The worst part about Northzone was how easy it was for those who were unfamiliar with the place to get lost. When Trent asked for directions, the kind samaritan pointed toward the city center to the west and said, "It's being held in Stalwartville. You can take a cab there. It'll cost forty-five dollars."Stalwartville was a large town chosen to host the selection since it was Novemton's largest transfer station. Trent thanked the man and walked back to his parents. "The selection is being held at Stalwartville. That kind man over there said it'll cost us forty-five dollars to get there by cab." Jamie looked at his map and quickly found Stalwartville. He realized there was quite a distance to cover before they would reach Northzone's main city. Dahlia, who did not know how to read maps, anxiously waited for Jamie to say something. Still looking at the map, Jamie said, "I've found Stalwartville. We should be able to get there before dark if we follow this street.""Why don't w
Whisperbrook got out of his car to verify the documents presented to him. After a moment, he took a step back and saluted the Halls. “I didn't know you were relatives of a candidate. You really shouldn't be walking on the highway. It's not safe."Dahlia replied, "We don’t have enough money for a cab, but we don't want to let our daughter down, so this was our only option. We’re really sorry for causing trouble."Whisperbrook frowned. "You won’t be able to reach Stalwartville even tomorrow morning at this rate. This highway is built around a mountain, you have another hundred kilometers to cover before you get there. Come on, I'll drive you guys there since you're the relatives of a candidate."Dahlia and Jamie were touched by Whisperbrook's offer, with Dahlia saying, "Are you sure, sir?"Whisperbrook smiled. "Hop in. Who knows? You two might end up becoming the next legate's parents. Come, let me drive you there.”Dahlia smiled when she heard this, while Jamie said, "Thank you so
The day passed by very slowly. Like Adrian, all the candidates eagerly waited for the day of the selection to arrive.Adrian was well prepared to welcome the selection. It meant the world to him. He stayed in Songton headquarters’ surveillance room the entire day. Waves of emotions welled up deep inside his heart, reflecting in his mood. It would not be long before the new legate of Wyvern Peak reveals themselves to the world.***That night, Sage sat in her room at Northzone's Stalwartville, waiting for the selection to begin. The other candidates had all gone out to relieve the stress of the upcoming examination, be it to grab a meal or to play. Sage was the only one sitting in her room.At that moment, Garret knocked on her door. "Come in,” she said.Garret entered. "The exam is in two days. The other candidates have gone out to destress. Why didn’t you go with them? You can't be too tense, you know?"Sage smiled wryly and shook her head. "I don't want to go.""Is this be
The candidates were blowing off steam. Some of them gathered in groups to chat, while some went out shopping, or grabbed something nice to eat. They were steeling themselves for tomorrow's exam. Night soon arrived, and the candidates returned to their rooms for a good night's sleep. The stars of the six venues were each doing their own thing. Juno was reading a book, Polaris was meditating, Zack gazed out the window at the horizon, Remy gazed at the moon, Jerome continued to draw his imaginary parents, and Sage was thinking of her own. Late into the night, the candidates slowly fell asleep…***That night, all of the staff throughout the six venues and Songton headquarters pushed on through the night, working overtime in preparation for the exam.Adrian sat in the surveillance room. Mya walked in and asked, "The exam's tomorrow, sir. Do you have any orders before then?"As he twirled a pen between his fingers, he shook his head."All of Novemton is paying close attention to th
Adrian fell silent. Shortly after hanging up, he quickly made another call. He understood that the enemies laying in hiding were about to make their appearance, and the selection was about to run into some hiccups."Mya!" Adrian called out. Mya walked in and asked, "Is something wrong?""Notify the venues and Wyvern Peak headquarters that I want all radar, surveillance, and staff to be on the lookout for any and all underlying threats. They are to deal with anything abnormal the moment they notice it. Also, get everyone prepared for battle in case we come under fire.” "Did something happen?" Mya, being the observant woman that she was, could sense the danger.However, Adrian did not explain the situation. Instead, he said, "Just do what I say." Mya nodded. She knew Adrian would only be so restless because something unexpected had happened. The selection was no trivial matter, so it was impossible for it to go off without a hitch. Adrian was the only one who knew what was abo
As the other candidates happily entered the exam hall, she was forced to face her future all alone.Upon seeing her disappointment, Garret softly urged, "The exam's about to start, Sage. You should hurry along."A surge of emotions welled up inside of her. She began to question whether she made the right decision in coming there. Maybe it would have been better for her to be an obedient daughter rather than going against her family's wishes.‘Have I made the wrong decision?’Sage stopped and turned toward Garret. "I don't want to take the exam anymore.""What?!" Garret was taken aback. “My parents didn’t want me to come here. Maybe I shouldn't have…" Sage wiped her tears.Garret tried to dissuade. "Why would you think like that, Sage? Have you forgotten about your dreams? Where’s your passion? Are you going to back down when your future's right ahead of you?""But my parents aren't here to support me…" Sage cried. "Still…" Garret could not think of the words to say. Sage b
The sails of everyone’s dreams were hoisted as the six venues entered their final preparation phase. The candidates arrived at their respective halls, prepared to take on the exam that awaited them.Before Jerome entered the exam hall in Rivton, he spotted Sierra waiting for him outside with a smile on her face. When he saw that she had come to cheer him on, he revealed a rare smile and gestured to show he would do his best before entering the hall. At Rusouth , Juno waved at Samantha, Gloria, Rue, and Joanna and walked into the exams hall.Before Remy entered the exam hall in Drogoton, he saw a fourteen-year-old girl silently watching him, along with a ten-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl."Good luck," the girl told him. Remy was nineteen this year and had two little sisters and a little brother. The Johnstons were once happy and complete. Remy’s parents worked as tradesmen in Azure Creek, but during the war, they were killed by Luposians. The responsibility of taking care
Zack’s siblings were there too. He gave them a thumbs up and charged toward his journey passionately.***In Dillonia, one of the few Adrian had his eyes on and also the most extraordinary out of all of them, Polaris Ryan, also entered the exam hall. When Polaris was thirteen years old, his parents divorced due to problems in their marriage. It had been the most painful year of his life, and he went into a full-scale rebellion phase after the divorce went through.One day, he got locked up after being involved in a fight. The station called his parents, and he got an earful from them when they picked him up. This caused his rebelling to worsen, but this was also the year his life took a huge turn.Draco, the newly appointed legate of Wyvern Peak, led his men against the enemies in the Battle of Azure Creek. The battle lasted for months and ended with tens of thousands of casualties. When Polaris saw War Legate Draco on television and saw how glorious War Legate Draco looked, he d