"Oh. That. Coincidentally, we're 1 mber short for the team we are fielding to the Triannual cha Tournant. I told them that we won't be participating unless we find a student with an RPL score of 95.
And because they have a lot of bonuses riding on the success of our academy in the Triannual cha Tournant, they have been frantically searching for soone like you for the past two years. That's probably why they are so ecstatic.
Of course, there are probably a few who were overjoyed sincerely for the country and for the academy because we've found yet another powerful Ace Pilot candidate, but for most of them… Ha! They're probably happy for their wallets." Bruce barked out a laugh.
"But I am already participating in the Triannual cha Tournant with the Whitefrost Clan. And I won't abandon them for the academy." I said resolutely.
"I expected as much." Bruce nodded unworriedly. "That's alright. There are many competitions in the tournant, and I am only concerned about the Inter-School Tournant. You can represent the Whitefrost Clan in all the other tournants, and represent our academy in the Inter-School Tournant.
Truthfully, even without you, I have the utmost confidence that our academy will still get first. Leaving that final spot open for a 95-RPL student was only my strategy to get all the staff mbers to give their best in their search. Afterall, the Ancestor will not accept anyone below 95 RPL, and it is ridiculously difficult to find soone with such a high RPL. And even if we find such a person, that person needed to pass the character test as well. It really was a tall order."
"Character test?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "I don't rember taking any character tests."
"Character is not formally tested. But that's the first and most intensive test that every student went through today." Bruce looked at slyly and said. "You think your actions throughout the entire entrance exam went unnoticed? You probably did sothing good to catch the attention of the Elders. If not, little Shella wouldn't have brought you here."
"I see." I nodded in understanding.
"What did you do, though?" Bruce asked curiously.
"Well… I fought with the Longs and broke Victor Long's hands twice. I insulted the heck out of Elder Harris and made the entire Long Clan attack and then run away in fear. I'm not sure where in all that I passed your character test." I answered in an amused voice.
"Hahahaha! Fought with the Longs not once, but twice? You must be a great defender of the weak. AND if even Elder Harris that grumpy old coot got involved, you must have really dealt a lot of damage to Victor Long." Bruce chuckled as he imdiately read in between the lines and accurately deduced the real situation.
"But whatever the case was, you're here now, and if you're able to pass the Ancestor's tests, we'll finally be able to take another step towards reaching our full strength. Make sure to do your best in the test, and do not give up whatever the cost!" Bruce advised .
"What is the test like?" I couldn't help but ask.
"It's different for everyone. But it will find and reveal the deepest and darkest side of your soul." Bruce's eyes glazed very slightly for a quick mont as he shuddered in recollection of his own test. "It will be up to you to face it and deal with it."
I looked at him wordlessly and withheld my judgent.
I barely knew Bruce at that point, but from what I had gathered, he was a person of strong character. If even he still had scars after taking the test so many years ago, then the test must be quite sothing indeed.
I glanced at Jeanette Wen and saw her face turn grim as well at the ntion of the Ancestor's test.
"The test will be a real challenge ntally and emotionally. The risk of trauma is extrely high. In fact, it is almost certain that you will be scarred for life after the test. I am being extrely serious here. You will co out of this test with a trauma and an emotional scar of so sort.
I will only ask this once, think carefully before you answer. Do you want to take the test to join the Blood Moon?" Bruce Pang asked seriously.
I was ten years old, and full of confidence in myself.
Emotional scar? Trauma? Pffft. There is a price for power. And if emotional scars were the only thing I have to pay, I'll gladly pay it.
And so of course I said yes.
"Yes." I imdiately replied.
"Good." The Ancestor said softly. "The young should be bold, carefree and confident like that. You're a perfect candidate. Let us find out if you will be a perfect fit for the Blood Moon. Co here, young man."
I turned around and approached the Ancestor wordlessly.
A ditation mat had appeared next to him, and he beckoned to sit there.
I imdiately got into the lotus sitting position and waited for further instructions.
"Close your eyes and think about your life. Start from your earliest mory, and slowly think of everything that had happened in life. The good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the joy and the anger." The Ancestor commanded in a soft and hypnotic voice.
I did as he said and began to visualize my life.
A fragrant sll of herbs and flowers of so sort wafted by and imdiately, the images in my mind grew sharper by several factors. I could see everything I was rembering very vividly. In fact, I could even begin to hear the sounds and feel the wind on my skin.
I began to lose myself in my mories as countless images of things and people I had long forgotten appeared in great clarity. And then like a sledgehamr upon my soul, my mother and my father appeared.
"Hello, son." My father said with a familiar smile.
I could feel my heart almost bursting in happiness at that mont.
BA DUMP!
A sharp pain shot through my heart.
The mories in my mind lost a little bit of its clarity for a mont. But it soon stabilized once more.
"Justin. Mommy misses you so much." My mother said with a beautiful smile on her face.
BA DUMP!
BA DUMP!
Sweet, sweet bliss and joy intermingled with pain.
A more powerful surge of pain wracked my heart once more and I could feel the red energy in my body stirring and slowly multiplying!
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