CHAPTER 45: LET THE TEST... BEGIN!

Now satisfied that his words have been understood, Magister Dango snapped his thumb against his index finger twice.

*Snap. Snap*

At the snap of his fingers, the forms that every participant now made visible rose from their laps and seat handles, floating in the air towards the center of the arena.

Immediately, the forms converged at a point. Magister Dango snapped his fingers again, and they sped towards a desk, positioned at a corner of the VIP table, arranging themselves in stacks.

Once everything had settled, Magister Dango turned to the candidates once again.

"Since you all have sealed your blood on the forms, know that this test is a life-and-death experience. Your main purpose should be your ability to survive within the stipulated time," he mentioned.

"Little achievements during those periods are also a bonus... I would mention that again."

Then, as if he needed no interjection, he was about to snap his fingers again when the Emperor interrupted.

"Wait!" The Emperor called out, rising from where he sat in the midst of other VIPs and walking to the front where everyone could see him.

At his standing presence, everyone in the arena rose from their seats in a standing ovation.

Later, he signaled that everyone should return to their seats.

At the same time, Sandra unknowingly placed her hands on my lap, tapping them relentlessly.

Confused, I watched her trying to figure out what the issue was, and returned my gaze to her father.

"...what if I have to call off our engagement?" I suddenly remembered her using those words while we were in the grave hall.

That must be what the Emperor has planned to do before the test begins.

Whatever or however everyone might be judging the situation, "Mobix Seafrost" is already dead meat.

"Well..."

"Welcome once again to the trial of this Academy that determines your various futures as people to protect Montana," the Emperor began his speech, in particular to the candidates who sat with anticipation.

"I’m fully in support of the advice given to you by Magister Dango..." the Emperor continued.

Meanwhile, that speech hadn’t been what Sandra expected. So, once her father started to speak, she regained her conscious self and stopped tapping my lap.

"Sorry," she apologized, unconcerned and desperate.

I nodded at her desperate condition and turned my head to meet the Emperor’s new posture.

His right hand was raised, slanted upwards, and his fist was balled.

Without further ado, he continued whatever he had been saying.

"...as you all know, my daughter, the Princess of Quadraxis Empire, the ruling dynasty of Montana, was engaged to the heir of Seafrost, Mobix Seafrost, the Lord of Water Duchedom."

Even though it was common knowledge, everybody present began to murmur mindlessly. They wondered why the Emperor had chosen to switch to such a topic.

Around me, the Elements all gazed at Sandra, some with intent eyes seeking privileged explanation.

Miriam was, however, indifferent as she muttered the words that explained everything that was possibly about to happen.

"I guess our handsome here is about to get dropped, and free once again," she said, stretching her hands behind her lazily.

As if controlled with a remote, the other Elements shot themselves glances and returned their gazes to the Emperor.

In the hands of the Emperor, a scroll materialized in-between his balled fist.

"This is the engagement agreement," he notified, and immediately, the scroll froze to ice and shattered.

"From today onwards, Mobix Seafrost ceases to be my daughter’s future husband," he concluded, but his voice didn’t sound like that was the end of whatever he wanted to say.

Meanwhile, the murmurs from the crowd only intensified at those words. Everyone had their own comments reserved for their various satisfactions and concerns.

Nonetheless—

"Your father sure sees the future."

"He only wants peace, and not agony and grief for his beloved." The quietest voice remarked.

"Say whatever, this might be a good sign."

Those were the comments coming from my fellow Elements.

I couldn’t act otherwise, or even look dazed if it concerned me. It was a moment I already anticipated, just didn’t expect it to come before the test began.

Still capturing the attention of the audience in the arena, with a hand still raised, another scroll appeared.

Shimmering around this second scroll were flakes of ice.

"This is the contract agreement between the former Seafrost Duke, Mark Seafrost, and the Quadraxis Empire," he started.

"In this scroll, is contained a sealed agreement urging that the Emperor provide an acting Leader for Seafrost, hence an overseer for Water Duchedom," he stated. "Henceforth, I denounce and announce this agreement void."

I expected a full reaction, especially from those sitting at the VIP section. To be particular, I thought Milton was going to act against these words, but he wasn’t either.

’So that was what Milton meant by stating how important his presence is required.’ I thought.

Also, looking up, I observed the sudden calm that had befallen the crowd, and caught sight of Muna. A wide smile played on her lips at that announcement.

’Young Master, something is fishy,’ Linda called from my shadow. ’Forfeit this test, please.’

I shook my head negatively to her request, fully prepared for whatever was waiting.

Besides, Sandra had warned me earlier with her words, "Don’t you think only by that way, eliminating a huge Threat would be easier?"

I wasn’t stupid to accept Muna’s harsh form of training.

Although, I didn’t plan for a rapid improvement in stats and rank, I played the fool and went on with its requirements.

The stage was already set, and the case was clear.

"I am a target."

I now even looked at Magister Dango with disdain. His words that assured me to survive the test back in the auction hall, his mischievous smiles right here in this arena, they all made sense to me.

’Why did he now try to help me obtain the form?’

Swimming on the last announcement of the Emperor, I made an understanding out of it.

Since it was proposed that I won’t come out alive from the test, he had knowingly eradicated that agreement for good.

It was now in the ball of present high mages to decide what their choices would be, once the test was completed.

They were indirectly given two choices to choose from — become the next Duke of Water Duchedom or the reverse.

It was also a clear opportunity for Milton to recover his position, this time not as an acting Leader but the succeeding one.

’Stop playing...’ My lips betrayed the anger soaring in me with a smile. ’...even Muna won’t give you the golden finger for those dreams of yours.’

...

It was time.

The Emperor was done with his business and had settled back on his seat.

Magister Dango wasted no further time as he snapped his fingers.

Green circles appeared beneath every candidate, its passive force pulling every one of us to stand.

At the same time, Linda was forcefully pulled out of my shadow, and the maidservants of other Elements were separated from them.

The green circle of magic was a high-level magic that was used to separate mages from their external entanglements.

The rule of the game about to play before us is to enter with a sole presence, and survive as long as we can with whatever ability we might have gained.

A huge screen appeared, floating in the air, blank.

It was going to serve as the television on which what was happening in the game would be projected.

Parents as well as guardians of participants must have prepared themselves well enough to either embrace their Ward’s success or agonizing failure.

While others stood, the trio sat innocently in their seat, with no movement detected from them.

’Trying to be good listeners,’ I forced a smile and returned the thumbs up from the trio.

Convinced that all the candidates had been separated from their various entanglements, Magister Dango stepped down from his throne of floatation, the circle of red light vanishing behind him as he approached the VIP table, still smiling mischievously.

Once he had joined the others, he shoved his hand to release a consistent flow of red energy.

The ground was split into carvings of the circle we stood on.

Other attendees, now spectators, gasped as multiple platforms rose from beneath our marked circles, each glowing with unique sigils.

"Let the test... Begin!" Dango shouted, and all the raised platforms sank, together with their candidates.

[P.S.: Do not forget to suppose with your Golden Tickets and Powerstones.]