《Manaforge》
Chapter 1: Skyranger Exam (1)
A series of images flickered through, blurry yet recognizable. One image resembled a forest, another a small village in a mountain. And suddenly, a flash of crimson flames engulfed everything. Screams and cries started echoing out, people in black outfits stood ominously, and the world began spinning and shaking. The sensation, so utterly unreal, jolted the boy awake.
His chest heaved, his heart pounding against his ribs. A hand flew to his chest as the tree¡¯s leaves fluttered above him, mirroring his wild brown hair. His body slightly shivered from the cold breeze, a reminder that he had been sleeping on a tree branch again.
¡®This dream again.¡¯ His emerald green eyes narrowed as he recalled the dream. It was the same every time. Even he couldn¡¯t remember how long he had been having it for.
Then, a voice shouted from below, shaking him off his own thoughts. ¡°Hey, Aelio!¡°
He looked down to see a red-headed boy standing below with his hand over his golden eyes, blocking the sunlight.
¡°On your journey to conquer the dreamland?¡° The boy joked with a smirk.
¡°Shut up, Mael.¡± Aelio shot back, jumping down from the tree branch. The wind tousled his wild brown hair as he landed with a solid thud. ¡°Can¡¯t you choose a better greeting? You¡¯re a terraguard now; act like one.¡±
Approaching Mael, Aelio¡¯s gaze fell upon his armored attire, which was a mix of verdant green and earthy brown, well suited for someone who guarded the land. A sword with a dark red sheath hung tightly on his waist.
¡°I¡¯m not on duty right now, alright? Give me a break.¡° Mael flicked his wrist dismissively. ¡°You sure you want to be slacking off? The exam is coming up.¡° He gave him a worried look, crossing his arms.
¡°I¡¯m saving up my energy. Plus, I¡¯ve been training hard while you were gone. I¡¯ve got it this time, just you wait.¡°
Seeing Aelio¡¯s serious face, Mael exhaled with a slight smile. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll take your words for it.¡°
He turned around before looking back over his shoulder, his red cape fluttered by the momentum. ¡°Wanna go for a walk?¡°
With a smile, Aelio followed Mael back into their hometown, Geodot, which wasn¡¯t very far from where they were.
The duo strode down the lively city street as they talked about various things, including Mael¡¯s new experience as a terraguard apprentice.
¡°So, how¡¯s your one year with the terraguards?¡° Aelio asked his hands behind his neck.
¡°I¡¯d say I did pretty good. But because I¡¯m still training, there weren¡¯t many things to do just yet.¡°
A chuckle escaped Aelio¡¯s lips. ¡°The seniors took all the credits, huh?¡°
Mael sighed, his shoulders slumping with disappointment. ¡°Yep.¡°
¡°Told you we should apply for skyrangers together.¡°
¡°You know exactly why.¡° He hugged himself, shivering as he imagined himself being so high up in the sky and looking down to the ground below. ¡°And working as an operator isn¡¯t my thing either.¡°
¡°Yeah, yeah. Same here.¡°
The duo abruptly stopped their paces as they heard sudden humming sounds from above.
¡°Oh, look. Here comes one.¡° Mael looked up with a smile, with Aelio following his gaze.
Flying across Geodot was a large airship with glowing crystals attached to its underside. The crystals pulsed in rhythms with their loud humming, turning and propelling the ship forward through the clear sky.
Aelio¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the airship as it flew by, eyes widen and mouth slightly ajar. The sight only further fuelled his passion to pass the upcoming exam.
Seeing determination in his eyes, Mael smiled softly without saying a word. Despite failing the exam last year, Aelio seemed surprisingly cheerful. Most would just give up and went to apply for other professions, but Aelio kept going, his spirit as high as the sky above.
After a while, the humming began to fade as the airship finally went past the city into the horizon, leaving the city in silence before the liveliness of the street quickly restored.
Aelio turned back to Mael, who was standing beside him. ¡°So how long are you staying this time?¡°
¡°A few days. I can probably go watch you during the exam tomorrow.¡°
¡°Not sure I want that, actually.¡°
¡°Oh, come on! Let brother cheer you up.¡° Mael teased, giving him a playful nudge with his elbow. ¡°You said you¡¯re gonna make it this time, right? So what¡¯s the problem?¡°
¡°You¡¯re gonna make me nervous, that¡¯s why.¡° Aelio gave him a side eye, but Mael¡¯s amused smile said otherwise.
