GL (GalaxyLight): I'm back and kickin for another chapter. Sorry for not bein' around. Like I said, new things always get in my way. You wanna know way? Well, I'll leave that to you guys. Anyway, let's get this show on the road, because it's time to give our friends the first exam of the year.
Elsword's PoV
I was so nervous. Today is the middle terms exams. We were carrying our battle gear in our bags for physical tests. I studied, but that just made me even more nervous. I'm not sure if I'll get a good grade or a bad one. It all depends on your skills, and I don't have any confidence. We were walking to school as I as still nervous on the way. "Is there something wrong, Elsword? You look pale." Elesis said to me.
"How can you NOT be pale when the mid-terms exam is today!?" I said back to her.
"Well, it's true, but I did study a lot last night. And I'm quite familiar with the questions, and I'm also quite combat experienced and-"
"Okay, okay, I get it! Ugh! You only know better because you're older than me. Plus, you were once a 3rd year too." My sister giggled.
"I guess that's true. But you studied a lot yesterday as well. I know you can do it. I have deep faith in you." She hugged me very tight.
"ERK! Sis! Not so hard!" I gagged forcing Elesis to let go of the hug.
"Good morning!" We turned behind us to see Rena and Aisha coming towards us.
"Good morning!" We called back.
"Looks like the mid-terms exam is today." Rena said. I felt down again as she said that.
"Uh-huh..." I let out a deep sigh.
"Ah! Did I offend you with that!? I'm so sorry!" Rena bowed as an apology.
"You better be careful of what you say, Rena." Elesis said to her.
"S-Still, we studied a lot last night, so I'm sure we'll all get a passing grade."
"I'm well hoped that Rena, Elesis and I will pass, though I don't know if Elsword here has the right brains to make it." Aisha said.
"Elsword will pass! I know he can! I made sure he studies well while I gave him a good sleep and gave him a lot of food. I even cleaned his sword so it wouldn't get rusty. I made sure he doesn't get tired of spaced out from the stress."
"You sure are well-prepared for caring your brother." Rena sweatdropped.
"A little bit too over-protective though." Aisha followed. I couldn't agree more. That's when we heard the bell ringing.
"What the-! The bell is ringing already!?" I shouted in shock
"We don't have time to talk anymore! Come on! We gotta go or we'll be late!" Elesis cried out. The rest of us nodded as we all headed inside the school. For 3rd year students, the exams starts with a written test with questions about fighting, the regions and monsters. After that will be physical testing, to test our physical strength, skills, magic, speed and insight. The third one forming a team work together to find your way to your main destination. And the fourth and last one is fighting a monster. It may seem straight-forward, but it's actually brutal and insane.
We were all in the same room in separate desks waiting for a test papers to be handed in our desks. Since the exams are here, students from other regions attend here as well as teachers being here. There was an agreement as all four regions, Ruben, Elder, Bethma and Altera work together on the exams for junior high school. In fact, all four of them made the four tests. The teachers from Ruben deal with the paper tests.
"Alright, everyone! We'll now be handing down your test papers. Make sure you read carefully, and no peeking into others, otherwise you'll all be disqualified." One of the teachers from Ruben stated. He had brown curly hair and glasses and a pencil on top of his ear... and had lots of papers in his bags. I wonder why. "Oh! And one more thing, 'a warrior read their way from their own'. That's all I have to say." After the all papers were handed, we got started. I turned the pages while looking at the questions, and it would seem my predictions were right.
The questions they give you in a test for 3rd year in junior high is ridiculous. Some of them are about naming skills and techniques to outwit your opponents and take them out. I wasn't very good with naming strageties, despite that I read some of them. I'm so gonna have a hard time answering these.
Aisha's PoV
''Name the magic that neutralizes your opponent's magic.' Easy enough.' I thought to myself while reading the question before writing the answer. These questions were no problem to me. I'm sure most of 3rd year students can answer these. I doubt Elsword could do most of these. I took a peek at him and he had a lot of sweat in his face. Either he was freaking out or he's just focusing a lot. I can't make it out at all since I'm behind him.
