The Making of a Living Legend

Chapter 7: The Test Aren't Lax

Ashton kept glaring at them until they were out of view, before he immediately turned to Elaris.

“Zaden! What’s—”

“Elaris. Don’t call me Zaden.” Elaris said, shrugging his shoulders out of Ashton’s hold.

“Oh? You decided to change your name again?” Ashton beamed. “I must say that this name is better than the former one.”

Elaris tilted his head to the side at his word, no wonder nobody blinked an eye when he announced a new name. The brat changed his name every time too.

“I rushed here as soon as I heard the news. What’s wrong with your eyes? They said that you are blind.” Ashton’s voice was tinged with worry.

“Damn those idiots.” Caden cursed. “Nobody asked them to spread the news.”

“Do you have any idea what is wrong? He can’t suddenly wound up blind. How is he supposed to do everything he had always dreamt of?”

“Do you used to perform with me?” Elaris asked, Ashton shook his head before he remembered that he was blind.

“No, I don’t. But that doesn’t mean that I won’t support you in your endeavors, there are a lot of successful artists in Visteria too, I heard that there’s an organization for them just like the Academy, I looked it up and found out you can study acting.”

Elaris nodded, he must be talking about The Fragile Souls, an establishment that’s mainly to protect who does art—doesn’t matter which.

They have branches in only four cities in the empire but headquarters was in Villeria. The second best city after Visteria since art was more appreciated in Villeria.

The organization was also obsessed with collecting news and made sure nothing went pass them, they had their eyes and ears everywhere in the empire.

There was a saying that any news that Fragile Souls was aware of was definitely known to only one person and that person must have never said it out.

“Stop encouraging him Ashton! It won’t do him any good,”

“I am not going to do anything that has to do with art anymore, I am going to study at the Academy.” Elaris declared to Ashton, and his reaction was exactly the same as Caden's.

It took a lot of effort for both Caden and him to convince him.

“Since you have decided, I will take you to the academy tomorrow!” Ashton grinned, Elaris could hear the excitement in his voice. “I am very glad about this!”

“You are supporting this?” Caden asked.

“Wholeheartedly!” Ashton didn’t miss a beat. “But, I feel that he is different, normally, he usually didn’t want me ten feet from him.”

“I still don’t,” Elaris said promptly.

“He lost his memories and remembered nothing,” Caden answered.

“And here I was worried when I heard about the accident, if I knew that was all it took, I would have cracked your head a long time ago.” Both Caden and Elaris stared at him in disbelief. “Don’t worry about anything, I would pick a good cloth for you at the market and pick you up tomorrow, Caden doesn’t have to worry, he should just come to the place later to celebrate your top result.”

Ashton laughed at his own words which made Caden snort, Elaris couldn’t hide a small smile on his lips. This man would get along with Oliver very well if they met, they had the same sense of humor.

********

“Tell me.” Ashton said. “What do you think about our Academy?”

In all the cities in the empire, there are three organizations that get the attention of most young bloods.

The Military, The Arcane Hall and The Academy.

The Academy was the one with the highest level of entrance but the least powerful one. It was the go-to place if one wanted to become a city official and it existed in every city in the empire.

The Academy offered all sorts of lessons, ranging from the normal civil test to teaching students how to protect themselves to some extent, but these organizations were intertwined and you had to pass through the academy or the military to get to The Arcane Hall in order to become an Arcaner.

“Did you forget that I can’t see?”

He laughed awkwardly. “I did, for a moment.”

It was noon the next day and Elaris had come for the examination, Caden was still doubtful when they left.

“Brief me about the tests that would be taken.”

“For today, you would take part in three tests.” Aston started. “First level test! For the first round, you just have to present yourself to the teachers. Don’t be fooled by that though, wrong presentation and you would fail for that round.

The second round is a brain test, they would test your knowledge and ability to respond to situations—mundane or dire, and it is at this point that many people drop out. The Academy believes that it is brains before brawn and that none of its students should be dumbass.

The last round for today is combat, but I heard that this year’s theme is theory. You just practice in front of them, horseback archery, solo fighting and shooting. That’s about it.”

Elaris nodded in understanding. Nothing had changed, no matter what standard it is in every city, the academy remained the same, they tested their students, and slowly edged them to the limit in order to pick the best one.

