Laudis was summoned into the clock room. Will awaited him, and a vintage tea set was placed on the table. The smell of the freshly brewed beverage — the citrus zest, herbs, and honey caught the youth's attention. Now there was something different about the space. The chairs changed from wooden to carved stone, precisely quartz. On the empty one a depiction of pierced skull with a sword was present, the second image was hidden behind the God.
"Did the name clarify anything for you, mortal?" the being asked, sipping the liquid, as a subtle smile spread across his face.
"No, to be honest I regret it a little now."
"And why is that? Didn't it make you remember something?"
"No, why would it?"
"So you really aren't aware of the situation..."
"Can I ask you a favour?" the boy wondered without eye contact.
"What is it?"
"Can you teach me magic?"
"No. I am no teacher nor a mentor, I am a greedy being who cares not for the rest. Though you may help yourself to the drink," the entity said, passing down a cup.
"Thanks. So you won't teach me magic, what about swor—"
"Also I decline the proposition. Besides don't you want to know if you have any active blessings or curses? It's not a problem for me to see those things, but the humans have quiet a struggle with it."
"What should I offer then?"
"Let me think... What about extending the time of soul possession to ten minutes?"
"I guess three minutes won't make any huge difference, but I seal the pact when I leave. Last time I felt sick after the sealing."
"Okay, just to your knowledge it's the only way the pacts can be valid. I am the creator of everything, yet some things are harder to change than the others. I won't change the mass of an atom for the one man's sake, of course no hard feelings to you. I am just pretty annoyed when I have to do unnecessary work."
"Yeah, then would you mind sharing information about my current enhanceme— Tfu! What the hell is this shit?!" the youth spat out the contents of the cup.
"That? Random herbs with perfumes, I have no taste so I only care for the smell. Next time I will make it more drinkable. Now, moving on to your blessings and curses. You have one blessing active, no curses and one power which is neither a blessing nor a curse. Talking precisely it's a result of some unsuccessful magic usage on you. Perhaps altering a particle, which wasn't supposed to be changed," God replied calmly, pouring the substance from the pot.
"I see... Do you mind sharing what kind of blessing is it?"
"It's a very strong blessing, lasting to your death. The needed sacrifice was tremendous, causing its caster to pay a very high price. It enhances not your physical nor magical power, but your mentallity — intelligence, battle experience, emotional intelligence, or true knowldge. Only one is the correct answer, I shared everything I could. Are you content, Laudis?"
"What do you mean by true knowledge?" he asked puzzled.
"True knowledge is a phrase I use for those, who adapt, learn and understand things with ease. Some might be clever or understand feelings well, but they are worse than them in every aspect. The most dangerous human is the one who can become a shadow and emerge from it at any given time. May we end the meeting? Besides your time ended, so you have no saying in this," the being extended his right hand with the seven-pointed star inside the heptagon.
"Right..." the kid responded sealing the pact.
The same experience pierced through Laudis with great pain. Yet unlike yesterday the act felt a little shorter to him, almost like he slowly could bear the consequences better.
'Wha, ha, ha... The pain was still huge, despite its duration becoming shorter. I may be imagining this, but nonetheless I feel not bad. Now, the time is 4:53 a.m. perfectly for a run. The one thing caught my attention, he thought I would remember Gareth Gwynn. Maybe he is a relative of mine or a close friend. The entity said also something about a power which isn't a curse nor a blessing, hm... Quiet a riddle for a novice. After the third trial I will ask Gladius about him, he is the most trustable I guess. Now, I should get going,' thought Laudis sitting on the bed holding his silver watch. His breathing was heavy and muscles were twitching lightly. The clothes awaited him sitting at the chair.
Just like yesterday he drank a glass of water with salt. The sun was rising, the sky was clear with no major clouds. Some merchants were already opened, it made him remember of the perfume he needed to buy.
"Greetings, my friend. What do you need precisely, I have sorts of fragrances including sweet and sexy scents to deep and mature ones," the dark-skinned man with a typical carolar outfit emancipated him for the purchase.
"Give me something long-lasting and heavy. I prefer wood, leather, mineral or herbal notes."
"Okay, okay give me a minute... Here, the Burned House made by Nabil Nazir, lasting up to nine hours. The top notes are smoke wood, nutmeg and white pepper. The middle notes are basil and coriander. The base notes are leather, cedar and hazelnut. The price for the medium sized bottle is twenty-one golds. Have a try, sir."
"I see... And how much liquid does it contain?" the boy replied interested in the product. Its smell caught his attention.
"About fifty milliters, sir. The glass packaging is custom made, so it can be off by five percent."
"Twenty golds is good?"
"Of course, here," the salesman handed down him the packaged perfume. It was wrapped in black paper with a red ribbon. The bottle was clear and the substance inside was black, its cap was scarlet depicting a running horse. The price was for the entire experience, not just the scent only.
