37 Testing Grounds Part 2

The sunlight had hurt my eyes slightly as I accustomed them to the difference in light from inside the slightly darkened carriage. I looked up with my hand across my face like a salute as I feebly attempted to blocked out the shine.

What I saw before me was a bright blue sky in vivid blue light there were a few clouds that were added by what felt like a clumsy painter, they were floating delicately, as If could puff out a small breath and they would disappear.

A crisp yet refreshing scent of earth entered my nostrils completely refreshing me. I looked down from the sky and realised that we were on our way to a tower. This tower was only one for many that I could see littering the horizon.

[This place is much bigger then I could see at a distance some months ago! ]

I sucked in a large breath of fresh air as Lady Yu began to walk and gave me a hurry-up look.

I followed behind her trying my best to keep up and see as much as I could.

We were stepping on feet wide stones that were surrounded by lush grasses or various cloured each trimmed to immaculate degrees. I took a quick glance behind us and noticed was a wall with an entryway that I assumed we used, the wall itself was two people long and upon close inspection, I saw many runes glimmering on them.

Not to mention the guards that were standing around with their faces covered with masks. I was not sure why they were wearing masks but I had amused myself thinking about it as I continued to look around.

There were students and teachers all scurrying around. In this aspect, it was very much like a university campus. Each person wore then uniform to extremely polished standards and I noticed badges that glimmered slightly on the chest of every person walking.

The tower was reaching closer and closer to us, I felt like an ant staring at a mountain. It at least had to be a hundred floors high as it reached up into the heavens. It wasn't forboding in the least however as it was made from a light grey material which seemed to give it a welcoming feeling.

There were holes on what I guessed was every third floor on the tower or so, that had people flying in and out of them on spirit beasts. The different types of beasts made me realise how little of this world I had actually seen.

Some looked like eagles, while others like dragons, some were mixes between a few different Earth species there was even a tiger I had spotted with wings.

We had finally reached the entranceway, there was a man telling a group of students something that I couldn't pick up on. They, however, seemed to meticulously be taking notes on leather bound books. There was a group of students in a ring a little further to the right, I suspected they were duelling.

[ There is soo much here! Romance Fantasy ++ never showed this much of the school! ]

The person that looked like a guard wearing a white half mask smiled and said " Teacher Yu? Suprised to see you at the testing hall, how many students today and which level?"

[ This whole tower is just for testing students?! I am starting to this is more like a city hidden inside the capital! ]

" Hmm, one student and myself. the twentieth level thank you" Yu said in her normal no-nonsense tone.

The guard removed a small metal seal that was previously on their neck. It had markings on it sort of like an analog watch. I couldn't make out too much detail, but the guard seemed to fiddle with it before placing it in a circular shaped incline in the door.

What happened next slightly amused me, the door glowed for a minute and a smaller door just big enough for a person seemed to cut itself out of the bigger door. Lady Yu had waved to the guard goodbye before gesturing me to step inside with her.

[ I wonder if the door changes to be available for spirit beats and the like? ]

Entering the door I felt sick for just a moment, as I blinked it felt like my stomach had been sucked out and pulled to the ground before I felt okay again. After opening my eyes I looked over to see what looked like an old style reception area.

There were no other people around other than an old man sitting at a reception desk reading a book. Just in front of him were rows and rows of seats like any other usual waiting area. There was no dust anywhere and there was even a slight hint of the smell of Earth here.

" We have arrived at the entranceway for earth magic testing, this place is normally swarming with people during our enrollment period. Being a young man of status and having the headmasters gift of having me apprentice you until school starts you get to bypass the crowds, I hope one feels grateful for such a gift" lady Yu said.

[ Wait we are here already? ]

" Does that mean we are on the twentieth-floor teacher Yu?" I said incredulously.

" Correct, we used wind magic to project ourselves upwards, very useful." was all Yu musted in response.

[ This place reminds me more of a place for experimental science rather than a school! ]

We approached the counter and the man sitting down reading didn't even look at us to speak. Lady Yu had coughed once and the man looked to finish a line or two of his book before looking upwards.

" Ahh Hui Yu, so nice to have you here, although we are well into the school year. Do you need anything?" The old man at the counter said with a smile before he glanced at me.

