Noir - Chapter 3

This is only a draft so there might be some typo or grammatical error. And the story might change later.

Chapter3

The Vortex was full of people today because it’s the examination day, the day everyone anticipated. All of them wanted to be something big, not just some unknown name on the history. They can only move in the hierarchy if they became a knight.

“You can do it.” Riel cheered her up.

“I’m not sure.” She said sulking in the cafeteria. She’s always like that, unconfident and not trusting her own ability but when the real deal comes she do it perfectly.

“Here.” Aeros handed her a strawberry yogurt.

“Thanks.” She eats it and all her worries temporarily disappeared.

“Attention. All examiners go to your respective place. The exam will start in ten minutes.”

“Wish me luck guys.” Lily walked with shaking legs.

Riel bump fisted with her and Aeros unexpectedly pat her head. These people believe in her. She needs to do her best.

The test began and she saw herself sitting with hundreds of strangers. It makes her uncomfortable and she noticed most of them are staring at her. She pretends to ignore them but its making her anxious. When the papers were passed, she suddenly became serious and all her positive energy came back.

“Holy shit.” She muttered.

They have to finish answering 500 questions in one hour. The passing score was 80% above so she has to have a score of at least 400. Time will be her enemy here. When she glanced at her surrounding she saw how fast most of them are. Damn, she forgot they’re not normal. So she took a deep breath and concentrated in her questionnaire and she begun answering them one by one. Good thing she knew the answer to the problem. Reading at least thirty five books in the library helped her.

“Times up.” The mentor said.

Some of them didn’t finished it on time and the atmosphere inside was heavy. There are only at least twenty people who finished.

“How did it go?” Riel greeted Lily after.

“I had no idea what took place inside.” She frowned. “I forgot everything that happened. It’s like I’m possessed or something.”

“So how many questions was it this time?” Aeros asked.

“500 in one hour.”

“Damn that’s tough.” Riel winced.

“We had only a hundred before but the questions were really out of this place. I didn’t even know how I answered them.” Aeros smirked.

“I know that feels.” Lily chuckled. “The next thing I knew somebody said times up. I didn’t have time to look if I finished mine or not.”

“That happens.” Riel teased. “Don’t worry about it.”

“I wonder what will happen after this.” Lily muttered.

“Uhm about that.” Riel budged uncomfortably.

“Wait.” Aeros stopped walking. “You didn’t know there are three examinations?”

“Shit.” Lily stared at him. “Is that true?”

“What the hell man.” Aeros said to Riel. “Do you think she can fight? I thought she’s fully aware of everything.”

“Hey calm down. What are you talking about?”

“I’m sorry Lily.” Riel apologized. “I’m going to tell it to you later but Aeros is right. I should have told it to you before this all started.”

“Guys you’re scaring me. Just tell it. I promise I won’t get mad whatever it is.” She said sincerely.

Aeros and Riel looked at each other deciding who will tell her. Riel decided to do it.

“After you passed the first one. There will be a second and a third exam.” Riel explained. “The second one will be a one on one fight. The third one will be survival.”

“Oh shit, does it mean I have to kill?” Lily asked and fears crept into her. If that’s the case then she will forfeit. She value life more than anything.

“No.” Aeros laughed. “You just have to fight each other until someone surrenders or if the crowd decided the fight was over. Killing will make you disqualified.”

“Phew.” He breathed. “It’s fine then.”

“Do you know how to fight?” Aeros cocked his brows.

“Nope.” She grinned. “But I can deal with it.”

“You sure?” Riel said. “I just want to remind you that your enemy will all have unhuman ability.”

“No big deal.” She tried to convince them, even herself but it actually bothers her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I just don’t want you to think of it while studying for the exam.” Riel said guiltily.

“Ok I’ll forgive you.” He sighed. “Just don’t do it again ok? If it’s something concerning me just tell it to me. I won’t get mad whatever it is.”

“Even if you passed the second test the third one will be a life and death situation.” Aeros warned.

“Survival right?” Lily said. “We don’t even know if I’m going to pass the first one. Let’s deal with it later.”

“True.” Aeros grinned.

“Hey is he sick?”  Lily nudged Riel.

“Why would you say that?” Riel chuckled.

“Because he started being nice to me.” Lily said seriously. “Aeros is scaring me out.”

“Whatever.” Aeros rolled his eyes to them.

“He’s really a nice kid.” Riel laughed. “Maybe he’s finally starting to warm up.”

“Yeah.” Aeros snorted.

“Oh forget it. I’m too tired to fight with you anyway.” Lily said. “When will the results come out?”

“Later.” Riel replied.

“That’s fast.” She muttered. “Then the second exam will be?”

“Tomorrow. Same time.” Aeros said.

“Holy hell they didn’t even give us a break.” Lily sighed. “I guess I have to sleep early today. I won’t join you guys later. Damn I’ll miss your flat screen.”

“Yes!” Aeros teased. “Let’s play Call of Duty later Riel.”

“Not fair!” Lily slightly punched Aeros in his shoulder.

“Just kidding.” He grinned.

“What happened to you two?” Riel said amused. Finally, his two friends were getting along well.

“Told you he’s sick.” Lily whispered. “I think we better checked his sanity.”

“Shut up.” Aeros said. “I’m born to be nice.”

Lily and Riel snorted at him at the same time.

