After filling out and submitting their forms, Ermand and his friends could barely wait for their names to be called. The more the time ticked away, the more the excitement built up in their minds.

Emile was busy learning a lot of enchantment spells by heart. Charlie was trying to perceive the expressions on the faces of the students who returned after the selection. Timothy made sure he looked okay as Ermand got lost in his thoughts. Odin kept quiet the whole time.

Will I get caught like that girl?

His mind wandered from the interview to the girl, then to Jack and his tiny home in Fingercut street. He wished that he would return home with a happy face. The present was always a heart slammed while the future was a curiosity, a reason to live.

"Emile Waps," a chilling woman's voice called from around the desk.

Emile jumped from his chair, not noticing the book he held slipping out of his hand. Emile hurried toward the woman at the desk. Timothy and Charlie wished him luck. Ermand was still buried deep in his own thoughts.

He noticed several girls biting their manicured nails as the timid boys avoided conversation. They all attended the selection, and became extremely nervous. Some students didn't even come back after the selection.

After some time, Emile returned with the same nervous state lingering somewhere around the corner of his face.

"How is it--"

Timothy held Charlie's arm and shook his head, making sure Emile was not paying attention to them. Charlie shut his mouth and turned his head away from Emile.

Then, it was Timothy's turn. He got up from the chair in an elegant manner and walked briskly in the direction of the desk.

After he returned with the same expression as the other students, it was Charlie's turn. He pointed his thumb back at Ermand, indicating that he was next.

Ermand got up from the chair and walked toward the desk where a brunette woman sat. She was busy scribbling something on a notepad at the desk. When she noticed Ermand, she gave him an eerie look.

"Ermand Chisel?" she asked.

He nodded with acknowledgement. She moved a porcelain bowl toward him and said:

"Please look into the bowl."

Ermand brows furrowed, as he was met with a narrow stare. A mix of confusion and curiosity wrinkled his face. Ermand peered into the bowl, a purplish-blue paste churning inside.

The next moment, he was diving inside a purple-blue void. He turned around, everything was empty around him. No sound, but the void's colour illuminated. He could feel himself light as a feather. All he knew was, he was floating inside some empty space. Within the blink of an eye, he found himself sitting on a comfy armchair. The room was old fashioned and petite with a towering ceiling.

"Ermand Chisel?"

It was a gravelly voice of an old man, probably in his sixties, who didn't even take a slight notice at Ermand. He had long greying thin black hair that was neatly brushed. His face appeared serene.

"Yes."

"I'm Vinn, Gennady Vinn and I worked as a Defense teacher for twenty years before I retired. I'll be asking you a few questions, answer me honestly," he smiled.

"Yes."

"You said you are a Chisel, how are you sure about that?" he asked, resting both of his elbows on the table and his eyes fixed on the parchment before him.

"I studied in Dolmen's school for Chisels and my parents are Chisels."

Ermand was dubious if the answer was satisfying. The man nodded curtly, still not taking a glimpse at him.

"Why did you choose to be a Defender?"

Ermand thought he could answer it, but he was stuck to find a suitable answer.

Why did I choose the Defender? Because my friends compelled me to?

"I chose it because I've always aspired to become a Defender... My brothers were both Defenders. They inspired me." Ermand answered, feigning excitement.

"But I guess it is quite the contrary, that you're motivated to choose this department?"

A minute of dead silence lingered in the tiny room.

"Sorry..." Ermand breathed, his chin touched his chest. The old man chuckled in a low sound.

"So what's the real reason?" he enquired.

"The fact that I am impelled is true, but now, Defenders is the best choice although it was not my desire to join it."

After rearranging his papers, the old man watched Ermand with a twinkle in his eyes. Ermand gave him a tight smile, which didn't fail to show the tension inside him. After a few minutes of the awkward silence, Ermand was glad to hear the old man speak again.

"You may go. The result will be announced once the selection is over."

"Which means there is no selection at all?"

"No. In fact, the selection is yet to begin, Chisel..."

Without asking another question, Ermand decided to go back. The situation reminded him of a quandary which he fell into. The man before him, a tricky old spellcaster, was one such quandary to him.

"You will be selected once you know how to take control of the void you came from and the mind that many laid restless in them..."

The old man's voice was the only sound that could be produced in the small room. His words didn't make any sense to Ermand. He spoke in philosophy terms, a subject Ermand was never interested in. He thinks people speak and postulate philosophy only because they have plenty of leisure time and are happy with the life they have, no matter how small they are. Ermand never had leisure time and was never happy with his life.

He nodded with his eyes opened wide but looking away from the man.

How will I go back to the void? How did I reach here anyway?

He didn't dare to look at the man, but noticed that he was busy with the papers before him from the corner of his eye.

I should concentrate, and take a hold of my will. That's the way to get out. He told me about the mind many laid restless, I should rest. I should remain calm.

The tension building up inside him failed to cope up with his will. He sweated, and he felt it vividly. He had been concentrating only on himself for a short while then.

Concentrate, concentrate, he reminded himself again and again.

Finally, Ermand felt it. Something revolved around him. He thought that it was an illusion happening to him since the old man didn't even bother to take a glance. The revolving thing felt like a burning fire but relieving. He inhaled the fire, which boosted him a fresh feeling and the same flushed out the frustration in him when he exhaled. Nothing more relieving had ever happened to him before. It was a fresh and solacing feeling.

When he opened his eyes, all he saw was the purple-blue void back again. But he knew that he felt comfortable this time when he recollects the experience minutes before. He felt much better than that. Maybe because he was experiencing it again.

The next moment, the lighter feeling fluttered away. Ermand felt heavy, heavy of himself. He tried shuffling his position to either side of him which came of no use. Then, he started wriggling, but he felt constrained as he tried to wriggle more.

"Thank you. Please do wait until the results are announced," a sound of a woman echoed in his ear.

It was the same woman he saw a few minutes ago. Ermand looked at himself, making sure he was standing in perfect shape. Another student emerged to the desk as his name was called. Ermand shook his head and ambled toward his friends sitting at the corner.

"What has happened right now?" he muttered to himself before joining them.

He sat between Timothy and Emile. No one spoke except for a cough from Emile. He decided to talk something with them but brushed off the idea.

Maybe, they must be nervous about their results.

After a ton of waiting, the results were finally ready. Every student looked perturbed and edgy including Ermand. Passing the selection was not his concern. The possible outcome of him failing to produce his highschool certificate if he was selected overruled his mind.

"Timothy Chestnut," an instructor announced after declaring several names.

Timothy jumped in excitement."That's me!" he cheered.

The announcer nodded at him and continued his declaration.

Emile was pressing hard on his stack of papers he had held tightly in his hand the whole time. The tension relaxed when his name was announced to be qualified. After waving at the man, he kept a smile upon his face and started arranging the papers neatly inside his backpack.

"Odin Barlour."

Odin raised his hand. "Odin," he said loudly.

A few names after Odin, the man called Charlie's name. Charlie waved while still sitting on the chair. He too, looked happier than ever. Then, it was only Ermand's name that was left to be called. His friends frequently told him that his name would be called any moment.

I don't think so much, he supposed.

***********

Editing credits ~ sticklady2015