"There are more of you than expected. 30% was an optimistic number, and yet here we are." She smiled, looking at the confused and tired faces.
"Today, I will give you three tests. I'm sure some of you have already experienced the first test. For those of you who were not affected in the slightest, congratulations on having good mental fortitude."
"The first test is a test of your mind. You hear all the doubts you have of yourself or that others have about you. For those who did not feel anything, it doesn't mean you are strong. Had I truly used my magic, many of your minds would have collapsed."
Leaving the podium, she stepped to the side door of the lecture room. She opened the door wide. From where they stood, the students were unable to see what was inside the door.
She motioned for them to step forward, "Everyone in a single file, step through the door to begin your second test."
The students who were able to break through the first test were hesitant to go through the door. The things they heard in the first test, although they were able to overcome them. It wasn't something they wanted to experience again.
Aurelia wasn't in a hurry to go through the door; however, when she noticed many people didn't move, she decided to give it a try. Based on what the teacher said, they endured some kind of mental torture.
If this were another mental problem, she should be able to overcome it.
Even if it wasn't, she would try her best to overcome whatever it was. She didn't come to this brand new world to become a coward. She did not allow herself to be overconfident, but knowing she wasn't E-rank like before, she was more than happy.
She stepped through the door. A few others had already gone in.
A blinding light flashed, making her close her eyes. When she finally opened it, she found herself on a platform. Surrounding the platform was a vast ocean.
Aurelia looked back to see the door of the classroom still open, with people filing onto the platform. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination. She noticed that each person who passed through would become transparent for a fraction of a second.
It was such a momentary thing that if you blinked, you would miss it or believe you imagined it. Because she wanted to catch that moment, Aurelia ended up in a staring match with a door.
In the end, she was able to confirm her thoughts.
This place is strange.
She looked out at the ocean, the way it ebbed. She couldn't understand what they would need to do here.
Is she going to throw us in the ocean and leave us to sink or swim? Endurance, Stamina, Flexibility. There are many things they can test with the ocean.
The last of the students filed in, with Ms. Crosgill trailing behind.
The door closed and disappeared as soon as she stepped in.
A nervous tension fell over everyone, seeing the door disappear. They didn't completely panic because the lecturer was there. If they were trapped, she would also be trapped.
It was the only thing that brought them peace of mind.
The lecturer walked in front of everyone. Turning to them, she said, "This is your second test." She pointed into the distance and continued, "There is an island 100 meters away. All you need to do is get to the island within the stipulated time. You have 30 minutes. Sounds easy, right?"
Looking in the direction she pointed, no one saw an island. All they saw was the ocean.
They then watched as the lecturer stepped off the platform and proceeded to walk on water as if she were walking on land. She waved slightly as she walked away.
Everyone stood there, mouths agape. Some people looked at the ocean, then back at the lecturer. Someone tested it by putting their hand in the water, and it went straight in.
"Look at you, idiots. Don't you remember where you are? This is Rhea Academy. It's literally a magic school. She's doing magic, you idiots."
The person who spoke up was none other than Seraphina.
"But we don't know magic yet. We haven't even started learning." Someone responded.
There were grumbles and murmurs.
"Just swim, it's an ocean. Look," Seraphina pointed, "the island she's talking about came up as soon as she stopped walking. It's not that hard to swim across."
One brave soul decided to jump in. Seeing the island materialize, some became confident. It wouldn't take much for them to swim to the island.
What happened next, however, was beyond their expectations. Rather than swimming across, the person began to drown. He frantically tried to move and swim back to the platform.
The person in question felt as though his body had been weighed down. No matter how much he tried to move, he could not get out of it.
With the help of his classmates, he was finally able to get back to the platform.
"What happened?" Someone asked.
"I don't know," said the person, panting, "As soon as I went it, it was like I was swimming with weights on. Everything felt heavy. I could barely move my hands. My body felt like it was sinking. My lungs were screaming."
They listened to his description, worried about whether or not they would be able to pass.
Immediately after the boy talked about his experience, a large timer appeared. The countdown for 30 minutes has officially begun.
