Whenever the female Veilmaster fuses a candidate’s condensed shadow essence into the pure white crystal sphere, the shadow tries to ’corrupt’ the light in the crystal sphere or stain it like ink staining a white canvas.
However, because the quantity of shadow essence was not enough to fully ’corrupt’ the light, the light would eventually fight back and the shadow essence would recede.
Before the feamle Veilmaster pushes a condensed shadow essence into the crystal sphere, she waits a few seconds so that the shadow essence in it is completely destroyed by the light.
Jorra and Merath’s fused condensed shadow essence was the first to taint the entire crystal.
The pure white crystal emitted no light, and it was grey.
And while the female Veilmaster and the other candidates were stunned by the number of points the duo had gotten, the shadow essence receded as it was used up, thereby making the light to shine once again.
However, when it was Thorgan’s turn, what happened shocked the female Veilmaster and every other candidate.
The crystal sphere became completely dark, and a faint black mist was exuded from the sphere, showing just how much shadow essence Thorgan had.
Black chaos runes formed above the crystal ball, and everybody could see the number of points Thorgan had.
"One thousand, nine hundred and seventy seven points (1,977 points)." The female Veilmaster said with a stunned expression and a voice full of disbelief.
The other candidates gasped, and everybody stared at Thorgan with a multitude of emotions in their eyes.
’The trials change every year, but it’s not the first time we’re having such a trial in the history of the clan. But has anybody ever gotten such a high score in a similar trial?’
’This has to be one of the highest scores ever gotten in any second trial of the clan’s history.’
The female Veilmaster looked at Thorgan with a myriad of thoughts flowing through her mind.
’And that’s not even all. This kid... his shadow affinity must be extraordinarily high. I can’t explain it properly, but I can feel my shadow trembling slightly before him.’
’He’s a talent the clan must have. He’s perfect for us. I wonder what his bloodline is.’
Thorgan had a smug expression as he relished in the gazes of the female Veilmaster and the candidates.
He looked at Simon, and his smile became even more smug.
’See that, third brother. I am truly great and awesome.’
Simon saw Thorgan’s smug smile, and he could not help but shake his head.
Without even waiting for the female Veilmaster to speak, he walked to her right with his head raised high akin that of a peacock.
Everybody’s gaze lingered on him for a little bit longer, then the female Veilmaster shifted her gaze back to the remaining candidates who were still with their condensed shadow essence.
She flicked her right hand, and the next thing everybody heard was a yelp.
"Ow! What gives?!"
Thorgan glared at the female Veilmaster while rubbing his forehead.
"You walked when I had not given you permission to, and second, that’s your plaque with your points on it."
Thorgan shifted his gaze to the floating plaque in front of him, and he scowled while snatching it from the air.
’My aura.’
She continued calling out more candidates and their points.
"39. Left."
"121. Right."
"119. Left."
"66. Left."
"236. Right."
As the female Veilmaster called out the points of the candidates, there were some groups that had scores above two hundred (200) and a particular group of nobles had a score of three hundred and twenty five (325).
This was an extremely high score, but because of Thorgan, Merath, and Jorra, none of the candidates or even the female Veilmaster was shocked.
Though, the female Veilmaster took note of them because getting so many points even as a group was not easy in the slightest.
More and more candidates were called, and there was another uproar as a girl for a shocking number of points.
"No way. Nine hundred and ninety nine (999) points?"
One of the candidates could not help but exclaim before the female Veilmaster could even say out girl’s number of points.
Simon looked at the girl who got the second highest number of points, and he could not help but narrow his eyes.
Because she was not facing him, he couldn’t get a good look at her. However, he took note of her stature and her long black hair.
’She gives a feeling that’s similar to Thorgan. Does she control shadows too?’
As Simon had this thought, the female Veilmaster looked at him and pointed.
"You’re next."
Simon raised a brow, and he looked to his left and right to make sure that he was actually being called.
"Yes. You. You’re next. Come out with your group members."
The female Veilmaster called out again, and Simon looked at her with a slightly raised brow.
’There are other candidates in front of her, but she chose me? No matter.’
Simon nonchalantly shrugged, then he walked forward under the intense gaze of the female Veilmaster and Thorgan especially.
When he stood before the female Veilmaster, she looked at him with a frown, then she looked around.
"Where are your group members?" She asked, and Simon shook his head.
"I’m alone."
Her frown deepened, then she looked at him. "They died?"
Simon shook his head once again. "No. I was never in a group."
A few of the candidates let out gasps of surprise, disbelief, confusion, and suspicions because of his rank.
Although his rank had drastically increased from Minor to Superior, he was still a Lesser Demon.
And compared to nearly every other candidate who were Fiends, he was extremely weak.
Merath was a Prime Lesser Demon, but because she was teamed up with Jorra who was a Supreme Fiend, none thought too much about it and believed that Jorra was the one that carried the team.
Strange, but more believable in their minds.
However, Simon was claiming that he never had a team to begin with, and he survived the second trial which had a very high death count?
A trial where Fiends were killed like chickens?
’Maybe he hid and chose to fight Lesser Beasts instead of fighting more powerful beasts.’
The female Veilmaster was not the only person to have this thought. Others also had this thought.
"Your condensed shadow essence." The female Veilmaster requested, though she was not expecting much despite the questions and suspicions she had in her heart regarding Simon currently.
However, the moment Simon brought out his condensed shadow essence, her pupils constricted fiercely, and every other candidate exclaimed in disbelief.