“Whatever.” Aeros rolled his eyes to them.

Later that evening after they’ve eaten dinner Aeros and Riel noticed that everyone was staring at them. Well not at them but probably to one particular girl in their group. Lily seemed either oblivious by all of the attention or she’s just ignoring it.

“Do you want to go check the result?” Aeros asked. “I heard it’s out.”

“Ok.” She said nervously.

“Relax. It will be ok.” Riel reassured her.

They silently walked to the common room with tension in the air. They all seemed nervous.

When they arrived, a bunch of people were gathered at the big bulletin board. They can’t see the result so they forced their selves in and when people noticed Lily they all stared at her. Aeros was the first one to see the result.

“Holy shit.” He muttered.

“What?” Lily was scared and she rushed towards his side. Her jaw dropped and she stared at the result. Riel followed them.

“Wow.” He whistled when he saw it.

“Nice one Lily.” Shiki congratulated her. He was passing by and stopped by when he saw the commotion. “That’s the first in history.”

She still can’t believe it. Who would have perfected that damn test? She didn’t even remember what happened yet she got a perfect scored of 500. Then the next one to her only got a score of 470.

“Damn. I was supposed to be the one who get the highest.” Aeros muttered. “That one mistake. Damn.”

“Amazing.” Muttered by the passers-by.

Lily suddenly felt sick. All this attentions are making her sick. She can feel the deadly stare of some of them. She immediately rushed out of there. She wanted to be alone right now. She feels uncomfortable here.

“Hey what’s wrong?” Riel asked her. Aeros and Riel followed her and she didn’t even glance at them. She’s probably just tired. She needs some rest.

“Are you ok?” Riel asked her when they arrived at their adjourning room.

“I felt sick.” She said.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

“I’m not a fun of attention.” She sighed. “It’s making me feel nauseous.”

“I know that feeling.” Aeros muttered. “Just ignore it. I do that a lot.”

“Like it’s that easy.” She snorted.

“Hey. I’m just giving some friendly advice here.”

“I think we should leave her for now.” Riel said. “Just sleep it off Lily. It’ll be gone tomorrow.”

“Thanks Riel.” She said. “Thanks Aeros.”

That night she slept after they left. She had a dream in the middle of the night but the next morning she can’t remember what is it. She just knew that it’s not a pleasant one because she’s breathing hard and wet from sweats when she woke up. It’s probably a nightmare and it’s not comfortable that she can’t remember it. It felt important.

“Hey have you heard?” Riel said while they eat they’re breakfast.

“What?” Aeros said as he chews his cereal.

“Some of the dukes are here. Poseidon is even here.”

“Poseidon? You mean the God of Sea? They exist? Mermaid exists?” She almost spewed her cereal.

“So this is the girl who perfected the exam.” Aeros snorted. “I’m positive they had that topic in the questionnaire.”

Riel nudged him because he’s being rude.

“What?” Aeros snapped at him.

“He’s right.” Lily chuckled. “Do you think someone’s paper accidentally switched with mine?”

“That’s impossible you put your names on the paper.” Aeros stated.

“You’re feeling fine now?” Riel asked.

“Yup. I followed Aeros advice. Just ignore them.”

“Told ya.” He said.

“Dude how can you eat that shit every day?” Lily said to Riel as she noticed his eating his oatmeal again, without flavour.

“Ditto.” Aeros grinned. “I’ve been telling that to him for years now.”

“It’s the same way you two eat cereal every morning.” He rolled his eyes to the two of them.

“Tsk.” Lily said. “I tried eating it when I was a child. After that I didn’t go to school for a week.”

“Seriously?” Aeros and Riel asked the same time.

“I’m serious!”

Both of them laugh at her. Most of the people there are still staring at them but they decided to just ignore them.

It’s already nine AM and all the examiners are gathered in the field. There are a total of sixty who passed the first one. Lily was standing at the back feeling uncomfortable while the mentor explained the rules. Once you’re defeated, you’re out. And you only have to defeat one before you cleared this stage. Killing will result in default and you’ll never have the chance to take the exam again. You can only take it three times in your entire life.

Opponents will be chosen randomly and after the assembly Lily went back sitting on the side with Aeros and Riel. They will be called randomly too.

The first contestant was a vampire and a werewolf. Lily watched them carefully and she’s visualizing that it’s her inside the Arena instead. It makes her blood boiled in excitement. It’s something she never felt before. Contestants are not allowed to use weapons. This is purely strength, speed and strategically. The first fight only lasted for five minutes and some of the next fight only lasted shorter than that. It’s almost noon and Lily was getting anxious in her seat. She tried to eat in her seat but give it up because she’s so nervous that she can’t digest it. She ate a few snickers instead given by Aeros.

Then the last pair was called. It’s her and some other dude. Riel gasped when he saw Lily’s opponent. He’s wishing it will not be him but the odds are against her today.

“Shit.” Aeros muttered. “You can still forfeit Lily.”

“Relax.” She said but she’s shaking as she stands up.

“Be careful.” Riel warned.

“That guy almost killed his opponent last year.” Aeros said all too serious suddenly.

“I’ll be fine.” She reassured them but she’s shaking right now. She slowly walked towards the Arena and all eyes are on her. They looked at her pitifully and it somehow pissed her off. She stopped shaking and she finally calm down.

“This is it.” She muttered.

And all the spectators cheered for their fight.

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