Rising of the Running God

Start Of The Explorer Exam...?

"Truly, I thank you for letting me be a disturbance in your travels."

"Not at all, Lord Vayne. It was nice having someone to talk to other than the horses. Maybe after I'm done with… telling the families of my comrades of their and, and you're done with the Explorer exam, we can have a drink."

Somewhere in the wide fields of the city of Termont, the carriage that Vayne had been on for weeks could finally rest, as Vayne said his goodbye to his temporary companions.

"I'm afraid the chance of a fledgling like me passing the exams is almost impossible, Lord Rex. First-timers rarely pass, if at all."

"Well, kid. You got here right on the day of the Yearly Exam, I think that's not a coincidence."

"I'd… call it fate," Vayne could not help but  let out a chuckle, "And you did hasten our travels when you found out I was partaking in the exams."

"Well, if it is your fate not to pass, Lord Vayne…

…then that is all the more reason to drink!" Rex then suddenly burst out in laughter as he tapped Vayne's shoulder several times.

"I… would love that, Lord Rex," Vayne just smiled and nodded. He had never drank alcohol once in his life, but if it was in the company of Rex, then he would not mind,

"I shall take my leave then. Truly, thank you for the companionship."

"You know your way around?"

"...I'll take this chance to walk and explore."

"Alright, see you around, kid. Come find me once you're done."

Throughout their journey to Termont, Vayne chose to stay outside the carriage with Rex— earning new things and taking in the sights he had not seen before.

He even learned how to drive a carriage, and hold a sword. He was learning, learning new things that wouldn't have been possible with a crippled leg.

But alas, was not able to learn extensively due to Alisa getting angry.

"...Madam, thank you for buying me this cloak. You need not need to, but my gratitude is endless," Vayne then said as he bowed towards Alisa, who was standing quietly behind Rex.

"Hm," Alisa, however, only nodded before walking away.

"..."

"The madam is just disappointed she did not have anyone to talk to during the travel," Rex said as he too started to walk away.

"I… could see that."

"Good luck, Lord Vayne."

"I offer the same to you, Lord Rex."

And then, once again, they bid their farewells to each other. He had been with the two for almost a month, he was going to lie if he said he hasn't grown attached to them.

But alas, farewells are inevitable in life.

And so, Vayne put up his black hood, almost covering his entire face as he turned around and also started to walk away, not looking back for a moment.

But if he did, however, he would have probably seen Alisa glancing at him.

***

"...This didn't take long to find."

Termont City.

The 2nd largest city inside the border of the Safe Lands, and perhaps the most advanced in terms of infrastructure and industry.

They use Mana Stones, an energy source that could be mined everywhere and anywhere in the Dark Continent, to power their entire city.

If Vayne remembers it correctly, they call it… a generator. Even their lamps were powered by mana stones.

Vayne didn't really know how they worked since the books about them were exclusive to the magicians in their secluded academies— one of the many reasons why Vayne wanted to be an Explorer, they were allowed to visit their libraries. That, and Vayne just always had a high opinion of them because of his father and his exploits.

They were basically heroes who risk their lives every day— and he always imagined himself to be one of them from all the adventures they had in the books.

"..." With the size of Termont, one would think it would take hours to find your way to your destination, but no.

In just less than an hour, Vayne was already in front of the Explorer Association. There were lots of infrastructures along the way that towered each other, but the Explorer Association stood above them all.

Plus, there were practically many signs pointing to it.

Vayne then turned his head up just to look at the top of the Association. It was no wonder they call it The Tower.

But why they would need a place like this even though the number of Explorers was low, will always remain a mystery to him.

"Stop blocking the way!"

"Make way!"

"Can you people move!? You're disturbing people that just want to go on about our days!"

Although… there were currently a lot of people in front of the tower— no doubt because of the exam that is only held once a year.

Vayne observed what was happening for a few minutes, before finally adjusting his hood and deciding to step inside the tower.

As soon as he got near, however, the people that were standing near the entrance all turned their heads at him.