Panic set in. Some were walking around in circles, trying to figure out what they needed to do to pass. Others tested the water again, just a limb at a time. It wasn't until they were submerged that they started feeling the weight.
They were directly beside the platform, so they grabbed it as soon as they felt the weight.
Aurelia stood there, watching it all. She didn't have a way to pass. She realized her thinking was limited. Besides swimming, the only other thing she thought of was to drown, but what would that prove? If she tried to float, would she still sink?
Aurelia looked around for something that could carry her, but there was nothing. Only the flat surface of the platform and the ebb and flow of the ocean.
"Not giving it a try?" A voice came from beside her, jolting Aurelia from her thoughts.
She smiled when she saw who it was.
"Try so I can drown?" she raised an eyebrow.
"I doubt that, you'll definitely make it through."
With that, Kaelen walked away, towards Aston. He said a few words before getting into the water.
The ease with which he moved through the water made Aurelia and everyone else dumbfounded. Aston followed soon after. While not as graceful, they didn't look like the others, who started to sink as soon as they entered the water.
You couldn't have given me the answer, you little shit?
Aurelia couldn't help complaining. He came to encourage her, then ran away. An amused scoff left her lips.
"What did he tell you just now?" Seraphina walked over to her, aggressive as always.
"What?" Aurelia asked, confused.
"He said something to you before he left. I saw it. What did he say?" She folded her arms, waiting for an answer.
"He didn't say anything about the test. He wished me luck."
"I don't believe you. He must have told you how to get across." She stepped closer to Aurelia, getting into her personal bubble.
"I've already said he didn't. If you don't believe it, that's your own business. Your breath stinks, step back."
Seraphina's face turned red. She wanted to fight. Her fists clenched at her side.
Aurelia looked out at the ocean. She walked closer, trying to get some kind of answer. She watched as it ebbed and flowed. The movements were threatening to hypnotize her.
She moved her body slightly, as if trying to get an idea of how to cross.
Then she felt a heavy hand on her back, pushing her.
Caught off guard, she fell into the water.
She didn't need to look back to know who it was.
In the water, her first instinct was to struggle. Try to get to a safe point.
She kicked her feet trying to move upwards. She felt as if she were wading in cement. Her movements slowed as it became harder and harder to move. She tried to surface. The little air in her lungs couldn't help.
She broke the surface once, taking a deep breath before plunging in.
She thought about how easy it looked for Aston and Kaelen. There must be a reason they were able to get through so easily.
On the platform, Seraphina's smile widened as she watched Aurelia drown. Her desperate paddling brought her joy.
Aurelia moved frantically, her lungs burned as she tried not to panic. She didn't know how long she was in the water. Her vision was tunneling, yet she kept fighting. She didn't want to drown.
She needed to float. She needed freedom from this tar-like water.
But no matter how much she struggled, she couldn't do anything about it.
Let go. A thought whispered in her mind. But she kept kicking. She could feel herself sinking, and she refused to let go.
Let go. The thought came again.
She decided to try. Instead of desperately trying to fight, she decided to let her body do what it needed to do. She decided to let go.
Everything in her conscious mind screamed at her not to do it. Yet, as soon as she let go, she felt it. A steady thumping.
The water around her didn't feel heavy as she stopped moving. Rather, it moved around her, as if becoming a cocoon. Wrapping her in that steady thump.
It caressed her body, and she moved with it.
She extended a hand, letting the flow catch it. She moved gracefully with the water. She didn't resist. She could feel the subtle energy flowing in her body.
As she moved with the ebb and flow of the ocean, she got closer to the island.
At some point, she realized she was feeling the energy in the ocean. It circulated throughout her body, helping her to move. Her body felt light, buoyant, and strong.
She reached the shore, pulling herself up.
She was aware of the fact that she didn't feel tired. She felt energized.
She saw Kaelen walking towards her.
"Told you, you could do it."
Aurelia scoffed, folded her arms, and said, "You could have given me a hint."
Kaelen shrugged, "Now, where's the fun in that?"
Aurelia tried her best not to punch.