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Chapter 11: Exceptional

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It was the second hundred’s turn. This time, the briefing was really, brief. Since it was expected that they listened to it for the first time, it was simply a reminder of the core rules.

You are on your own.

Do not use Artes or Magic.

Falling down does not constitute a failure, but you’ll receive hidden penalty.

These were the core rules.

To his front, Krone noticed the braided, brown haired girl.

“Julia, so she’s a hundred five.”

She had just taken off her vibrant purple tunic, since it was considered a bit heavy. The evaluators advised everyone with heavy clothing to keep it away, or sent it to the evaluator responsible for safekeeping.

A little sparkle of light shone.

Her purple tunic disappeared, gaining attention of the crowd.

She had put her tunic into her spatial ring, surprising her peers. The ring glimmered purple as it consumed the tunic. She now wore a tight white shirt; one could even see the shape of her lingerie. She stretched her body, prompting others to follow.

Seeing her use of the ring sparked some conversations.

“So she’s a rich girl afterall.”

“What do you expect? A commoner like us? She’s way out of our league.”

“I thought even the cheapest spatial ring, worth… what, a million?”

“Yeah, around that. But I don’t think that one’s cheap,”

The candidates, having nothing better to do, discussed this useless issue. Those in the hundred getting ready did so in a hush way, but those standing as audience did not hold back.

Spatial rings were not unusual, but they were expensive. It was natural, since producing one required rare materials, time and expertise. Even among knights, usually only the veteran could afford buying one out of their own pocket. The cost of the cheapest ring could buy a large two-story house in the middle of any capital.

However, knights had no need to buy one.

Each had one as their equipment, granted by the Supreme Guardian when they were knighted, proof of the empire’s recognition. It was a basic spatial ring, costing about a million Kions. Every spatial ring users had to register their usage to the officials, as it could very well be considered a security risk.

“Aii, this girl,”

Krone moaned. She seemed to neglect some common sense.

Spatial ring should not be shown to others if possible, not to those you did not trust. It was expensive, plus you might come off as a show-off. Simply breeding negative feeling should be avoided as much as possible; the very reason why he wore his thick gloves covering even half of his fingers.

‘Well, others have their own view anyway. My truth might not be her truth.’

Now a mere two lines from her, he could observe her better. She was a little shorter than him by 5 cm – he was 170. With this distance, his eyes could even zoom in and evaluate the texture of her skin; her exposed arm and neck, not that he observed it though.

Unthinkable for a knight to observe a lady’s skin up close.

‘Smooth, tender. What kind of environment did she grew up? Wait, smooth? Even her hands!’

…

…Sorry, he did.

…

The last of first hundred candidates had been released.

After warming-up, the first lines put on the thin gloves given by the evaluators. At the starting line, they were in a crouching position. Julia put her hands on the ground, right leg kneeling.

Many boys were eyeing her in secret.

“Alright, ready, set…”

BANG!

The signal was up.

The candidates sprinted, soon diving into a tunnel. After two candidates left the tunnel, she emerged along with others.

She had no problem with the stutter steps wheels, but on top of the four metre wall, her hand slipped, failing her first jump. She turned back, gaining distance before launching herself up.

This time, she immediately put her other hand to pull herself up.

She was then the last of the five.

Seeing this, many candidates felt relief. Damn relief.

“Damn, is it just me or it’s such a relief right now?”

“I understand you, bro."

“I’m hoping for her to place last. Am I terrible?”

“If you’re terrible, almost everyone here is,”

“I knew it, a prodigy in mana doesn’t mean great in other aspect.”

“Huh, I’m glad the heavens are still a bit fair."

“Ahaha, yeah. She’s still lucky though, even if she failed, the Aurenburg Magic Academy would welcome her with open arms."

“Heavens, I took back all my curse! Please show us more of your fairness!”

Jumping from the wall, she proceeded to the net climb. Her feet slipped twice during the climb, yet she did not stagger long. Putting her feet back, she pulled herself up.

Krone could see very well the sight of her clenching her teeth.

Her eyes were fixed on the next steps. When she slipped, she did not curse or waste any time, but quickly see to her mistake.

“Lacking training… but this mindset…”

Her training was not so inadequate. If compared to average, she already had enough training. It simply meant one thing – she focused on training her magic more than her body. However, she was in no way terrible.

Of course, considering she was now the last in line…People could not help rejoicing on that fact. Had she been among the last 400s or 500s, the result might not be so.

However, how many of them observe her the same way as Krone?

He kept in mind that this girl was barely fifteen. Her having weakness was understandable, but he wondered how many noticed those traits she was showing?

“She made mistakes… She learned from it, but did not dwell with it, even in front of a crowd. In a split second, she realized her mistake, and fixed it… Just fifteen… this mindset… Just who… who is her master?”

Krone murmured. He turned to the judges, noticing their attention was primarily on her as well. There was no hint of disappointment on their face. In fact, the judge in the middle, Sir Modran… kept his eyes on her, even when writing. As the overseer, he also took the role of the head judge.

He caressed his beard as he nodded, as if acknowledging something.

