Chapter 15: The Test of Worth
The shield felt heavier than it had the night before, its worn leather straps digging into Lev's forearm as he stepped into the testing chamber. He glanced down at the battered surface, remembering Caleb's words when he'd handed it over.
"No one uses it anymore," Caleb had said, pulling the shield from a chest in his family's storage room. "Better give it to you to make good use out of it."
The gesture had been generous, but it left Lev confused. Caleb had been so clear about their philosophical differences, so certain that Lev's path was wrong for the community. Yet here he was, giving Lev his father's shield, spending hours training him, helping him prepare for a test that would only further Lev's integration into the very systems Caleb claimed to reject.
Why? Lev wondered, adjusting the shield's position on his arm. Why help me if you think I'm making a mistake?
The question had been gnawing at him all morning, but there was no time to dwell on it now. He was already in the testing chamber, facing the branch headmaster who stood waiting in the center of the circular room.
Zelem materialized beside him, the skeleton's azure flames burning bright with anticipation. The shieldâCaleb's father's shieldâfelt like both a gift and a burden, a symbol of support that came with unspoken expectations.
The testing chamber was larger than Lev had expected, a circular room with high stone walls and a sand-covered floor. The branch headmaster stood in the center, a massive war hammer materializing in his hands as Lev entered. The weapon was enormousâtwo-handed, with a head that looked like it could crush stone. One of the headmaster's cards, Lev realized, summoned into physical form. But what struck Lev most was how casually the man held it, as if the massive weapon weighed nothing at all.
"Good that you already summoned your companion," the headmaster said, his voice rough and direct. "Would be impossible to summon once the fight starts. You wouldn't believe the number of morons who come without doing that."
Lev nodded, adjusting his grip on the shield. "Thank you, sir."
"Don't thank me yet," the headmaster replied, settling into a ready stance. "This is a combat test. I'm going to attack you with intent to kill. If you can't handle that, grab that sign over there." He gestured to a wooden sign hanging on the wall. "Counts as giving up, but it's better than getting hurt."
A healer stood in the corner of the room, her hands already glowing with healing magic. The sight should have been reassuring, but it only emphasized the danger of what Lev was about to face.
"Ready?" the headmaster asked.
Lev raised his shield, feeling the weight of Caleb's father's equipment on his arm. "Ready."
The headmaster moved.
The war hammer came down in a controlled arc, and Lev barely managed to get his shield in the way. The impact sent a jolt through his entire body, the force driving him back several steps. His arms ached from the blow, but the shield held.
Zelem was already moving, the skeleton darting forward with its sword drawn. The headmaster pivoted, bringing the hammer around in a sweeping motion that forced Zelem to leap back. But the skeleton was fast, using its Shadow Step ability to disappear and reappear behind the headmaster's back.
The fight was unlike anything Lev had experienced. The headmaster was a professional, his movements precise and economical, his attacks calculated to test Lev's limits without causing permanent damage. But the intent was realâthis was combat, not practice.
Lev's job was to survive while Zelem attacked. He raised his shield again and again, deflecting blows that would have shattered his bones. The impacts sent pain shooting through his arms, but he gritted his teeth and held on. This was what the shield was forâkeeping him alive long enough for his summon to do the real work.
Zelem fought with the skeleton's usual grace and intelligence, using Shadow Step to create openings and Death Cut to deliver powerful strikes. But the headmaster was experienced, his war hammer moving with the fluid precision of someone who had spent decades in combat. He anticipated Zelem's attacks, countered the skeleton's movements, and always seemed to know where the next strike would come from.
The fight went on for what felt like hours, though it was probably only minutes. Lev's arms were numb from the repeated impacts, his legs trembling with exhaustion. Zelem was showing signs of strain too, the skeleton's movements becoming less fluid, its azure flames flickering with the effort of maintaining its abilities.
The headmaster increased the intensity gradually, testing their limits. A particularly powerful blow sent Lev sprawling, his shield arm going completely numb. Zelem rushed to his defense, but the headmaster was already moving, his war hammer coming down toward Lev's exposed side.
In that moment, Lev understood what the headmaster was really testing. Not just their combat ability, but their judgment. Their ability to recognize when they were beaten.
He rolled to his feet, his shield arm still useless, and made for the surrender sign. Zelem understood immediately, the skeleton using Shadow Step to appear beside him, helping him reach the sign safely.
Lev grabbed the wooden board, holding it up with his good arm. "I surrender," he gasped, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.
The headmaster stopped immediately, the war hammer disappearing from his hands. "Good," he said, his voice carrying a note of approval. "You pass."
Lev stared at him, confused. "But I surrendered."
"Exactly," the headmaster said, moving toward the healer. "You fought well, you used your summon effectively, and you knew when to quit. That's what I was looking for."
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The healer approached, her hands glowing with healing magic. The warmth spread through Lev's body, mending bruises and restoring feeling to his arm. Zelem stood beside him, the skeleton's azure flames burning with quiet satisfaction.
"We don't want to see you increase our death adventurer stats," the headmaster continued, watching as the healer worked. "Fighting power is important, but knowing when to retreat is what keeps you alive in dangerous situations. You showed both."
Lev felt a surge of pride and relief. He had passed. Not through overwhelming strength or perfect technique, but through smart fighting and good judgment. Through knowing his limits and working within them.
"Your summon fought well too," the headmaster added, nodding toward Zelem. "Good coordination, smart use of abilities. You two work well together."
The skeleton's azure flames seemed to brighten with the praise, and Lev felt a warm connection to his companion. They had faced the test together, and they had succeeded together.
The healer finished her work, and Lev felt the last of his injuries fade away. His arms no longer ached, his legs felt steady, and the exhaustion that had weighed him down was gone.
