The hall was pretty huge to handle ten times the current number standing which was like around 30 thousand people which was just a rough assumption but why a training hall would need to be this big was beyond me. Anyway, when it was finally my turn, to try out my power on the rock, I stepped forward. I could feel the usual gaze of the other participants hate, scepticism and whatever it is they were feeling which was pissing me off at this point. I simply tried to follow what the others had done before me.
I clenched my fist and punched the rock; I needed to see whether my efforts had actually paid off. The punch created a small crater the size of my fist. Nothing more and nothing less. I was passed as the requirements were to simply either form a scratch on the wall or to show immense power. Nobody seemed impressed or were showing hostility anymore either.
Next, I went ahead to the giant crystal when someone, approached me from behind. I turned behind to see a seemingly normal man and a woman carrying a weirdly styled claymore standing behind me. They seemed to wanna say something but they didn't so I said "do you need something from me?" with an awkward face. Can't believe I couldn't find the right smiling face. They looked disgusted at first, then set themselves straight and asked "are you really from the battlefield?". I'd have no idea why they'd ask such a question but I decided to humour them and nodded. Their eyes seemed to be questioning my credibility. Now that I realized it, I couldn't really say much to that considering my new body doesn't look like it's been on the battlefield at all. This body doesn't have the battle scars and injuries to show for participating as a mercenary.
"Yes, first let me introduce ourselves, I am Tethis Sen, son of Duchess Raigon Sen from Siegfrieden and this is Saika Ven, daughter of Duke Fargrow Ven. (the guy bows lightly to which I bow as well to show reciprocation). I apologize if we came off rude but we couldn't help but overhead that you were a mercenary, because one of our friends is a mercenary who was stationed in the west but we haven't heard from him in a few months and were wondering if you'd know something about it." The pair looked at me with hopeful eyes.
I replied, "unfortunately I was active in the south hence I didn't receive a lot of information from the other places." It hurt me to see the glow in their die down but Tethis seemed to still have hope. "Are you attending this test alone?" Tethis asked to which I answered "why is there a requirement that only those with connections and nobles need to apply for this?". My intentions were to piss him off but instead he seemed amused. "I apologise if I came out rude but my Wife just died recently and I'm caring for my daughter alone so I am still on edge. I've just returned from the battlefield and I have no way of earning money to feed my daughter either so I'm applying here with not many options." He genuinely seemed to pity me (hah that's exactly what I wanted). "Ah, I apologise and I offer my condolences."
This entire time the woman called Saika Ven was staring off into the sky as if she were waiting for someone. "what's up with her?" I whispered to Tethis, "That's cuz the mercenary friend I told you about, Crast is her lover and he was stationed as a mercenary in the west battlefield where there are elves and spirits. We had regular mails from him until the last 9th month and now it's the 12th month with the year ending. We're just worried that something might have happened to him." Hmm, elves and spirits huh. 500 years ago, those lil bitches never stepped foot outside their 'sacred' forest and now u expect me to believe they're waging war? Something's going on, me being reincarnated by those shitty gods, whatever happened in pancratia, the sins. Right, I completely forgot the main reason for my reincarnation. The source of my problems, the sins. I have one of the children with the insignia of greed. I can't come up with the courage to kill Joyle but if worst comes to worst. I'll destroy myself to seal her powers as that's the only final option.
Anyway, next was the energy check and I had no idea how my eon energy would react with the energy stone thingamabob considering eon energy itself is intangible unlike the other energies. I may have created this method of energy circulation but its not accepted everywhere.
People kept checking their energy and were split into two sections. Most of them ranged between 50 to 100 and were instantly sent to the right side where the passed teachers stood, I assumed. Those that didn't pass were sent to the left. Tethis went ahead of me and managed to get a score of 89 which was the second highest till now. Before I went ahead, a girl cut ahead of me with a striking yellow ponytail. She placed her hand on the stone and it shone with brilliant light then a number appeared '369'. It was the highest yet and everyone was wowing and praising.
I asked "Yo Tethis, who's that?". This is what shocked him of all the things I've said till now. He said with a sigh "That…. Is the youngest lady of the Barion family of the Holy nation of Arthrus, Bhuvaran Barion. She's the youngest swordmaster in the world at the age of 19. She's also a saint and the next heir of the Barion family and a prospect for the next Pope of the Arthrus kingdom." She had striking yellow hair as I said before but what was even more prominent were her irises. They were in the shape of a flower. A kiddy type of flower anyone could draw. It was almost like one of those novel tropes I will not lie. Unlike what you'd expect a saint or a "sister" of a supposed holy country to wear, she wore tights and a practical sword wielding dress.