Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

"Well, we all get banned, but there's still Tanya," Wrik said. "She could buy the things for us."

"No, she can't," Davin continued. "We can only spend the credits we earned from the mission board there, moreover one can't buy with someone else's credit."

"This is going to be a problem," Wrik said, knowing Tanya was among the ones who spent less of her time doing missions. As far as he knew, she would not even have 10000 credits from the mission board. "But don't worry about it, I'll think of something."

The others gazed at him, but Wrik did not say about what he do.

"Apart from that, I'm sure we will face much more problems than that in the test." He continued, "We should have a proper discussion before that."

Davin sighed. "You are probably right," he said.

"Do you have any idea what the test is about?"

"Nah. No one can answer that. Every test at the tower is top secret, it is not allowed to mention any details about it to the participants." Davin answered again.

"I know that," Wrik continued as he finished the meal. "But there should be some wind or rumours about it, no?"

Before any else could answer, Michelle opened her lips. "I heard the first floor will test our intelligence and decision-making ability with the adaptability in foreign space."

Wrik furrowed his brows. The trial they were in a couple of months ago, was all about adaptability. There were some challenges about strength as well, but that was limited like the ghoul in the underground dungeon. 'Sophia said, we'll be fine with our current capability if we stick together. Stick together? That means the test would be in groups or all together. What else she said. . .' Wrik thought inwardly. 'Advanced with caution and courage—that's the last advice she gave.'

"The details of the test would be announced just before the end of the trial," Michelle continued. "We just have to prepare for the worst."

"We will be fine, don't forget we just took down a group of a dozen with just us four," Anton said carefreely. "Moreover, we haven't even shown our true strength yet."

"You got a point there, though they did not use their full force as well," Michelle said. "Let's have a proper talk tomorrow with everyone else." 

"Yes, that would be great," Wrik said as he stood up, noticing everyone else also finished their plate. "We should rest for the next two days, it's good that we're banned from the mission board."

.. . 

"Aren't you being a little hard on those kids, Katz?" Sheala asked, eying the brown-skinned man across the chair. 

"You are always too kind, Sheala," Harakatz said, eyeing the fair lady. "Besides, a little hardship won't be bad for them. Let them suffer a bit on the test—it would only make them tougher."

"It's not a little suffering, you know that Katz," the fair lady sighed. "If their luck is any bad, they would be in terrible situations.

"Yet I can do nothing for them," Harakatz said. "I would've like to gesture at a few important stuff, but after seeing them making such a ruckus, I changed my mind."

"You're the one to talk. I remembered you make even more ruckus than any of them made today," Sheala continued. "You did not even stop after so many punishments." 

The broad-shouldered man could only laugh dryly. "I was ignorant back then, thought I could win anything with raw strength," he said. "Someone should have hit me hard that time."

"Boss, I think you still think with your muscles even now," the third man of the three said. He was quite handsome compared to Harakatz, with similar brown skin and copper hair, but he lacked the aura that Harakatz radiated whenever he was in control. The man said, sighing, "I still don't know why we can't mention any details to the participants, it's not like it would change anything with all the disadvantages they were in." 

"It's the order, Hurran," Harakatz muttered. "And we will follow it, no question asked."

The man—Hurran hesitated for a moment before asking again. "Is this the reason you are still delaying your promotion till now, boss?"

Sheala sighed hearing that out. It's almost two years since Harakatz had got the opportunity to be an Exquisitor, but he delayed every time he was asked to meet at the council, saying he was not ready. Sheala could understand why he was avoiding the promotion, but she did not know if it was a good choice or not.

"I'm still not ready yet, Hurran," Harakatz said. "It has been a pleasant break for me for a couple of months, and it will be over in three days." 

"Boss, how long are we going to delay the details of the test?" Hurran asked. "Those kids would go crazy if they know what they will be facing."

"We will tell them when we're ordered to, right before the test."

"I don't understand you, boss, or the hierarchy. Why do they play these games? Can't they be fair to everyone? Why do they want them to fail so much?"

"No, he did not want them to fail," Sheala answered for Harakatz. "He just can't do anything outside the orders, isn't that right, Katz?"

"You know me so well," Harakatz smiled at the healer. "Actually, I was planning to tell them tomorrow, but after I saw the conflict at the cafeteria, I changed my mind. It is probably for the best."

"Conflict is inevitable, Katz. Even if they did not fight today, they might get into a fight someday later. . . I just wish they don't start it in the test. Those kids have a good chance of getting decent scores if they work together. Sophia Syfinn from Knightshade personally trained them, and you know her reputations"

"Yes. That woman does no do stuff on a whim," Harakatz said. "Let them suffer, as we all did those years ago. They need to understand that only strength can not save you in the tower. Let's see if they can surprise the crowd or not."

_____________

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE OLD READERS:

I DID NOT DELETE ANY CHAPTERS, JUST MERGED THEM (ABOUT 20 OF THEM). 

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