Chapter 4 The Aptitude Test (I)

Early the next day, Silas roused the three of them from their sleep. He kept urging them to wash up quickly so they could leave.

"Silas, it's just an aptitude test. Why are you in such a rush?" Carl complained as he rubbed his bleary eyes unhappily.

Silas chuckled. Then he shook his head and kept pressing them to be quick.

"This aptitude test is a big annual event for people from all towns! Do you think that only young people will be going to the test spot?"

Carl pursed his lips but did not utter a word. He trailed behind Silas. Aside, Arthur and Sofia looked at the upset Carl and smiled.

The smell of alcohol still lingered in the morning air. Carl and the others, walking in the streets of Rum Town, discovered something different today.

"Sofia, usually, shops on this street should be open, right?" Arthur swept his eyes across the buildings on both sides and asked with some uncertainty.

Sofia nodded. In the past, when they came to Rum Town to exchange goods, at this time, the streets here would have been bustling with people. But today, along their way, all the doors were closed. It was a little abnormal today...

After walking through a few more streets, they heard sudden bursts of noises.

"Usually, the streets are filled with elderly men and women grabbing fresh vegetables on sale. Just now, I was wondering where they had gone. It turns out that they are here..." Carl had to raise his voice to be heard.

The square of Rum Town was filled with a sea of people!

Arthur and Sofia stood there dumbfounded. This aptitude test of the War Spirit warriors was undoubtedly a spectacular event! It seemed that nearly all Rum Town's people had turned up today to see the fun.

"Haha, let's go. If we don't get in line now, I'm afraid we'll probably be queuing till this evening!" Silas laughed loudly, then led them into the crowd.

"Hey, Silas?! What? So, will the children from your orphanage be taking the aptitude test as well?" A middle-aged woman shouted in surprise after recognizing Silas.

Hearing this, Silas nodded with a smile, but did not say anything more —he continued moving forward with Carl and the others.

However, the woman's shout had attracted the attention of the crowd. Before long, many people present heard the news that the children of Rum Town's orphanage were also going to take the aptitude test today.

"Boo, what's wrong with the world? How can those dirty guys in the orphanage take this test? They can never become War Spirit warriors!"

"Absolutely! How arrogant they are to take the test?! These orphans should become common soldiers and get killed on the battlefield!"

"Hahaha, don't worry. They will fail the test and go back to the orphanage in tears, carrying the letter of admission from the army!"

Such vicious gossip spread quickly. When he heard these comments, Silas just smiled slightly and kept moving forward. Unlike him, the other three children were very angry.

"Carl!" Sofia grabbed Carl by the corner of his clothes just in time. Carl, red in the face, was in a frenzy of rage.

Seeing this, Arthur also stepped forward from the side, placed his hand on Carl's shoulder and comforted him, "Don't listen to what they say. No one knows whether we're qualified to be War Spirit warriors. Perhaps, they will be the ones to cry instead!"

Carl exhaled heavily and was no longer furious. Arthur was right. No one could predict the outcome of the War Spirit warriors' aptitude test. In a sense, the aptitude test was a real test of fairness.

No one could manipulate the test, even those from noble or wealthy families!

Carl glanced around disdainfully, trying to maintain a lofty stance. Then he forged through the crowds after Silas and reached the registration desk.

"Rum Town Orphanage. Three people: Carl, Arthur, and Sofia. Have you confirmed it?" A man in a military uniform asked Silas.

Silas nodded, received three number plates and handed them over to Carl and the other two behind him.

"When you hear your number being called, go in with the others. Don't be too nervous. Just do your best!"

With a smile on his face, Silas comforted the three children.

Arthur and Sofia nodded earnestly and kept what Silas said firmly in mind. However, Carl's attention was on the man just now.

"Silas, why is there a shield-like mark on the sleeves of that man's military uniform? In Rum Town, I've seen some soldiers. None of them had a shield-like mark, though they were in the same uniform as him!"

The soldier heard his question. He looked back, smiled at Carl and said with pride, "Kid, the soldiers of the Empire-shield Army are utterly different from the soldiers of your town's garrison. If you happen to have the aptitude to be a War Spirit warrior, choose the Empire-shield Army!"

...

Listening to the soldier's half tempting and half threatening tone, Carl nodded noncommittally. Then he turned to Arthur and Sofia on the side and said, "Nonsense! He spoke in such a haughty tone. If I can be a War Spirit warrior, I'll never go to the damn Empire-shield Army."

...

Arthur and Sofia pursed their lips and smiled. They had grown up with Carl, so they knew his character—he was very stubborn!

If you asked nicely, Carl might consider helping you. However, he would rather die than obey your order, if it was given in an authoritative tone.

Just as they were standing there waiting for the call, there was a sudden disturbance nearby.

"What's going on over there?" Carl craned his neck and asked curiously.

"Humph, what else can it be? Someone failed the test and could not bear the blow. Don't worry. He'll be taken to sign the admission for the army soon."

That soldier from the Empire-shield Army answered with great disdain.

Sure enough, as he said, the man who failed the test was creating a little disturbance. In no time, two ordinary soldiers came over and escorted him to the registration desk for soldiers.

Carl and the other two watched him sign his name on the form with his trembling right hand. Then, he was pushed out of this place by the two soldiers...

Carl and the other two looked at each other and recalled what the dean had said last night, "According to the laws of the empire, anyone who refuses to perform the military service will be hunted down and killed by War Spirit warriors."

"So, no matter how much I hate to become a common soldier, I have no choice but to join the army if I fail..." Carl stared at the defeated man's back and thought to himself, clenching his fists for a long time.