Although I will admit, some of those questions were quite challenging, even I had to pause and think for a moment. 'For enemies who appear around 2 metres of a melee weapon's range, explain the attack options using the distance, show your working out.' This one is a very complicated question that requires a high amount of book smarts and experience. There's a high doubt Elsword can clearly answer this, I'm also not sure about everyone else either.
I then stumbled to a question that I was unfamiliar of. 'If a warrior cannot physically hold down on oneself, how would the individual find the truth mentally?' My eyes widen when I read this question. This said nothing in the books. I became confused as to why the teachers wrote this question to those who are unfamiliar with this knowledge.
I can hear the teachers who are beside us scribbling on their notebooks while watching us, forcing me to shake my pencil while biting my fingernail on the thumb out of stress. Let's just hope they can do as much as they can.
Elesis's PoV
Okay, this test was beyond than what I thought. What the heck changed after these 3 years? Some of these questions are harder than I could easily answer. 'If your allies are occupied while there are more enemies, outline the options on how to deal with them in distant times.' I bit my fingernail of my thumb out of stress. I felt like something was wrong with these questions. I've never heard anything like this in the books... unless... My eyes widened when I found out that these questions aren't supposed to be from the books.
'Damn it, this isn't a test to just measure your intelligence from the books.' I thought to myself as I gritted my teeth a little while looking at Elsword with worry. 'Hurry up and notice, Elsword, Aisha and Rena. It could cost you everything, and possibly for the future exams, because this is also test to answer questions with your own knowledge and ideas.' I now understood what the examiner meant when he said 'A warrior must read their way from their own'. If you can't find an answer that has not been said in the books, make up an answer that doesn't exist in Elrios. Don't do it pathetically, but like a proud warrior. 'Notice this, you three! The smart guys will begin writing soon.'
I worry for Elsword's safety and knowledge, but right now I have to focus on mine. I guess things really have changed throughout time. I guess I'm gonna have to take this opportunity when we get the graduation exams.
A few minutes have passed by as the paper tests has finally ended when the bell rang. Everyone (including me) gave out a huge sigh of relief and exhaustion from thinking so much. The test was difficult for all of us. The four of us meet up to the cafeteria for a quick break.
"Man! That was brutal!" Elsword leaned back to get rid of the stress.
"I know. I didn't expect the questions to be like that." Rena agreed.
"I didn't really have much problems with them. I did study hard with knowledge after all." Aisha smiled with pride.
"Even though you were sweating a bit in some of the questions." I yawned as I ruined Aisha's pride.
"Wha-!? I did not!" She blushed a bit red making us laugh. I think now is the time to tell them the terms about the test.
"Um... Guys, there's something I need to tell you about the paper test." I said to them.
"Oh, you mean finding the answers you make up on your own from the questions?" Rena asked me causing to me be in shock.
"Eh?"
"That's right! We all knew that you were supposed to make an answer that doesn't exist here."
"It took us a long time to figure out, but we managed to find it." Aisha followed.
"But man! They just had to do that to us. That kinda scared me." Elsword sighed.
"I know. What kind of teachers does something like that without warning?" Aisha puffed her cheeks.
"The teachers can't give us hints on exams, so they can't do that." I told Aisha after I gave a sigh of relief. I was happy that they knew what the purpose of that test was, especially Elsword. I was worried that he wouldn't know but he did.
"So what's next?" Elsword asked.
"We'll be tested in our physical strength, magic, skills, speed and insight." Rena answered for him.
"Ah, I guess that's okay." Elsword let out a sigh of relief as well as I. Elsword and I train a lot when it comes of physical strength. We almost have enough power of lift a boulder... Okay, I wouldn't go that far, but it's something like that. We trained with magic as well, however Elsword had trouble mastering magic so I had to help constantly. As a result, his magic powers were average. As for mine, I can handle magic easier than him which was pretty obvious since I'm his older sister. I'm a bit faster than Elsword but we're pretty much faster than most people in this school. I'm a professional with my skills so I won't have a problem with it, don't know about my bro though. As for insight, I'm quite cautious about my surroundings. Elsword was very reckless when he was young, so he was taught to find a solution around before making a plan, sure enough he understood, and that makes me feel relieved and happy.
"Ugh! I'm poor with physical strength." Aisha groaned. "That's probably the only thing I'm bad at."
