Elomburg academy is the undoubtedly the best place to make connections. There is only one way to be accepted, pass seven out of ten tests.
Only the elite may join, no matter whether one is a noble or peasant. Each test is supposed to be rigorous, and you can pass without the requirement of knowing how to read or write. I never had a chance to learn this world's written language, so I'm thankful for the alternate tests.
My father never bothered to teach me, I'm not sure he even knew how to himself. It was usually the wife's duty in small villages like mine, but my mother was long gone before my previous life's memories came back to me.
I was happy with my father though; he was a kind man that didn't deserve to die the way he did.
They only want the best at Elomburg and accept every admission sent to them.
For a price.
The only restriction is that ten gold must be paid up front, alienating most potential candidates. In turn, there is a higher percentage of nobles attending Elomburg, than peasants like me.
That much coin is an entire year's worth of wages for city folk, it was an unthinkable amount of money back in my village. I can feel myself grow slightly excited for the first time in a long while because revenge is within my grasp, I just need to take hold. Faces of the dead flash through my mind.
I'm led through brilliantly made halls of stone and marble. Statues of great men and paintings of others decorate my path.
Heading outside, an open field holds about thirty men and women my age.
Approaching the mass of bodies, I wait a few feet away. My body is dangerous, and I know I can hurt others easily.
I've always been cautious of my surroundings and other people put me on edge because of my previous life's experiences. My extended stay in the arena didn't help in the social skills department either.
I'm already noting each one's stance and debating what would be that fastest way to dispatch each.
'Stop it you fool! You're here to gain favor, not ire.'
A young man with shaggy blonde hair seems to take great interest in me. His eyes sparkle a little and he makes his way over.
I unconsciously back up and grasp the air at my side for the sword that wasn't there.
He sees my movements and starts to smile.
He's even more eager to reach me now. I circle the crowd, not understanding why I'm even avoiding him.
'Harry.'
His eyes remind me of Harry when he had an idea of mischief. I force myself to stand my ground and wait for him to approach. His voice is full of mock hurt and playfulness as he reaches out his hand.
"Hello friend, you seem very interesting. I'm Elias Hayford. What's your name?"
My idiot mouth speaks before my mind can comprehend what I'm saying.
"I'm no friend of yours."
His face tightens at my rejection, and he awkwardly keeps his hand out. Then he laughs like I've told the funniest joke he's ever heard.
"Hahahaha! You are very interesting….?"
His tone indicates he still wants to know my name.
My revenge will never be accomplished if I run away from everyone who speaks to me.. damn it. I need to get it together.
Reaching out, I take the offered hand in my own. His skin is smooth like a girl, and I wonder how a man can live this long without ever— I tense a little as I realize he must be a noble.
"K-Kelric Bladebane."
I manage to pass along my name, but Elias's face is twisted in a grimace.
I'm confused until I let go of his hand, my grip had been too tight.
He shakes his hand at the wrist and chuckles a little.
"Gods above Kelric, you're strong as an ox!"
Sheepishly I reply.
"Sorry.. I wasn't controlling myself."
Elias suddenly looks as if he's won some great victory and stops nurturing his hand. His playful demeanor returns.
"Tell me Kelric, what brought you here to join Elomburg? It wasn't so that you could look all scary and menacing in the background, was it?"
His teasing tone reminds me so much of Harry that I forget myself for moment.
I don't know my expression as Elias's face drops his smile.
"Uh.. sorry, maybe I shouldn't have asked."
The air is a little weird between us and I see him about to speak before a voice cut through the chatter.
The man speaking looks unkempt with long brown hair and a patchy beard, his tone is bored.
"All right looks like everyone's here now. It's time to begin the first test of the entrance exam. Please direct your attention to my left, your right. This is the starting point of the obstacle course."
His arm makes a huge sweep behind him as he continues.
"The course goes into the woods and bends around to the exit right there. Say your name as you complete an obstacle or it won't be recorded, even if you did complete it."
He's now pointing some distance away where two men stand holding pen and paper.
"When you finish, say your name to those two or you won't be recorded as having completed the exam, even if you did. You have one hour. Time starts now."