As they reached an intersection, Mael turned. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll go see dad at the school.¡° He looked back at Aelio briefly before walking away. ¡°See you in the evening.¡°
Aelio waved as Mael disappeared into the alleyway, leaving him alone among the townspeople who were going about their lives. With a deep breath, he continued walking towards his next destination: the local smithy.
As he entered the building, a short, portly blacksmith greeted him delightfully.
¡°Ah! It¡¯s Aelio! Perfect timing.¡° The blacksmith chirped cheerfully, adjusting his white round glasses as he turned back to pick up something in the back. His hurried movements suggested urgency.
¡°Hello, Mr. Mavin!¡° He grinned with an equal enthusiasm, pointing outside the shop. ¡°Did you see the airship that flew by just now? It¡¯s awesome¡ª¡±
¡°Before that,¡± Mavin interrupted, his previous cheerfulness abruptly faded as he turned back with a wooden box full of various ores and placed it down in front of Aelio with a big thud. ¡°Can you turn these into daggers again? I need to restock early tomorrow.¡°
Aelio looked down at the crate of ores, blinking once then twice. ¡°Oh¡ O-okay.¡°
He picked up one of the ores, as big as his fist, then closed his eyes in concentration. The time seemed to slow down as Mavin also waited to see the magic happen.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
Then, after a brief moment, the ore began to glow as it started to morph in Aelio¡¯s hand, becoming a small, beautifully crafted dagger.
Aelio exhaled, opening his eyes and loosening his grip on the dagger.
But before he could say anything, Mavin suddenly snatched the dagger from his grip with a high-pitched noise from his lips. ¡°A good piece as always. Good work, Aelio.¡°
¡°Thanks.¡° Aelio chuckled as he scratched his head, his expression slightly tired. ¡°But you know it¡¯s not easy for me to do one dagger, let alone an entire crate! I also have exam tomorrow so¡¡±
¡°I¡¯ll give you extra.¡° Mavin raised two fingers, smiling. ¡°120 rudies per piece.¡°
Aelio¡¯s face lit up at the mention of payment raise, his spirit firing back up. ¡°Whoa! For real?! In that case, I¡¯ll just have to do them all then!¡°
Mavin chuckled. ¡°Good, good. Now bring that crate to the back and stayed there. Remember, don¡¯t let anyone see you do it, okay?¡°
¡°You got it!¡° He picked up the crate, feeling the weight straining his arms as he walked into the back of the shop. ¡°I might as well do all these since I¡¯ll be leaving for an apprenticeship anyway once I passed the exam.¡°
Once Aelio disappeared into the back, a quick smirk crept up onto Mavin¡¯s face. ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be profitable for me now, would it?¡°
Despite his enthusiasm, Aelio couldn¡¯t make the dagger-making process any quicker. By the time he finished the crate, collected his payment, and stepped out of the smithy, it was already late evening.
¡°Whew¡¡± His shoulders slumped, the energy he¡¯d saved for the exam all spent. ¡®Oh well, guess I¡¯ll just have to sleep a bunch tonight instead.¡¯ With that thought, he headed home.
The house, not far from Geodot¡¯s only school, was a two-story building with a modest design, blending in with its surroundings. The chimney shot puffs of gray smokes upward, signaling that dinner was readying.
Opening the front door, Aelio called out as he stepped inside the cozy interiors. ¡°I¡¯m back!¡°
Mael, who was placing the dishes on the table, greeted him back. ¡°Welcome back. Dad¡¯s almost done with the dinner.¡°
Aelio didn¡¯t hesitate, approaching the dining table and taking a seat. The sight of steaming food lit up his face.
¡°It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve had dinner together as a family.¡° Another male voice, low and gentle, echoed out from the kitchen.
Stepping into the living room was a tall and muscular man in his early forties, suggested by his well-kept facial hair. His red hair and yellow eyes mirrored Mael¡¯s, none Aelio¡¯s.
¡°Elric!¡° Aelio exclaimed from his seat as he watched Elric placed a dish on the table before sitting himself, following by Mael.
