Temporal Pearls

Chapter 62: Examination

Too many things had happed ever since Seth was left behind in the Living Roots but most of it was just hardship, but something else was happing, something hidd, and only was feeling what was it and that was the gradual waning of his emotions.

However, despite the gloom of his feelings, he kept going, he believed that only if he finished the Quest would escape.

Few things cheered him and ignited his resolve. That was the notification of the Womb evolving. By now it had evolved two times already and it was not showing any sign of stopping.

Each evolution came with an Active Aspect but it was locked. After every Evolution, it wt through stages to 5 and th evolved again to nurture the single Active Aspect the Womb gained.

Seth stood there as he watched the log he had be filing for 3 days. And in these three days, he had be wondering how he could revive the damn village.

No great idea but only a simple one came and he was going to do it. It was By making foundations and specifying where the houses were and th making sculptures of villagers.

Thankfully, with his Scribe Talt he was able to remember all the villagers he met, some he had already sketched in a book to use as referce. Hopefully, that will be ough to revive the damn thing.

So he began the tedious work. After heavy lifting and dragging of things, he will rest. While resting and waiting for the Exertion Point to fill up, he practised Aura Sight and wt a recording the features of trees using scribe skills. So far he has acquired another Womb Alphabets.

Seth has appreciated the Exertion Trait. If his activity wasn't stamina consuming and he didn't consume all his exertion points, he can continue with normal activity for the whole day.

And so, if he did something heavy, the momt the points were full he could continue the work. Using that advantage, Seth was able to do more work than he normally can.

The next day, Seth began building a foundation and setting the logs, the woods he cut were extremely light which made his action easy and fast.

The more he worked and as days passed, his emotions were dulling out. And it th began to reflect on real life. Until he became someone devoid of joy or sadness. And the hollow inside him kept increasing and for an unknown reason, he wasn't vocal about it.

It was like a cue placed in him to be silt about it. At some point, it was like that illusion a gambler has that kept him playing in hope of gaining something until he lost everything.

Seth pushed forward fast to finish the damn village and villagers as fast as he could, knowing that he will get a Cloak that will allow him to leave the Forest

Ding!

[Quest Completion (50%)]

_____

Seth sighed and looked at the makeshift houses he built. And now remained the damn villagers.

Sarah feared that Lady Manuella wanted to get rid of Seth by the d of class.

Today, there will be an examination. Those that passed, will continue otherwise they will be expelled.

Wh Manuella came inside the classroom she stared at Seth and th called him to another room.

"Being Second will not make you eligible to continue to the next class. You do know why I rate you low, right?" She said sternly.

He was pretding to be elated with smiles but th that collapsed. He doesn't care, but reason and rationality say otherwise.

"Okay!" He said and he came back to his seat.

She stood before the nine studts, her presce pressing on everyone. "There will not be any fancy activities, just your usual illustration. Use a pcil and draw anything you can imagine!"

Everyone frowned. This is the worst exam they can think of. Everyone was a master of pcil drawing to the point that they can do it with their eyes closed or ev with their toes.

What did she want them to do? Creativity, they have done it. Originality, they have done it. Maybe something crazy, they have done it. Th what?

They were racking their brains wh they heard the scribbling of a pcil. They all turned and saw Seth drawing with a deadpan face. T minutes later, he finished and th walked to the couch and started to nap.

Sally that was close to him peek at it, expecting to see something good but mate with something below average. She sighed and began the exam.

An hour later, everyone wt a rating and reviewing each other's sketches. Including Seth and he gave his honest reviews.

After that, 9 professional artists came and reviewed the sketches. Three hours later.

Points were called, the best was Sally, Second Josiah... and Seth last. Not only that he was last but the point he scored was just 4/0. The lowest possible score in that exam.

Seth's emotionless eyes stared at the last rating that was made by fellow studts and external supervisors without an ounce of regret.

Wh the External Supervisors calculated the points recorded and arrived at Cumulative points, Seth only had 49/0. The exam was where the highest points could be obtained but he scored the least.

His being second didn't mean a high point. And this exam carried the most marks.

"Take them to my car." She ordered the external artists, th looked at the 9 studts, "Anyone with less than 60 Cumulative Points is on probation. So, don't feel surprised if you are expelled!" She announced and walked out.