He returned to the tavern and left the product at his room. The boy started the run. The thing he focused on was mostly muscle-mind connection. Laudis had no problem with the distance. Constant and rhythmical breathing while being focused made him acomplish the goal with ease. After that he ate alone — three rabbit legs, half a bread, and apple juice. He went to the sawmill and chop down trees for nine hours. The time was better, but still too long. Returning to the room he grabbed half a bread and ham with water. After the meal the kid started to shadow box and went asleep. The grind continued for three days more. The challenge awaited him. During the training Will to boy's surprise didn't bother appear in any of his dreams. He checked the time, it was 5:21 a.m.. He walked to the bathroom and cleaned himself. Then the youth dressed up in the black shirt, trousers and applied the fragrance.
'Today's is the day. I think I look all right, besides I need to chop down the trees not to look good. Nonetheless I still wonder, how should I know where and when to go. Maybe they are already waiting for me,' thought Laudis looking walking downstairs.
The Crusaders were sitting in the corner, everyone eating breakfast. The kid decided to order some food and join them.
"So, when the second trial takes place?"
"Whenever you are ready, yet I advise you to start it sooner than later," the knight replied drinking from a cup.
Udania's attention was caught by his smell. She didn't know anyone who would put up those scents. The female bent over and got closer to him.
"Can you distance yourself from the candidate, Udania?" the captain asked disappointed.
"O—Oh, sorry. I got caught up by your scent I guess..." the woman replied embarrassed.
"Yeah... What about the place?" the boy continued the conversation.
"I will show you the space, also you should know that any form of magic usage is forbidden. This is physical only challange."
"Okay. Can I start it after we finish the meal?"
"I don't see any reason why not. Any objections?"
"Duh. Why the hell did you wake me up at half past four!" shouted annoyed Solisia.
"I agree with the peasant! Even the prisoners aren't waken up during sunrise! This is pure torment for the soul and the body!" Dantenium joined with closed eyes. He at least wanted to give his vision a rest.
The girl showed her disapproval for his naming by kicking his leg.
"It's not my fault, the applicant is an early bird," Gladius responded with chagrin because of the band's attitude.
After everyone ate the food they went to the royal forest. Clock tower struck half past six with a bell's ring. Merchants were already ready to sell the goods. The weather was warm with a subtle wind and without any major clouds. The sun was still hidden behind them, but from time to time it emerged and enlightened the streets. After a walk they came to the specially prepared area, twenty-five trees. Every single one of them was numbered with a red chalk.
"The trial will start at precisely seven o'clock. You need to cut them down in specific order — from the smallest to the highest number. Any usage of technology or magic to manipulate the target is prohibited and results in disqualification. The only allowed equipment to incise the wood is the axe. Auras, blessings and curses enhancing your physical proporties are also illegal. Is everything clear to you, Laudis?" the captain listed down the rules from the document.
"Yes."
"All right. I will bring it to you one minute before seven a.m.. Then you are free to do the work until the seven p.m.."
"I understand."
"Great," the man left him and sat on the tree trunk. He took out a golden watch from his pocket and watched as its hands moved.
The time has come. Gladius gave the boy the necessary tool. The showdown began. He took a stable position and started the challenge. Thuck — the steel blade went into the tree. After that many more strikes followed. The sun began to emerge from the clouds, making the air dryer and the temperature higher. He took off his shirt to minimize alteration of the weather, yet it didn't give him much cool. His hair was starting to get wet and the body started to be covered in sweat. The kid started the notch, every hit destabilized the target. Phoo — the first one collapsed with a huge impact. Laudis took a big sip of water. One after the other the targets were falling down. He grew tired with each collapse. Now, the nineteenth tree stood before him. The youth prepared himself and struck it with his full force, his grip loosened up. The axe fell down.
"What a pity, he can't hold it up any longer! Do you want to make a bet? The odds are five to one, five for his win and one for his loss," Dantenium whispered to Solisia smiling lightly.
"I guess I can spare fifteen golds for his win. It's not that I don't think he can do it, but I wonder if he can do it. It's more like a wish, I suppose..."
"Okay, so do we have a deal?"
"Deal," the girl shook his hand. The rest was looking at them with disappointment.
'Think, think, think. Whe, he, ha... I don't have any more strength in my arms. If only I could change up the motion of the hits... Wait, I actually can. I'm a freaking genius!' thought Laudis crouching with heavy breathing.
The boy took out bandages from his pocket and secured the axe to his hands. He held one end of the knot between his head and shoulder and the second one in his mouth. The material wrapping was his joker, the only variable his mind could think of.
"Huh?! Isn't it cheating?! Gladius, disqualify quickly this brat for illegal items!" shouted Dantenium with anger. The man knew that the tactic could have been a nail to his coffin.
"No. The only thing forbidden is to alter the target, no a single point prohibits changing the provided equipment," the captain was positively surprised by his intellect.
