Chapter 50 - Trial (Part 3)
<Great work on passing through this area. Part 2 shall begin shortly. Please rest and relax.>
"So I get a break in between each test then?" Yue asked hoping for a response.
<You get breaks as they are given, use your time wisely.>
---- Roughly 10 Minutes Later ----
<Your break is now over, please walk a few steps forward to begin the next part of your trial.>
Still aiming for the best score he can get, Yue continued onward. The next thing he saw was a green grassy field in every direction being extremely beautiful. However if there was one thing out of place, it would be the cauldron with a small wall beside it. Yue continued to walk towards it casually.
<Part 2 will begin momentarily. Please listen closely to the rules.>
{Rules for part two.
1. This test will consist of two parts. However, through both parts NO using outside help or items.
2. You may only use your memory and movement to complete this trial.
3. There will be no combat or injury here, thus relax and carefully complete this test as given.}
<For the first portion of part 2 of the trial, please proceed to the wall.>
Once Yue had finished reading the instructions, to the wall he went. It looked like white marble, however he could not really figure out what it was for thinking. 'Am I supposed to break it? Am I supposed to model it or something?' He wondered confusedly.
As if to answer his question the trial quickly continued.
<No destruction necessary. First you will have five seconds to remember everything. However there are 50 items you must know their exact location. Are you ready?>
'Well this is a surprise it is asking me, however I hope I can succeed at this.' He thought as he said. "Yes."
< Please watch the wall, part 2 begins in 4 seconds. >
<4>
<3>
<2>
<Begin>
The moment the word 'begin' appeared, the front of the wall started turning transparent as if there was class in front of little cubes, each filled with a different plant or substance for potion making. Yue went across each from top to bottom memorizing them and their location from top right corner to bottom left corner. This of course was pretty easy with his hyperthymesia memory, which is better than eidetic memory (photographic). The only problem Yue noticed was he did not know the names of some of these ingredients or their uses.
These five short seconds ended pretty fast, however fortunately he got it all down, as long as the next part did not require the names or uses. Although the moment the five seconds ended a black square that he could not see through appeared in front of each little square hole. Yue then thought? 'What? Well I guess, I understand why it was called a memory test now I think.'
<Now begins the second part of the test, you will take the ingredient from the slot it is in then place it into the cauldron as listed. You will be shown an image of what it looks like when it needs to be placed in. Do not worry about the ingredients, as you should have remembered each, they are already prepared, just add all that is in the hole. If you add in the wrong order or mess up some how, you will fail.>
"Strict test, at least I know where they are." Yue mumbled to himself almost incoherently.
<Take out powdered ginger root> (An image is shown as the notifications appear.)
Yue quickly rushed over to the wall reached through the black screen in front of the box on the third row up, fifth from the right, then brought it to the cauldron and began mixing it slowly to evenly mix and distribute the powder. Then shortly after.
< Take out sea holly powdered root >
< Take out henbane fruit extract >
< Take out mandrake root extract >
As Yue saw the ingredients and was adding them he wondered. "What kind of potion is this? I mean the ginger has many uses, the sea holly does as well but the root is for tissue regen, mandrake puts one to sleep as an anesthetic if used properly, and henbane for certain pain. So could this possibly be?'
< Take out .... >
< Take ... >
< .... >
< The final ingredient, powdered crystalized mana. >
Yue quickly reached in and brought it over, adding the last ingredient. He was happy to be finishing this task, as practicing such old potion making can be dangerous, especially if you inhale the fumes.
< Congratulations! You have now made the long lost 'Sleeping Healing Potion' >
"Really? What does it do specifically?"
< Yes, as a reward you may keep half which it 25 bottles. This potion is meant for those on their death bed, it puts them to sleep, relieving them of their pain, and last but not least, heals them to better than their peak performance before. >
'This is amazing, I have to take one of these later.' Yue thought to himself.
< Please do not waste this potion. Either way, you have passed part 2 of your trial, time for part 3. >
"May I ask how many parts there are to this?" Yue asked, hoping not too many unless there were more rewards than bring it on.
< That is need to know, and you do not need to know. Thus you shall find out once you finish if you succeed on everything that is. >
< Either way, Part 3 of your trial will begin shortly. No attacking or violence. A hint: Be Respectful. >
All of a sudden a sign started floating in midair pointing him to where he needed to go and Yue just walked towards the designated direction.
About a hundred meters later, Yue saw as the scenery changed again. This time he was walking into a dark dead cemetery from those pre hologram movies from long ago. Yue continued walking and then felt drawn to a certain grave. Following his instincts he followed his gut towards this one broken down old tombstone.
As Yue gets increasingly closer to the tombstone, and staying focused on it, a skeletal hand reaches out of the ground. Then another hand, still completely focused on where he was going, the skeleton began pushing itself out of the grave. However the more it did, mana started flowing towards it and forming organs, then muscles, then blood, then skin, and finally everything else as it finished climbing out of its grave.
Finally noticing the skeleton climbing out of its grave, Yue asked in surprise yet full of curiosity and without fear. "What is going on? Not only did that skeleton climb out of its grave, it regenerated everything."
The body that just climbed out then said. "He*cough, cough* Pardon me, Hello, who are you young man?" He asked while closely observing everything about the young man walking towards him.
Yue before speaking analyzed the man in front of him thinking. 'He looks really handsome, those mystical blue eyes, long black hair, thin yet toned and muscular, and very young, probably my age, yet says young man? Clearly Asian descent like me, however how did he get such blue eyes? Well not like I have room to speak with white hair and blue eyes.' Then Yue answered with a light bow and clasping his fist. "I am Yue, a pleasure to meet you sir...." Realizing he did not give his name Yue just kept quiet at the end.
The man realized that he did not give his name then gave a light bow, clasped his fist, and said. "Pardon me once more, my name is Daoshi. It is a pleasure to meet you as well. You have such good manners young one."
Yue then feeling the need to ask finally said. "Just curious, are you not the same age as me?"
Daoshi replied. "How kind of you, this is simply a way of preserving ones life after 'death'. Once you are better at magic, and what not, even strengthening your soul, you can use mana to rebuild your body. Even modifying it as you please if you like, of course, you can do it while alive as well if skilled enough that is." He said seemingly not able to stop talking now that he has spoken to someone after such a long time.
Continuing, Daoshi said. "As much fun as it would be to continue this idle chatter, you have come here for a trial, however you are the first to come to me. Which I must admit I find odd since I am the most skilled and strongest out of everyone here. Well, guess that says a lot about you. Shall we begin?"
Yue then asked. "What are we doing for this trial?"
"Well, while most of your trials test what you know, this tests your learning capabilities. There is much to learn, however I can only teach you a little unless..." Daoshi stopped himself as he started bringing up something not relevant right now.
"Unless what?" Yue asked catching the slip up, and very curious.