[In a normal sense, you didn’t follow the pattern that was to be used to pass the trial, but you have passed it in your own way.
Not only that, but your unique method has gained you a reward. You may ask me one question, but be careful what you ask, as I will answer exactly what you ask, nothing else.]
Riven listened to the Iron Maiden. He could ask one question?
’The normal question he would expect me to ask is, who are you? Or what are you? But I have a feeling that the responses that he will give will be changed somehow, and I’ll end up with nothing.
I have to think carefully about this, a question that gives me actually useful information. I only have one go at this.’ Riven stood there thinking, trying to think of the perfect question to ask.
Finally, he came to a conclusion on what to ask. He had decided that a question that required a yes or no answer was the safest way to go.
There was no way that the question would be twisted if he asked a yes or no.
"Was my coming to this world purely coincidental or not?" Riven asked. The Iron Maiden went silent for a while, and then responded.
"No, your coming here was not coincidental," he replied, and that was all.
"I see, so there was a purpose for me being dragged into this world, and it’s not simply because Frozen Fish wanted to spite me," Riven said out loud, airing his thoughts.
[Frozen Fish?] The Iron Maiden called the name in surprise, and immediately, it seemed to realize that it slipped up, and so it kept quiet, but Riven heard it.
"You know Frozen Fish? Do you?" he asked.
[Sorry, I have answered your question. I can’t give you more. Your trial has ended, you have to return.]
"No, please. How do you know Frozen Fish?" Riven asked, but everywhere went black. When he opened his eyes, he was on his bed, and the book was in front of him, open.
’Frozen Fish, that being knew about him. I’m sure of it. He seemed shocked to hear that name,’ Riven thought. He looked up at the ceiling, "Just who are you, Frozen?" he asked.
He decided to clear his mind from those thoughts for now. There was nothing thinking about it would do for him now.
He looked down at the book that was open, and to his surprise, there were two new skills in the book.
"Oh? I guess these are my rewards for finishing the trials," Riven said. The last time he had finished the trial, he got Flame Blast, still one of his best flame spells to date.
He eagerly looked through the book and read the description of the first skill.
Unleash a blazing field of fire that scorches everything within its radius. Enemies take continuous fire damage, healing is reduced, and the user’s fire abilities are greatly amplified. The ground ignites, the air burns, and escape becomes nearly impossible.]
Riven read the details and his eyes lit up. There was genuine shock in his eyes as he read the skill. There was one word for it, and that was simply overpowered.
"I guess the trial was worth it, if this is the kind of reward I get," he spoke with a smile. He moved on to the second skill to see what it was.
Absorb the blood of fallen or wounded enemies to rapidly heal your own wounds. The more blood spilled around you, the greater the regeneration. Can trigger automatically upon fatal damage, restoring a portion of health by draining nearby blood.]
"Huh? This skill... it looks like something a vampire would have. This is crazy," he said. He read the blood skill over and over again, and what he read kept amazing him each time.
He would be able to regenerate endlessly as long as there was blood around.
"I guess I just got stronger," Riven said. His smile refused to fade away. He rolled off his bed and stretched. Looking past the window, he could see the warm light of the sun slowly peeking over the horizon line. It would probably be day in just an hour or so.
"I stayed in the trial for quite a while." He walked away from the window and climbed the stairs that led to his library above. He turned on the lights.
The library above had a small balcony that allowed him to see the room below, so he stood there and pulled out the system screen to see how long he had till his next trial.
[Riven Von Grave – Status Screen]
[Title: Disciple of the Sword, The One Loved by Chaos]
[Affinities: Blood, Fire]
[Blood Manipulation – lv1]
[Fire Manipulation – lv1]
[Sword Mastery – lv2]
[Inferno Domain – lv1]
[Next Trial: 60 days]
"Sixty days? Did the time double? I guess I don’t have to worry about the trial for a while. I can focus on the academy."
That same early morning, Sally walked through the vast academy. She made it to the wall and scaled it with cat-like movements.
When she landed outside the walls, she walked into the forest. She seemed to know where she was headed to. She didn’t turn or look around—she kept walking until she came to a rock. It looked like every normal rock around.
She stood in front of the rock and pulled out a dagger. She cut her palm and allowed her blood to drip on the rock.
Red glowing patterns lit up all over the rock, and a magical circle formed at the center. She placed her still bleeding palm on the circle, and a few seconds later, above the rock, the hologram of a cloaked figure appeared.