I'm the only one who rushes forward as the rest of my group stares at the instructor dumbly.
There are panicked cries behind me as the others finally let the words sink in.
The course is actually kind of fun, and I see a little disbelief in the faces of the people who were recording names at the obstacles.
I make sure to say my name a couple times at each because they seemed too dumbfounded to write it down.
I only slow on the sixth obstacle because I have to crawl under a net as blunted arrows are shot above me. I lowered the pace to keep an eye on the man recording names, it was a perfect opportunity to strike me down.
Even as I shake my head at the possibility, my eyes do not leave his.
I'm not even out of breath when I exit the trees fifteen minutes later.
I say my name to the two and walk forward.
One reaches a hand out towards me and I instinctively grab it and twist.
I let go and backpedal, pulling my hands up in front of my head.
A voice boom with laughter, and I turn to see the bored looking instructor.
He's dangerous. I couldn't detect his presence.
He wipes a tear from his eye as he mocks the man who touched me.
"He almost broke your hand, Cordin! Hahaha! Holy gods this kid is funny."
The man known Cordin was not as amused.
"I was just trying to make sure he didn't accidentally skip an obstacle, I've never seen someone do it that fast.."
The bored man kept laughing as he responded.
"Maybe that'll teach you to keep your hands to yourself.. hehehe.. besides we'll know when the others get back. It would be his fault, if he did."
Cordin rubbed his arm and glared at me.
"You can wait over there; it's going to be awhile before anyone else is done—"
His voice is cut off as Elias announces his name.
Cordins lips tighten into a thin line as he's instantly disproven.
I feel a small smile tug at the corner of my mouth as the bored man holds his stomach and points at him. His laughter is almost contagious.
Elias and I stand in the shade of a tall tree as we wait for the others to finish. His breathing is rough and ragged as he tries to speak.
"Holy.. crap.. man.. how did… you.. doitsofast.."
His words are a little unintelligible as they rush out all at once on an exhale.
I just shrug my shoulders; it really wasn't that fast. I could've done it faster, but I want to save my strength for the other tests.
I am a little warm though, I have a long-sleeved shirt on with a high collar. I only bought it cause the man at the store said it was the current style.
Elias reaches out to me, wanting a hand to help him off the ground. His face is confused as I flinch back two steps.
"You sure have.. your guard up.. around people."
I admonish myself silently.
'He's a noble damn you, this a great opportunity to forge an alliance.'
"Yeah.. sorry. It's an old habit."
Unfortunately, I can't seem to hold a conversation if my life depended on it.
His hand is still out, and I reach down to yank him up. This time I control my grip, so I don't hurt him. I forgot to control how fast my arm moved, however.
Elias is sent flying over my shoulder and lands face first into the dirt.
I stare in shock at my hand like I'm not the one who did it.
Then panic hits me as I realize I just fumbled my chance to make a good impression.
Rushing over to his side, I pick him off the ground and try to swat away the dust.
Elias is blown away by what just happened, and I step back and avert my eyes while coughing.
To my surprise, he takes no insult at this and laughs like a fool.
"You might be the most interesting person I've ever met Kelric."
His lips tremble as he manages to speak without erupting into another fit of laughter.
There's a heat in my cheeks that I can feel rising without my consent. I haven't felt embarrassment in a long time.
My body tightens as his hand claps my shoulder.
"Don't worry about it, it's obvious you didn't intend to hurt me and I'm fine."
I turn to look at him and I'm overwhelmed. His face morphs into Harry's as he keeps talking.
"Well maybe not completely fine.. my pride is a little wounded."
He laughs like a fool again and I have to hide my face. Hot liquid flowed from the corners of my eyes.
I'm in disbelief at myself because I haven't cried since Harry died.
Elias looks at me concerned, his laughter giving way to seriousness.
"Hey friend, I'm all right, really. No need to beat yourself up about."
I wipe my eyes with sleeves.
"Sorry, you just looked like someone I used to know."
Elias is obviously surprised at my willingness to volunteer information and sleuths for more.