Pouring water into his cup, Elric turned to Aelio. ¡°Are you ready for the upcoming exam?¡°
¡°Yeah.¡° He took a bite. ¡°Thank you for helping me train, even though you¡¯re busy with your teaching at school.¡°
¡°I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t pass last year. You¡¯re more than capable.¡° Elric praised as he began eating, causing an embarrassed chuckle to escape Aelio¡¯s lips.
¡°Thanks¡¡± He scratched the back of his head, a faint blush on his cheeks. ¡°But Mael is even better than me, you know?¡°
Mael looked up from his plate. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s nothing, really.¡° He smiled, feeling flustered but kept himself humble.
Elric, however, continued to focus the conversation on Aelio, barely acknowledging Mael. ¡°You¡¯re special, Aelio. I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t give it your all last year.¡°
Mael¡¯s lips twitched downward, his gaze lingering on Elric for a brief moment before going back to his dish.
¡°Th-thank you for saying that.¡° Aelio nervously laughed, trying to brighten up the mood after noticing the sudden tension.
Mael watched the exchange between the two with a forced smile, his knuckle white as he clenched his fist quietly on the table.
The rest of the night went by quickly with Elric mostly paying his attention on Aelio, even when he purposely stirred the topic to Mael¡¯s accomplishments as a new terraguard.
That night, in their shared room, Aelio tried to comfort Mael after he noticed his slightly frown expression and unusual silence, unlikely for someone like him.
¡°I¡¯m sure he just wanted me to pass the exam just like you.¡° He patted Mael¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s why he might be too focused on me lately.¡°
¡°We both know it wasn¡¯t just ¡®lately¡¯, Aelio.¡° Mael sighed and shook his head, his tone stern but his usual friendliness still didn¡¯t falter.
Aelio fell quiet, unsure of what to say. As much as he wanted to object, he knew it was the truth. Since they were little, Elric had been giving Aelio more love than Mael, his very own son; the way he talked to each of them, the tones, the gestures, be it during their times at school or around the house.
¡°You still have me.¡° Aelio spoke up, his hand still on Mael¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Brothers don¡¯t abandon each others, right?¡°
Hearing that, Mael turned to see Aelio giving him a reassuring smile, his expression as friendly as it was serious. He returned a weak smile, his glance lingered. ¡°Thanks.¡°
And so, the brothers went to sleep, preparing for what was ahead of them tomorrow. Aelio made sure to get plenty of rest for the exam. Mael, on the other hand, decided to tag along to cheer him up, brushing Elric¡¯s favoritism off his mind.
Early in the next morning, the duo went over their morning routines and quickly prepared themselves for a short journey to the nearest floating city, Nelma, where the skyranger exam would be held.
Mael decided to leave first and waited for Aelio outside the house. Meanwhile, Aelio was called by Elric to talk about something.
¡°Make sure you give it your all.¡° Elric crossed his arms, smiling. His body towering over Aelio¡¯s.
¡°Of course. I¡¯m not like last year.¡° Aelio clenched his hand tightly in front of him, his gaze dropping to the fist, burning with passion. ¡°This time, I¡¯m gonna become a skyranger and travel the world.¡°
Elric watched him in silence, admiring his ambition. Aelio had always been curious about his past, his real parents and family. All Elric could give him was that his parents passed away in a tragic incident.
But Aelio still clinged to his little hope of finding a relative, anyone who knew his parents, to learn about them, about who they were and what they were like.
¡°Be strong, Aelio.¡° Elric¡¯s words pulled his gaze back up. ¡°And seek allies, ones loyal enough to be by your side no matter what.¡°
After a brief silence, Aelio replied. ¡°I will.¡° Then, a thought popped up in his mind. ¡°Oh and, about Mael¡ª¡±
Elric¡¯s chuckle interrupted him. ¡°I know what¡¯s been going on in that head of his. I¡¯m his father, after all.¡° He paused, his face turned more serious. ¡°But it¡¯s also my duty to make sure you become strong enough to protect yourself, for your own sake.¡°
Aelio tilted his head. ¡°Duty?¡°
¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡° Elric shook his head with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him after your exam, so just focus on that.¡°
Reassured, Aelio nodded and turned to leave. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off!¡°
Just as he was about to reach the front door, Elric called out his name one last time, causing him to turn around.
