บท 27: The Test #2

"Humans in the eyes of the world are weak. Humans are the gum stuck under your boots to them; we are nothing. That's what you'll face when you walk onto that train; it's what you'll sign yourself up for to be constantly scrutinized, to be laughed at, to be smaller than an ant. This examination is only the beginning- no it's not even halfway to the finish line, this test is to determine who will represent us, you, your family and the Kingdom in the fight for humanity's dignity, for our rightful place in the world!.

That is what entering this exam means, that is what boarding that train means; that you accept these terms and that you receive the weight of all our hopes, all our tears! So, I ask you this, will you take up this challenge? Are you capable? Confident? If so then welcome, and if not then leave because only those with guts can pass, only those who are optimistic and are ready to put their lives on the line for this fight for humanity are capable of surpassing their expectations and showing them that we are capable! That we are strong!

These were the words of our founder, and these are the words of the King!, stepping onto that train is the first obstacle you will face for the duration of the test, then after that... the real test begins."

The person who spoke these words was a stern-looking woman who looked to be in her 40's. After the sun started to set ten minutes ago, she arrived with men in tow; all wearing matching styled military uniforms and berays. Without even trying she had silenced the restless children in the square who had grown in number since the last time, now you could barely see a single space in the 57,600 square feet space, which is as big as a football field.

That's when her speech started, startling all the overconfident, and the apprehensive, moving the hearts of those filled with ideas of justice just like a certain boy with rimmed glasses who was staring at the woman standing on top of a podium like how Lee used to look at her Jooheon and Jimin back in her previous life. Somehow Lee managed to keep from laughing when she heard the conversation between some of the guards who were surrounding the city square.

"You'd think she'd change the speech even a little, but she says the same speech every year, not even changing a single word," one guard said as he leaned closer to his buddy beside him.

The guard looked around and fell into a whisper, trying to keep anyone else from hearing their conversation, but unfortunately for him, there was a certain little girl with ears even keener than a dog.

"I know right, these poor kids, the lucky ones are the ones who quit out of fear, the ones I really feel sorry for are the ones who get inspired by her insincere words," the other guard said with a shake of his head. Sure enough, when he looked around, he saw countless children with heart-shaped eyes staring at the direction of the Commander.

The thing that made him sigh once more as that this year there seemed to be more with eyes the shape of hearts than the ones who should be riddled with fear.

About 100 metres away a child with shaking shoulders couldn't hold in a giggle attracting the attention of the people around her including Kai who was standing behind her.

When Kai heard the small giggle, he could help but look in its direction as if his body was compelled to find the source, and when their eyes met a bone-chilling feeling immediately overcame him. It was like he was staring at the eyes of death itself and just like that the next second it was gone, like a sudden strong wind passing by.

"Seriously master, you have to keep that bloodlust locked up, or else our cover will be blown before we even board the train. No matter how excited you are to see him again, don't forget his identity, try not to frighten him to death ok?" " chided the Butler, it had taken him hours to forget the matter of his master ignoring him and was now back to clinging on to Lee

If he had been there physically, he was sure that his knees would be on the ground right now along with his face, such a temper his Master had it was one of the many charms that called his soul to hers.

In an almost pout Lee huffed and took one more look at Kai, of course, she wasn't looking at his outer appearance but inside him, where a trace of her power still resided, peacefully asleep.

The power that resided inside Kai was a part of Lee somehow even though she didn`t know it yet, what she thought she was looking at was an abnormal human; an Élemental, rare humans who posses untampered power that could rival a non-human being.

"You have till the sun fully sets which is twenty minutes from now to decide, think about it wisely and choose carefully" with those words the Commander stepped down from the podium and walked through the center of the square, the thousands of people not even questioning it and instinctively making was for the old woman.

As she was passing through the section in which Lee was in, time seemed to slow down when she met the eyes of a strange-looking little girl. In her time as Commander and as the one in charge of this pointless examination she had seen many come and go, most of them were nobles sons and daughters who passed the test, not because of their talents but because their parents had money.

That's why she could recognize the little girl's origins right away, she had an air of entitlement, like this girl was superior to everyone and she knew it, her clothes were made of the most exquisite lace and fabric that could be found on this part of the Ocean and her features was that of a doll. But when she met her eyes something told the Commander that this little girl wasn't as simple as she looked.

Walking away from the town square the commander had on a beautiful smile that garnered her men's curiosity "Is there something you find amusing Commander?" one of the soldiers closer to the front of the formation asked.

The commander took another last glance at the little girl she had seen, but since she the crowd had closed back up, the girl had also been swallowed, and she could no longer see her small figure and with a chuckled she replied: "It looks like we have some interesting candidates this year."