His tone is a little creepy as he brings his hands together and curls his shoulders inwards.
"Did I remind you of a cute girl.. I'm told that I have that effect on others."
His voice changes as he puts a palm out to me and covers his face with the other.
"I must inform you Kelric.. I don't swing that way."
The way he says this with such certainty picks at something inside me. It's not much, but I feel a little crack in my walls I've built around me.
A small sound escapes my mouth, and I feel myself wearing half a smile.
Elias is shocked by this meager display of emotion.
"Did I just hear that!? The great lord of doom and gloom just laughed.. I never thought I'd see the day."
I shake my head at his stupidity.
'It really feels like I'm talking to Harry right now..'
I feel my smile vanish instantly at this thought and the crack in me is patched.
'I need alliances, not friends. I will avenge my people.'
Elias stops his act and sighs a little.
"…and there he is. You know.. your face is quite intimidating when you look like that."
I'm confused by his words; this is just my face? I don't think I've ever been classified as intimidating, here or on Earth.
He shakes his head a little and we wait for the others to finish.
I'm shocked when I find out only thirty seven out of fifty made it through.
'The way they're gasping for air.. are most people these days this delicate?'
We're guided to our next test soon after by the bored instructor.
He points to a white boulder in the middle of our group, "Okay, this will be a lot faster than the first test. Does everyone see this?"
After a couple noncommittal grunts and agreements, he continues.
"This is a resonating stone as I'm sure your aware. Form up in a line and take turns placing your hand on it. This will display your affinity, if you have any."
I've never seen such a thing and I'm a little confused as to what he means by affinity.
I line up at the very back and watch as people are graded.
My eyes widen as the stone glows different colors as people place their hands on it.
'I wonder if that's the strange power I've seen people use in the arena..'
My hands grope my side unconsciously, remembering the time I was almost gutted by a blade of translucent green mist. I was sick for a few days after that battle.
The bored instructor seems surprised as a fiery haired girl makes it glow with a powerful dark red.
"That's very good miss Pyne. Grade 8 fire affinity is rare."
The girl smugly tilts her chin up and folds her arms. She moves a second later when she realizes she's holding up the line.
'Damn.. she's pretty..'
More people get graded as my turn gets nearer.
"Pass, grade 5 earth affinity."
"Fail, grade 3 water affinity."
"Fail, grade 2 fire affinity."
"Pass, grade 7 death affinity, that's rare as well Tobin."
"Pass, grade 5 water affinity."
Elias is next up and is second to last, because he followed me to the back.
The white stone glows a color that was different from what the others had, it's an intense white light that stings my eyes.
"Pass, grade 8 light affinity.. Elias that's really incredible."
The bored instructor looked impressed for the first time that day.
Elias turned to me and flipped his hand up to tousle his hair.
"Am I not the most amazing person you've ever met."
His eyes are closed, but one eye cracks open after I don't respond.
I try retracting my expression of mild disgust, but it's too late.
His mouth works up and down till he settles on closing it and walks away.
Now that it's my turn, I feel eyes on me as people wait to see what affinity I am.
'Here goes nothing.'
I reach out and touch the stone. Instantly, there is an absence of light.
A dark roiling mass of pitch-black vapor flows around the stone. It looks almost corporeal, and I can feel it's coldness as it passes over me.
Then, I notice the edges of the black are a vibrant reddish orange. It looks almost like an eclipse, but I know the glow isn't blocked by the shadow, instead feeding it.
I get the same feeling from the stone as I do when I look inside myself and feel my hate. My anger. My wrath.
The instructor seems very surprised by the show and his tone proves it.
"Wow.. I haven't seen an emotional affinity displayed before.. the black being consumed by fire.. hmm.. I think I know about this…"
He holds his chin as he ponders, and I see the moment he remembers.
"Yes there's no mistaking it… and the way it manifested.. it's a least grade 8.. more likely grade 9.. I need to show this Professor Mateo."
He snaps out of musings and announces my affinity.
"Pass, at least a grade 8 rage affinity. Kelric, I hope you pass at least five more tests to be admitted."