Part 45 – The Grand Exam, Part 2
…From Tom's POV…
I kept pushing forward through the path.
I couldn't let them catch up to me, and I had to finish the first stage of the exam as fast as possible.
I felt awful—heavy, drained—and the sooner I finished, the more energy I'd have left.
The announcer was shouting excitedly about the other students, but none of it mattered to me.
I reached one of the mazes that contained the deadly zombie plant.
There were two ledges—one where I stood, and another across from me.
Below both ledges lay the zombie plant.
Why "zombie"?
Because it was intelligent—capable of fighting humans and devouring them.
It looked exactly like a giant carnivorous plant, only far, far bigger.
I had to move without making a sound.
Even the slightest noise would wake them.
And they were extremely sensitive to the flow of magic.
I moved quickly and slipped past—
Until a scream rang out.
I turned back and saw Hardy.
I was shocked. How had she reached my position?
"What are you doing here?"
Hardy: "I followed your magic flow and ended up here."
"Oh, great… wonderful."
Hardy stomped her foot and yelled,
"Don't you get it? You're supposed to help me cross!"
I laughed.
"And why exactly? What does any of this have to do with me?"
Hardy: "Whatever it is, you have to!"
"There's no 'have to.'"
Hardy summoned her flaming whip.
"You're threatening me, tomato girl?"
I summoned a whirlwind in response—
But then I remembered something.
This plant could wake up at any moment and trap us.
And fighting here would slow me down, letting Dan and Henry catch up.
So I let it go.
Just this once, I'd listen to her—for my own sake.
"Put the fire out. I'm coming."
Before she could react, I moved to her side.
"Excuse me."
I picked her up without listening to her complaints and carried her across—
But then…
The plant grabbed my leg.
We were almost across.
I shoved Hardy toward the other side.
Hardy immediately summoned fire.
"No—don't!"
The plant swung at me, and I blocked the strike.
Hardy: "Why?!"
"Don't you get it? Fire makes this plant stronger!"
Hardy: "Then what do I do?!"
"Just go! You being here is making things worse!"
Hardy: "But you—"
"I said GO!" I shouted.
Hardy scowled.
"Fine! I was trying to help, but you didn't want it!"
And I was left alone with the awakened plant—
Its countless branches ready to capture me.
Now I had to fight this damn thing.
…From the Narrator's POV…
The exam had reached its peak.
People didn't know whether to watch Dan and Henry's spectacular duel,
or Tom's fierce struggle against the zombie plant.
Both were breathtaking.
While most students were lost inside the maze,
only four were ahead of everyone else:
Hardy Melodia
Henry Flor
Dan Hyper
and Tom Breach.
Two supported by the Church,
and two supported by the Court.
Even here, the Church and the Court were competing,
trying to show their power.
Hardy, who had crossed thanks to Tom, was now stuck.
Dan and Henry were advancing quickly.
And Tom was fighting the zombie plant.
Who would win?
Tom? Henry? Dan Hyper?
King Harold was enjoying the exam.
Tom, who had been ahead of everyone, was now stuck—
Exactly what the king wanted.
He wanted Henry to finish first
and Dan to lose.
Then would the High Priest still speak with such pride?
He glanced at Bard, who was watching his daughter with intense focus and worry.
He looked at Adrien, who watched the exam with a frown and frustration—
Her eyes fixed on Tom, battling the zombie plant.
He had never understood Adrien.
Not when they fought side by side in the army,
and not when she served as his advisor—
An advisor who constantly weakened the Court
by opposing Tom's execution from the very beginning.
And now Tom had reached this point.
Who could kill him now?
In the audience, two women with veiled faces watched anxiously:
Ann Melodia, Hardy's mother,
and Adia Flor, Adriana's mother—
the most beautiful women in the empire.
Adia Flor with her cold, proud, icy face.
Ann Melodia with beauty like a goddess.
They had come secretly, against their husbands' wishes,
to watch the exam of their loved ones:
Adriana
Henry
Hardy
and Tom.
Their eyes followed their children with motherly worry—
And most of all… Tom.
Why was Tom so important to these two women?