"Hi, we're from the Ballast guild. Are you perhaps taking the exam?"

"I—"

"...Yes? This is my 3rd time."

Vayne was about to answer, but then realized they weren't actually talking to him, but the person behind him.

"..."

And before Vayne could even find the time to be embarrassed, he found himself being pushed by the crowd… straight into the door of the Tower.

"..." He had always imagined what his first steps would be like as he walked through the doors of the Explorer Association— he imagined there would be bells and a light that would just call to him.

But to think he would just be pushed inside. Alas, he was learning that reality could often be disappointing.

And so, Vayne could really only sigh as he started looking around.

"..."

Vayne was expecting a lot of people due to the crowd outside, but there was no one here.

It looked like what Vayne imagined a tavern would look like, except the tables were empty… not even a single soul.

…Even the noise that should be clamoring outside was nowhere to be heard, even though he could still clearly their shadows dancing in the gaps.

"..." After a few more seconds of just standing around, Vayne finally looked to the only person in the lobby— the receptionist quietly sitting behind a counter right at the very end of the hall, just reading some sort of newspaper and not even looking at Vayne.

"Good day, kind sir. Are you perhaps the person I need to talk to if I wish to partake in the Explorer exam?"

"..." The receptionist just lowered his newspaper to look at Vayne for a few seconds, before he pointed to the door behind him.

"..." Was that door there earlier? Vayne thought as he leaned to the side to look at where the man was pointing.

"Should… I just go in, sir?"

"..."

"..."

Vayne waited for a few seconds to see if the man was going to give further instructions. But alas, he just returned to reading his newspaper.

And so, with a small sigh, Vayne just shrugged and opened the door… and it was dark— too dark.

"..." Vayne then took one final glance at the receptionist, before finally stepping into the darkness. And as he did so, he found himself going down. Stairs…

…a lot of stairs.

He had probably been walking down for a quarter of an hour now, and yet there was not even a sign of anything. But finally, after a few more minutes, light started to seep into his eyes as he stepped into a hall.

A vast hall with a couple of moss already growing here and there. And then, there were people… probably more than a couple of hundreds of them.

Were these people… all taking the test to become Explorers? To think there were this many, and yet only a handful would pass.

That in itself speaks for the difficulty of the exam.

Some were glancing at him as he entered, while most were just idling there doing whatever it is they were doing.

Vayne returned the gazes of those that looked at him. but seeing them all turn their eyes away, Vayne could really only shrug his shoulders as he found an empty spot to sit on.

No one seems to be talking to each other, so Vayne didn't really want to be the one to break the silence. A shame, really. He wanted to find someone who had already taken the test before to ask for information.

And so, he just decided to wait like the rest of them.

A second.

A minute.

An hour.

It took probably 4 more hours until a voice finally reverberated throughout the hall.

"What the fuck is this!?"

Unfortunately for all the examiners there, it was just one of them.

"I've been here for half a fucking day and nothing is happening!? Is this the test!?"

It wasn't only him. Judging by the faces of the people there, they were thinking it too— that was the very reason none of them were complaining in the first place.

"If this is it, then this—"

And before the man could finish his words… several metallic thuds started to resound from the room.

Everyone turned their heads towards the ceiling, only to see more than a dozen of… bottles dropping to the ground.

And before any of them could even wonder what they were— smoke started to hiss from them, veiling the entire hall in fumes in a matter of seconds.

"W… what the fuck?"

"I…I don't feel so good."

"...Mommy?"

And very soon, several thuds could be heard whispering in the air as the voices all soon faded away. The people, all dropping one by one to the ground.

"..."

"..."

As for Vayne, he… was currently holding one of the bottles; slightly confused as to what was happening.

Was… this part of the test? Were they supposed to stay awake?

"..."

Should…

…he pretend to have lost consciousness as well?

"..."

"..."

A couple seconds more, however, he found that he didn't need to pretend at all as his hand dropped the bottle all on its own.

And soon, he followed the bottle as he too...

"...Oh."

...dropped to the ground.