Chapter eight -- Last Exam: Part 1

"Well, let's get to it!" Minirai said. Once again, they were all crowded in front of a stage. but the stage was bigger and round. "Good job all of you once again! I just can't believe how smart and agile everyone is!"

I held back a snicker.

"We are now at the last test! I'm sure everybody is tired, but I'm also sure you can hold out!" A few people rolled out carts just below the stage. The carts were covered in weapons, fighting materials, and one had an upturned hat on it. "For this last test, we'll randomly select two students." He plucked the hat off of the table and smiled again. "Those two students will fight until one gives up, passes out, or is knocked off of the stage. But, if someone dies, the other will be disqualified, and must come back next year." The atmosphere suddenly turned uncomfortable, but nobody said anything for the sake of their pride. I hoped that I didn't get sicked against anyone I knew well.

Minirai stuck his hand into the hat, dug around a bit, and then pulled out two slips of paper. He pushed his glasses up and read the two names aloud.

"Benjamin Bahnai and Nathaniel Salai. Please pick a weapon and come up here!" Two boys pushed their way to the front of the crowd. I recognized the boy with blue hair that was picking on Luce the day before. He examined the table and picked up an Eku -- a long weapon that looks like a boat oar, almost. It was taller than he was, but he held it confidently and walked onto the stage.

The other boy that walked to the table was tall and thin, but still muscular. His clothes were plain and dark, but still looked good on him. His hair was white, like mine, and puffed out just a bit. It looked pretty badass, I'll admit. His face was handsome and sharp and mature. He grabbed a long sword nonchalantly and continued up to the stage.

The two boys walked to stand on either side of Minirai and faced each other. The blue-haired boy -- Benjamin -- smirked arrogantly. Nathaniel's face stayed straight, his eyes burning into Benjamin's. Minirai raised his hand up.

"Ready, set," The boys crouched. "Go!" Minirai jumped backwards off of the stage at lightning speed. Right away, Benjamin swept at Nathaniel's feet. Nathaniel hopped up, avoiding tumbling to the ground. He landed and made a quick slash for Benjamin's stomach. Benjamin pulled back and avoided injury, but his blue T-shirt drooped, for it had been damaged. He drew back the Eku and lunged forward with it, but stopped as Nathaniel put his hand up in front of his mouth, palm facing the crowd and all fingers touching. He whispered something.

For a moment, I thought nothing had happened, but then I turned my attention back to Benjamin and he looked sick. He swooned and then fell straight forward, flat on his face. A few people walked out from behind the stage, two holding a stretcher, and the other one picking up the Eku, and laying it back on the table for somebody else to pick. I blinked. Was that a spell he used? I had never seen one used, before. It was kind of impressive, beating your enemy while hardly touching him. And the fight ended so quickly! Minirai patted Nathaniel on the back and handed him a belt with a sheath attached to it. Nathaniel put on the belt, still without emotion, and sheathed his sword. He walked back out and disappeared into the crowd again. I heard a couple girls squeal. "So cool!" I rolled my eyes.

Minirai clapped his hands approvingly and grabbed two more names out of the hat.

"Chayley Nin'e and Ennie Kale!" My stomach lurched. Chayley was at the top of my class, not to mention a total snot. She'd never been beaten once, and she's won anything and everything that was a challenge for everyone else. She was witty, too. It seemed like she was invincible. I felt bad for the poor sap who had to fight her.

I remembered trying to act nice and friendly when I was young in hopes of making friends. I lost it one day, though, because I hated being underestimated and Chayley was doing just that. Her arrogance caused me to yell at her, and it just so happened that everyone in the class followed her orders. People ignored me more than ever after that.

Chayley stopped in front of the table of weapons and tapped her smooth chin with a long, thin forefinger. She was beautiful, as well as skilled. Her hair was rich gold and it curled around her heart-shaped face perfectly. Her skin was smooth and had a nice complexion. Her body was well-built and she practically glided when she walked. The only unappealing thing about her is her personality.

She picked two metal fingernails and slipped them over her fingertips. Amazingly, they fit her slender fingers. The weapon was perfect for her petite, elegant façade. She strided up to the stage and another girl scampered up to the table. She was small and wiry and worried-looking. She ignored the table and walked straight up to the stage. Minirai put his hand up again and "ready, set, go!"ed them.

Chayley immediately lunged towards Ennie like an eagle. Ennie dodged, a surprised grimace on her face. She jumped to the edge of the stage and clapped her hands together in a praying postition. She muttered a few words and then flattened her hands by weaving her fingers together and pulling them by her elbows. She turned her palms toward Chayley and swung her arms outwards, letting her hands part. A great burst of wind blew from Ennie and knocked Chayley off of her feet. Chayley back-flipped and dug her metal fingernails into the stage floor, stopping herself before she flew right off of the stage. Ennie's face fell.

Chayley landed in a crouched position, like a cat. She lunged again, faster, this time. Ennie dodged, but a gash appeared on her arm. She held it and cast another spell. She muttered while doing the hand signs, this time. She let her left arm hang limp, blood dripping down it, while her right hand made a slitting move across her throat and then swooped back to point at Chayley. A point of yellow energy built at the tip of her middle finger and shot out at Chayley. She stepped to the side, easily avoiding the bolt, and stepped forward, close enough to touch Ennie. Ennie swung her hand to the side, as if trying to chop at Chayley's head. Chayley gracefully arched her whole body backwards, landed on her hands, and kicked Ennie's chin. Ennie flew high into the sky as the bolt of energy was cut off.

Chayley straightened herself up as Ennie hit the floor. She looked drained of energy. She was carried out on a stretcher. A large cheer went up for Chayley. Larger than my old class. She had obviously made friends yesterday, or maybe even before that. More fights went by. There were some that dragged on and some that hardly lasted two minutes. Some people passed out, some were knocked off of the stage, but nobody gave up willingly, and nobody died. The sun was quite low in the sky when they finally called someone I knew well.

"Cameron Nejra and Issac Tenshai."

"Yes! Finally!" Cammy hopped a bit on her toes. Then rushed forward before I could even wish her good luck. I watched her run up to the table, grabbed a dagger, and hurried up to the stage. Another boy with light blond hair walked up to the table. He looked normal enough. I'd seen many boys with his hairstyle and fashion. He was thin and at a normal height. He picked a Kwandao, a Chinese weapon that was basically a pole with a rounded blade at the end. Cammy and Issac faced each other.

"Go!"

Issac took the first shot. He swiped at her feet and she jumped. She spun herself around in the air and her foot shot out to kick his cheek. You could hear the fump! all the way where I was standing in the middle of the crowd. Issac flew to the side, but scrambled to his feet. Cammy ran at him and swiped at his stomach.Careful, Cammy. Don't kill him! I thought. Issac's shirt ripped, but he was uninjured. He stabbed at her stomach. She turned her body to the side and grabbed the pole, yanking it forward. Issac, surprised, flew forward as well. Cammy punched his stomach and he doubled over. She kneed him in the face and his head flew backwards. She took the final blow, spinning and kicking him in the stomach again. He shot backwards from the force and tumbled right off the stage.

Cammy punched the air energetically. She ran off the stage and pushed her way through the crowd. A few people patted her on the back and said, "Good job!" She arrived in front of Luce and me and I slapped high fives with her.

"Nicely done, Cammy!" I praised her. "You're a great fighter!" She grinned.

"Thanks! I can't wait to see you!" Luce coughed. Cammy sighed. "Or you, Luce." She patted him on the head and he swiped at her hand and pouted. They began to call the next names.

"Shui Huang and Lucy Theay!"