The Test

A few days had passed since my agreement to join the academy, I remember that Elizabeth, Hope, and Wendy had a fit of euphoria when they learned of it and since then Hope has asked me to fight it every day in our usual field, but to his dismay, I hadn't agreed to babysit.

"Come on bro, it's the last day, just one last fight while we're nobody, like the start of a great movie!"

"Talk to my foot, man."

"Kss... You're so lazy, I thought your mom motivated you!"

"I'm not lazy, I'm in power-saving mode. Go fight Leon instead, he should be back from the rift."

"Aaah but you're my damn rival... You're just scared of Hero Time."

Hope was annoyed. It had been a few days since the rift had been subdued by Shining Sword and according to the news, their feat had echoed in the nearby town, so they had been solicited by some Guilds as an E-rank group and should leave the village soon, on our side, Hope and I were waiting for an examiner from the academy.

"It's so boring, if they want to recruit Avatars, what's the point of testing our skills? We're E-rank, there's nothing to show for that."

"Oh, I can show Hero Time, and the test is necessary, the academy is the main source of the kingdom's defense forces, they can't just enlist random people, especially since I'm Elizabeth's brother".

"So I'm suffering because of you? You filthy brat.

"Wow! You are suffering because you gave yourself a bad name, I don't have to pass this test, at least me, only the one that determines my rank."

"Yeah, yeah, so you're taking advantage of your sister's reputation to move up the ranks, you little rascal."

"I swear, I will kill you one day!"

"You shouldn't worship her like that, you know how she tried to convince me?"

"That bastard!" Elizabeth exclaimed in the distance.

She arrived accompanied by 2 individuals, a young man with pale blond hair and elegantly curly hair, and a familiar guy who looked like a joker, and despite his bad face, we were about the same size. He looked at me with an ugly smile.

"So there you go, silly, I see you're taking care of 'my son', right? As his 'mother', I should thank you, don't you think?"

Albert was standing right in front of us, Hope had apparently told him about our conversation. I looked at him for a moment before turning to my comrade.

"... I hope you hear that shit, man."

"Leave me out of this"

"Now, I'm in front of you, so why don't you leave Mr. Hope alone and face me instead?"

"You should face a mirror first, your lips are abnormally blue, ma'am."

"Oh, I'll kill you!"

He threw himself on me but was intercepted by Elizabeth who couldn't hold back her laughter, the young man at her side sighed in annoyance.

"Calm down, Albert, you have promised your complete impartiality here."

"But I am, I'm going to punish that brat impartially!"

"If it can comfort you, you're doing it by staying right in front of me."

He struggled in Elizabeth's strong arms, I just wished I had fruits to throw at him but this sight was acceptable. After a while, he calmed down and Elizabeth began the introductions.

"You know Albert as our butler and Hope's personal trainer, but he's first and foremost an academy examiner, he's the one who deemed your skills good enough to get into the academy, Hope, and now it's also he who will judge you and integrate you, Dora."

"Humph! Will integrate is yet to be seen, I'm not as nice and shallow as Miss Elizabeth, so be prepared for the toughest test you've ever seen, E-ranker."

"I see... Do I get a bonus if I dress like an ugly girl?"

"You'll only get my fist in your ass, you imbecile!"

"... So you're not denying the ugly lady part?"

"Ooh Miss, let's change the rules, let me fight him instead, I'm begging you!"

Elizabeth sighed, one hand over her face.

"Albert it would be easier if you just stayed quiet."

"Yeah Albert, you're just a butt-ler, know your place and shut up!"

Albert turned to the young man who accompanied them, his hands clasped as if in prayer.

"Sir Barron, I promise on my name to give you the best treatment at the academy if you get rid of this fucker in the test, you'll get everything! Just make him suffer, please!"

The young man waved his hand to tell Albert to move away from him and gave me an indifferent look.

"Who do you think you are to ask me anything? You think a butler like you can go around and order me?"

Albert was dumbfounded and stuttering, a scene that made me chuckle behind, but obviously not to Barron's liking.

"And why are you laughing, you idiot? Do you think you're something? Understand that if I'm wasting my time here it's only to make sure that any rubbish doesn't soil the academy. I can't believe that they're even envisaging taking peasants among the elite."

He straightened his hair and walked away from us, I wasn't really surprised by this, first, I consider myself as a mere peasant, so I didn't feel offended, and next from his gaze earlier I knew he was a big mouth. Hope, getting angry for me called out to him.

"Oi, who are you calling a peasant? You better watch your mouth when you're at people's places, buddy."

"I'm not dealing with 2 donkeys at the same time, consider yourself lucky to be the brother of the captain of the royal guards, without that you would never have had your place."

"What?! Dare to repeat that!"

"What? Are you also deaf?

Hope stepped forward but Elizabeth held him back, looking bored.

"Alright, I'm glad the introductions are done, now if you don't mind, I'd like to move on to what we're all here for."

Barron shrugged and Hope, fuming, walked away staring at him, Elizabeth sighed and announced the test.

"Here is the theme of the trial: Dora and Barron will face off in a friendly fight, and depending on the skills you show, Albert will enroll you in the academy, consider it a privilege, all you have to do to get in is show your skills, like the other day, now for the rules you both can use anything as long as you don't don't try to assassinate your opponent, you are professionals so surely you know which of your skills can be deadly, was I clear, Barron?"

"You should have chosen someone weaker, I'm not responsible for the weakness of a peasant."

"... Alright, so if you're both ready, face and salute."

We walked towards each other, in the center of the field that would soon become an explosive theater, we were now face to face, but neither of us greeted the other, much to Elizabeth's dismay.

"Why am I even bothering... Begin!"

Our facial expressions changed and a strong wind swept across the field.