“He could’ve just let his subordinates do the job… This old man really…”

He recalled even during the Mana Evaluation, he stood still in the platform, overlooking the whole square for an hour. For one his age and position, it was admirable.

He returned his attention to her. Passing the pyramid box, she was jumping up and down a little. There were many rafts as possible options to get to the other side, but her gaze was fixed.

She shifted her body to the side, jumping on the first raft, then the second. She took a sharp turn towards the third, kneeling before jumping onto the fourth raft, turning her body around and landed on land, breaking her jump by rolling.

The candidates were astounded. Two other candidates to her front slipped and fall, yet she the last one, managed without a mistake.

“The hell… this movement… you… copycat, you.”

Krone sighed, shaking his head. Smile on his face, he remembered such movement. It was such an efficient movement; he even praised it so then. Now, she shamelessly showed the same movement… Did she not care about her image?

Of course, it was not against any rules anyway.

“Did the judges notice?”

The boldness to copy the excellent in the field where you were not – this kind of temperament really was unfit for one called prodigy. Then again, prodigies were weirdoes anyway – most did not care much for useless criticism. Common people had a hard time understanding them.

She passed the balance beam, then to the swinging logs. She ran pass four, pausing before went pass the last four. The last log knocked her back a little, yet she turned, diverting the momentum to rush to the front.

Krone made a blank face.

“Copycat… Yeah, that’s your nickname for now… Good kitty, though… Manipulation of energy flow, eh? Heh heh…”

BANG!

A green magic ball when up the air. The second line of the hundred candidates sprinted. Krone now stepped onto the starting line. His eyes still on her, not wishing to miss any details.

Passing high hurdles, she sprinted for the twenty-metre hill run. On top of the hill, she stopped, catching her breath –breathing in deeply. This time, she caught up with the third and fourth place preparing to climb the five metre wall.

“…Continues to amaze me, this girl…”

He had noticed her particular breathing. At first, he thought nothing of it. Now, she breathed in air deeply using her diaphragm, while her hand on her belly, making spiraling movement. She let it out quickly, then breathed in again.

“So, really is breathing technique of Kharlnaz…”

Krone confirmed it. It was apparent she had trained in the same special breathing method as Kharlnaz; Kharlussian Special Forces. General Shurran enforced it to everyone in the central region, to practice on a daily basis.

Everyone.

Why?

Cause it was so effective in term of increasing stamina and enhancing human cells – in addition, it boosted everyone’s absorption of the beast’s core, minimizing lost.

Back then, Shurran felt it was shameful to keep it only within the Kharlnaz or just military, thus he ordered it to be taught to everyone in the central region.

‘Everyone should practice it, no excuse.’

Krone recalled his statement.

While some might argue the general was infringing of other’s right to choose, it was not a big deal then. In order to secure freedom and security, ordering the people to breathe in this way was necessary.

It required constant practice, but the result was evident.

Julia, with her breath stabilized, steadied her feet onto the stones on the wall before placing her hands high. She moved up slowly. One candidate slipped, stalling. The other had become cautious, but she paid no heed, moving up steadily as per deliberation.

“This movement again…”

Krone thought. He pondered when she had to go under the tunnel, she came out almost last… Had she had seen the way that guy move inside, he wondered whether she would copy him…

“Of course she would…”

When the leading candidate began the monkey bars, she managed to get to the top. She ran up the stairs and took the flying fox equipment, checking its stability in just five seconds. She jumped, ahead of the other two.

Reaching the monkey bars, she was now third. She directly went to take the white powder onto her palm, looking at the thirty bars challenging her.

Many candidates frowned.

How was it possible? She was last just a moment ago.

Similar thought tortured their mind, but they comforted themselves, knowing that the next was the most annoying. Many failed this one already, especially girls – falling down into the water ten metres below.

While the evaluators said you will only incur hidden penalty, the shock from falling would reduce significant time. The only bright side would be that you had no need to complete the monkey bars. You still need to climb up stairs to continue to the next obstacle.

She grabbed the bars, imitating the way a certain someone did before.

Tap-tap-tap…

In the middle of it, Krone noticed her grip slipped, yet in the split second, her other hand gripped the next bar – barely. The hand twisted, and she made a painful expression.

The pain stressed her muscle. She knew imitating like this had its own price, one such as this.

Yet she had no complaint.

“Ugh…”

For a moment, she was hanging in the middle of it.

Seeing this, quite a few candidates made a gleeful expression, while some frowned at them.

“To feel joy on other people’s misfortune. Aii…”

“Well, it’s a test. Many felt helpless by her before, can’t blame them.”

“That way of thinking will only hinder us. Let’s avoid such mindset.”

“Yeah, remember what our fathers taught us…”

Some candidates noticed their peer’s expression, concluding their thought correctly. Most children from the military harbored no ill-intent towards the girl.

Instead, she became a motivation of sorts to many of them.

‘The way they were raised consolidates their outlook, able to advance better than their peers, military-wise… and in any field for that matter.’

Krone observed their attitude, taking a mental note. His vision moved around fast, taking in information. He was glad none of those he took note before, took joy in someone else’s misfortune.

