"The Main Test will be conducted at a separate site. The scroll given to you will take you to your designated examination site." The instructor says as he signals his assistants to hand out the scroll he mentioned, inside was an intricate drawing of a magic formation and a series of magic runes.
"You must complete the allotted task. After that, you'll be moved to the next phase. There are a few limitations other than time and morale; you may use any means you deem would make you pass the test. However, we do not condone any behavior relating to putting your fellow applicant in harm's way or cheating your way out." The instructor added as he grabbed one scroll from his assistant, flicking the scroll open and demonstrating how to use the scroll.
With a jerk of his wrist, he threw the modern parchment paper in the air as the scroll caught on a static fire. Then, along with the paper, the instructor disappeared not long after. In his place, the big display screen in front of the applicants activated and showed the instructor inside a room.
"Alright. Now that you know how to use the scroll, let the main trial begin!" He says while the screen at the trial site went black and the assistants ushered the applicants to use the scroll, the instructor used another scroll to move himself to the observation room with the masters, bowing his head to show respect and greet them as he joined them.
[ THE ADVENTURERS GUILD ENTRY QUALIFICATION - FIRST PHASE : THE TRIAL OF WIT AND SURVIVAL ]
Zhenyel and some other applicants were transported inside a dungeon, where they'll have to find a way out in order to be accepted into the Adventurers Guild. The people were divided into three groups: the panicked ones who want to back out, the arrogant ones who think the trials would be a breeze, and the ones in between who'll go through the whole entry qualification.
Zhenyel was with the third group; it was just the first phase, and the other applicants were already backing out thanks to the environment around them, a dungeon. Zhenyel didn't see the issue so she decided to move forward and look for her friends.
She marveled at the surroundings because despite being in a dungeon, the forest she was in looked real; even the poisonous plants were alive. Zhenyel took a moment to plan around the trial as she brought her manual out, thinking that the instructor wouldn't let them keep the manual and transport them in the dungeon without knowledge.
True to her thoughts, everything she'd seen in the forest was recorded in the manual, thanks to which she was able to move forward with ease, navigating around the possible traps, natural hazards, etc. Although the manual had helped her with her navigation to the final part of the first phase, solving a riddle, it didn't have the clues about the puzzle. She already tried moving the stone tablets at first, trying out combinations but nothing worked.
Zhenyel hummed inquisitively as she decided to roam the area around the puzzle, looking for possible clues as she stumbled upon her friends.
"Zhen! Oh my goodness, we thought we'd never see you!" Naib says in panic while he and the others rushed to her side, checking her over for injuries just like what they did to each other upon their respective reconnection.
"You guys are too much of a worrywart. I'm fine. But let's put that aside, I found a puzzle. I checked the manual for information but no luck; the book only has small information about basic survival guides for dungeons." Zhenyel says softly as she leads the group to the puzzle where another group of people is already standing.
Zhenyel's friend group stared at the other group while she held her hand up in a gesture that she and her friends weren't looking for a fight.
"Let's work together for a bit. I have an idea what the puzzle might be about." One of the people from the other group spoke up after a pregnant pause in the air, approaching the puzzle of lined up slabs in the stoned wall filled with curled vines around with other plant life hanging on the crevices of the cracks.
"Each word forms a sentence that corresponds with the symbols. This is a simple organization puzzle about the natural progression of the night and day cycle to life." He added as he hovered a finger over the slabs of almost incomprehensible sentences.
Zhenyel nodded in understanding as she put the dots together and began moving with the acting leader of the opposite group. She and he worked, aligning the tablets while the others read the words inscribed against the stone.
Symbols : Flowing River, Crescent Moon, Blooming Rose, Roaring Flame, and a Soaring Eagle.
Words : 6x I, 6x but, 3x the, 3x never, 2x at, 2x with, shine, dance, walk, night, stay, vanish, consume, dawn, eat, travel, one, close, world, open, place, touch, sky, leave, a, sigh, ground, and in.
The acting leader of the opposite group handled organizing the puzzle, placing the symbols in the correct order while Zhenyel recalled many implications of the symbols while forming the sentence that could correspond with it using the words.
With everyone's help and cooperation, the wall retreated to the side as it revealed a narrow staircase upward. Everyone made a singular decision to trek up and ignored the eerie setting of the wall slamming closed behind them, the torches on the wall lighting up with their presence and dying behind them till they reached the outside, momentarily blinded by the bright sunlight as they got out of the dungeon.
Upon stepping a foot outside, one of the main assistants from the Guild stepped forward and informed them that they were the very first ones to clear the first phase of the trials, giving them a choice whether to drop out now, rest for a day or two, or continue to the next phase.