The place became dark in a second and a feeling of loneliness spread. The sounds of everyone and their auras disappeared. It was true loneliness.
I saw someone approaching me. I thought it was Arthur, but it wasn't. It was me.
A copy of me floated in front of me in the same waters. And between us, at a slight height, appeared a blue flame to light up our features. He looked at me with empty eyes and I looked at him with dark eyes. Neither of us wished to speak.
He knows what he should say, and I know what he wants to say.
Even though we were in the water, I felt like I was standing, not floating. And so did he.
The place was empty, containing only the sounds of our breaths and our heartbeats.
He raised his finger towards me and said, "You, your path is full of despair."
I answered, my voice calmer, "It was. And it surely will be."
He smiled at me. For the first time, I felt that someone's smile at me was real, except my mother's and my sister's. But I didn't expect this smile to come from myself.
It wasn't an ordinary smile. Comfort, sadness, hope, despair, and more. All in these curves on the face.
He vanished in front of me with the light air like dust. Neither of us wished for the conversation to be long. Yet, I think I wished... I wished it lasted a little longer.
The waters dried completely and a light appeared a few meters away. I felt the air coming from it even though I was far. With every step I took forward, I felt the air stronger until I reached the light, to find it was a door.
I entered it to find myself in an empty room containing a Large table in the middle with three things on it. A cup, two blades, and three boxes.
The voice of the test director, Raven, returned again. "Congratulations. You are the first person to pass the first phase of the test among the remaining ten contestants."
Then another person entered the room. It was Arthur. And right after him entered Ankvorena.
Raven spoke, "Arthur and Ankvorena. Your copies exploded after severe disturbance in the mind waves. We can consider this a success in the test."
I didn't care much, for the moment they entered, I rushed to talk to them. "I didn't know a wand like in the Harry Potter movies would actually make using elements easier, Ank! And why didn't you tell me you have an attraction to the water element, Arthur! Everything happened so fast and we couldn't even talk for a moment!"
Arthur chuckled, saying, "Man, all we could do was be amazed and shocked repeatedly. But what about you? You didn't tell me you would become the princess's escort!"
Before I could speak, Ank said, "Companion. Not escort."
Arthur and I exchanged looks in silence before he winked at me.
Does he think I have a chance with the princess?...
The cheerful atmosphere was cut off by the entry of four people, followed by Raven's voice. "Three people failed. You seven are the ones who passed the first phase. And now, let's begin the second phase."
When Raven's voice disappeared, a new voice appeared. I was going to speak with Arthur and Ank about what the voice said, but one of the four others grabbed one of the blades and looked at everyone present with complete disdain. "Come on. Didn't you hear what he said? Whoever takes the blade… will choose who dies."
Another person advanced, wearing a wizard's hat like in fairy tales, and said, "That's not true. He said that whoever hides in the box will survive."
At that moment, the person holding the blade was stabbed and fell instantly. A boy with a burn on his neck took the second blade and stabbed him immediately. "His words are true. Whoever takes the blade will choose who dies."
I placed my hand on Ank's shoulder. She looked at me then looked at the box. Surely what she heard was the same as what the boy with the hat heard.
Arthur looked at me. He looked at me as if he was asking: Did you hear what I heard?
As far as I know, I didn't hear the same information.
But now I know that the fourth boy received the information about the box, given that there are three boxes. So surely Arthur heard something about the cup.
The blade holder launched and began trying to kill the fourth boy, and then I said quickly to the boy with the hat, "If you want to survive, do what I say."
He nodded with his head even though fear was clear on him. Surely his companions had failed before and so he remained alone.
Arthur took the cup, and then I cut a small cut on the finger of the boy with the hat, and Ank's finger, and my finger until our blood fell into the cup.
Arthur then said, looking at the fight between the two others, "Whoever pours his blood in the cup will survive. That's what I heard. But surely you heard something different."
Arthur made and gave me a stone cup. I turned and advanced toward the two who were fighting calmly.
Whoever hides in the box will survive.
Whoever takes the blade will choose who dies.
Whoever pours his blood in the cup will survive.
That's what the others heard. But it's all a lie.
The Joker hears something different.
Two must hide in a box to survive.
Whoever is kills using the blade will die and the one who got killed will survive.
The blood of everyone who is alive in the place must be poured so that the cup holder survives.
I am the Joker.
