>>6292082Stelios returns to Reza’s side. Satisfied with the introductions he’d made, he addresses the 30 contenders.
“Congratulations on passing the first stage!” Stellios says. “My name is Stellios, and I will be your guide for the competition’s second stage! If you’d please follow me inside the tower, we can get things started!”
Reza said things would only get more difficult from here. If the first stage had taken out half of the original 60 already, how many would this one eliminate? Your mind races through the possibilities of what might await. Would you be doing battle with the others here? If so, you had an advantage in Saoirse and Uriyan. Where everyone else’s alliance had fractured, the three of yours held on strong. If this was another group effort, then you should already be ahead of the others. One by one, you all file into the Tower of Illusions. With a name like that, you expected to see something truly fantastical on the inside.
Instead, you’re surprised to see that the room you’ve stepped into is…
“A classroom?” Leonora asks aloud.
Even in your wildest imagination, you could not have conjured a more terrifying sight. The room you’d just stepped foot in was, in fact, a classroom. One that was surprisingly similar to the one you’d spent countless miserable hours in back at Garreg Mach. Your dread grows. You hated school. And you hated tests even more! What were these people playing at?
“Please find your seat.” Stelios advises, gesturing towards the rows of desks that were lining the room. “They’re numbered 1 through 60.”
You groan as you look for the desk numbered 59. With half of the competitors gone, many of the seats wind up empty. However, you find yourself sandwiched between two others. Elric sits in front of you, while Butch sits behind.
“Is everyone seated? Good.” Stelios takes his place at the front of the classroom. He produces a large stack of papers from a mahogany desk, and begins walking through the room, distributing each contender one of his papers, face down.
“Allow me to explain how this stage works.” Stelios talks as he works. “Combat is all well and good, but wisdom is just as important to a king as strength. Perhaps even more so.This exam here will test you on three things. Your knowledge of Morfisian history and culture. Your knowledge of sorcery. And the various trials a king may face during his rule.”
Stelios places the paper face down on your desk. You feel yourself sweating. Bronte had done much of your homework back during the Academy. But she wasn’t here now to help you.
“Now, the most important thing to note.” Stelios says, taking his place back at the front. “There is no way to pass or fail this test. You could get every single question wrong and you would not be eliminated. Though I’d certainly think less of you for it.”
