"It's that kid who survived the Silverback Dire Wolves."
Gareth smiled as he looked at Ezra. The way he spoke sounded old, like an elder judging a junior.
Ezra met his gaze and said nothing.
"Yeah. It's him," the girl in the hoodie replied. She rolled her shoulders and cracked her arms, already stepping forward.
Felix grabbed the back of her hoodie and yanked her back.
"Come back here, Lyra." His eyes flicked toward Ezra once, flat and bored. "Let's go. The trial is about to commence."
The group followed behind him. Some threw Ezra sharp looks as they passed. Lyra clicked her tongue in annoyance, dragged away.
Ezra stayed where he was. He watched them leave, then let out a slow breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He looked around the hall. The space was wide, tall, and sealed. Light filtered through the glass windows above. An inner room where he saw shadows moving behind them, slow and steady.
Ezra rubbed his hands together and blew warm air into them.
Am I nervous… or is it just cold?
"…Cold," he muttered to himself.
He walked toward the center where everyone had gathered.
The doors closed with a heavy sound. No one else could enter now.
At the front of the hall, guards stood in two neat lines. Each carried a tray. On the trays sat silver bottles. Inside them was the elixir.
Ese.
Ezra had read about it. Made from;
Renite ore. A stone said to willed properties of Essence; a power that can't be perceived directly, but this stone ore was discovered to possess the compressed energy making the ore the most expensive and used source of power replacing electrical generators and charcoal as the main supply of power in countries.
And Scalveins. A very poisonous plant; green color with blue and white thin leaves blooming. Its unique nature was in its ability to steal elements (Stone ore, Metals or fire…) chemical and physical properties and turn them into liquid form. With this feature it is mixed with the Renite ore (compressed Essence) turned into liquid.
His throat tightened.
Raymond entered between the guards, Kyle walking beside him. Their steps echoed as they reached the podium. The room went quiet.
Raymond looked over the children. His face stayed calm, but his mouth curved slowly upward. His eyes shifted from one group to another.
Some already awakened, he thought.
His gaze brightened.
"Let the Third Trial commence."
His voice was not loud.
But pressure followed it.
The air dropped.
Ezra's chest tightened. His knees bent before he realized it. He slammed one knee to the floor, teeth grinding together. Pain shot through his muscles, old soreness waking up at once.
Around him, bodies dropped.
Some hit the ground hard.
Some caught themselves halfway.
Others collapsed fully.
Groans filled the hall.
Ezra pressed his fist into the floor and tried to push back up. His head dipped. His ears rang.
Tsk. What's the point of this now?
He stayed kneeling, shoulders shaking, breath forced through clenched teeth.
Then—
The pressure vanished.
Just like that.
Ezra sucked in air and dropped fully to both knees. His hands braced against the floor as he breathed hard.
He looked around.
Some kids lay flat, gasping.
Others bent over, vomiting.
A few sat frozen, staring at nothing.
His stomach turned. He raised a hand and covered his mouth, swallowing hard.
"Impressive," Kyle said quietly. "Even with only five percent of your power, some still stood."
Raymond didn't answer.
His eyes moved.
Vera stood straight. Her posture hadn't changed. Her face showed no reaction at all, like the pressure had never touched her.
Veda was already moving, helping those near him. He supported Bobby, who was bent over, shaking and vomiting.
Felix sat casually, legs crossed, eyes roaming the fallen children.
"Pathetic," he muttered.
Only his group had many still standing unfaced by the pressure.
Priscilla stood as well, her back straight, her expression calm. Beside her stood a boy with black hair and purple eyes. He hadn't moved either.
Raymond lifted a hand.
Maids entered. They cleaned the mess without expression. Blood, vomit, sweat—gone in silence.
After that, another group entered. Each carried cushions and earplugs. They placed them before every child.
Ezra watched them. Their movements were smooth. Clean. Nothing like the servants back home.
Most kids stared without blinking.
The guards returned and placed the trays of Ese in front of everyone.
Eyes dropped to the silver bottles.
Hands hesitated.
Raymond spoke again.
"For this trial, the expectation is a Cognis level above twenty-six."
A pause.
"You don't need to take it immediately. This trial lasts until tomorrow. Steady yourself."
He turned away, cape shifting as he left. Kyle followed. Guards took positions around the hall.
The trial truly began.
Some children didn't wait, they grabbed the bottles and drank.
Felix's group followed without delay. Priscilla's group did the same. Bale hesitated—then drank only after watching Priscilla finish hers.
Energy rippled through the hall.
Bodies shook.
Mouths opened in silent screams.
No sound reached Ezra's ears due to the plugs given to them.
Vera watched calmly. Her eyes moved from one reaction to another.
Then she noticed Gena.
Gena's hands shook as she stared at the bottle; eyes wide.
Vera stood.
She walked over and stopped in front of Gena. She looked down at her.
No words.
Just a stare.
Gena swallowed hard. Her fingers tightened around the bottle. She lifted it and drank.
Her body jolted. Her back arched. Her mouth opened, but she made no sound. Her fists clenched until her knuckles turned white.
Vera turned her gaze to the rest of her group.
They froze.
Every single one of them drank immediately.
Veda laughed softly while observing her as he encouraged his people. He waited until everyone had started meditating before lifting his own bottle.
Ezra just stared at his elixir.
He remembered the pain.
The burning.
The pressure.
Ah, I don't want to do this
His jaw tightened.
He felt eyes on him. It was Vera looking at him. She smiled, then waved.
She drank her elixir in one smooth motion. Veda drank his at the same time.
Ezra exhaled slowly.
"…Here we go."
He lifted the bottle.
And drank.