There was a moment of silence between the two, before Elric spoke up, his expression softened. ¡°Watch Mael¡¯s back for me out there.¡°
Aelio blinked. Elric¡¯s tone was especially genuine this time, catching him off guard. ¡°You got it.¡° With that, he left the house to catch up with Mael.
Watching him disappeared through the door, Elric mumbled to himself. ¡°Be careful, Aelio.¡°
Outside, Aelio met Mael at the edge of the city, where the manabus station was located. Their destinations included Nelma.
Approaching the vehicle, Aelio¡¯s eyes shifted to the mana crystals attached to its underside, similar to the ones on the airship but much smaller, lifting the manabus off the ground with their rhythmic flashes and faint hums.
As they entered, the bearded driver¡¯s husky voice rang out. ¡°Fifty rudies. A hundred for two.¡°
Mael reached into his pocket, but Aelio quickly stopped him, then pointed at himself.
¡°I got this.¡° His tone was full of pride as he pulled out his own reddish-pink coins and put them in the small box next to the driver seat.
¡°Huh.¡° Mael raised an eyebrow. ¡°Have you been working part-time or something?¡°
Aelio replied with a chuckle. ¡°Kind of. Come, let¡¯s take a seat.¡°
As the manabus started to fill up, the driver booted up the engine. The humming sounds intensified as the vehicle began to move, hovering over the ground.
The mana crystals underneath leaned backward, a translucent ring coming out from each of them in a steady interval, propelling the manabus forward.
For the first several minutes, the manabus stuck close to the ground. But as soon as it reached the open grass field, the mana crystals began to lean back to a more vertical position, lifting the vehicle higher up into the air.
Some of the passengers looked out of the windows in fascination, while those who were already used to it stayed composed. Aelio and Mael were a good example of both groups.
As he looked out the window with his curious eyes, Aelio noticed a silhouette of their destination hidden among the morning fog. Its city-shape shadow loomed darker, before the fog gave ways to the the actual city behind.
The city of Nelma, along with the yearly skyranger exam, awaited the duo on the giant floating island ahead.
Little did they know, Aelio¡¯s exam result had already been decided even before it began.
Chapter 2: Skyranger Exam (2)
Every year, an examination was held in each of the listed cities, accepting applicants over fifteen years old. Upon passing the exam, they could immediately start their apprenticeship with certified professionals looking to recruit them.
Due to the exam¡¯s sheer difficulty¡ªwhich included both theoretical and practical tests¡ªonly a few people passed each year, per city.
The listed cities were often the busier locations, with various businesses and travelers passing through, attracting the largest number of applicants. The exam would determine placement in one of the three guardian factions, depending on where the city was situated.
Nelma, a city on a floating island, held an exam for skyrangers.
Inside a general shop in Nelma, a skyranger was bargaining with the shopkeeper over the price of monster parts.
¡°Come on, old man, surely you can go a bit higher,¡± he urged, offering a smile. His blond hair swayed lightly as he leaned closer to the counter, his stout form looming over the shopkeeper.
¡°And I¡¯ve been telling you, this is the standard price for these parts,¡± the shopkeeper replied, glancing at the items on the desk. ¡°They¡¯re only useful for brewing potions, not much else.¡±
¡°Oh, really?¡± The skyranger opened his sky-blue eyes and raised an eyebrow. He pointed toward the shop¡¯s entrance. ¡°The owner of another place is willing to buy them for higher, though. I¡¯m just checking prices from other shops.¡±
He swiped all the parts into his cloth bag, swung it over his shoulder, and turned to leave. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll go sell them there instead.¡±
His armor rustled against his leather outfit as he took steady steps toward the door. But then the shopkeeper called out, ¡°W-wait! Fine, I¡¯ll give you 10 rudies more for each part.¡°
The skyranger¡¯s smirk crept onto his face as quickly as it vanished when he turned around, now wearing a friendly, seemingly innocent smile. ¡°Thank you!¡±
Exiting the building with the payment in hand, he met another skyranger¡ªa red-haired woman in a black leather jacket and tight pants, with a beauty mark under her left eye.
