The previous night, Laz had slept himself off while he thought about the solution to eradicating his novice status with the sword. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't able to think of anything or anybody who was going to help him out in that regard.
The only thought that had occurred in his mind was to keep the sword's existence out of reach, or out of awareness.
But, he imagined how disadvantageous it would be if hiding this item of his was going to grant him an everlasting lack of sword skill.
That was the last thing he thought of before the spirit of Morpheus took over.
Now, it was morning, and the loud dangling of a possibly huge bell had woken him from his slumber.
Rising from bed, he made his way to the wardrobe of the room and collected the towel that was folded neatly in it.
'Is it a good idea to clean up after all?'
As he was going to face teleportation soon, he didn't think it a smart decision to make, but he thought it was a necessity after all to keep oneself neat at all times.
He needs to grab any opportunity he gets and live the life he wasn't able to while on Earth.
After heading to the bathroom behind a door, by the left corner of the room, he put the shower on.
Earlier, he had entered the room to think it was just an empty room that could only serve as bedroom. But while he was uneasy yesternight due to the lingering thought of his weak state, he found that the room even had a bathroom.
Short moments later, he was done with refreshing himself and walked out with the towel wrapped to flow down from his waist.
Moving to the wardrobe, he chose among the neatly arranged uniforms a blue shirt and its accompanying trouser-pants. Then, borrowed the silver jacket from a clothe he hadn't chosen, and prepared to leave his room.
Laz knew fashion.
Even though he wasn't privileged to get himself a satisfying kind in his battered, poor life, he could tell what would fit his personality and appearance.
And so, this attire of his even made him blossom in the bright light of the day. He imagined how the girls who react this time if they saw his blooming look.
Shaking off the thought, he joined other bearers outside his room and made their way to the hall.
As soon as they arrived the hall, it seemed the surprise of the change that had occurred was evident only in Laz.
The Threefold Pedestals of Awakening were still placed on the stage. But the long dining tables were no longer there. Except for this slight change, much appeared not to have occurred in the hall.
The slight change of the absence of the table was a big thing to Laz, cause he imagined how such large and long tables could even pass through any of the present exit and entrance doors.
He would have agreed to the entrance door, which was colossal and large anyway, but he doubted it could have been moved since he was certain their awakening celebration had lasted even late at night.
"... don't you know, with magic, you can even bring down this whole building?"
After hearing what a fellow bearer told another, he calmed himself. Not like he would have troubled himself with such worry, but at least he knew what he hadn't known.
It was also at this time that he began to feel strangely lonely.
The night before, while they dined, he had been very much okay on his own. But, after finding someone who seemed to care, the feeling remained.
If Mint hadn't shown up on him, he wouldn't need to worry now that he was alone. Since she had already shown up, he now felt he needed someone to be by his side.
This explained the absenteeism of emotion and its longevity after an experience of any kind.
"Hoof."
He turned around and found Mint chatting and making fun of whatever they discussed with other bearers.
She was not with Timo, of course she wouldn't be.
But she was surrounded by four boys and a girl, adding to her own gender. And, in the midst of this gist mates, she was the center of attraction.
"Does she have a thing for boys?" Laz muttered.
Jealousy had crept in.
It was just like being a candle, hoping to give someone warmth, only to watch them bask in the gentle breeze of another's wind.
Although, he hadn't given his all or even tried a bunch to make an advance, he still felt he needed to be considered. At least, for once, he should be showed some concern.
'Bah, cut it. I haven't developed feelings. I just want to be cared for, unlike in my former life.'
Ending the thought, he braced himself and walked over to the group. He didn't care whatever was going to happen, as long as Timo was not there.
Once he reached the group, he took Mint by the hand and excused themselves. Returning to the spot where he had stood and observed, he asked.
"Today is the last day. We should be waiting for Lady Hiss, right?"
Mint bluffed and humphed. "So, this is why you dragged me out, huh?"
Not sure of what to do, Laz bent his head. It was his first time trying to make himself care for, or be cared for.
Whatever it was he had done to the girl, he didn't know. And he couldn't tell as well.
Secretly, the group from which Laz had excused themselves watched to see what was going to happen. They had already observed that the two birds did not get along well. It would have been a pleasure if Timo had been alerted at the instant, but he was far off at the other end, making out his own time.
Remembering the encounter he had in his trial world with the dragon snake, how he felt when the monster apologized because it needed his help. The magic that followed those three words had been strong enough to make him change his mind.
Raising his head, he murmured, "I am sorry."
If you see the way he said this, it clearly showed that more work needs to be done on his drum of philter. There was no hint of emotional remorse in his posture or even his composure.
He simply stood, slightly taller above Mint, staring at her.
In his mind, he wished for his apology to be accepted. Then, he was going to ask her what it was that he had done.
Before any word could be uttered by Mint, all the students fell into silence and turned in the direction of the familiar voice that had come from the stage.
"Welcome back, dear Bearers!"
It was Lady Hiss.
Sooner than later, they would all find themselves in the Land of Testament. That was her purpose for appearing before them now.
"As you all know, today is the day you all will be travelling into the reclaimed world of Ellipse, the Land of Testament."
Now that she had made an appearance, Laz noticed a totally different being. The previous day, she had stood with such an aura that was celestial, but it could only be felt, not seen.
Today, however, he was not only seeing the extinguishing aura that covered her whole body. It was rather depressing to behold.
His eyes followed her hands, which produced a ball of purple energy in her fingertips.
Turning it in the air to produce a circle of energy, she pulled her hand and, with her palm wide open, pushed them again, causing the floating circle of energy to shoot backward to the entrance door.
Before it reached the tall doors, it had plunged open, and once the energy arrived at the open doors, it diffused to circulate over the wide space of the door and began to shimmer with sparks of purple light.
"That will serve as the rift for your entrance into the Land of Testament," Lady Hiss announced. "I would warn beforehand, deception is most often experienced on first arrival. Sometimes, brute force. But, I guess you all, having succeeded in the Land of Call, are prepared."
"I need not tell you since you must have garnered enough knowledge from the Book that was placed on your various beds..."
Laz's jaw dropped. 'A book?'
He didn't find any book, or was he so mindless as to even check for any book? He now understood why the moderator had advised them to make use of their rest period wisely.
'So, I will enter this world again, unguided?'
His thoughts had blocked him from hearing all the next words Lady Hiss said. But he heard what seemed to be her last words.
"...This is all I can tell you from here. Good luck!"
Joyfully, as if the bell for lunch break at school had been rung, other Bearers turned their backs and began to venture toward the rift.
'See you, see your death.'
How could such an encounter arouse joy in these individuals?
"Laz?"
He turned and remembered Mint was by his side.
"It's best to try and get along, case be it that you meet any fellow Bearer in whatever Zone, and Area you would be thrown into," Mint said calmly.
"I don't understand. Aren't we going to the same destination?" Laz asked, notifying the girl of his ignorance.
"This is all I have to tell you. At least, it would go a long way to sustain your survival."
"Good luck."