The Test

Luke and Sophie arrived at the address written on the business card, their expectations low as they approached a modern, imposing building. The sleek, glass façade reflected the morning sun, casting shimmering patterns on the sidewalk. “Is this really the right place?” Sophie asked, glancing around at her sophisticated surroundings. Luke checked the card again, nodding.“Looks more legit than I expected, but this is the address on the card”, he replied, scanning the lobby for any sign of their mysterious contacts. A receptionist, impeccably dressed, greeted them with a warm smile.“Good morning, how may I assist you?” she asked. “We’re here to see Mr. Darkwood”, Luke said, holding up the business card. “We were invited yesterday”. The receptionist’s eyes lit up with surprise. “Ah, Mr. and Miss Sinclair. Please, follow me.” They followed her through the lobby, into the teleport pad, where she opened a different control panel and entered a code too quick for either sibling to spy. Luke felt a brief tingle of anticipation when he got teleported. The device hummed softly beneath his feet. A moment later, there was a flash of light, and he was enveloped in a warm sensation. When the light faded, he found himself in a completely different part of the building - a secret area reserved for those chosen ones like Luke. The teleportation chamber at the other end was lined with intricate designs that seemed to pulse with energy. Then Sophie teleported there too, and the receptionist led them down a corridor that seemed to stretch endlessly, the walls adorned with abstract art and softly glowing panels. As they walked, the soft hum of the building’s advanced systems provided a constant, mind numbing background noise.Finally, they reached a massive gate with intricate symbols that seemed to shimmer in the light. The receptionist pressed a small panel beside the door, and it swung open silently, revealing a grand office beyond. In contrast to the futuristic corridors they had just traversed, Mr. Darkwood’s office was a blend of classic and modern design, with rich mahogany furniture, plush leather chairs, and a massive desk that dominated the room. Mr. Darkwood himself stood behind the desk, greeting them in with a warm smile and gestured for them to take a seat. “Welcome, Luke and Sophie” he said, his voice smooth and reassuring. “Please have a seat. My name is Charles Darkwood, I am the president at NovaCore Industries as you saw at the entrance, but here I’m in charge of the Shadow Hunting Team 1, which I hope you can join” They sat down in the plush chairs opposite his desk, the unease from the previous day still lingering in their minds. “We didn’t expect the place to look like this”, Luke admitted, glancing around.Mr. Darkwood smiled. “Appearances can be deceiving. I’m sue you have many questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them. As my employees probably mentioned yesterday, the work we offer is important and rewarding. We need your abilities that the gem awakened, they are essential to our mission.”Sophie leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. “What exactly is this mission?”. Mr. Darkwood’s smile widened, a hint of mystery in his eyes. “We seek to protect this world from shadows that threaten to seep into our reality. Your newfound abilities will allow you to see and combat these entities.”Luke exchanged glances with Sophie. The stakes were higher than they had imagined, but the promise of financial stability was tempting. “What do we need to do?” Luke asked, steeling himself for the answer. “All will be explained” he replied, “but first, we need to test your abilities. Follow me” Mr. Darkwood gestured towards the door. Luke and Sophie exchanged a curious glance before rising from their seats and trailing him. They retraced their steps along the same endless corridor they had walked earlier, the air held an almost tangible tension, the grandeur of their surroundings a stark contrast to the nervous anticipation simmering within them.Finally, they arrived at a door, which opened with a quiet hiss. Beyond the door laid a vast, state-of-the-art gymnasium ,equipped with the latest in training technology. A few team members, clad in training gear, were already present, their attention drawn to the newcomers.“Welcome to our training facility” Mr. Darkwood announced, his voice echoing slightly in the expansive room. “This will be exceptionally physically demanding, so today we will be testing your combat abilities against one of our current team members”As he spoke, one of the team members stepped forward. He was tall and muscular, with and with an overly confident smirk began speaking “name’s Dante”, his eyes locking onto Sophie’s. “So, you planning on sticking around, cutie? We could use someone with your… talents” he said, his gaze lingering a little too long. His flirtatious smile was all teeth, and the way he leaned in closer to caress her hair made Sophie uncomfortable. “Maybe I could show you some moves another time” he added, winking in what he clearly thought was a charming manner. Sophie, maintaining her composure, politely but firmly brushed off his attempt. “For now, let’s see what you’ve got, newbie” Dante called out to Luke, clearly intending to show off in front of Sophie. Mr. Darkwood explained, “you’ll need a weapon for the shadows you will fight, so choose one you feel comfortable with” pointing to the gym’s armory. Luke walked along the rows of reinforced glass display stands before grabbing a pair of thin longswords, with barely any guard to them. When Luke returned with his equipment, Mr. Darkwood continued “You won’t need to worry about getting harmed with these, they are designed to phase through living beings, causing no real harm. Instead, they temporarily numb the area they strike, simulating the sensation of real damage without any of the risk.”Luke stepped forward, meeting Dante’s gaze with just as much confidence. “Ready when you are”. They moved to a ring near the center of the gymnasium, the rest of the team members remaining close to see the show. “Go kick his ass bro” Sophie said, annoyed at Dante’s advances.Luke and Dante circled each other in the ring, the lights of their weapons casting a vibrant glow on their faces. Without a warning, Luke lunged forward with unrelenting speed and precision. His twin blades, glowing with ethereal light, cut through the air in rapid, calculated strikes. In contrast, Dante exuded a composed arrogance, moving with a deliberate grace that bordered on showmanship. He danced around Luke, deftly avoiding his trikes and retaliating with light grazing blows. Dante purposely avoided blows that would end the match, instead choosing to display his superior skill and taunt his opponent.Luke’s frustration grew with each passing second. His once-powerful strikes began to falter as the numbness crept through his arms, courtesy of Dante’s meticulous, grazing attacks. He could feel the weight of his blades increasing with every missed hit, yet Luke’s spirit remained unbroken. With a determined roar, he launched himself forward once more, his body parallel in a daring maneuver. The twin blades arced through the air, one following the other, aiming to deflect Dante’s spear so the other could hit.Dante, anticipating the attack, brought his spear down in a swift block, meeting the first blade with a resounding clash of light, but Luke’s second blade, an extension of his indomitable will, bypassed Dante’s defense slicing his body from bottom to the top, deep enough to paralyze him fully and granting him the win.Next up was Sophie’s match, with Iris as her opponent. Sophie opted for a pair of curved daggers, which she twirled as if confirming these were made just for her. She stepped into the ring, with Iris waiting on the opposite corner, ready to start the match. Sophie, though less experienced, held her curved daggers with a determined grip. As the match began, Iris advanced with calculated precision, her movements fluid and controlled. She had the advantage of experience, but her intention wasn’t to overwhelm Sophie, much less try to humiliate her as Dante had failed to do with Luke. Instead, she aimed to push her to discover her true potential. Sophie launched her first attack, her daggers slicing through the air with surprising speed. Iris effortlessly parried, her sword deflecting the blow with a sharp clang.Despite her lack of experience, Sophie demonstrated natural agility and quick reflexes. Iris, recognizing this, adjusted her fighting style to challenge Sophie while allowing her movements to showcase her skills. In a particularly intense moment, Sophie managed to catch Iris off guard, her daggers slipping part Iris’s defense landing a decent blow. As the match wore on, it was clear that Sophie was reaching her limit, her movements slowing but still determined and more precise. When the bell rang, signaling their time had ran out both fighters were breathing heavily, their bodies marked by the grazes of their sparring weapons. Iris congratulated Sophie on her performance before letting her leave, handshake and friendly hug included. Luke was waiting for Sophie on her corner to help her down, to which she reluctantly agreed.