Laudis began to use his whole body to strike down the trees. His hands were only keeping the accurate height of the incision and his abdominals with back gave the strike the necessary momentum. The white material began to become red from the opened blisters. They were falling down one after the other. Only two remained with twenty-six minutes left. Suddenly something snapped inside of him. An unknown emotion entered his mind freely. He never felt in such way since birth. It was no anger, sadness nor apathy. It was something different from his usual emotions, it was pride. The youth knew the difficulty of the task, yet he had a strange feeling. A weird sensation, his entire body knew that the goal will be completed besides the odds. For the further encouragement he decided to motivate himself. Of course the words he used weren't pretty, but harsh just like the reality he belived in.
'You worthless! Just kill yourself already! Why didn't you die?! You pathetic idiot! Piece of shit! You parasite towards the society! You plague to the mankind! You insect! You fool!' thought Laudis. His eye was wide opened, almost bulging out. He entered the zone, but not the same one he experienced when running. A way different one, perhaps a psychopathic one.
The final one stood before him. He took off his eye-patch and started incising the tree with body swings. Every single hit went through his body almost like he felt pain. His breathing was getting even heavier. The abnormal eye began to bleed and its pupil widen. The psychosis in which was Laudis submerged in wasn't achievable by the most. This state required a mental strength, perhaps a mental strength of a demigod. The exhaustion was so intense that every strike could make him collapse. The notch was the last thing needed to be done. Thuck... Thuck... Thuck... Phoo — the tree collapsed with a tremendous crash. The boy cleaned the blood off and cover the eye. He rotated and looked at the Crusaders.
Birds were flying from him because of the sound. The wind began to slow down and the sun to come to the horizon. It was precisely one minute before the time limit. Dantenium was filled with anger, because of his lost bet. Solisia content with the money she won. Udania lightly applauded the finished goal. Gladius didn't care even to have an eye-contact. The youth went up to them awaitng any response. His body was all wet, hand wrapping dyed into rich red, and his face was pictured with the tired expression. At the closer inspection the Crusaders noticed his scarred body. The scars varied — from long, thin, and single to short, wide and multiple, giving the girl an ick.
"The time's up, you've lost," the captain stated with dissatisfaction.
"What? How?" asked surprised Laudis.
"I won?! Give me my money you brat!" responded Dantenium with joy, trying to take the coins from the girl.
"But how? I think that he completed the challange, the time went up just a moment ago," the shocked woman replied.
"Laudis didn't return the axe. It was listed in §12: The tool used for the challange needs to be returned before the time limit."
"Wait, you didn't say it while listing the rules!" the lightly enraged boy shouted.
"Really? Then I guess you completed the challange, my congratulatios," the knight extended shook his hand.
"Give back my reward old man!" the girl chased after the red haired man, who was running away.
"Can you help me?"
"Help with what?" the female asked without a clue.
"With this," he showed his hands wrapped to the axe.
"Ah, right."
Gladius cut down the bandages with his sword and left the scene with the woman. Suddenly he heard something falling down with a huge impact. Laudis lost consciousness because of his exhaustion. The boy was laying on the ground with closed eyes.
"Right, I should have asked him whether he was feeling okay," the man facepalmed himself.
"Give me a hand Udania," he continued grabbing his one arm.
"Me? I'm not very strong..."
"It doesn't matter, he isn't that heavy. Look at him, his muscles are visible. He has low body fat percentage, guessing I think he weighs around seventy kilograms with a height of one-hundred-seventy-seven centimeters. Also look at his scars, they aren't from the vampires only. They are for sure from whipping too, especially on his back."
"Yeah... Wait, how did you know his height?"
"You both have the same one. Couldn't you see? Didn't he also walk you over to your roo— Aw, why did you kick me?"
"Hm, no reason!"
They walked him to the tavern. The bells rung indicating the time — 7:30 p.m.. The bystanders were looking at them with marvel. After all a kid was dragged by a woman and a man with his hands covered in blood and blisters. The vendors were whispering between each other guessing why he was dragged.
"Did he drink too much?" a salesman wondered.
"No, I think he just got hit by one of them during training. They are the Crusaders after all," another one replied pointing at their headbands.
After a while they arrived at the tavern. The customers were shocked by the scene, yet not even a single one dared to ask. They dragged him into his room and placed on his bed.
"Phew! Finally, ahh! He is quiet an organized person, but I don't see any of his belongings. I wonder if he has any," Udania sat down at the chair with heavy breathing. Nonetheless the female was glad, the deed that she owned him was paid off.
"Yeah, we should get going now. I don't think he would enjoy our company now. Besides he has the third trial tomorrow, it's better to leave him rest," the knight replied reopening the door.
"Wait. I see some picture frame under his bed. Maybe it's his old photograph... I wonder how he loo—"
"Stop it in this instant. You have no power to see his personal items. Respect his privacy, at least his..." the captain grabbed her hand with a serious look.
"Okay, damn..."
Both of them left the room. Laudis was submerged in deep sleep. Every breath he took was controlled and deep. The boy didn't fully recover from the battle he went through, yet a single thing was pretty off. A subtle smile drew on his face, a smile of relief. Despite the pain and trouble, the youth was content. The second trial was completed.