Seeing him practically skipping with a wide smile toward her, she placed a hand on her hip. ¡°You look happy for someone who just robbed a poor old man.¡±
¡°It¡¯s called bargaining, Jesska.¡± The blond skyranger extended his arm with a shrug, the bag of coins still in his hand. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter if you lie or not.¡±
Jesska shook her head slightly. ¡°Whatever you say.¡± She turned toward a big building in the background, the clouds drifting by closer due to the island¡¯s high altitude. ¡°Should we go then? The exam is starting.¡±
The man¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°Do we really have to? There are probably other rangers there already, and there¡¯s barely anything happening during the exam anyway.¡±
¡°Ronnie, you know it¡¯s in our contract.¡± Jesska shot him a glare, her light blue eyes narrowing. ¡°¡®Protecting the skyranger exam is to be taken as top priority,¡¯ remember?¡±
Ronnie sighed, dragging out his tone. ¡°Finee. Let¡¯s go.¡±
Together, they made their way to Nelma¡¯s exam dome. Around the island, many airships had docked, while a few still flew by slowly, their humming adding a sense of anticipation.
Reaching the building, they immediately noticed the applicants lining up in the front¡ªsome younger, while others looked to be in their early or even late twenties.
Jesska went her separate way to find something to drink inside. Ronnie, with his adventurous spirit high, decided to wander to the back, where no one usually went due to the main event taking place inside.
However, his upbeat energy was quickly replaced by curiosity as he overheard a faint conversation coming from one of the alleyways between the nearby houses.
His movements became more cautious as he leaned against the wall next to him, trying to hide his presence while peeking out to see two people talking.
One was a shorter, chubby man with glasses, while the other was taller, black-haired, and dressed in neat white clothes with minimalistic red patterns¡ªan attire exclusive to the skyranger exam judges.
¡°¡It¡¯s going to be harder this time, Mavin,¡± the judge said, shaking his head and holding his temples. ¡°The kid already did well last year. They¡¯ll find out.¡±
¡°I know, I know. But I can¡¯t let him leave for apprenticeship,¡± Mavin whispered, glancing around nervously. ¡°He¡¯s too valuable.¡±
The judge frowned. ¡°How valuable can a boy be for you to resort to bribery, twice?¡±
Mavin fell silent, looking down as he clenched his fists so hard they visibly trembled. After a brief moment, he looked up. ¡°He¡ has a magic that benefits me very much. That¡¯s all I can tell you.¡±
Tilting his head, the judge crossed his arms. ¡°Well, even if I wanted to help you, simply giving him one point short won¡¯t be enough.¡±
Mavin groaned, contemplating his options. Then, an idea struck him. ¡°Wait¡ Don¡¯t you guys use an actual monster in the practical test as well?¡±
¡°That we do,¡± the judge replied, now placing one hand on his hip. ¡°But they¡¯re well-trained monsters, raised in controlled environments¡ª¡±
¡°Wh-what if!¡± Mavin interrupted, his eyes sparkling. ¡°You make the monsters target him specifically? That way, he¡¯ll have a harder time completing the test, right?¡±
The judge stared back in disbelief, his jaw dropping at the proposal. ¡°Are you crazy?! He could get hurt! And the one who will be in trouble is me, not you!¡±
¡°Shhh! Keep your voice down!¡± Mavin hissed, glancing around nervously before returning his gaze to the judge.
Ronnie, noticing the sudden change in their tone, quickly pulled himself behind the corner just in time.
¡°You want more rudies, right? I¡¯ll give you one thousand¡ªno, two thousand! Just make sure he doesn¡¯t pass. You can¡¯t back down now, not when you already did it once!¡± Despite lowering his voice, Mavin¡¯s desperate tone made the request more urgent.
After staring back at him for a few more seconds, the judge sighed. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it. But this will be the last time, you got that?¡±
Mavin¡¯s face lit up, but before he could reply, the judge noticed a shadow peeking out from the corner behind him.
¡°Hey! Who¡¯s there?!¡± he called out suddenly, startling Mavin. But no one answered¡ªnot even a footstep could be heard.
Mavin shifted his gaze between the judge and the corner. ¡°Wh-what is it?¡±
Ignoring him, the judge approached the corner slowly, trying to catch any sound of movement. Soon, he reached the cold stone wall of a house before abruptly shoving his head out to check the other side.