[ Teachers name is Hui? Very fitting. ]

" This student is Yuki Aikyo, he has exemption status by the principle for entrance testing due to his families standing. However, he has been weak since birth and needs basic elemental testing, soul-testing and control testing. Please arrange this promptly Mr Zhang" Yu said in response to the man at the counter.

[ Oh? I guess people normally need to pass tests to enter, does this mean that I am going to go to classes with amazing students? I am going to be laughed out of here I know it! ]

The loneliness that was my memories back on earth seemed to be dropped on me like a bucket of cold water. The excitement that I had felt looking around the campus had changed to nervousness. I tried to calm down the feelings that had buried themselves inside my bones with a vengeance.

My teacher had taken a seal of some description from the old man behind the desk ignoring me completely. I held myself in my arms to comfort myself.

[ What if I am not good enough, will all my training be for naught? ]

I was scared.

I remembered the encouragement that I have been given by all of my new friends and family here and prepared myself. I swore to myself that this time would be different and I would not end up alone. I think even if I were to be left on the street poor with my new family, I would honestly be content.

Lady Yu had snapped me out of my inner turmoil as I heard her feet clack on what looked like a marble floor. I followed behind her as I followed her "do not dally" instructions to a tee. We walled down some twisting corridors each time Lady Yu inserted the seal into locked doors.

" Why are there so many locked doors? " I asked allowed.

" Security measures, our testing equipment is worth about as much as the palace," Yu said flatly.

[ That much?!!? Is it made from diamonds and gold? ]

As we reached the final door I held my breath a little. It opened without even so much as a sound and Yu gestured me to step inside ahead of her.

I walked in not sure what to expect. There was what looked like miniature prayer alters, each alters containing a round globe. There were no cables or wires. The whole place looked as if it were made out of stone. In front of the alters, however, was a tree which was strangely shaped like an obelisk.

The tree obelisk looked smooth to the touch. It had no bark but it looked very much alive as it seemed to pulsate lightly. The branches looked manufactured as if what I was seeing was a tree that could be found in a computer game. The tree was heavily embedded in the ground that consisted of crumbled dirt leaf litter and flowers.

I looked up to see what looked like an artificial sun that hung near the top of the sealing. The atmosphere in the room was strange, it was a calming feeling, like if someone was to walk into a deep forest or holy building.

To be honest I didn't feel like leaving this place at all. There was an urge to sleep under the tree and watch the world go by that welled up inside me. My nervousness and panic had all vanished and replaced by a great calm.

" Boy, this is the earth testing zone, by the look on your face, you seem to resonate with the particles in the air. There is at least four times the earth particles in here as there is outside. Take a deep breath, this place is very good for you." Lady Yu said calmly.

Hui left me to stand and admire the view for a few minutes, I had glanced over once or twice to notice she too found this place relaxing.

There was a very comfortable silence in the air.

Finally, Lady Yu exhaled and breath and lead me to in front of one of the globes on the alters.

" Young man, this is an earth attribute testing zone, see that glass ball there? By touching it you will start the test. The being that you see before you.." Lady Yu stopped and pointed at the tree.

[ Being? ]

I looked up at the tree that seemed to reach the top of the ceiling and slightly swayed.

" is a rank 9 guardian spirit beast the mighty Forest Ent, They will be watching your progress through your journey. Should you find any problems just call for it." Yu finished.

[ RANK 9 ?!?!?! ]

My eyes opened wide as I stared at the Ent. At rank nine it is a living breathing calamity? How can the school have such a thing? Can't it destroy cities?!

I sucked in an awestruck breath.

" Teacher Yu… the Ent is really rank 9? Isn't it dangerous to have here? " I said as I swallowed some saliva.

" Nonsense. This is one of the guardians of the academy. Please watch your mouth, he can understand you." Yu snapped.

"Uh sorry, Sir Ent " I snapped and bowed at a 90-degree angle.

[ Please don't kill me ]

Sweat poured down my back.

" Do not be frighted tiny one, I wish you luck on your test. " A windy voice spoke and echoed through the room. It was a quiet voice but very fierce. Sweat dripped down my back.

[ THE TREE JUST SPOKE?! ]

" Thank you Mr Ent" was all I could muster still bowing.

" Right enough chit chat, stand up on the pedestal and touch the globe when you're ready," Hui said as she clapped her hands.

[ I would have prefered a written test! ]

I walked up to the pedestal and stared into the orb as I readied myself to touch it.