???: "They're good, I'd even say he's his ideal partner. He's talented. He only has 4 hours left, will he be ready?"

"I'm going for it."

Hiruko, for the first time, focused fully on the circulation. He inhaled for 10 seconds, then exhaled, focusing on his ANIMA. After contracting his abdominal muscles, he released the magic. The arcane accepted him, and he managed to circulate his magic throughout his body and master the ANIMA.

"Very good! Now, try to maintain that form for a whole minute," Raum encouraged him.

"He's skilled," commented the girl.

"I'll try, but I feel my body going numb. It's as if the ANIMA is pumping a huge amount of energy from me."

"Maybe you want to eat?" she suggested.

"You weren't called upon," Raum retorted.

???: "And that's how you thank me, HUMM!"

"So, try to activate the second stone while maintaining this connection with your ANIMA," Raum continued.

"Alright. I must start by reaching my hand towards the stone."

"For the remote stone, try to connect to it with your brain."

When he tried to connect to the stone, he felt his brain hit by a shock, like a concussion, which put him on the ground.

"Hey, buddy, are you okay? What happened?" worried Raum.

"I don't know... It's like someone punched me, and directly, I almost lost consciousness. I have to get back to it as soon as possible!"

"Take a little rest, my friend!"

3 HOURS LATER, HIRUKO woke up after having lost consciousness and resumed his intensive training.

At the preselection site

"Hello, please identify yourself," asked the guard.

"Uh, I am Sir Kleon's assistant. Here, here is my assistant badge," presented Kertis.

"So, that means... No, but that kid is going to pay for this," grumbled the guard.

"I don't understand you, sir."

"No, please enter, Sir Kleon is waiting for you inside. There was just a forger from the university who pretended to be you."

"Really? If he's from the university, it must be one of the students. They're all hyped up about the event."

"As soon as I catch him, him and his friend, I'll take care of them!"

And at 5 PM, having just left the library

"Ahah, I think I've never been as tired as I am today. And to think that this ANIMA still resists me," said Hiruko, out of breath.

"Stop, let's just say you have trouble understanding simple things. I pity your teacher, my dear friend," Raum teased.

"Can we go now? I snacked too much, my jaws hurt," the girl complained.

"Hey, miss, you know, I just realized you haven't told us your name yet?"

"Oh, that's true. My name is GABI."

"Thank you for your stones, you can take them back. We are heading to the test site," announced Raum.

"Alright, but I would also like to accompany you. I want to see how far this story goes and also if Sir Kleon will agree to let him retake the test."

"Stop being pessimistic here and let's go!" Hiruko encouraged her.

At 5:30 PM in front of the door where the preselection was taking place

"Hey, you there! You're coming late, the test is almost over," a guardian intercepted them.

"You said 'almost'? We still have 30 minutes before the end, sir," Hiruko argued.

"Hmm... And wait a minute, you there, the student forger! I recognize you well. And you have the audacity to come back here? You take me for an idiot, is that it?" growled the guardian.

"Whoa, of course not, comrade! Please accept my apologies," Raum hurried to say.

"You made fun of a CENTURION GUARD, and just for that, I should sanction you for insubordination!"

"My apologies, I just wanted to see the preselection up close. I didn't mean to disrespect you like that, sir."

"Disappear, all of you! I don't want to see any of you here, otherwise it will be your immediate arrest."

"Please, sir, can I pass?" asked Gabi.

"A young lady? Are you deaf or what? Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"I don't like to be repeated to when I ask for a service, CENTURION," Gabi told him after presenting a special badge.

"But this is? You are...?"

"Shhut! I wouldn't like to be late and miss everything."

"Sorry, I wasn't informed of your presence. Not even Sir Kleon had announced it to me."

"It's nothing. And I wanted to add that these two young men will enter with me. Hiruko has a test to finish."

"No problem."

"Thank you. How did you manage to convince him?" Hiruko wondered.

"Let's not linger, this isn't the time for explanations," Gabi cut short.

Arriving at the examination room

"I hope we are done with all the registered candidates. Latecomers, go have a coffee, because the next appointment is in 5 years," announced the second examiner.

"Sir Kleon!!! Sir Kleon!!!" called Raum.

"RAUM? You're back again? And the guard let you in again?" Sir Kleon wondered.