No one was there¡ªjust an empty alleyway leading to the exam dome. The judge scanned the area once more but found nothing.
¡®Was it just my imagination?¡¯ he thought. He lingered for a moment before going back to Mavin to finish the conversation.
Meanwhile, Ronnie hadn¡¯t gone far. He had barely managed to move to the opposite side of the building, one corner away from his previous spot.
His heart pounded in his chest, a constant reminder of how close he had come to being found. Not willing to push his luck any further, he slipped away toward the exam dome, where he reunited with Jesska just inside one of the entrances.
Seeing him out of breath, Jesska tilted her head, sipping from her glass through a straw. ¡°You alright?¡±
¡°Yep. I¡¯m good,¡± Ronnie replied between pants as he straightened himself. ¡°I think I found something interesting.¡±
¡°Oh?¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±
He smiled. Although he didn¡¯t know exactly what kind of magic this mysterious boy had, the fact that someone was willing to pay that much money to keep him around must mean he was worth even more. ¡°I may have found our moneymaker.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Jesska blinked, slightly taken aback. ¡°Moneymaker? Who could that be?¡±
Ronnie kept his smile for a moment before rubbing his thin facial hair, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Hmm. Good question.¡±
A knowing chuckle escaped her lips as she took another sip, already used to his shenanigans.
After a few moments of contemplation, Ronnie looked up at her. ¡°Say, where are those two anyway?¡°
She turned to the various rooms inside the facility. ¡°Probably in the room already, for the theoretical test.¡°
¡°Good.¡° Ronnie took a few steps into the building, his smile returning. ¡°We¡¯ll need to plan out our next operation with them afterward.¡°
He turned over his shoulder with a smirk. ¡°I call it: Operation Rescue Moneymaker.¡°
At the main entrance of the exam dome, Aelio was waiting in line to register his name, with Mael standing beside him.
¡°Lots of people.¡± Mael looked back to see many other applicants. ¡°Didn¡¯t think there would be this many from other races.¡±
Among those with similar appearances to them, there were some who resembled upright animals, standing and chatting animatedly among others. The scene was a blend of many different races gathering together with one shared goal: to pass the skyranger exam.
¡°Half of them won¡¯t make it to the practical test anyway,¡± Aelio remarked coldly. His eyes were fixed on his hands as he adjusted a bracelet-like gadget on his left wrist. ¡°You know how many people passed the exam last year in Nelma? Twelve.¡±
Mael turned back to him, his eyes widening. ¡°That¡¯s even less than the number of airships docking here!¡±
Eventually, they reached the registration counter just outside the open doors leading inside. A furry staff member, with cat-like features and a cap on his head, sat lazily behind the desk, his tail flicking.
¡°Hm? Ah, it¡¯s you,¡± the staff muttered, gazing up at Aelio as he began writing his name, clearly recognizing his face. ¡°You¡¯re persistent for a Normkin.¡±
Aelio chuckled as he finished the registration. ¡°You won¡¯t be seeing me again next year, ¡¯cause I¡¯m passing the exam today.¡±
The staff smirked, his tail flicking sharply. ¡°And confident, too. Good luck...¡± He looked down at the paper before returning his gaze to Aelio. ¡°Aelio Godfoot.¡±
¡°Thanks, sir.¡± Aelio smiled, turning to give Mael a nod before they both made their way inside the building.
Mael¡¯s gaze lingered on the feline staff for a moment before returning to the path ahead of them. ¡°What a nice Beastkin. He seems like a chill guy.¡±
¡°Uh-huh,¡± Aelio muttered, keeping his eyes on the crowded hallway. Unlike outside, people kept their voices down in the hallway so as not to disturb the applicants.
Seeing Aelio¡¯s smile already fading, Mael could feel the tension rising in him. As they reached the room, he patted Aelio¡¯s shoulder lightly. ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside. Do your best.¡±
Without saying anything more, Aelio entered the room. Mael caught a glimpse of other people already seated quietly inside. With nothing else to do, he went to find a seat nearby.
The Skyranger exam¡¯s theoretical test took ninety minutes. The rooms that filled up first started early, and by the time the other rooms were full, the first room would already be available again, maintaining a steady flow to handle the sheer number of applicants.
Even with this method, the process still took hours for all applicants to complete their tests and was usually wrapped up by lunchtime.
