"Let all those who hear their nas step forward and join on this stage," ordered Gramm.
The candidates were completely bewildered. They had no idea what criteria had been used for this so-called promotion. So even began to believe they might be among the chosen.
As Gramm spoke the first na, the anticipation reached its peak.
"Elizir Mist, step forward."
Murmurs spread among the candidates from the Empire. The surna Mist was exclusive to the imperial family: the first to be called was therefore a prince. He was a young man with golden hair and a princely deanor, like sothing out of a fairytale. He walked gracefully to the stage.
"Ronel."
This ti, it was a woman. The mont the screen zood in on her, every man present was shaken. She was the kind of woman said to be blessed by nature from head to toe. Her wild green hair and an outfit that revealed more skin than it covered sent blood rushing to the heads of many young n.
"Lucy."
Since Lucy was a common na, several female candidates, along with a rare male one, stepped forward at the sa ti. As the director hadn’t specified a surna, they clung to the hope that their performance in the first trial had caught attention. However, the illusion didn’t last. Gramm snapped his fingers, and a golden fireball danced through the crowd before engulfing the real Lucy and lifting her onto the stage.
"Gracia Snowtail."
A pretty white-haired girl in a tracksuit took her place beside the others on the podium.
"Ereis Victara."
A hooded man standing in the back rows was also teleported onto the stage by a spell similar to the one used for Lucy.
"Rana."
"Fidri Cost."
"Ana Lebert."
Eight nas had now been called. The remaining crowd crossed their fingers and toes, hoping to be among the final three.
Without prolonging the suspense any further, Gramm concluded:
"Sirius, Iris, Kritos Franklin, join ."
Once all eleven had gathered on the stage, n in green coats brought out eleven sealed wooden chests.
The chosen candidates turned to face Gramm, their backs to the crowd.
"By the authority entrusted to by His Grace, I hereby declare you admitted to the entrance exam of the Order, and destined for the rank of Enforcers of the Order. Let the traditional ceremony of knighthood begin."
Gramm paused, letting the weight of his words settle in their minds.
"Kneel," he ordered.
At once, as if unable to resist, their bodies complied.
Gramm opened the first chest, revealing a black coat embroidered on the back with an open book bearing an eye watching over the globe.
The first to receive the coat was Sirius, to whom Gramm then pinned the Initiate badge on the shoulder. He did the sa with Ronel, officially assigning them both to the Bureau of Archives and Exploration.
Then he opened two more chests containing the silver coats of the Chancellery. The embroidered crest depicted a map of the world frad by two golden palm trees.
By dressing Lucy and Elizir in them, he officially enrolled them into the Bureau of Administrative and Political Affairs.
Gracia Snowtail and Fidri Cost received the coats of the Bureau of Internal Affairs, bearing the emblem of a scale flanked by two crossed swords.
Kritos Franklin, Ereis Victara, and Ana Lebert were each knighted with the white coat of the Bureau of Ethereal Applications Research. However, when Ereis’s turn ca, he received only a white badge labeled "Intern" instead of a coat. That could only an one thing: Ereis had never undergone awakening and remained an ordinary human.
Iris and Rana were the last to be adorned with the green coats of the Bureau of Military Affairs, whose symbol showed a man wielding a spear and shield before a dragon.
Once all had been decorated according to tradition, Gramm allowed them to rise.
The image of these chosen ones, now robed in their respective colors, sparked envy among the other candidates, who would still have to pass the second trial before being granted such an honor.
Without sending the crowd away, Gramm began the explanation of the second trial:
"Two months ago, the Bureau of Archives and Exploration detected suspicious movents from the Kingdom of Vermin, one of the Calamities’ realms located across the ocean. My agents stationed there have reported that a duchy has broken away from its king’s authority and is preparing to invade human lands. The duke and his n could arrive in a week, perhaps a month. The exact date is uncertain, but one thing is clear: they won’t pass through this military base but through a point where the Order holds no influence."
Images appeared, projecting a map of a country, its cities, and villages.
"This is a nation that refused to sign the treaty 300 years ago. Because of that, the Order cannot assist them. If an invasion occurs, this country will be the first to fall to the duchy’s forces."
A heavy silence fell over the crowd. So were already regretting not quitting earlier.
"The second trial will be to stop the attack from this duchy. As for the ans and thods you’ll use, you have full discretion."
---
("This is a nightmare,") thought Sirius, standing at the front row and watching the panic overtake the candidates.
("Thank goodness I passed the exam. I have no intention of getting involved in that madness.")
Indeed, to any rational person, it seed absurd: sending thousands of Initiates to stop a duchy... Even without barons, counts, or marquises, the duke alone could have wiped out all the candidates.
("This is madness, pure madness...")
Sirius then realized how lucky he was to have succeeded in the first trial. Had he been forced to take part in this second one, he would have dropped out and tried again next year.
---
While Sirius and the others criticized the impossible nature of the trial, Elizir Mist couldn’t stay silent.
"Director, with all due respect, don’t you think this is absurd? You’re sending all these people to certain death. I’m sure no Absolute would ever allow this."
Elizir spoke with confidence. As the son of an Absolute, he believed he had the right to intervene. His father had always protected his citizens, and many in the crowd were citizens of the Empire.
---
"Silence," Gramm whispered again, silencing even the thoughts in the minds of all present.
"Did I ever say I was sending you to certain death? This exam is a real-world simulation of what it ans to be a mber of the Order. And as mbers of the Order, you will never be alone.
These eleven newly promoted Enforcers will serve as your commanders. As for the duke and his marquises... Since when does a human fear an insect? I, and this man beside ," he said, pointing to a man in a black coat bearing the badge of a Master, "will take care of the duke and his marquises. You, you will fight... and you will triumph.
Above all, rember this: anyone who fails to prove themselves in my eyes will be deed to have failed."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gramm prepared to step down from the stage not without snapping his fingers first to have mission dossiers handed to the eleven chosen ones. He simply added:
"This is your first mission. I expect nothing less than exceptional results."
---
Elizir Mist felt proud of having spoken up until Gramm’s voice echoed directly in his mind:
"By joining the Order, you have renounced your nationality. Your privileges as a prince or as the son of an Absolute hold no value here. Only rit matters. The next ti you behave so disgracefully..."
The voice stopped. Only Elizir had heard it. He clenched his fists, keeping his thoughts to himself.
---
Once Gramm had left, the candidates were left alone in the vast parking lot. Only a few Enforcers from Military Affairs remained to prevent chaos.
Sirius descended the stage with the others. All of them opened the contents of their first assigned mission. As soon as they finished reading, they collapsed to the ground, all struck by the sa thought:
("We’re dead.")
Indeed, although each had received a directive specific to their bureau, their missions could all be sumd up in a single sentence:
"Ensure that no candidate dies during the trial while making sure the majority pass the exam.
P.S.: You are free to choose the thods and how you act."
User Comments
0 comments from readers