Chapter 193: Rank Up Test (1)

Looking at the receding figure of the blonde amazonian giantess, Aiden was left speechless for quite a while. Whilst he did not comment on it as they talked, the most incredulous thing he found wasn't the height, build, or the power she emanated from herself. No, what Aiden found the strangest was her attire. 

Apart from some ragged piece of black fur that was wrapped around her to cover her delicates, the only piece of clothing she wore was a large and spacious hooded cloak that she used most of the time to pull on it to cover and hide her front, mostly barren body.

If she found it troublesome, why didn't she use normal, proper clothing to cover herself? What was the point of such revealing attire? Aiden couldn't put his mind to it. 

Shaking his head lightly, he forced these thoughts out of his mind and focused back on his friend. Now that Naybeah was gone, Mary was, once again, free to join in on their conversation, albeit she continued giving the cold shoulder, much to Aiden's continued chagrin.

Deciding to just ignore the matter with the girl, for now, he gently patted Cole's back, waking him from his stupor for the nth time today. With a friendly smile stretching on his face, he spoke in a calm and gentle manner.

"Don't worry Cole. Everything will be all right." 

Matching his gaze, Cole looked at his friend with a troubled expression. 

"So, what did you wanted to tell us? Mary is here now."

He took a quick glance at the curly-haired woman, who had a cold, hurt look on her face, but was clear that she was listening in on their talk.

Upon his words, Aiden also glanced at Mary, only to sigh at how hurt she looked. Aiden didn't know what he had done that offended her, as he was just talking to the giantess. He did not speak ill and was just curious about the exotic look of the female warrior.

Still, something must have set her off, as she was not looking hurt, but instead offended. He smiled at her wryly, before turning his attention back to his friend. Taking a breath of fresh air, he decided to change the subject and began to briefly tell what had happened in the office during his meeting with Sarah. 

However, he did not go into detail, at least not yet. He still had time to tell everything and sour their mood tomorrow morning. No, right now, there was a much more important topic they had to cover. His attention slowly shifted towards Cole, who was still rather nervous, about the test he was about to face all by his lonesome.

Finally, as he got the important and relevant part about Cole's test, he stopped talking and as the smile on his face slowly widened into an obvious grin, he waited a few moments before he revealed the information he got from the leader.

"...and, you do not need to worry about all the injuries or faulty play during your test, as I was allowed to go in with you and foresee the whole test. So you do not need to worry, but doing your very best, and try to pass the trial! I know you can, you even fought to a standstill against those Sea Devils!"

"You? They allowed you to go in and oversee the test? H-how?!" Mary yelped out in surprise upon this shocking revelation. Usually, the event was supposed to be private, and only the examiners and the examinee were allowed to enter the side room.

Well, there were the occasional exceptions, like with Aiden's case, but in general, this was a true statement.

Cole's eyes also lit up with the spark of hope as soon as he processed his friend's words. 

"R-really?" He exclaimed with surprise before he stopped in his own tracks and took a moment to collect himself before continuing. "Ehrm, I mean, that is good, for sure, but I still need to be able to pass the test myself. You can't help me or cheat me through. I need to be skilled and strong enough to pass this hurdle."

Nodding, Aiden agreed with his friend.

"That is true, but at least you do not need to worry that much anymore. At worst, you will just fail to pass it this time, and will just need to train even harder! There will be no fatal injuries that would set you back!"

Although reassured and quite relieved by Aiden's words, Cole still had a slightly worried look on his face as he turned to face the door on the eastern side of the hall.

Taking a long, lasting look on the closed wooden door, he seemed to have come to a decision about the matter. His worry morphed to confidence and determination as he heaved out all the air that troubled his mind and heart all day today.

He then turned to look at Mary, who without even having the need to mention anything, nodded in understanding, and spoke.

"I see, you have made up your mind. Shall I go and inform the examiners about your upcoming test and deduct the credits from your account?" Even though she knew the answer to the question, she was still required to ask it out and wait for his clearly obvious response.

As expected, Cole nodded with a determined expression. He had already made up his mind, he will not change it anymore. His friends are supporting him and even made sure that he did not have to worry about foul play anymore. What right did he have to back out now?

"Yes, please do so. I am ready to take the test." He nodded.

A smile finally replaced the cold, hurt expression of Mary, as she picked up a form from under the desk and quickly began to scribble something on it, filling out a few rows hurriedly. 

Barely a minute later she was finished, and as she grabbed the paper, she turned at Cole with the friendly, professional smile on her face.

"Okay, I will go to the back and let the examiners know about the upcoming Rank Up test. Please wait for a few minutes, I will let you know once you can go in, through that door. "She pointed at the eastern door, the same one which Aiden used for his registration.

As soon as she said what she was obligated to, she immediately turned around and rushed through the back office door, her figure quickly vanishing through the long hallways as the door closed behind her.

"Come, let's just sit back. You need to relax and be at your best when you go through that door." Patting Cole's back, Aiden motioned for him towards the closest set of empty seats.

Silently nodding, Cole walked back, trying his hardest to keep his composure, and cool. It was a lie to say that whilst he sounded confident and determined a moment ago, he wasn't still nervous about the whole upcoming ordeal. Yes, he fought against a Sea Devil, a real Sahuagin with Aiden before, but the fact was he never won. He was just barely able to avoid his crazed blows, and cling to his life by a hair's thread. He wasn't Aiden, he wasn't an unnaturally powerful, incredible beast hiding in human skin. He was just your average youth, hoping to make a change in his life and not fall back towards the bottom and live a meaningless life being a farmer in some nameless village, paying tribute to his village chief and governing Nobles. 

No. He wanted something more, he NEEDED something more. It was fate or maybe the Gods that brought him towards Aiden on that fated day, and by staying at his side, he slowly grew better and better. He was no longer the bullied newbie that just arrived in the city, there were several completed quests and challenges under his name. He got gradually better at wielding his short sword, and whilst he had no special skills or talents, he still felt that he was quite capable. At least by his own standards.

His nervousness slowly faded as these and similar thoughts began to come to the surface of his mind. He creased his eyebrows, as his fading confidence found a newly formed pillar it could lean on. It was, as if a single bright ray of shining light pierced through the dark, eerie convergence of stormy clouds amidst the sky, and put a stop to the despair it poured down towards the ground-dwellers.

As time slowly passed and more and more thoughts and happy memories pierced through the despair of clouds, it slowly basked the gloomy ground of Cole's mindset in its colorless, bright rays of hope and confidence.

The nervous haze from his eyes slowly being lifted, Cole reached for the hilt of his short sword dangling from the side of his belt, and tightly gripped it.

He was no longer afraid, he had no worry in his eyes, not even when from the back office room, opened up and amidst the office floors, two huge men, donned in ebony black armors, -one with studded, reinforced leather and one with a shining, metallic feel to it-, walked out with Mary lagging not too far behind, and walked towards the side room in a slow pace.

He was ready to face any challenge they could throw at him! He was ready for the test!