After lunch, the applicants could check the notice board for their names, which listed those who had passed and could move on to the practical test. The passing score was set at 90% or higher.
Murmurs and gasps filled the hallway as people gathered around the notice board, one after another leaving with their heads hung low in disappointment.
Aelio sighed in relief after finally spotting his name, though it was quite low on the list. ¡°Nice, I did it.¡±
¡°Just barely,¡± Mael added from behind. ¡°92% isn¡¯t very reassuring for someone who trained hard, don¡¯t you think?¡±
¡°Well, yeah. I trained, not studied,¡± Aelio shrugged. ¡°Besides, I already passed it once before, so I know I can do it again.¡±
¡°Right.¡± Mael gave him a stare, then turned back to the board. ¡°There are more than twenty people passing here. I guess we have more smart ones this year, huh?¡±
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice echoed from nearby, catching everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Oooh! Look, Melfie, you got a hundred!¡±
Turning toward the voice, Aelio saw an upbeat girl dressed in a casual outfit with a short skirt, bouncing on her feet. Her medium-long lime-green hair bobbed up and down along with her clothes as she moved, with long, blue fin-like ears peeking out of her sidelocks.
¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡± she exclaimed, her aqua-blue eyes glued to another petite girl standing next to her.
The petite girl, Melfie, wore a simple shirt and shorts that accentuated her thighs. An indigo capelet hung over her shoulder, paired with a matching beret atop her medium dusty-blue hair. Her purple eyes looked disinterested as she glanced back at the upbeat girl.
¡°Great job attracting attention to us, Nino,¡± Melfie grumbled, her pointy ears twitched softly beneath her hair.
¡°Ehehe, sorry~¡± Nino knocked on her own head with a wink. ¡°But look, I passed too! Yay!¡±
Melfie simply sighed. ¡°Yeah, yeah, good job. Let¡¯s just get back to Jesska. These people are giving me the creeps.¡± Her half-closed eyes scanned the crowd with a hint of disgust.
¡°Okay, let¡¯s go! Excuse me~¡± Nino quickly bounced away, making a path through the crowd for Melfie to leave comfortably.
After they left, murmurs began to fill the hallway once again. Some whispered about Melfie¡¯s attitude, while others commented on their striking appearances.
¡°Whoa, a perfect score?¡± Mael muttered quietly, double-checking the name list. ¡°She¡¯s the only one on the list, too.¡±
Aelio¡¯s gaze lingered in the direction they had gone. He didn¡¯t remember anyone performing especially well last year, but this year could be different. Judging from her appearance alone, she didn¡¯t seem older than him.
Nevertheless, it was time to prepare for the practical test of the skyranger exam.
The exam dome was originally built as an arena but had since been renovated to hold exams for skyrangers instead.
The initial structure was well-suited for the practical portion of the exam, which involved placing the applicants in the arena to evaluate their performance when facing actual monsters.
The test¡¯s objective was to obtain trophies placed around the arena ground, each well-guarded by various kinds of monsters. Once an applicant successfully claimed a trophy, they could leave the arena through a nearby door, and a new trophy would be placed.
Since the test was seen as entertainment by many, townsfolk also came to watch it, alongside the skyrangers who attended due to contractual obligations or to scout for talented apprentices to join their crews.
In fact, the test had garnered so much attention that the staff began adapting the role of an actual arena announcer.
¡°Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to this year¡¯s practical test of Nelma¡¯s skyranger exam!¡± the announcer greeted, loud and clear through the microphone. His energetic voice filled the dome, followed by cheers erupting from the bleachers.
Ronnie and Jesska, sitting together amidst the crowd, remained composed, with Jesska sipping her drink and Ronnie munching on snacks.
¡°You all know the drill! Thirty minutes of a free-for-all stage against our monsters. You can curl up in the corner all you want, but don¡¯t expect to gain any points from our judges!¡±
The crowd¡¯s attention briefly shifted to the judges seated in the front row, papers spread across their table.