"You sure? You don't look like a fast runner." Elsword said to her making Aisha twitch in anger.
"I don't want to hear that from someone who carries a big sword!"
"Alright, alright now's not the time to fight. Elesis, you know about this test right? How was your status?"
"I was pretty average at the time." I replied. "My physical strength was high, my magic was average, my skills were fine and I'm very cautious to my surroundings."
"Wow. It should be expected from a powerful knight like you."
"I know. Sis can do almost anything." Elsword smiled.
"Almost?" Aisha asked curious.
"My sister has a horrible sense of directions, so she tends to get lost a lot." I began to flinch in nervousness as he was telling them more. "One time she tried to hunt for food in the forest, she ended up back in our house 2 minutes later." I began to blush deep red after hearing that.
"I told you to forget about that!" I pouted. Elsword just laugh while Rena giggled.
"I guess nobody in the world is perfect." Rena smiled. That's when we heard an intercom from a microphone.
"Attention! The second phase of the exam will be starting in 10 minutes. Please enter the training room immediately. Thank you!" She said after finishing.
"Alright! Let's go!" Elsword cried out as he took off while we followed. We all went to our dressing rooms to change to our combat gear and then headed to the training room.
Rena's PoV
The training room in Elder Junior High is very big. They had punching machines, a dummy-training area, obstacle courses, an athletic track and a target practise area. The tests for the people depends on their profile, class, weapon and status. I was assign for target practise, obstacle courses and the athletics. The target practise area was perfect for me since I'm an archer. I'm also pretty fast and flexible, so I can handle the obstacle courses and the athletic races just fine.
I made perfect shots on each target, even the smallest ones. I have a sharp eye like a hawk (I did not mean any offence to that). Mostly it was thanks to my Guided Arrow which locks on to enemies and objects making it easier to shoot the targets. With the obstacle courses, I've managed to get over most of the high places thanks to my ability to double jump. I had no problem with the long jumps and high jumps but I mostly ended up coming in second to fourth in the running events. Needless to say, I figured I passed this test.
Aisha was assigned in dummy training test, skill analysis and target practise. She is good with dummy training and target practice since she's a magician and mostly uses long range attacks with magic. She uses blizzard, fire, lightning and wind magic. That's quite a collection for junior high schooler like her, but I digress. She tends to have fun while testing by shooting various elemental magic to the targets and dummies, creating an exciting atmosphere, especially when she was using Blizzard Shower & Meteor Shower. She even gets bonus points for that. She also had quite an audience with her as well.
Elsword and Elesis were assign for dummy training test, skill analysis, punching machine test, obstacle courses and athletics. I was quite surprised that they were assigned for many tests. Both of them are swordsmen so they're good enough for dummy training. They are quite strong so I bet their score for punching machines will be high. The two were also assigned for the obstacle courses as well as the athletic events to test their movements. They may not be faster than me but they sure can move their legs. Let's hope they can handle the stress.
Elsword's PoV
"Spiral Blast!" I shouted loudly as I swung my sword widely and stun the dummies, then focus your sword to create a wave of energy. Everyone one of them in front of me were sent flying into the air. Some of them got stuck on the walls which surprised me a bit. As for Elesis who was on the left side of the area, she was doing way better than me.
"Saber - Extinction!" I heard her shout as she swung her sword and slash it forward creating a large vertical slash wave. It took out an insane amount of dummies in front of her from a distance. She took out way more than I did. It was as expected from my older sister. I heard some of the other students complimenting on her skills. For some reason, that angers me as I want them to stay away from her, I wonder why. We both got a good score on that training.
Next was the punching machine. It had a large red cushion which is where you're supposed to punch. This one is all about physical strength meaning you have to punch that thing with all your strength into it. Elesis and I were well-prepared for it. During 3 years, I was taught boxing, martial arts and sword fighting and I trained for 5 hours a day. It may seem like I'm overdoing it, I have a lot of willpower to keep training non-stop. Some of the students (Mostly Male) got around a 100-140, most got 30-80.
Elesis went before me. Her punch was very strong compared to the other students, in fact we heard a sheer force of wind from it. It was even pushed back in about 75 centremeters. The students' eyes widened when they saw the score after their reaction of surprise from the punch.
