The new applicants move forward through various corridors, following their examiner Hope into a vast training area inside the Minami(南) Vision Association.
Various training gear and machineries lay about, currently not being used due to the exam taking place today.
The Dreamwalker Hope picks up a standard issue sword from a nearby rack.
"Listen up, today's test will be about your belief. Pick up the swords on the rack and hit the dummies with all your might."
Following where she pointed, the applicants see dummies in the middle of the room. Their bodies made of what looks like regular wood, but there's something surreal about them.
The young man from earlier examines the wooden dummies and scratches his chin.
'Are those from a Somnambulism? Then those swords must be artifacts…'
Without much time passing, each applicant picks up their sword and stands opposite of the dummies.
Yume inspects the swords momentarily.
'It looks to be quite dull, but Dreamwalkers of the Minami branch use these for actual combat…. Is this only a training sword?'
Without futher ado, examiner Hope shouts:
"Alright applicants! The test is simple, cut the dummy clean through in one swing. No more than one!"
"The test starts now!"
Silence fills the room as the applicants process her words.
Murmurs can be heard among the crowd, some examining their artifact while others look at the dummies nervously.
They only have one chance after all.
"One swing? With this dull thing?"
"How am i suppose to do this? I can't even cut an apple with this sword…"
After some time, an applicant finally raises their sword and slashes at the dummy!
Clang!
The sword bounces of the wooden dummy, only leaving a scratch and sending the sword flying to the ground.
"This… this sword! It's too dull! I can't cut anything with the-"
Before he could utter another word, Hope screams at him.
"You failed! You may leave the exam site."
Seeing this scene, the room becomes silent once more. No one moves, too nervous to even try cutting the dummy.
One applicant, a girl with pink hair looks at her sword curiously before slashing at her own palm.
'How curious! This is my first time seeing a genuine artifact, but isn't this a bit too dull? How am i suppose to cut the dummy…?'
The young man from earlier thinks about this test thoroughly.
'How… is there some sort of hint? A secret technique?'
Suddenly remembering the question asked by the examiner from earlier, a weird thought pops up his mind.
'If it isn't strength… then it must be… belief?'
The girl with pink hair recalls the Somnambulism warnings from her memory.
'Always run in the opposite direction of the Anchor. Never listen to human mirages… oh and always believe that you will escape safely! Always have hope… what else is there? Believe… hm… belief…?'
Seconds pass in silence in the exam site, Yume tightens her grip on her sword as she looks intently at the wooden dummy.
'Can i… really cut this dummy? I might not be weak, but i know cutting wood isn't easy. Brother… what did you truly mean when you said belief in oneself is the most important thing a Dreamwalker can have?'
Yume has always thought that was only a cool line her brother said in the past, but with examiner Hope saying the same thing, her mind is filled with all sorts of questions.
But she doesn't have the time to ruminate on these thoughts as she quickly comes up to a solution to this test.
'My belief in myself may not be ironclad… but i will always believe in my brother, i know his strength, and i know it's true. I will never doubt his technique.'
Staring intently at the wooden dummy, Yumes' stance changes, putting her sword in a drawing position even though she doesn't have a scabbard. She closes her eyes, focusing on a sole thought.
'My brother could easily cut through this dummy. Then his technique will surely work aswell.'
The young man, and the girl with pink hair notice these movements along with other applicants who aren't too busy piercing their dummies with their stares.
The young man stops his thoughts on what he believes to be the solution to this test and looks at the peculiar girl with red eyes.
'That stance… i remember doing that too when i was young, is she gonna try cutting the dummy?'
Pouring her belief into this attack, Yume recalls her brothers strength and looks at the wooden dummy seriously.
'This technique will cut through this dummy, this blade will cleave. As my faith in my brother is absolute!'
Finally drawing her sword that was sheathed in the air, she slashes at the dummy. Perfectly reinacting her brothers sword drawing technique.
The blade of the sword collides with the wooden dummies surface, but instead of bouncing off, it cuts through it like butter.
The top of the dummy slides off elegantly as the applicants stare at this scene in amazement and with a silent question.
'How did she do it?'
Heaving a sigh of relief, Yume looks at the examiner for confirmation. Receiving a thumbs up from Hope, she racks her sword and leans against a wall, looking at the other applicants curiously.
Looking upon the scene that just happened, the young mans' thoughts whirl.
'She looks to be weaker than the first one who tried cutting the dummies. How did she do it? Was it her technique? That sword drawing style? But no… how could anyone pass if you specifically needed that technique? Then it must be…'
The girl with pink hair looks upon the girl with red eyes in amazement before looking at her own dummy.
'Alright, it's now or never! I can't get one upped that easily!'
Thinking deeply, the young man hears the sound of wood crashing onto the floor, looking at where he heard the sound, he sees a girl with pink hair looking at her slashed dummy.
That said girl jumps in excitement.
"Yes! I did it!"
The young man looks flabbergasted at this scene.
'Is it really belief? But… can i really put my faith in belief…? I'll fail if this doesn't work, but i won't pass if i never swing my sword.'
Looking upon his dummy, his grip tightened.
Only a few seconds passed by after the second dummy was chopped, when the sound of wood dropping could be heard once again.