The tests were, in fact, very easy. Dorian had worried for nothing, regular kids running around with dreams of being a Climber would know or be able to guess the answer to a lot of the questions there. Some of the “outside the box” thinking exercises for puzzles that could appear were tough but as far as basic knowledge, Dorian had it down.


    <ol>


    <li>Each fight makes your Focus stronger – True, your Focus absorbs the killed beast’s strength and empowers yours. Like experience in a video game.</li>


    <li>You must have a Focus to enter the Tower, if false explain why – False, you can go in up to the third floor without a Focus as long as at least one Focused joins for every five un-focused.</li>


    <li>Pre-emergence weapons are useless against all Tower denizens, if false explain why. – False, bullets can be effective up to floor three and explosives are a case-to-case basis dependent on beast, amount of explosive, etc.</li>


    </ol>


    Dorian didn’t know if he should explain further on the question about an unfocused going into the Tower; rich out Wallers from Quondam like the thrill but didn’t want to commit to a Focus. He’d never understand the “logic” in that. He shook his head to get back to the test. There were a few questions like these that Dorian flew through, he had never given such complete definitions in tests during primary schooling. It was the convoluted questions, however, like the fabled “Veronica has 12 watermelons and sells two, eats 12, buys four more, then sells eight, how many does she have?” that tripped him up. He liked the riddle questions that came up, easy ones that would show up in early floors/


    Four knights charged forth, one broke left, another right. The Rain held back to cover her companions, and the Bulwark took the fore. A Sword from the left and a Hammer from the right, which knight was it that held back the blight? Staunch and stout these four fought, the only one surviving, standing on the top, three below sacrifice not in vain. With this riddle came four dials each one labeled “Ser Kelt the Archer, Ser Elden the Paladin, Lady Trenna the Sword, and Kraytor the Indominable” respectively. These dials rotated in different directions which Dorian assumed meant he had to rotate the dials to the correct locations to finish the puzzle.


    Thinking about the riddle he took out the fluff and focused on the important stuff – Four knights, one went in their own direction, each one using a different weapon. Only one of the knights has a title that relates so,” he rotated the Lady Trenna dial to face his left. There was no indication that he was right or wrong, but he was confident and held onto the answer as he worked on the rest. “Paladins use shields… Archers make it rain… arrows, that leaves the Indomitable… yeah that’s a hammer wielder for sure”. He rotated Kelt’s dial to point backward, Kraytor’s to the Right and Elden to the front.


    “You’re right, those puzzle ones can get tricky,” Gray said as he sat down at the cafeteria table, “I think I messed up two of them, I definitely still passed though”!


    Dorian smirked, “who said I got any wrong? I just talked about how annoying they were”.


    “Yeah they were pretty easy from what I remember.” Tella sat down as well as she joined their conversation.


    “Ok miss “I forgot there is no limit on how many Focuses someone can have””. He made a face of triumph as Dorian raised his eyebrows and turned to her.


    “I forgot the difference between restriction and forbidding…tion… forbidtion?” she questioned her own made-up words then smiled as she saw Gray’s slightly judgmental look turn into a huge smile and laugh. “At least I didn’t forget about the Focus Accords between the Inner and Outer cities or wet my bed until I was 11”.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Graytis physically recoiled, “I- wha- why- Tella!” Dorian roared with laughter, “at least my first Focuses aren’t based on a boy you are-“Gray started after her.


    “Well, it’s time for your combat test, Dorian!” Tella yelled very loudly as she stood up and turned to head to the training rooms.


    “Why was she so red?” Dorian asked Gray as they watched her leave in a hurry. He didn’t notice the huge victorious, shit-eating, grin on Graytis’ face.


    “This is the start of a pretty good team, I think,” Instructor Telliman said as she stood sword-straight in front of the three. “A scout - tracking, identify, stealth… you’ll need an offensive focus. Hmmm, You have a one-sided retinal and hearing enhancement, a back Focus for your stealth… both tattoos so you can’t move them. Look for an arm, hand, or leg Focus with an offensive capability, or two if you can swing it.” She rocked her head back and forth as she considered something. “The academy will front it to you if you score high enough to prove you’ll be able to pay it off after a climb or two and tell them I sent you”. Tella nodded with a smile and thanked the instructor, keeping quiet after that so her brother could get his advice.


    “You use your sonic attacks well, you don’t really need offense as Sonic attacks are extremely hard to defend against especially as it grows in the Tower… look for a general durability, a tattoo if possible. I know your shirt covers your torso, but a leg focus for speed or some forearm strengtheners for blocking. I’ll leave the specifics to you, a sensory enhancement or two might not hurt”.


    Gray nodded before asking his own question “can I get a loan, also”? Telliman grinned and raised an eyebrow before giving him a nod. Then Gray went silent and waited for Dorian’s assessment. When it didn’t come they looked at Telliman again who just stared back at Tella and Gray in turn.


    “Well?” they looked at her awkwardly, she sighed “Get out of here and go look at Focuses”.


    Not expecting they would be dismissed without hearing Dorian’s assessment; they still had no idea what Dorian could do. Before they could argue, Telliman told them again, finally getting them to slowly move backward as Dorian looked confused also.


    He turned to them and shrugged apologetically then turned back to watch the Instructor, his guard oddly shoring itself up, not knowing why she wanted him alone. “So,” she said quickly. “Another Numen… I’ve tested four of you before. Oliver doesn’t like the outside world knowing of Numen abilities completely, so you’ll show me only enough to prove competence, do you understand? Attacks, defense, and support, I will test all three. Do you understand?” Dorian nodded.


    “Good. Defend yourself.” She whipped her hand forward like a blade slicing the air and a translucent edge flew toward Dorian. It broke against a barrier Dorian constructed immediately; his guard had already been up. This happened a few more times, her movements staying in a pattern. Should I just attack when I have the chance? Dorian wondered to himself, blocking these edges was easy and he – bam! – he backed into the wall in his defensive retreat.


    “Work on your awareness of the surroundings.” She said as she dashed in close, a gust of wind forced Dorian flat against the wall, he couldn’t move to dodge. “I thought you were a Nu-“she swallowed her taunt as she stumbled forward on the two barriers constructed in front of her feet. Falling forward too quickly to stop she looked like she was going to faceplant right into Dorian’s chest, but he created two more barriers at her shoulders to hold her up. He then constructed barriers all around her so closely she couldn’t move, he knelt in front of her grinning face “guess you are a little monster after all”. Her eyes glowed green for a moment and a huge explosion of wind shattered all of Dorian’s barriers, he stumbled back onto his butt in astonishment; he felt powerless.


    She bent down and held out a hand, “I think that shows me support, offense, and defense.” She was smiling wide, “I’m Stella, Stella Telliman.” That name sounded very familiar, like Dorian had heard it very recently… or read it.


    “The Daughter of the Wind??” Dorian spluttered.


    “The very same.” Her smile softened “I look forward to working with you in the future, Dorian. Grow strong and climb high – we’re waiting for you.” She started to walk away before stopping and turning to face him again. “Oh, and you are cleared for year two”. A weight lifted from his shoulders and he thanked her, telling her they’d be up there in no time.