His eyes again zoomed in into Julia, observing her expression. Sweat filled her forehead, a few flowing down into her chest. Her shirt was filled with brown soil, now starting to dampen. For a short second, she closed her eyes.

Opening it, her eyes sharp.

Determination filled her. Her gaze locked to the end of the bars.

“It’s do or die?”

This particular statement flashed through his mind. A girl of fifteen could have such mindset? This was just a test.

Not a struggle to survive, not the frontline, not a permanent failure, not live or–

“Her truth…”

He noticed he might not understand this girl’s mentality yet. To her, giving up this test was unacceptable. She would not gracefully accept giving up. Even with his almost eighteen years of war experience, he felt a surge of wave running though his body.

He knew well what that meant.

His legs started twitching. His mind replayed. Sounds of bells and horns being blown. An image; a large dragon, with sharp fangs protruding from its mouth.

The image of a mighty Grand Beast appeared before him.

Its eyes.

What eyes!

‘Inspired… Me, inspired? By a fifteen years old, a girl, no less!’

The hairs of his arms rose.

He was thinking of holding back in this obstacle course, as it might not be good to gain too much attention. There were bound to be spies or at least, ignorant informants of the Union in the naval base, channeling to them any useful information.

Information on just any candidates might not be so useful, but those of highest potential would be sought after.

‘I ran the risk of being discovered. But then again, how could I gain their attention by maintaining mediocrity? With risk, there’s a better gain. No risk, less gain. That’s why I took the double aggression thingy.’

His mind recalled “The Lesser Throne”, granted to him by The Creator. He confirmed his choice, consoling himself that the Union of Lords would only pay attention to him much later in the war.

By that time, he would be active anyway.

By the time he realized it, Julia had reached the end of the bars.

She took off the military glove, putting ointment immediately out of her ring. She had borne the pain with sheer will, but now it stung like crazy. She bandaged her hand in a few second, then continued.

Her hand injury was not light, yet she just ignored the pain.

She passed the hurdles.

When she reached the soldier with the sandbag, he looked at her with concern. She kneeled, her uninjured right hand at the back.

“Hurry.”

He snapped out of it, giving her a lighter sandbag, one for girl.

Running past the judges, they could not resist admiring. She stepped onto the balance beam, pausing to maintain balance. As soon as possible, she rushed to her front and stepped down with her back to the responsible soldier.

No delay, the soldier took the sandbag off her.

Nodding as thanks, she sprinted for a ramp jump, directly placing her hand on a rope wall. She clenched her legs and chest onto the rope to maintain position, as she could only use her right hand to climb. Up onto the wall, she jumped down, rolling to break the impact.

She jumped low into the underground hole.

“Still copied his movement. Well, it’s efficient. Nobody’s blaming,”

By then, one candidate already reached the end. The second was currently crawling underground.

Based on her performance before, she obviously lagged with crawling. Thus, the expectation was that she would take time.

As expected, the other candidate emerged out first. As soon as he reached the pool, he grabbed the rope, rushing towards the end. He grabbed the second rope in the middle of the pool. With the momentum, he should be—

A splash.

He slipped near the end, falling directly into the pool filled with mud underneath the water. Julia had come out of the hole, just in time to witness his demise.

Pity on her face, she shrugged such feeling away.

Grabbing the rope by both hands, she jumped. With just her right hand, she grabbed the second rope, then jumped for a few metre, just the way Krone had expected.

She landed, rolling to break the impact, reaching the finishing line. Behind her, a mud-filled guy came out, just a few seconds late.

“…”

Silence ensued.

She managed second after falling as the last at the start. She also made mistakes along the way, and almost fell from the bars, hurting her hand.

However, she did not give up.

Not just not giving up, she did not slow down – only treating her injury for a few second.

She got second place.

Was it luck?

Yes, but that definitely was not the star of the performance.

Even the most idiotic candidates or audience could tell she was beyond normal.

“Holy Mother!”

“What did I just see?”

“She’s, she’s…”

“Admirable, truly.”

"Ah..."

The evaluator for her had forgotten to announce her time, but he did not forget to stop the watch. As his friend patted his back, he remembered his duty.

“Julia S. Garde, Second place – five minutes five seconds!”

It was nothing impressive.

So far, the time could be considered admirable, but it was not even in top ten. Indeed, the time was nothing impressive, but her performance was.

Her performance was exceptional.

Truly.

People could see this.

Knights could see more.

Krone could see even more.

“Definitely, a good seed.”

She noticed his gaze, their eyes locked for a second.

‘Now, your turnm Show me, your real worth, your why,’

Her eyes conveyed this message even when her hand was tingling with pain. She quickly broke the engagement as a female nurse ushered her away for treatment.

‘You’re challenging me, eh?’

He could pretty much see what she meant with her eyes. It was not offensive, but more of a ‘show me what you got’ kind. It was just a challenge from a child.

Hmph, a mature adult like him would not even pay it any heed.

“Ready?”

He himself could no longer pay her any heed. The evaluator was just about to give the signal.

Thus, the magician by his side again happily placed his hand up into the sky.

BANG!

Green light ushered five youngsters to their glorious march.

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