Jesska leaned forward slightly, her gaze shifting between the judges. ¡°It¡¯s one of them?¡±
¡°Yep,¡± Ronnie replied, popping another piece of his snack into his mouth. ¡°The black-haired guy on the left.¡±
Locking onto the judge, Jesska narrowed her eyes. ¡°Wonder how he will do it, influencing the monsters¡¯ behavior to target someone in particular.¡±
¡°Now then!¡± The announcer resumed. ¡°Without further ado, let¡¯s bring our applicants into the arena!¡±
One by one, the young applicants stepped into the open ground, their ears filled with cheers erupting from all directions. Each of them held a weapon in hand¡ªexcept Melfie.
Although the monsters they faced were well-trained and harmless, applicants were provided with a collection of basic weapons to choose from.
Aelio tightened his grip on the steel sword he had picked, reminding himself of all the training he had undergone with Elric¡ªall the hardships¡ªfor this very moment.
Glancing up at the bleachers, he quickly spotted Mael waving at him with an encouraging smile, to which he responded with a nod and a smile of his own.
Returning his attention to the arena, he noticed the golden trophies scattered around, as well as the small-sized monsters pouring in through various doors on the arena¡¯s sides.
Four-legged monsters guarded the ground level, while aerial monsters hovered above, watching over the trophies on the higher wooden structures.
A few applicants who had never seen the test before gasped in terror, while the rest prepared themselves mentally for the final thirty minutes of the exam.
Melfie seemed indifferent to the scene ahead despite being the only unarmed person, while Nino continued to bounce up and down happily, a hammer in hand.
From the bleachers, Ronnie stared at the duo with wide eyes, his jaw dropping. ¡°Why the hell did she not bring anything with her?!¡±
¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Jesska smiled. ¡°She knows what she¡¯s doing.¡±
¡°But wait!¡± The announcer¡¯s voice cut through the cheering, quickly dragging everyone¡¯s attention back to him. ¡°There¡¯s still one more surprise! Mind your heads!¡±
As he finished, the familiar humming sounds grew louder and louder. The crowd started to look up at the sky¡ªthe only roofless part of the exam dome, directly above the arena floor¡ªto see an airship flying overhead, blocking out the sunlight.
But there was something else beneath it, blending in with the airship¡¯s shadow.
When the rope detached, a huge figure plummeted downward, landing on the arena floor with a massive crash as the airship departed the dome. Sand flew up from the impact, creating a smoky haze that obscured the figure. The wind exploded outward, hitting the applicants so hard that some stumbled and fell to their feet.
As the gasps faded and the dust settled, the figure became visible to the public: a massive monster with smooth teal skin and brown spots all over its body. Its hands and feet were enormous, with the hands even bigger than its head. Its overall shape resembled a triangle, with its blunt end forming its head.
¡°As some of you may have already noticed, we have a special trophy today, perched at the very top of the wooden tower!¡±
Listening to the announcement, Aelio¡¯s eyes shifted to the towering structure behind the monster. There, he saw it¡ªa trophy, bigger and more intricately designed than the rest, sitting at the very top.
¡°This trophy will not be placed back again after being claimed and is worth three times the points of the normal trophies! Which means¡¡± The announcer smirked. ¡°Whoever gets it will, without a doubt, pass the skyranger exam!¡±
His words hit Aelio like a heavy punch in the face. ¡®Without a doubt¡¡¯ he repeated in his head, his eyes fixed on the magnificent trophy.
¡°But if you want to claim the guaranteed ticket to success, you¡¯ll have to get past our big boy, Golon, first!¡±
The crowd erupted into cheers, louder than ever. Even Jesska had to plug her fingers into her ears to muffle the noise.
¡°No way¡¡± one of the applicants murmured, taking a step back.
¡°I-I¡¯m good with just a regular trophy. Thanks,¡± another muttered with a shaky voice.
Nino¡¯s face lit up at the sight of Golon, her eyes sparkling as she squealed in delight. ¡°He¡¯s so cuteee! Look at his face, the round eyes! I wanna cuddle him~¡±
Crossing her arms, Melfie raised her eyebrows, yet there was no fear in her expression. ¡°Interesting.¡±
Meanwhile, Aelio froze on the spot, his heart pounding in his chest. The difficulty was obvious¡ªhe knew that. But he couldn¡¯t afford to fail another year. He needed answers to his past, to find out if any of his relatives were still alive out there somewhere.
In that moment, his mind was already set.
¡®That trophy¡¯s mine.¡¯