"Come with me," the headmaster said, leading them back to the main hall. "Let's get you registered."
The receptionist looked up as they approached, her expression professional but not unfriendly. "How did it go?" she asked.
"He passed," the headmaster said simply. "Get his paperwork ready."
The receptionist quickly filled out the final forms and handed Lev a small metal badge with the guild's emblem. "Here you are," she said. "Your adventurer license. Congratulations."
Lev took the badge, feeling the weight of official recognition in his hands. He was an adventurer now. Officially recognized, legally authorized to take on dangerous missions and earn rewards. It was a small step, but it was real progress.
"Now what?" he asked, looking from the receptionist to the headmaster.
"Now you're an adventurer with copper rank," the receptionist explained. "There are also bronze, silver, gold, and diamond ranks. Don't hope too much to get diamondâwe can count them on two hands. With your rank, you can only take copper missions. They're posted on the wall over there." She gestured to a large board covered with notices. "When you're done, give me the paper. You can do it solo, but I'd advise joining a team."
"Also," she continued, "once you've done enough missions, you'll have the opportunity to be evaluated for bronze rank. Most teams are formed right here in the adventurer guildâpeople meet, discuss their abilities, and form partnerships. You'll want to find people whose skills complement yours."
Lev felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. He had passed the test, earned his license, but now he faced a new challengeâfinding people willing to work with him. People who would accept a Sapphire summoner with an undead companion.
"Thank you," he said, tucking the badge into his pocket. "For everything."
As Lev left the guild hall, he felt the weight of Caleb's father's shield on his arm, the warmth of his new adventurer badge in his pocket, and the presence of Zelem at his side. He had taken another step forward, but the path ahead was still uncertain.
The question of Caleb's motivations remained unanswered, but for now, Lev was content to focus on what he had achieved. He was an adventurer now, officially recognized and ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cobblestone streets as he made his way back toward the Gate, his mismatched armor feeling more comfortable with each step, his shield a reassuring weight on his arm. The mission board had been covered with noticesâmonster hunts, escort jobs, dungeon explorations. Each one represented a chance to prove himself, to earn the respect he craved, to show that Sapphire people could excel in this world.
But first, he needed a team. And that meant finding people who would look past his blue eyes and see the potential within.
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The training ground was quiet when Lev arrived, the heat of the day still radiating from the sand and making the air shimmer above the practice area. Caleb and the Thorne brothers were already there, going through their usual training routine despite the oppressive warmth. Jorik was working with a heavy practice sword, his movements powerful but controlled, sweat glistening on his brow, while Kael practiced with a spear, his lean form moving with fluid precision despite the heat. Caleb stood to the side, watching them with the same intense focus Lev had come to expect, his dark hair damp with perspiration.
"Look, I passed!" Lev called out as he approached, unable to keep the excitement from his voice. He held up his adventurer badge, the metal catching the sunlight.
Caleb turned, and for a moment, Lev thought he saw a genuine smile flicker across the older boy's face. But it was quickly replaced by his usual sardonic expression.
"Hopefully you passed with how much time I spent training you," Caleb said, his voice carrying its usual edge of sarcasm. "Still tired from barely sleeping... but you did good."
The words were dismissive, but Lev could hear the underlying approval. Caleb wouldn't have said "you did good" if he didn't mean it.
"Thank you so much," Lev said, his voice earnest. "It couldn't have been possible without you. Now I just need a team." He paused, letting the implication hang in the air between them.
Caleb's expression hardened immediately. "I'll stop you right there," he said, his voice sharp and final. "I helped you when I could, but we won't be able to do this. It would slow us down." He gestured toward Jorik and Kael, who had paused in their training to listen. "We're more advanced than you, and we can't babysit you forever."
The words hit Lev like a physical blow. He had known this was a possibility, had even expected it, but hearing it spoken so directly still stung. The shield on his arm suddenly felt heavier, a reminder of the help that had been given and now seemed to be withdrawn.
"Oh," Lev said, his voice smaller than he intended. "Okay. Should I give back the shield?"
Caleb's expression softened slightly, just for a moment. "No, keep it," he said. "It will protect you."
The words were simple, but they carried weight. Caleb wasn't rejecting him entirelyâhe was just setting boundaries. The shield was a gift, not a loan. The training had been real, not just a temporary favor.
"Thank you," Lev said again, though the words felt inadequate.
Caleb nodded, then turned back to his training. The conversation was over.
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As Lev walked away, Kael moved closer to Caleb, his voice low but carrying across the training ground.
"You were a bit harsh with the new one," he said, his tone light but with an underlying note of concern. "You could have cut him some slack."
Caleb didn't look up from adjusting his practice sword. "He needs to figure stuff out himself," he said. "And you know he would have slowed us down."
"True, true," Kael conceded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "But you can be glacial sometimes."
Caleb finally looked up, his dark eyes meeting Kael's with a mixture of annoyance and something that might have been amusement. "Keep your wordplays to yourself," he said, his voice carrying the same cool edge as the ice sword that materialized in his hand, its crystalline blade catching the light with an otherworldly gleam.
"I'm not worried for him," he added after a moment, his gaze returning to his sword. "He will manage."
The words were spoken with a certainty that surprised even Caleb himself. Lev had shown determination, adaptability, and the kind of stubborn persistence that marked someone who would find a way to succeed. He might not be ready for the kind of missions Caleb and the brothers were planning, but he would find his own path.
Kael nodded, understanding the unspoken message. Caleb had helped Lev as much as he could, given him the tools he needed to succeed. Now it was up to Lev to use them.
The training resumed, the sound of wooden weapons clashing echoing across the practice ground. But the conversation lingered in the air, a reminder that even the harshest lessons could be given with the best of intentions.