"So, what is it that I need to do?" Cabel asked as he glared at Chrisfold.

"You really are impatient… well, I guess we're not really in a position to be spending our time luxuriously when Evelyn is in the camp of the enemy."

​​

Chrisfold answered him as he scratched his green hair.

Alisha then stepped in.

"There's something inside that you need to win over… it's a test that determines if the person that wants to come in has the capability to withstands the power that resides in the Duchess soul."

Cabel became curious as to what test Alisha was saying.

"What kind of test is it?"

"We don't know… spirits don't have the permission to enter her domain."

"Her domain? What do you mean? Are you saying that the deceased Duchess was the one to create the test?"

"Yes… It's because we tried…" Chrisfold answered as he looked at the iron door that he so knew.

"We have tried countless times… and everytime we come up with a solution, her domain will simply bring us back to where we came from. Despite that, here we are, still trying." Chrisfold continued as Cabel looked at him and Alisha.

'There's something that they are keeping a secret. My guts are telling me that there is something more than that…' Cabel deeply thought and asked what he was curious about.

"How did you know that the Duchess was the one to make the test and not some hooligan that wants to monopolize the power within her soul?"

"Duchess Monica… before she breathed her last breath, she made sure that part of her consciousness will be with her soul. And when Carsillion made a deal with that man and permanently made this place the sanctuary for the Duchess's soul that was when she takes advantage of it and made a test that even a spirit will hardly passed."

Chrisfold answered as he turned his head towards Cabel.

"It has been 8 years since that cruel day happened… we don't know if the consciousness that she parted with her soul is still there but we need to be successful this time…" Alisha butted in as she stands in front of Cabel.

"Please, we can't afford to lose this chance again. This would be the last…"

Cabel can see that Alisha was desperate as well as Chrisfold. It was obvious as he could see Alisha's hands gripped her sides tightly while Chrisfold had a look of determination in his eyes as well as frustration.

Chrisfold also saw Alisha's anxiety and decided to get between them.

'It would be bad if Cabel became affected by Alisha's desperation… but I would also become guilty if he didn't know the circumstances of the test… I should warn him, that's the least I could do.' Chrisfold thought so he spoke to Cabel.

"Every person has a different test, it depends on the person's will and determination… it could be an illusion of some sorts or a nightmare that you can't ever wake up from. Do you still want to continue?"

"There's a lot of things that I need to ask. I'll restrain myself as to why you knew the test if you didn't have the chance to do it because you're a spirit."

Chrisfold continued to ask while Cabel look at the iron door that was slightly open and a dark entrance could only be seen.

"Why did she do such a thing?" Cabel asked Chrisfold.

"I mean… the test. Why did she do a dangerous test?"

"I don't know… maybe a protection for herself? Or she was waiting for someone?"

"What?"

Then, Chrisfold suddenly turns his head away from Cabel and at that moment Alisha reminds him again about the danger that he would face.

"You need to come back within the day… no, you need to come back before the sun comes up. It would be dangerous if you stayed in her domain longer."

"Here…"

Alisha bestowed upon him a small hour glass that was hanging on a necklace. It was made from her mana and instead of sand, it was replaced by a blue water that dropped little by little to the other side of the hour glass.

"When the blue water drops and turns to the other side it indicates that an hour has passed and when the blue water becomes crystal clear it means that the sun will soon rise. By that time you need to get out of there… understood?"

Cabel nodded his head and began to walk to the iron door.

"Wait…!" Chrisfold called for Cabel, he needed to do something for him as well.

"What is it?"

"I'll bless you with protection… it's the least I could do as someone who pushed this task to you."

"I'll also do the same…"

Alisha and Chrisfold's hands were up in the air and they began to give Cabel their protection as a spirit.

The protection will help Cabel in the test and will make his head clear, it will be one of the things that will become his lifelines in the future.

A green light and blue light came from Chrisfold and Alisha that represents their magic affinity, the earth and water spirits have bestowed their protection to Cabel.

"This will last until the day that you live… if we could we will go there with you but given the rules, no spirits can enter her domain. We apologize, as the contracted spirits of Evelyn we should be the ones to do this task...."

"If you really feel sorry for this… then please, make sure that Evelyn is safe until I get back and… there are things that you need to explain not to me but to my dear Eve."

"Alright… we have a deal" Chrisfold said and Cabel left them where they stood as he began to walk away from them.

The metal door was pushed and it wasn't as hard as he thought it would be because of the material that it was made from.

He didn't look back and strongly face what lies ahead.

When Cabel have entered the room of test and the door was shut with a bang could only ask Alisha what was bothering her ever since they stepped inside the St. Prisch Academy.

"Do you think he can do it?" Alisha asked towards Chrisfold.

"We could only hope… like what you said, this is our last chance. May the goddess of Lelulah guide him towards his fate."

Alisha released a deep sigh and asked for the goddess above to let the man get back to their side alive.

***

Cabel heard a loud bang from his back. He glanced and saw that the door was now closed as the only light that came to the room was from the open door that he came from.

He looked straight ahead and the place in front of him had been surrounded by darkness.

A pitch black darkness that was akin to the abyss. Every minute seems to make Cabel feel like he was there for years.

If not for the glowing water that was inside the hourglass in his neck, he really would have thought that he was here for an eternity.

"I should start now…" He mumbles to himself.

Shing!

He unsheathed his sword from its scabbard. The black tassel that he got from Evelyn was still hanging in the hilt of his sword. It became one of his lucky charms ever since he got it from Evelyn.

In a sense, it became something that provides him comfort as well as keep his sanity in check when Evelyn was gone for four years.

Cabel's heart was now at ease and he starts to walk forward.

Step Step Step

Only Cabel's foot prints was heard as he walked forward. Now that his eyes were adjusted to the darkness of the room, he could somehow see that the place was totally different from the outside.

The place where he was before with Alisha and Chrisfold was unfinished and more of like a tunnel that was carved to make a passage.

It has a smell of mud and moss. It was also cold because of the humidity underground. But here, it was much colder than before and the floor seems to be made of marble.

Cabel looked around with precaution and vigilance. He doesn't know when and where the supposed "test" will start.

However, right now what he needs is information. From the get go, he thinks that it was such an easy journey to find the dungeon and this room with ease.

Step Step Step

Cabel's steps was still the only things that rings and vibrates in the entire room. Every move he made he made sure that he was cautious for traps or ambushed.

He really didn't know what to expect inside this room.

"But for Evelyn, I'll do this and I'll get back to her side."

Cabel's motivation was fueled when he remembered that bright laugh that Evelyn did before when they were at the Academy.

It was one of the cherished memories that he engraved to his mind and soul.

"I'll definitely come back alive!!"

At that moment, the dark room began to light up. From the entrance of the room to where Cabel was and towards an altar.

"What is this!?"

Cabel's eyes begin to open wide. He slowly approached the altar until his steps started to hasten its speed.

"What the hell is this?!!"