Announcement

The courtyard was alive with noise. Cheers, laughter, and even groans filled the air as the surviving examinees regrouped. Some leaned on their friends’ shoulders, limping from twisted ankles or burns left by the elementals’ attacks. Others slumped to the ground, exhausted but triumphant – or perhaps simply relieved it was over.

Kaelos stretched his arms behind his head and let out a dismissive chuckle. His gaze swept briefly over Haruki, paying him one percent of his attention – Haruki could tell. Because he quickly glanced at the others as well, not lingering on anyone in particular.

With a brief smirk, he left toward the exit.

What Kaelos didn’t realize – or care to realize – was that most of the other students hadn’t come through unscathed. Even the stronger candidates bore cuts, bruises, or scorch marks from their clashes, clawing their way through the battles to be able to score a couple of meager points.

And then there was Haruki. He stood off to the side, his clothes still neat, his skin unmarked. He had performed miserably by every measurable standard: in that he basically did nothing.

Yet…

By some strange grace, he bore no injuries at all. Not that anyone seemed to notice.

Haruki drifted through the crowd until he spotted a familiar silver head of hair. Kiera was wiping soot from her cheek, her expression equal parts weary and amused.

“You could’ve told me,” Haruki said flatly as he approached. His eyes widened with exhaustion and delirium.

She blinked at him.

“What-a-what now?”

“That you can just… close the portals.” His tone carried more bite than he intended. “Might’ve been useful information, ya know!”

Kiera’s lips curled into a sheepish grin.

“Oh. Right. Whoops. Guess I forgot to mention that part.”

“You forgot?”

“Yeah, you just push against the rift with your Echo, kind of like…” She stopped mid-gesture, fingers still raised. Her blue eyes flicked toward him, realization dawning. “Oh. Right. You don’t have one.”

Haruki breathed out a defeated sigh:

“I am never going to get used to this. I thought all Echoes are different.”

“They are. But the base ability of closing portals is universal. Don’t ask me how. It’s… complicated.”

A hush rolled across the courtyard as one of the Elders rose. It was Oric. His imposing but jolly stature lit up the podium as his voice was amplified by some unseen force that carried it through the air. Conversations died down. Even the most boastful of students straightened their backs, eyes fixed on the front.

“By deliberation of the Elders,” Oric’s voice boomed, “the following candidates are deemed successful in the physical examination.”

The first name came like no surprise.

“Kaelos of Hjelkir.”

The red-haired elf barely reacted. He stood with arms folded, as if the announcement was simply confirming something he already knew. A few students muttered with awe, perhaps even resentment, but Kaelos didn’t care enough to acknowledge either.

Then the next name came:

“Thessa Kemisdottir.”

The dryad stepped forward gracefully, waving to the admiring crowd, her grassy skin seemingly shifting colors to a golden autumn-like sheen, catching the light in subtle glimmers of emerald.

Oric continued reading off the list:

“Chuwa the Soft Boulder.”

The broad-shouldered panda ambled forward, a greasy lamb’s leg still clutched in his paw. He tore off a bite mid-stride, utterly unfazed by the gravity of the announcement. Everybody around shrank back from the stone hands looming behind him, still looking as if they were ready to swing.

Another name came, one that Haruki was not surprised by.

“Kiera the Pyromancer.”

But it turned out Kiera did not share Haruki’s sentiment, as she looked on, nearly dropping the rag she had been using to clean her face. For all her bravado, a flicker of genuine surprise crossed her expression before she began posing heroically, pretending she had expected it all along.

Haruki was happy for her. She could use some focus and discipline, sure. But her talent was undeniable. At the end of the day, though, Haruki was the last person to judge someone for their lack of discipline. And he knew it.

The Elder’s voice continued, rolling over a string of other names, many faces Haruki barely knew, candidates who fought fiercely while he… simply ran.

His ears buzzed with the steady drone of victories being tallied, his own thoughts sinking heavier with each name called.

He understood clearly that this was a world of warriors.

So why was he even here? Why did Loto and Oric place him in this exam?

All thoughts and questions in his mind halted the moment Oric’s voice continued one last time. Reading the final name on the list as if it were smudged onto the paper at the last minute.

“Ah, let’s see – Haruki of Earth.”

For a second, he thought he had misheard. The sound of his own name rattled in his chest, half relief, half disbelief. His knees felt weak, and he nearly laughed aloud from the absurdity of it.

Him – of all people.

Being named alongside actual fighters.

HOW?

But no one turned to look at him. No one clapped, no one groaned in protest. At best some of the students looked back at him questioning what he even did, while at the same time still paying him the same mocking looks.

But the announcement had already moved on.

“Students – we congratulate you on your bravery and skill. Please follow your Elders and Deacons into the inner halls to begin your written examination.”