The massive courtyard was filled with restless chatter as the forty students stood orderly in rows and columns, awaiting the next trial. Today marked the second stage of the examinations, and tension laced the air like a storm about to break.
Clusters of voices rose along with arguments on what the second trial will be about.
"It's going to be a straight-up physical test this time, I'm sure of it."
"No, no I think it'll be a survival skills. They've done physical tests for years now."
"Maybe both?"
Speculation flew freely masking the excitement, anxiety and nervousness most of them were feeling.
But Riven barely heard them. He tuned it all out, his attention lingering on his own hand, something he found himself doing a lot in the past few hours. As though staring into a place no one else could see.
'What exactly did that thing do to me in that weird space…?'
"Riv… you alright?" Kevan's voice cut through the haze. The boy behind him wore a concerned look as he studied him.
"Hm?" Riven blinked, looking back at him before nodding faintly.
Lynn, standing in the line infront, turned slightly, her brow furrowed. "You've been out of it since we got here, Riv. Are you sure you're okay?"
For a heartbeat, Riven closed his eyes. No use thinking about that right now.' When he opened them again, he forced a small smile. "Yeah. Just… a little anxious about the trial is all."
Kevan chuckled. "Well, if you fall flat on your face, don't worry, I'll laugh first, then help later."
That earned a giggle from Lynn. "Don't listen to him, Riv. You've got us. If anything bad happens, we're here."
A sharp scoff cut across their moment.
A few rows back, Darius leaned lazily against his spot, a sneer carved across his face. "Why is it the defect is still allowed to take the exam? He didn't even do the first trial. He should be given an automatic failure. So why is he here?"
Beside him, Ceyric smirked. "Should've just died in those mines like you were supposed to. My father said they had to shut operations down for hours because of the search for trash like you. And Darius is right, he missed the first trial. That means he shouldn't even be allowed to stand here."
A snort followed. Soren, half-distractedly digging his nose, chimed in, "Didn't you also fail the first trial, Cey?"
That struck a nerve.
Ceyric faltered, words catching in his throat. Soren laughed at his stammer, and rage twisted Ceyric's face. He balled his fist, stepping forward only to stumble too close to the boy beside him.
A boy with golden hair like a mane.
Leo Sandar
He's head turned ever so slightly, his eyes glinted with a cold authority-like look. Just one look felt icy, domineering and had frozen Ceyric and Soren where they stood. Breath caught in their throats.
"Whew," Darius exhaled, smirking. "Leo, mind cranking down that glare? You'll scare the wits out of 'em."
Leo didn't even flinch. His voice came low, sharp. "Control your simpletons better, Darius. Not all of us enjoy surrounding ourselves with… barking dogs that mistake their own noise for strength."
The insult cut the air like a blade. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the rows as they looked back at the commotion.
Darius's jaw clenched with simmering fury. "You condescending bastard. You think you're better than me, don't you?"
Leo ignored him, his focus drifting forward.
"I know I am," he muttered.
"I'm talking to you!" Darius roared, stepping closer and lifting a hand to assault the boy l.
Then suddenly the world blinked around Darius.
In the space of a heartbeat, Darius spun and found himself facing the opposite direction, breath knocked clean from his lungs.
The students erupted in startled whispers.
"What the hell just happened?"
"Too fast, I didn't even see it!"
"Was that…?"
Kevan whistled. "Well, he's not called the Veylin Star for nothing."
Leo's gaze swept the crowd. For the briefest moment, his eyes locked with Riven's. He tilted his head, studying the boy carefully. Curiosity flickered, then amusement. A faint grin curved his lips.
"Well," he murmured, just loud enough to carry. "Some here might actually be worth something, after all."
Darius bristled, ready to unleash more rage, when—
"SILENCE!"
The voice cracked across the open field like thunder. Instantly, the courtyard stilled. Every student straightened as their instructors approached. Arven stood tall and imposing with an impassive look in his eyes, Corrin at his side, flanked by two others instructors.
A bespectacled woman with sharp eyes and neatly tied hair, and a stout dwarf of a man carrying a bag larger than his entire frame.
"Instructor Leyte," Kevan whispered under his breath, glancing at the woman and man. "And instructor Borah the Ironhand?"
The dwarf let out a grunt as he adjusted the massive bag.
The instructors halted before the rows.
Arven stepped forward, voice ringing with authority. "The second trial of the examinations shall now commence."
A student opened their mouth, but the look Arven shot them clamped it shut instantly.
Borah set his bag down with a heavy thud before speaking. "This year's second trial will test you in three aspects stamina, endurance, and strength aptitude."
Uneasy murmurs rippled through the rows. Lynn glanced back at Riven, worry flickering across her face. He answered her with a single nod, calm and steady.
Then Borah unfastened his massive bag. Its mouth opened wide, and he pulled free circular bands of metal, each set with a faintly glowing crystal at the center.
Riven's eyes narrowed in recognition as his lips moved almost unconsciously.
"...Gravity bands?."
Gravity bands are excellent equipment used by most of the federation's military to subdue archetype criminals due to their immense strength and resilience. In most cases most of the gravity bands can be programmed to multiply gravity of oneself by ten's or in extreme situations hundred's of times over.
'They are going to use that to test us?'
Borah grunted. "Sharp one. You'll all be equipping these to carry out the trials."
Leyra and Corrin both moved down the lines, handing out the bands to each student. When the last was distributed, Arven's gaze swept over them, steady and unreadable.
"Those bands will be used to test your endurance, stamina and strength. If any among you wish to quit, now is the time."
His eyes scanned the rows, lingering as if daring someone to step forward. None did.
Arven's lips curled into a thin smile. "Good. Then let us begin."
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