Chapter 30 Summoned To The Zoar

"Why, hello there." He waved to the girl who had pointed in his direction earlier.

She held a blank look, her glowing eyes gazing down at him.

"Ha! He's been summoned." Someone whispered to another.

'Summoned?' He tilted his head in confusion.

"You have been summoned to the Zoar." She said in a monotonous voice.

Turning around, she casted a marked out blue energy circle of space on the floor. Turning back at him, she pointed in the direction of her magic circle.

'Magic! Finally someone showcases magic.' His attention darted from the magic circle and back to her.

He had been wondering where those who possessed magic were, it turns out they were also recruited into the academy.

He could now understand why she acted so strange earlier.

"I don't suppose I'm meant to go in there." He laughed it off, but she made no reaction whatsoever.

He turned to the other students for help in what he was going through.

They all had their eyes wide and with a grimace, no one dared talk. When their teacher had said they would be testing his abilities, they didn't expect this extremity.

'Mune! What am I getting myself into?' He called upon her once again.

[...]

He looked to his side where she hovered and was shivering, this was the first time he had seen her this scared. What could possibly be on the other side?

'Mune?!' He yelled in his thoughts to get her attention.

She jolted from her thoughts, turning to face him with her large green eyes that had lost its sparkle.

[M... master? Why would they send you there?] She looked back at the magic circle's array.

'The students all have the same expression you possess, could you just tell me what to expect?!' He frowned in frustration.

The girl in front of him moved back to her lotus position, awaiting his decision. "You have five minutes to make your decision."

'Decision?! Was I ever given an alternative?' He deadpanned at the distraction in the form of that girl.

He was yet to weigh his situation from Mune.

'Mune, you may proceed.'

[That is a place known to test your abilities based on your rank. It is said those who go in there either get killed while trying or escape barely and there are few who have ever done so] She shuddered.

'That doesn't sound too bad.' He stared at the magic circle glow fluctuating.

"Three minutes, twenty eight seconds." The girl reminded him.

Nix frowned, 'She reminds me of the system's annoying countdown notifications.'

[Master what troubles me is I wouldn't be able to be called upon in that space] Mune had her eyes teary now, she didn't want to lose her master so soon.

'Do you underestimate my capabilities? Even if I'm on the verge of death, I would find a way. I can't possibly die now.' He said with determination, canceling his call on Mune.

'Thankyou for your help!'

He had finally made up his mind, he was in the least curious to what lay in that space. Getting to his feet he approached the female.

"What do I need to do?" He looked down at her.

"That took you long enough." She muttered, nodding in the direction of the magic circle. "Step into it, you would know what to do once you are there."

"Goodluck, I hope you do make it out alive! I'm rooting for you my dear fire god." The same male yelled, his words laced with mockery.

Nix halted, his brows twitched in annoyance, it took all in him not to act on provocation. Exhaling, his expression changed to that of a more positive and peaceful outlook.

Doing as she said, he walked towards the magic circle. He felt a pull on his body, forcing him to his knees.

Aghhh!!!

It felt like thousands of needles piercing his body, the blue glow spiraling around him before converging into a beam, aimed at him. In a matter of seconds, he blacked out.

–––––––––––

"Nix, wake up." A voice echoed around the room in a singsong voice.

Clip!

Clop!

He slowly opened his eyes and looked around only to find a pair of yellow slit eyes looking right at him, jolting him awake fully.

He crawled back in shock at the familiar eyes, his heart beating faster. With each heartbeat, he felt his skin getting tighter. His chest felt like a rock pressing into it.

"Nix!" The voice called again.

He gulped, turning to the source of the voice. It was a lady, her black hair in a messy bun and wearing a white lab coat and a pair of white skinny pants and open toe pumps. She stepped over to him, her heels making that clip clop sound on the marble floor.

Clip!

Clop!

'Lab coat!' His mind looked over at her outlook, she had a similar garb as his mother did in the scroll.

Judging from no information about this lady in the scroll, she must have replaced his mother a few months after she defected with the valuable information in the scroll.

He looked around in confusion, was this Zoar? Or was he hallucinating? He felt exhausted, this lady's presence didn't help alleviate his mood, instead it merely angered him, she was part of the conspiracy.

She couldn't be trusted.

Her eyes looked familiar, but he couldn't just place his fingers on it.

"Who are you?" His voice cracked as he asked. He needed a name of some sort, that would help in his goal.

"Relax, I'm here to detoxify your body." She stepped closer.

Clip!

Clop!

"Stay back!" He shot out an arm at her, making her step back. "Don't come near me!" He yelled, his voice echoing through the room.

Nix looked at his knuckles, he had actually expected to shoot out balls of fire to scare her, yet nothing had happened?

"Shocking right?" She snickered, using her hand to cover her mouth slightly. It was as if she could read his thoughts in one glance at his confused state.

"What just happened?!" He growled in rage. Did they just nullify his gift?

[Warning: Toxins found in the body]

'Now you tell me.' Nix narrowed his eyes at the system's notification, then back at the lady for a plausible explanation.

"Take it as we have your rank in our midst, research has gone a long way to curb threats like you if you decide to go rogue." She gave an eye shut smile.

His body still ached, he blamed whatever that magic circle's beam had shot at him before he blacked out. If he was in his normal state, he wouldn't be this weak and vulnerable, he could feel this lady was intentionally messing with him.

"Which is why I'm here to detoxify you before you can begin on your test." She clapped her hand in delight, like a child.

"Is this Zoar? This is supposed to be the Zoar, right?" He asked, staring at her. "What test am I meant to face?" He asked, his voice getting louder.

"You aren't in the right state of mind to participate in the test, yet!" She said, holding her hands up. Her eyes were still yellowed and glowing.

"What exactly are you?" He questioned, for a certainty; she either possessed a gift or magic. He felt uneasy around her, she looked like a dangerous and formidable opponent.

"What am I?" She laughed at him, dropping her hands momentarily, causing him to feel like he was being mocked.