154 It’s Not Bullying
(Jane’s PoV)
I couldn’t take another look on the man because they had disappeared in a flash. I guessed they had been sent to the place where they were taking the test.
Why did I feel like I was in a game? Accept a mission and you would disappear and appear in the appointed location.
Whoever designed the trial must be some crazy genius. How did they do that?
I didn’t even know where they were sent and here I had started to think about the beginning and the process of it.
“Milady, we need to change place.” Siji said to me in a low voice.
I was startled, but I was getting good at hiding it. Standing up casually, I noticed Sir Ahmad was waiting for me before the door.
“Pri-... Milady, after you.” He politely gestured towards the open door.
“Thank you, Sir Ahmad.” I nodded and walked passed him.
.....
Since I didn’t know where to go, I deliberately slowed down my steps. In no time, Sir Ahmad had walked slightly ahead of me and Siji one step behind me.
Was this the feeling of being escourted? Not bad, he he...
Sir Ahmad didn’t ask anything regarding my position as Master of First Army -they were used to call it ‘First Army’ rather than ‘White Army’- but he would make sure I was comfortable. He was so friendly that I almost thought it didn’t fit his outer image.
That’s why we couldn’t judge someone from his/her cover.
Sir Ahmad brought us to an underground room built near a very big tree -I had never seen a tree that big in my whole life. The time needed to reach the room from the surface itself took around five to seven minutes by following a long stairs with only one meter wide. After that, we reached a spacious room where all the elders from before had taken their own spots and started to meditate.
I looked at them one by one, feeling slightly surprised that they could be this serious. But, didn’t Siji say that this place was where the Guardian of Legacy lived in? Where were they? Why couldn’t I see any of those old men?
“Hey...” I turned my head slightly towards Siji. “Didn’t you say those old men lived here? Where are they?”
“They should be around. But, I don’t know where exactly.” Siji replied.
“I bet they must be avoiding me on purpose.” My lips twitched as I thought about that possibility. After all, half of them refused to acknowledge me.
Siji smiled but he didn’t say anything. While we were conversing, we had arrived in a small and clear pond in the middle of the room. The water was rippling a bit, and despite how clear the water was, I couldn’t see the bottom of it. I wondered what we were doing here.
There were seven of us around the pond, including Siji, Sir Ahmad, and me. I didn’t know the four men in front of me, but I had seen them in the same room as us just now. I was just about to ask when the four of them moved and stood in four opposite direction. One second later, they knelt before the pond and put their right hand on the surface of the water. I didn’t know what they did but slowly I could see some images in the water.
There was no sound, just images and it was taken from the first person point of view. What did it mean? It meant I was watching through one’s eyes. It also meant I didn’t know whose point of view I was seeing.
Until I saw the hands, looked strong and firm, moving downwards and... damn! Shouldn’t there any censor feature in this magic pond?
I felt my cheeks burnt hot and I practically avoided eye contact with anyone. Luckily it was just for a split second. But, that split second made me have another unforgettable memory in my life.
By the way, what did the four men do until I could see this images? It was practically a non electric LCD projector!
Okay, I admitted that I asked that question to myself to distract myself from the previous scene. It didn’t help at all, though.
After I finally calmed myself, I took a peek towards those people around me and found out they didn’t feel disturbed even just a bit. I guessed it was something usual to them.
But, another question popped in my mind. Had they told the candidates that they were going to monitor their every action and probably watched their private time? Wasn’t it violating their privacy? Could these people be sued for abusing their authority and invading other people’s privacy?
“Whatever we see here stays here. Out there, we know nothing, we watch nothing.” Siji whispered to me. He must have read what I had been thinking since I couldn’t control my expression well because of the shock I received.
The image in the pond changed and this time I saw bushes and trees moving so fast. No, to be precise, the second candidate was running so fast. Because of there was no sound, I could only guess the reason she was running. Seeing that she repeatedly looked behind, she must be being chased by something.
But, I couldn’t see anything chasing her. Why did she run away, then?
Every time she turned her head around to check on her surroundings, I always focused my eyes to see what was she running away from. I couldn’t see ghosts -even if there were ghosts, I doubted she would be afraid of them- or wild animals, or bad guys chasing after her. So, why did she run?
Before I could see the answer, the image changed again and this time I saw many people were sitting in a group while listening to the first candidate. They all looked serious, this candidate number one had some serious ‘befriended’ skill. How many hours had passed that he managed to get that close with those people?
What was the situation exactly?
“Milady, if you’re tired, you can take a rest there.” Siji pointed at a soft chair near the wall. “Eight hours is not short. I’ll wake you up before they finish so you can see their performances.”
“I got it. Let me watch for a little longer. I need to see what they are facing.” I replied without looking back at him.
“Yes, Milady.” Siji bowed again.
So, I stood rooted on my place, watching the images appeared in the pond. After almost an hour, I finally understood the problem they were facing.
Candidate Number One was dealing with Kuyang. Woah, that’s a whole new level of ghost since Kuyang was not entirely ghost. Kuyang was still a part of human.
Candidate Number Two was also dealing with Kuyang.
To be honest, I prefered to deal with Kuntilanak, or Genderuwo, or even Shadows than to deal with Kuyang or Palasik. Ghosts, in general, were transparent, but Kuyang was as solid as human. It was not hard to deal with Kuyang, but the image of it would never leave a good impression.
Now, I felt a bit pity towards those two candidates. But, seeing the way they solved the problem, I was entertained.
In the end, I didn’t take a rest but instead pulled the chair towards the pond and sat on it while watching the test. Both of them were superb, but the first candidate finished much sooner that the second candidate. He only needed six hours and Number Two needed seven and a half.
Still, they were awesome.
After the second candidate disappeared from the images, I realized that they didn’t come back. They might be heading towards their house and prepared themselves for the upcoming day. I, on the other hand, was held behind since I needed to grade their performance.
Troublesome!
As much as I didn’t want to do it, I must do it. They reasoned with me that the one who would be chosen after all would be my partner for life. That’s why my grade was important for them.
Well, if they put it that way, I just needed to pick the one that I found interesting, right? I didn’t even know how I should grade them. If I were to be with one of them, might as well pick someone who entertained me the most, right?
So, I made my decision. Apparently, they were a bit surprised with my choice. However, there’s no further discussion as they discussed it among them, leaving me out. I guessed they didn’t want to know why I chose that one, right?
“Hey, can I go back now?” I whispered to Siji who was still standing upright beside me.
“It should be okay. I’ll let them know.” He said before he strode over to those people who were still discussing.
I couldn’t hear what they said but I guessed Siji had conveyed my words to them. After that, Sir Ahmad came to me with Siji and apologized for unintentionally neglecting me. He also said that the result would be out as soon as possible but the General wouldn’t be able to meet me until he or she understood the meaning of the position and the army. It might take weeks, months, even years.
Ah, the process was too complicated. By the time my General came, I should make him or her do lots of job to make sure he or she had understood the army completely.
No, no, no. It’s not bullying; it’s called ‘strenghten the bond between the army and the General’.
“Milady, I see the smirk.”
Eh?
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