Path of Ruin: The Dawn of a New Era

10. Via 1317 of the solar calendar, the capital of Rout Nitis-Rout-en

Sarah Pov

After I successfully passed my last exam I went to see Mia and the others. I'm glad we've all passed so far. Now all that's left is Ezra and Luke. I'm sure Ezra can do it, but I'm worried about Luke. When I learned that he was ill and didn't have much time left, it almost broke my heart.

I'm silently praying to god that Luke will be successful when Ezra's turn finally comes. It doesn't take long before he joins us. Mia congratulates him, Arthur pats him on the shoulder as Eon nods with a smile. I smile too, but soon turn my attention back to Luka. I'm sure he can handle it too, but I'm still very nervous and worried about him.

They finally call Luke. My nervousness reaches its peak. I watch as he drinks the potion and his body begins to shake in pain. My hands are clasped in front of me and I pray. I can see how he slowly starts to recover until he turns completely pale. I open my eyes. I can barely keep myself from lunging at him.

His body trembles even more than at the beginning. I'm afraid the worst that could happen has happened.

Fortunately, his condition slowly begins to improve again, or so I thought, before he pales even more, the crystal falls out of his hand, and he starts coughing up blood.

I can't take it anymore and I want to rush to him when Eon hugs me from behind and makes it impossible for me. I fight back, but I can't get away from him. Tears are falling. With a blurry eye, watch his body go limp. His eyes watch me and he reaches out his hand to me with the last of his strength. His head hits the stage and the life drains from his eyes.

Eon loosens his grip and I fall to my knees. As much as I don't want to admit it, Luke is dead. There is silence. Everyone is shocked. The nearest instructor rushes to his body. She checks his pulse before shaking her head.

Even those being tested with him shift their attention to him, but are soon yelled at by the instructor to continue the test.

I stop noticing what is happening around me. I can't even speak. I'm still trying to come to terms with his death. I feel empty. He was always there for me. I don't know what I'll do without him. Even though it was hard in the slums, he always helped me through it, but I couldn't save him when he needed me the most.

I subconsciously feel Mia hug me and sob loudly. I ignore the surrounding events and continue to drown in my feelings.

Why did he have to die? I can't understand it.

Why couldn't he be cured? There is a cure after all.

Why can the rich have what they want, but we have to risk our lives for it?

Why? Why? Why?!

What right do they have to do that? They are ordinary people too. Those who abound in great power and strength should use it for the benefit of all, not for the realization of their own selfish desires.

I shut myself off into my own inner world, still trying to come to terms with Luke's death. I marginally register how some instructor examines a dead body. They soon announce something to the others and have some servants carry his body away. A few minutes later, a new group is called and the rehearsal continues as if nothing had happened.

Unknowingly, an hour passes and the instructor announces the end of the entrance exams at the academy. Then they instruct us what will happen next.

Apparently 164 of us passed the exam, which is more than the academy can accept, so the academy will study our results and tomorrow there will be an official announcement of who will be accepted.

The instructors lead us back to the rooms where we have been staying for the past few days. Along the way, Mia and Artur say something to me, but I don't hear them. I just apathetically watch others. This time it's up to us where and with whom we sleep. I subconsciously follow the other friends and take the lounger next to them. They bring us dinner and I subconsciously eat it. After eating, I lie down and fall asleep almost immediately.

I wake up several times at night calling Luke's name. I wake up with the dawn. When I think they're dead, I can't control myself. I curl up in a ball and tears fall from my eyes. Why did you leave me Luke?

He brings breakfast. Eon comes to me and makes me stand up. I apathetically get up and go eat. In an hour, the instructor comes and leads us to the courtyard again.

After we all gather here, just like yesterday, the director will take the stage. His mere presence quiets everyone. Beside him stands an old man in white and gold robes. An awareness comes to me, I think I've seen him before.

The director praises us in a few sentences before handing over the floor to his assistant. He begins to call out the names of those who have been admitted to the academy. Following his instructions, the chosen move to the side where several instructors are already standing. A few dozen names are called before the first of us is finally called: "Eon Gracefall." Arthur and Ezra follow a few names after him.

The assistant continues calling out names and after several dozen more names they don't call me or Mia. I don't care if I get picked. It doesn't make sense without Luke anyway. I just hope Mia gets accepted, she deserves a better future.

The crowd in front of the stage quickly thins until there are only fifty of us left. Others call Mia. She smiles brightly, but it's only for a moment, then she turns sad. He looks at me nervously. I try to smile, but I can't. I haven't been able to feel any joy since his death. I can only create a kind of false imitation.

She understands what I'm trying to do. He hugs me and tells me not to lose hope, Luke would want me to be happy. I know Luke would want us to go, but without him I'm not sure I'll ever be able to.

Mia follows the others. Fourteen more names are soon called, but mine is not among them. I understand why they didn't pick me. What can a cripple achieve on the battlefield?

The assistant announces the end of the exams and gives the floor to the director. He first turns to those admitted, congratulates them and wishes them good luck in their studies. Only then will they turn to us, the unaccepted. He begins the introduction by introducing an old man in white and gold robes next to him as the bishop of the Church of Orthen.

Then I will realize why I am so aware. I have seen him in church several times. Once I even had the honor of exchanging a few words with him. He is a very respectable man.

According to the headmaster, the kingdom allowed him to choose from those of us who had successfully mastered mana but were not accepted into the academy to become members of the church.

He negotiates and leaves it to the bishops. He doesn't speak, but leaves the stage and walks towards us. Most of us who were not chosen come mostly from poor backgrounds and would hardly be part of the church. Apart from the nobility, the church acts as who can practice magic and only by mastering it can the poor like me be lifted up.

The bishop walks around us with slow steps and calmly observes. I can't figure out what's going on in his head, but I'm not trying to figure it out. I watch him apathetically and in just a moment I feel that our eyes have crossed.