He reached the dungeon management office. He had kept Skarn in the motel where they were staying and had enchanted that room to keep Skarn safe.
As he entered, he saw a few people who came to give the exam. There were six men including him and two women. Apart from Eamon, everyone was talking to each other, discussing the tests and their dream guilds.
The room buzzed with excitement. Someone mentioned the Crimson Fang Guild. Another spoke of the Storm Heralds. Eamon stayed silent. He stood near the wall and observed.
Just as the reception manager was about to speak, one more person entered through the door.
A heavy thud followed as the man walked in. His name was Roneth Sylvaran. He was a bulky young man with two long katanas on his back. His hair was tied back tightly and he wore a plain, sleeveless tunic. He looked confident. Not loud. Just focused.
He came forward and stood in front of the manager.
The manager gave a slight nod and then turned to the rest.
"Good. So the last person is also here. Welcome to the adventurer trial exams. Being an adventurer is a job of respect but it also comes with its own risks. I hope you are ready for the exams."
Everyone nodded. A few exchanged nervous glances. A girl standing near the corner whispered something to the boy beside her. They both chuckled nervously.
The manager continued. "The pattern of these exams changes every time. It's never the same. Today's exam will be a survival test. Each of you will be sent into our testing chambers. You will be given thirteen minutes to survive an enemy. That's it. Whoever survives till the end, passes."
A guy wearing a red scarf raised his hand. "Who do we have to fight against? And how do we fight? With magic or weapons?"
The manager replied, "You can fight any way you want. Use both weapons and magic if you wish. And as for your opponent, it will be Thandor Krellvaris, a Rank One adventurer from the Golden Griffon guild. That guild is one of the strongest in Aldoria and also in the entire Light Realm."
The room fell silent.
Another candidate gasped. "A Rank One adventurer? How are we supposed to survive that? That's impossible. They're almost as powerful as the Royal Knights."
The manager remained calm. "That is for you to figure out. This will be your test for today. All the best. The trials will begin after one hour."
With that, the manager walked away, leaving behind a room full of wide-eyed candidates.
Eamon stayed quiet. His only goal was to get the adventurer license. It would give him a free pass to enter cities without suspicion. That was it. But still, the idea of facing a Rank One adventurer did make him nervous.
Roneth sat down in a corner. He didn't speak. He closed his eyes and began to meditate.
The others, however, couldn't stay calm. One of the girls whispered, "Are they serious? They really expect us to fight a Rank One adventurer?"
A boy in a brown coat replied, "Yes. I have heard they're extremely strong. Almost unstoppable."
Another one said, "Among adventurers, the ranks go from Rank Five to Rank One. Rank One is very rare. Few in history have reached that level. Guilds aren't even allowed to have more than four Rank Ones. It can pose a threat to the army."
Someone else added, "Let's see how it goes. I think he won't use his full power. Because then nobody will pass."
The room filled with nervous talk. The air was heavy. Eamon leaned against a wooden pillar and stared at the floor.
Time passed slowly. The clock ticked louder than usual.
After about thirty minutes, a tall man left the room. He couldn't take the pressure. Then another one left. Soon, two more followed. Their courage had crumbled under the weight of fear.
Now only five remained. Eamon, Roneth, the girl in the corner, the boy in the brown coat, and a tall lean man who had not spoken a word.
Exactly after an hour, the manager returned. She was holding a scroll.
"Congratulations. You all pass the first part of the test."
Everyone looked confused. They stared at her, trying to understand.
The boy in the brown coat stepped forward. "Wait, what? What do you mean? We didn't even fight yet."
Just then, a tall figure entered from behind the manager. His footsteps were heavy. His presence alone was enough to silence everyone.
Thandor Krellvaris stood before them. He was wearing a strong, polished armor. A huge sword hung by his side. His eyes were sharp. Calm but firm.
He looked at the group and spoke.
"Today's test was a test of your courage. In the dungeons, we never know what we will face. There is always a chance we might not come back alive. But we still risk our lives. We still enter those wicked places. "
Everyone listened without a word.
Thandor continued. "I have faced countless near-death experiences in those dungeons. I have seen friends vanish right in front of me. I have faced monsters with such powers that one would call unnatural. But what matters is courage. Are you willing to enter a dungeon even when you know you might not come back?"
No one moved. The weight of his words filled the room.
He took a step forward. "Today you were told to fight me. A Rank One adventurer. Of course, I am stronger than you. But does that mean you should not even try? Determination is one of the biggest skills required to be an adventurer. If facing a powerful enemy makes you give up on your goal, then you are not really meant to be one."
He looked at each of them one by one.
"The candidates who ran away might or might not have been stronger than you. But they lacked courage. You, on the other hand, chose to stay. That makes you stronger in ways that matter. Remember, an adventurer is not someone who seeks glory."
The room was still. Even the air felt different now. More focused. Less afraid.
Thandor took a final look at them. "So now, with the remaining five of you, the actual test will begin. Each one of you will have to fight against me. And, survive until the deadline of thirteen minutes."
Though Eamon was doing this just for a cover which would help him in his actual mission to lift his curse, he was still fascinated by Thandor's words.