I got myself into? I fixed my eyes on the old man, trying to see his end game here. Yet he didn't seem disturbed by my heavy gaze and instead looked at me with a stern gaze. Old man.

“Now the last test starts. Go.”

With a flick of his wrist, the surrounding changed into a completely white space, nothing contained in it except for one person. She stood there, sword drawn, a scarlet hue was visible in her eyes. She gazed at me with freezing coldness that was enough to freeze the underworld ten times over.

“Oh boy.”