With a steady hand, I reached out and touched the cups. Cool. Unassuming. Yet beneath their surface—choice, consequence, and the taste of poison or power.
For a moment, I hesitated. My thoughts spiraled, running loops around possibilities, fears, expectations. Overthinking. Again.
Then it hit me.
Why was I thinking so much? Was this what they wanted—to trap me in my own mind?
"Ah! What the heck! Thinking isn't my thing. My head hurts from all this pondering."
The words burst from my mouth like a dam cracking under pressure. Without giving myself another second to hesitate, I lifted both cups and drank them at once.
A foolish move? Maybe.
But hesitation kills faster than poison.
The moment the liquid touched my tongue, the world contorted. Colours twisted into ribbons of chaos, space folded in on itself, and then—
Darkness.
When I opened my eyes, I was back in the same room.
The same stone floor. The same flickering lantern light.
But something felt off. As if the room had exhaled after holding its breath.
I sat up slowly. My head pounded like war drums. A low groan escaped my lips.
"Did I… pass?" I murmured.
"Congratulations. You have passed the first test."
The voice arrived before the presence. A familiar one.
I turned.
Lady Nozomi stood in the doorway, her smile bright enough to blind the shadows.
Relief surged through me. Then faded.
Because her next words hit harder than the poison.
"However, there are 443 tests left. I hope you are ready."
A silence followed. I stared at her. Was that a joke?
"443… tests…" I repeated numbly.
Lady Nozomi offered a serene nod. "Don't worry. You'll make it. One step at a time."
That glimmer of hope—soothing, warm, deceptively sweet—lasted exactly two seconds.
Then she said,
"But the chances of success are incredibly slim. Only 0.00000001%."
I felt all blood drain from my face.
Lady Nozomi's smile didn't falter as she continued:
"Unlike other Masters who have many pupils, Master has none. None have survived the tests. It's a rather sombre reality, isn't it?"
My heart dropped into my stomach.
This wasn't just a test.
It was a massacre wearing a ceremonial robe.
I swallowed nervously, the weight of the situation sinking in. Lady Nozomi's words echoed in my mind as she added, "Even if you manage to pass the tests, I wonder if you'll be able to endure the rigorous training."
"E-Eh?!" My voice cracked, more noise than thought.
Lady Nozomi tilted her head, eyes gentle. "Let's not worry about the training just yet. The tests come first. Let's give it our best, shall we?"
I couldn't even answer. My mind frayed at the edges.
And before I knew it—
I fainted.
Lady Nozomi blinked, surprised, covering her mouth with a hand.
"Oh my. She fainted. Perhaps the poison from the first test hasn't completely left her system. It's best to let her rest."
She tucked me in with surprising tenderness. Her steps whispered as she left.
When I woke again, sunlight filtered softly into the room. Lady Nozomi was seated beside me, smiling as if nothing had happened.
"How are you feeling today? Any improvement?"
My mood snapped. "How do you think I'm feeling?"
Lady Nozomi, ever the sunbeam, grinned. "Just splendid!"
"As if!" I exploded. "My head's throbbing, my body feels like it's been thrown off a cliff, my tongue is numb, my throat is on fire, and I dreamt of a 0.00000001% survival rate! I've had better days!"
I expected denial. Comfort. Maybe even rebuke.
What I got was calm.
"I understand your concerns."
Lady Nozomi leaned in, her voice gentle. "Firstly, what you experienced wasn't a nightmare. It was the truth. Secondly…"
She lifted a tray of food.
"…you must be extremely hungry."
My stomach answered before I could.
The food was warm, fragrant, almost divine. Bite by bite, I felt my rage and fear dissolve. Shame crept in to replace them.
Lady Nozomi giggled. "Wow! You finished everything up. You certainly have a great appetite."
I wiped my mouth, face burning. "Sorry… for shouting earlier."
She patted my head like a forgiving older sister.
"Oh, it's fine, dear. We all get a little grumpy when we're hungry."
Then she dropped the bomb
"I wouldn't be surprised," she added casually, "since you've been sleeping for a week without getting up."
"…A week?"
She nodded. "Mm-hm."
I stared at her, horror blooming across my face.
"But don't worry about the test," she added. "Master already gave you permission to begin your second test whenever you're ready."
I froze.
"…I totally forgot about the test."
Clap.
Lady Nozomi's sudden movement startled me. "But for now…"
She guided me to lie back down. Her touch was featherlight, her voice softer than silk.
"Rest a bit more. When you feel completely ready, I'll prepare the second test for you. There's no need to rush."
Her words wrapped around me like a lullaby.
The futon seemed to cradle me tighter.
The quiet was kind.
When I next woke, the light was brighter.
And so was something inside me.
I stretched. The ache in my muscles told me I was still alive. That was a start.
"443 tests…" I whispered to myself, staring at the ceiling. "How long will it take…?"
The number was heavy. The probability was worse.
My hands trembled.
My breath caught.
You're not supposed to make it.
That was the unspoken truth.
But then—
Slap!
I smacked both cheeks. Hard. The sting bloomed across my skin. But it snapped me back.
"I passed the first test," I said aloud.
My voice wasn't confident. Not yet.
But it was mine.
"Let's stop dwelling. The worst is yet to come… but I won't break."
I clenched my fist. Felt the bones tighten beneath the skin.
And then—
"JUST YOU WAIT! I will trample on every challenge thrown at me. Nothing can stop me!"
My declaration rang out, bouncing off the walls, echoing into the halls of the House of Aum.
Unbeknownst to me, in another room—
Lady Nozomi laughed softly. "It seems young lady Llyne is doing alright."
Master Sylph, silent as a still blade, closed her eyes.
"Yes," she said quietly.
"She is."