"Wow! 195 points! I shouldn't expect less from a 3rd year like you, Elesis." Luchiel who was the analyser of the punching machine. There were a lot of students who were murmuring with surprise and admiration. I didn't like that, it meant they're trying to get closer to my sister. I'm not going to accept that. Anyone who tries to get along with her, will suffer the consequences by me. It was now my turn to punch the machine.
"GO, ELSWORD!" Elesis shouted to me with encouragement. I was getting stares from other students, making me blush a little from embarrassment. I then heard comments from them.
"Tsk! As if he could do better than Elesis." One of the students said.
"He's the little brother. There's no way he can beat her." Another said.
"Look how small he is. I bet he scores a 33." That comment made me angry the most. I was so angry I clenched my fist tighter as I punched the punching machine with all my might. My anger must have given me a huge boost of power, because what I did was something I totally did not expect. When I punched the machine, it was pushed 2.5 metres away. This causes a shock to not only myself, but to everyone else in this room. I was shaking my hand as I felt like I overdid it a little. When I looked at the score, I gasped in shock to how high it was.
"Holy cow! 235 points! I literally did not expect that from you!" Luchiel gasped in shock.
"No way!" One of the students shouted.
"You mean he's stronger than Elesis!?" Another one shouted.
"Impossible!"
"That was amazing, Elsword!" Elesis cried out as she suddenly tackled me from behind and then started to hug me. "I didn't know you were this strong! I'm so proud of you!"
"Ack! Sis! Stop! Not in front of everyone!" I squeaked.
"Grrr, that lucky little bastard!" I heard some of the male students murmur. I let out a little smirk from their jealousy. After that, we headed to the obstacle courses. Elesis jumps higher than me and is also a bit faster so she was better off than I am. But despite that, I managed to just pass through them fine, although I had a problem with dodging enemy fire (They were shooting fast paint balls so they weren't a threat) and jumping from platform to platform.
Last one was the athletic events. Like I said before, Elesis is faster than me and jumps higher. So she absolutely fine without problems, in fact she went 1st in most of them. I did fine, but not much compared to everyone else. The only thing I was good at was the shot put event where you have to throw a heavy metal ball behind you with your full hand.
After that, the physical tests were finally over and the today's exams were done. The rest of the exams will be held tomorrow. We were all back in our normal uniform as the four of us were walking back to our homes.
"Argh! My body is killing me from that physical exam." I grunted.
"Me too. We sure did a lot of physical work today." Elesis agreed.
"I feel so tired. I want to go home already and take a nap." Aisha sighed.
"Remember that we still have exams tomorrow." Rena said making us groan in exhaustion. "The next will be a team examination. The team can have at least four people. That's perfect for all of us."
"That great! I guess I can worry less about my condition for a while." Elsword gave a sigh of relief.
"You still need to help, you know!" Aisha scolded him. I groaned but she was right, the exams weren't over yet so I still have to keep myself focused for tomorrow. After we departed our ways with Rena and Aisha, I was thinking about what to do next once we get home until my sister piped up.
"So, Elsword. What do you want for dinner?" She asked me in a happy tone.
"I think I'll have... fish for today." I replied.
"I'll get right on it once we get home. But remember, you still need to work hard for tomorrow, so train hard, okay?"
"Yeah, got it." I paused for moment and started to tremble a bit. I wanted to ask her but it felt very embarrassing to say it. But if I'm going to get stronger, I'm going to need her help. "I..."
"Hm?" She turned to my face.
I began to blush a bit as I was getting more nervous and shy. "I-I wouldn't mind training... t-together with you. Will you help me?" I asked with all my strength. My sister's eyes suddenly sparkled, much to my surprise and then suddenly tackled me to a hug.
"Of course, I will! I would love to train you!" She squeaked.
"ARGH! SISTER! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO STOP DOING THAT!?" I shouted loudly in anger. After a crazy moment, we headed home, ate dinner and trained hard for tomorrow.
GL: I decided to stop since it was getting long. I'll continue in the next chapter. The next one will be longer. Remember that their exams are still going. So wait patiently until I get to that part. See you there!