Many names were called, but not Ermand Chisel. The list seemed to be endless but without his name in it.

Ermand knew this. Either he might have failed the selection or they might have known that he has no highschool certificate. However he was much despondent about it. It was while he busied himself in the memory of the tiny old room and the man that he realized he hadn't shown the man the note. He gasped as the thought occurred in his head, he immediately turned toward Charlie.

"I forgot to show the high professor's note to the man," he whispered.

Charlie gasped low.

"So, did he ask you anything about school?"

"No he didn't, but I confirmed that I'm a Chisel because I had attended Dolmen's school for Chisels."

Charlie opened his mouth to speak something but he was cut by a louder voice.

"And... Ermand Chisel."

Ermand and Charlie looked up. Both of them couldn't believe Ermand was selected with the name of a random school name.

"Oh well. Keep it for now, might come handy in the future," Charlie said, nodding.

All of his friends were happy that they were selected, but Ermand was still not convinced with everything. While he was pondering about this, something hard ran abruptly from his feet inside his body that he felt giddy for a moment. It felt like an electric shock entering his body.

"What's the problem? You don't look happy to be selected?" Timothy enquired.

"I'm happy. I'm not feeling right, maybe it's because of the void I entered in."

"The void?" Emile shook his head. "You were hallucinating. There's no void, it's the charm of the liquid in that bowl, but the bowl puts connection to Mr. Vinn's room. You disappear when you reach there. In total, there's no void."

The thought of there's no void astounded Ermand. Maybe he was hallucinating but how did all that happen?

"But yes, the void that you say plays a very important role other than connecting you to the room of Mr. Vinn. It also gives you a giddy sort of feeling that it will leave you dumb for a long time, approximately one hour or so. This was why we were all keeping mum even if we wanted to speak. You felt the same, right?"

No he didn't. He remembers that he muttered something to himself after he left the desk.

"Hey, check out the declaration of results in the healing department," Timothy called to them.

Before Ermand could walk toward Timothy with Emile, he gasped. The same electric shock hit him again. It was hitting his whole body. It hit him at every place inside his body as if tiny thorns were being nailed into his flesh. Consequently, he stopped in his tracks and started panting. He collapsed on the nearest chair he could find. He moaned when he felt the pain swimming into his head, he felt his brain hitting against his skull.

Expected or unexpected, an electric shock entering the body will always result in pain and a gasp. He felt weak and weary. He had never ever felt this kind of pain before, not in all his eighteen years of life!

Ermand rested his back on the chair and watched his friends moving forward, away from him.

I should stay here, something is not right.

"Anything troubling you?"

Ermand looked up to see the person who was concerned about him. It was Odin.

"No, I'm fine. Aren't you going to see the results of the Healers?"

"I'm not interested," he muttered.

Ermand nodded. He was relieved that the horrible feeling had gone from him. He inhaled a deep breath as he tried to stay calm. Before he could completely exhale, the same feeling shot up back inside his body.

Ermand shut his eyes tightly and clenched his satchel so as to suppress the pain, but it was no worth. The more he resisted, the more the pain grew.

"What is it, Ermand?" Odin enquired with a concerned tone. But Ermand couldn't give him an answer. "I'll call the rest," he said before disappearing into the crowd. He vanished from Ermand before Ermand tried to say no.

Ermand tried not to resist, so that the killing pain would reside away from him. Although, the pain grew stronger than before.

He winced from his chair and held both of his hands on his head. He saw a blurry vision of three boys hurrying toward him.

"What is going on?" Timothy asked anxiously.

"Ahhh!" he screamed out of pain. He didn't want to scream but the pain was unbearable. He was afraid if he would catch the attention of the crowd and his fear came true. All of the students were now watching Ermand.

Ermand tried to remain calm and normal but the pain was grinding him all over. He screamed again and fell to his knees while his hands still pressed on his head. He was gasping uncontrollably.

"What is happening?" Charlie enquired as he kneeled along with Ermand.

Ermand wanted to answer him but he was unable to open his mouth. Emile bent down and held Ermand's arm gently while Timothy produced a glass bottle of water from his backpack.

"Here you go..." he said.

But Ermand denied it by shaking his head. He wasn't thirsty, he just wanted the pain to leave him.

Suddenly, the feeling stopped, leaving him panting and gasping for breath but cleaner than before.

"What really happened before we were here?" Timothy asked.

"Give him time to slow down," Emile said.

"I honestly don't-don't know... I was okay unt-til this strange pain hit me," Ermand said, panting.

"We'll talk about that later, are you okay now?" Charlie asked after noticing the crowd observing them.

"I'm o-okay--"

"What is happening here!"

It was an unfamiliar voice but it didn't fail to show it's authenticity and fury. It belonged to a tall man in his pine green cloak that partially covered the white silk shirt underneath. He walked briskly toward them, the crowd made way for him. His footsteps echoed through the hall when silence settled. All the other Professors and Instructors were watching wide-eyed at the incident.

He gently ran his palm across his blond tuft of hair and looked down at the five boys with an immense amount of dislike.

"What are you?" he asked them in a low voice.

"Daller."

"Waps."

"Barlour."

"Chestnut."

"Ch-Chisel..."

After a clear observation, he finally spoke:

"You shouldn't be spoiled with these low-ranks..."

His eyes were only at Timothy, his voice was still low. Timothy remained silent but stared at the man.

"And what's the matter with you? Not ready to tell your name?" he asked Ermand.

"My clan is not my name."

The entire people in the Grottin's hall remained in dead silence with all of their eyes on Ermand.

"I haven't seen plenty of Chisels like you. And you, you should be ashamed of yourself for making company with these."

And this too, was for Timothy, who remained silent.

"What do you think of making a show in here?"

"We are not making a show here. I-I--"

"Inferiors should know where they stand--" he cut through Ermand.

"I thought Agledon University never considered clanship over education," Timothy finally spoke.

His eyes flared with rage with his hands clenched tight.

***********

Editing credits ~ sticklady2015