"Sir Kleon, what does your apprentice want in this place again? This is the second time he's interrupted us," the second examiner said, annoyed.

"Please, master, please re-examine this man," Raum implored, prostrating himself.

"No, who do you think you are? Have you gone mad? I'll have you detained!" threatened the second examiner.

"Master, please, trust me," begged Raum.

"Impossible, the trials are already over, and I've gauged his abilities. He will need a lot of time before," Sir Kleon refused.

"If he disappoints you, I'll stake my apprentice title," offered Raum.

"But no, RAUM! You're not going to go that far, you're going too far!" Hiruko worried.

"And you, Hiruko, what are you willing to bet?" Sir Kleon challenged him.

"Me? But why?"

"For me, I don't see the use of giving you an opportunity in your life if you aren't capable of taking risks to achieve your goals."

"Alright, I see. If I fail your test, I will leave the army."

"But what about your dream, Hiruko?"

"Don't worry."

"Hehehe... They don't know who they're dealing with. Sir Kleon is renowned as the most sadistic mage in this kingdom, and has been since I've known him, when we were 16. I like this situation," the second examiner snickered.

"I don't feel him winning. Something tells me Hiruko isn't ready," murmured Gabi.

Sir Kleon took an arcane stone in his hand, let it fall to the ground, and invoked a GOLEM much more powerful than the previous one.

"Knock out this GOLEM, and I myself will add you to the list of those who passed the trials."

"Hiruko, please, it's not too late. Even in 5 years, you can still accomplish your dream," Raum tried to reason with him.

"You're bothering me, Raum."

"Go on, fight!" ordered the second examiner.

"You didn't understand, Raum. I often have the misfortune of spoiling the opportunities that come my way, and I often lose my bets by choosing my moment poorly, but..."

The golem began its charge towards Hiruko. Just as everyone expected a prolonged fight, Hiruko crouched, contracted his thigh muscles, and activated his ANIMA. This time, he directed his magic to his thighs and, in a flash, he leaped and pierced the GOLEM, destroying the arcane stone at its center.

"... when I stake my dream, there is no obstacle I cannot overcome, because for me, my dream is worth much more than my life..."

Hiruko had swept away Sir Kleon's powerful GOLEM in a flash, and the whole room shouted his name!!!

"Hmm... Congratulations for the next trials, HIRUKO KOSUGA!" announced Sir Kleon.

His new friends rushed to him to congratulate him.

"You did it!!! I'm so happy for you, buddy!" cried Raum.

"Hey, Raum, look! I beat it, that GOLEM, thanks to you! I'm happy for you, neither of us will be rejected!"

"Haha, you're right, our efforts paid off."

"Yay!! Don't forget me, I also participated in your success," Gabi reminded them.

"You? You are here?" Sir Kleon wondered.

"Hiruko, he's my friend. Besides, he's strong, right?" said Gabi.

"Kleon, I'm informed of the presence of the ROYAL GUARD here. What does that mean?" asked the second examiner.

"Her HIGHNESS was among us, it seems," noted Sir Kleon.

"Oops, I must leave you. See you at the next test. I will continue to follow your progress, Hiruko," announced Gabi.

"Huh? So Gabi was a princess?" Hiruko and Raum wondered.

"False!"

"What do you mean?"

"I see that our selection even interested our PRINCE," explained Sir Kleon.

"What? A PRINCE?" they exclaimed.

"Obviously, I am a man, and my name is GABRIEL."

"Lord!" Hiruko blurted out.

"I think I'm tired for today," Raum admitted.

"Alright, I'll leave you. My girlfriend must have been looking for me since this morning," declared Gabriel.

"Whaaat? We've seen it all now," concluded Hiruko and Raum, stunned.

"Anyway, I feel my muscles won't move anymore. I should go home. I have to write the letter to the colonel tomorrow morning," said Hiruko.

"You deserved it, and good luck for the rest."

"Thank you, friend."

6:30 PM

"It's not possible, this candidate isn't human," commented a spectator.

"He's a prodigy. We haven't had such a case since Dorothy," added the second examiner.

"He pulverized more than 12 golems," noted Sir Kleon.

"You are qualified for the next stage. May I have your name?"

"My name is Goki, Goki kosuga »