CHAPTER 29: UNLUCKY?

"I wonder if mage students are allowed to do this. I should have been admitted as a mage," he thought as he prepared his mind for the disappointment he was going to give himself, while staring at the leather handle. With its long arc hanging a little over his head.

[You must have forgotten you don’t have a magical core currently]

[MAGIC: Locked]

[Just a reminder]

’Right? If only you’d just unlock it.’

He reached up for the handle with both his hands and tugged at the weight a little, to test his strength. The chain peaked out a little, and easily. So, Eric felt he stood a chance after all. It was going to be easy. So, he pulled.

But after just two chain links came out of the metal bar, the weight finally hit, and that was the point he realized he was pulling something as heavy as...250 pounds.

[Stop exaggerating. You’re just weak.]

With a deep grunt, he brought his arms down, dragging the weight the best he could. The chains creaked as they popped out link by link, slowly and with much strain. By the time Eric’s hands dragged the handle to his eye level, he’d lost the strength to pull further. So, he released the handle.

He breathed heavily a few times before regaining his composure.

"What did I score, Master Max?" His expectations weren’t high anyway.

"You don’t have to know. Congratulations on completing the first trial. We have to go on with the next... which is the agility test."

’I don’t think I’ll do badly on this one. At least my Agility stat is 50 or above, if I’m not wrong.’

[Your greatest strength currently is in your Agility. But it still doesn’t mean you’re faster than a wind.]

’Don’t dampen my spirit.’

Max moved swiftly as if to show how fast he was himself, to a location where the wooden figures stood by the sidelines.

Wooden figures lined up side by side on a railing. Judging from how they were built and positioned, Eric knew they were supposed to move on their own once the test started, but they can only move sideways because they can only follow the direction of the rail on which they are positioned.

What he didn’t know was how a bunch of wooden figures was going to test his agility.

After Max was done fiddling with the wooden figures, he returned to stand by the sidelines, leaving Eric in front of the figures.

"Agility test is divided into two parts. The first tests your ability to move your body fluidly by dodging the arrows that’s going to be thrown by the prop figures, while the second will test your overall speed. The props will start moving any time now. Dodge as many arrows as you can. Good luck."

’I should be able to gather enough points for this round. This and my speed test should be able to cover for my lack of strength.’

"Focus on the figures. That’s all you need. Focus..." boomed Max.

FWIIPP!

The first arrow shot out without any movement made by the wooden figures. Eric, his attention tuned to Max, had not expected the sudden attack. He side-stepped immediately, subsequently bending and twisting his body sideways to dodge the arrow.

He thought he did dodge the arrow. Until he felt a sharp sting on his shoulder. He pressed and gazed down upon it, only to see the arrow lodged against his shoulder, lowering slightly after impact. He yelled, scared that he had been shot.

Suddenly, other arrows came flying in, all targeted at Eric’s relaxed frame. Before he knew it, arrows stuck on him...about twenty of them.

Eric groaned, collapsing on the ground, afraid he was going to die.

"Stop overreacting, boy. They’re all pop arrows. They might sting a lot, but can never draw blood. Get up," said Master Max from the sideline.

He pushed himself back up after being assured he wasn’t going to die. He brushed the arrows away with a single swipe and readied himself in front of the wooden figures. But they weren’t moving again.

"What, boy? That’s all. You’ve been hit. It’s over," Max announced, rather amused.

"What? I wasn’t ready. You were speaking to me and I got shot. I should try again."

"There’s no time to be ready on the battlefield. That’s all for the first agility test. Get ready for the next one at least."

Eric fumed, breathing heavily. ’I could have swept up those points. Does this have to do with my Luck points?’

[Don’t blame failure on Luck.]

[Your LUCK stat does not have an effect on wooden figures.]

[Besides, your LUCK pts is back on 100. Just blame your sorry self.]

Master Max pointed for Eric to go stand at the end of the ground. He was to run to the other end in the shortest time possible. Max, now again entirely serious, began writing Eric’s time on a small scroll, ready with a whistle.

[I know what you’re thinking, and I do not advise you do that.]

’What, why can’t I use the Killer Dash to ace the speed test?’

[Because only a few swordsmen are granted that skill, and it takes decades of practice to achieve it! Remember, you were sent to the academy to not raise suspicions. Your normal speed will get you enough points.]

"What a bummer," he muttered.

On Max’s whistle, Eric gritted his teeth and sped like a bat out of hell. He left behind a trail of dust, his feet digging into the sand while he stomped furiously. He crossed the line in no time.

"Well, that’s impressive. I have no doubt now that you’d have done well against those arrows," said Max.

"But rules are rules, and a swordsman must be ready at all times. I’m sure you’ve learned that lesson the hard way. That’ll be the end of your test for today. Your assessment result will be given to you tonight after dinner. You’ll know what rank and what section you belong to after that. I’m not sure about other tests, but you’ll take one with the mages. But it doesn’t matter what result you get in the test with the mages, it will not change the rank you will be getting tonight."