The rules were laxer around here because they still picked a total of fifty students per year, at Visteria, only the total of ten student were requited to Visteria Academy, and they would make them challenge each other at the exam in order to create an air of competition among the students.

“How confident are you?” Ashton paused to ask.

“Very.” He replied nonchalantly.

“I heard from Dax that you wanted to take the examination and you are disgustingly arrogant about it, I almost smacked him for lying.” A voice said in front of them and they both paused.

“Not to add that you are blind,” Another scoffed. “How are you supposed to compete? You would shoot arrows and bullets. I understand that you might muddle it through in solo fighting because it is nothing more than practicing.”

“Who are they?” Elaris asked.

“They are of no importance, just your step brother's minions. You don’t need to know their name.”

“Then let’s go,”

“What?” Ashton asked.

“They aren’t important, I have no time to spare with losers.” Elaris replied and Ashton chuckled.

“Who the hell are you calling a loser?” One of the two men yelled before both of them leaped towards them with the intention of hurting Elaris, but before he could do anything, Ashton was already blocking them away from him.

Sounds of blows being exchanged filled the air, grunts and groans followed, but none of it belonged to Ashton. He was moving among the two brothers and teaching them a lesson, he punched one of them on the nose the same time he elbowed another in the stomach and both of them doubled over and fell on their chest. Both of them coughed.

“If you want to get to Elaris, I recommend that you have the ability to pass through me first. Without that, I would end your pathetic life so that your parents can thank me for relieving their burden.” Ashton spat at them with a stern expression on his face, this arose murmurs among their audience but none of them advanced towards them.

Elaris smiled in amusement at the switch in his behavior.

“The examination will begin now, let all participants go to the hall.” A voice filled the air and everyone started moving.

“Let’s go.” Ashton said, dragging him away.

They finally settled comfortably in the hall and the examiner walked forward to the center of the hall.

“Welcome to this year's Academy's examination!” He started. “The result of the test would be graded into level, there are six levels available and they are, Beginner’s level, Intermediate level, Advance Level, Master Level, Expert Level and Supreme Level. These results would also affect which class you would be in. The rules are simple, do not cheat, don’t not meddle in other’s work and do not intentionally harm others. Let the test begin now.”

He walked to sit down among the other judges, and two men brought out a list of papers that contained the names of the students that had been registered.

“I hope you don’t mind, I begged the teacher to call you last.” Ashton whispered to Elaris who just nodded while staring ahead.

“It is alright,” He replied, Ashton stared at him before he turned to the student who was being called already. They would present themselves and be asked a brain teasing question. Elaris realized that they must be putting the first and second round together.

It would make the third round less clamorous.

“Baxton Guild, Pass. Intermediate Level,” The examiner said to a contestant as he finished answering his question and the latter went to his seat with a big grin on his face.

“Lila Woods,” The examiner called.

“Greetings, I am Lila Woods, the third daughter of Lord Woods, a prestigious family of farmers.” A girl who had walked to stand in front of the judges said and bowed.

“This is your question,” One of the judges asked. “As a farmer, what is the best thing to produce at Visteria?”

“I believe that anywhere we are, it would be best to produce food. No matter what position a person might enjoy, they would have to feed themselves, if I had such an opportunity, I would definitely decide to satisfy the pleasure of the stomach.” Lila replied elegantly.

Ashton nodded with a smile beside Elaris. “Great answer,” he applauded. “What score do you think that she would get? I vote Advance Level.”

“If she answered like that in Visteria, she would fail this exam but since this is Astrad, I guess she would pass as intermediate.” Elaris shrugged and many students turned to glare at him, Ashton glared back at them.

“What why? That answer was perfect!” Ashton exclaimed quietly.

“In Visteria, the best thing to produce is cotton and silk. Almost every household has their own warehouse of food—food that is enough to be sold in bulk, and that’s because they have servants whose job is to produce food annually. You get paid for it too.” Elaris answered. “Plus, her presentation was just good.”

“Lila Woods, Pass.” The woman said and everyone who had heard Elaris' judgment leaned forward to hear the answer, ready to berate him as soon as he was proved wrong.