Quick attacks and calculated dodging. It was clear that the one with the box information was the defensive type. In the end, the calculated dodging failed, resulting in the loss of two fingers from his left hand. But the boy, and quite suddenly, used cutting winds on the blade wielder.
Some of the scattered blood from both of them fell into the stone cup, and then I gave it to Arthur to pour it into his cup.
The man with the hat entered one of the boxes with Ank, and with that, everything was complete. Our success will be announced in 3... 2... 1.
Raven spoke, "Now the final ritual will begin. The cup needs one finger from the blade wielder, two fingers from the one with the box information, and three fingers from the Joker."
Damn you, you son of a bitch. If this is what you want… then so be it.
I looked at Arthur, he nodded at me as if to say: You are the Joker. But we have no other choice.
I turned my head and looked at the blade wielder. I drew my sword and pointed it at him.
He charged at me, but I stood still. He got closer. Closer. Closer.
A hair's breadth separated his blade from my neck. At that moment, the one with the box information released cutting winds again, wounding his hand and causing him to drop the blade, and then I covered my sword with flames and cut off one of the boy's fingers. I caught the finger before saying, "Thank me for cauterizing your wound."
I took the two previously cut fingers from the one with the box information and headed toward Arthur quickly.
The blade wielder followed, but I lowered myself to the ground to dodge his kick, and then I struck his chest hard with the hilt of my sword, causing him to lose his breath for a moment.
I placed the fingers in the cup and then raised my sword.
I must cut off three of my fingers. I must cut off three of my fingers. I must cut off three of my fingers. I must cut off three of my fingers!
Damn you, damn you, damn you, Raven! Damn this trick of yours, you examiners! If I don't cut my fingers now, Ank will be harmed sooner or later!
Surely my mother will cry when she sees three fingers cut from my hand.
Half a second. All these thoughts in half a second.
I brought my sword down and indeed cut off three fingers from my left hand.
I suppressed my voice and clenched my teeth tightly as the blood poured from my hand. Before placing the fingers in the cup, I saw my reflection in my blood.
Despite everything, I am still me, Ethan Lumière.
Finally, I placed the fingers in the cup.
I collapsed to my knees.
The second stage ended.
I cauterized my wounds with fire and endured the pain. It's not worse than cutting my fingers....
Raven finally spoke, "Joker Ethan Lumière, before you proceed to the next stage, you must choose, either to heal your three fingers or to choose one to survive between the blade wielder and the one with the box information."
I looked at my hand and then at the two of them.
The one who's got his tow fingers cut is out because he didn't hide in a box, one was going to lose anyway because there are only 3 people with the box information.
The one with the box information who hid with Ank is someone who does not prefer direct combat, meaning he will be a great supporter. On the other hand, the blade wielder is a direct and fast fighter who relies on his instincts in battle.
I stood quietly and grabbed my sword. I walked steadily with a cold look toward the two. The one with the scar on his right cheek was extremely tense, while The other one with the hat stood there worried for his fate.
The blade wielder tried to move, but he couldn't. The scarred one tried to move as well, but he also couldn't. The examiners must have fixed them in place with some magic.
Their fate is in my hand, so small yet so valuable... For them.
With a swift step, I cut off the blade wielder's head. Blood started burst out like rain and his body fell to the ground with his head. I looked at the other boy and said, "You. I need you."
The boy sighed, "Thanks for choosing me. I'm Kafka."
I smiled when I heard his name. "A beautiful name."
Raven spoke again, "And now, the third and final stage."
For a moment, everything was normal. But in a moment, the atmosphere became heavy. The place filled with thick despaye.
Ank was experiencing slight difficulty in breathing but could stay composed.
Arthur was ready for any coming danger.
Kafka removed his hat so that the pressure would be distributed evenly across his body instead of concentrating in the fabric of his hat. It was clear that his despaye was the weakest among us.
I felt the despaye in my body was slightly disturbed. I felt I would lose consciousness at any moment. But even so, the pain distracted me from the surrounding pressure slightly and kept me conscious.
But really… such pressure… would've made us lose consciousness in an instant, right...?
I felt something inside me open. I felt I could breathe better and see more clearly. The pain didn't disappear, but I felt comfort. And I can say the others felt the same.
The pressure stopped, and Raven finally announced, "Congratulations. Your soul domains have awakened. You have passed the test."
Out of 30 people, only 4 succeeded.
Before we could do anything, my vision became blurry again, and suddenly I fell to the ground. I must be losing consciousness... I feel extreme exhaustion.