Nael Brooke would have never thought, never would have even considered the possibility of being chosen to enter a test. He knew it just wasn't possible because he was just a normal teenage kid. He messed around with others, got into trouble occasionally with teachers, not very good with tests. But he likes to think he was very bright, open with others and how things usually played out. He loved to see things come out differently, positively. Things that had a good impact on himself and others. But now? He doesn't think so.
How could he think positively about this? Any of this? How, when blood pools at his feet, and screams melt his ears, how is it- no, it couldn't be possible to have good thoughts at all. He was gonna die here, and there was nothing good that could happen to change that. But, for all that he thought this, he couldn't help but wonder how it had come to this point. Why couldn't time just rewind back to him being with his mother.
Just why?
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{ Ding!
System Notification!
You have been selected, along with many others, to participate in the Dungeon Test!
Congratulations!
You have 19 minutes and 59 seconds to get ready!
Have Fun! }
Nael stares at the notification for what seemed like hours, until he is struck by a horrifying realization, his thoughts spiral, repeating the word 'Why' over and over again, wondering how this could be. He continued to stare off, until a very familiar voice jolted him out of it. His mother, with wavy red hair and dark yellow eyes looking at him with concern in her gaze.
Hearing her worried motherly tone, he felt tears well up in his eyes. He feels lost, wondering how he could tell his single mother—Father having passed a year ago—her son was chosen to partake in a Dungeon Test set up by the System. Finding no words that would offer her comfort, he keeps quiet in stunned reality.
Celeste, Nael Brooke's mother, speaks again, wondering what was troubling him since he continued to stay quiet. She looks on in worry, anxiety wobbling her lips. She is then caught off guard by Nael surging forward, pulling her into a very tight hug. Surprised, she hugs back, one of her hands rubbing his back soothingly.
More worried than before, she wonders how he became like this, with tears wetting her shirt and his shoulders trembling. How could he have become like this in the span of a few minutes when she went to go make dinner?
She reflects on the few minutes earlier before he became like this. How he was just talking to her like normal, telling her about his day and what shenanigans he got up to, until it went quiet after she asked a simple, ordinary question. His silence had prompted her to turn around to see why. As she did, she noticed him looking at the wall with horror written all over his face. That's when she came over to see what he was doing, though, she hadn't expected him to be so distraught that he cried, not that that isn't bad or anything. It's just that, though Nael is one who wears his heart on his sleeve and isn't afraid to show his emotions, he rarely cries.
"..Mom."
Stealing her attention from her thoughts, she answers back, "What's the matter Honey? Why are you like this?"
When he hesitantly responds, Celeste feels her heart drop down to the floor, eyes wide. Denial was already going through her head, not believing his words, unable to fathom that her son was chosen for the test. At a loss for what to say, she tightens her arms around. When she eventually speaks up, she gets straight to the chase, asking how much time he has before the time limit is up.
"..15 minutes..."
Celeste doesn't outright nod, but she does, biting her lower lip and squeezing her eyes shut. She then snaps them open, no time to go through it right now, she tells herself, and she stands up, leaving the living room and ignoring the confused calls from her son, she enters her bedroom. Crossing to her late husband's side, she rummages through his drawers until she finds a long black rectangular box. Opening it, she stares at the contents before she closes it up and hurries back to the room.
Fresh tears had coated his cheeks again, breaking Celeste's heart for a second time. Nael looked up at her upon her entrance. She holds the box out for him to take, explaining that it had been his father's when he was still a hunter 2 years back. She continues, stating that he got it in a B-rank dungeon of a snake layer. She proceeds by saying how her husband took it everywhere with him, saying it brought good luck and that if Nael were to ever be chosen for a Dungeon Test, full emphasis on 'if', that he wanted Nael to have it, hoping it brought him the same.
Finally, she utters as an afterthought, that she couldn't see what he saw in it since she was never chosen to be an Orin, just that he said it was special and hoped that it would protect him in the dungeon. Celeste's voice trails off as reality finally hits her full force. Tears stained her cheeks and her lips wobbled as she tried to stave off her sobs. Hoping to be strong in front of her son even if he has seen her at her worst.
Nael had stared at her, listening intently before he shifted his gaze to rest on the necklace. A reddish scale shone brightly in the middle, silver chains connected to it, forming a loop with clasps at the ends.
Celeste takes a breath before gesturing her son to turn so she may loop it around his neck. Nael obliged, nearly flinching at the coldness of the chains caressing his neck. Celeste clasps the chains together, and bows her head to rest between her son's shoulder blades, unable to keep strong for him, but she believes in him, just like how she believed in his father. Understanding that dungeons were awful places and death could come at any time, she doesn't utter any useless words to her son, just that he tries to come back alive, to try for her.
Nael spoke back as his eyes watered with tears, "I'll try"
His mother responds that that is all she asks of him to do. For him to try, to fight.
_________
A System message pops up in front Nael, congratulating him on being chosen for the test and that he may now choose his class. It also reminds him that he can only choose once and to do it wisely. It then gives him a 15 minute time limit of when he will be transported to meet the other participants.
One system pop up remains, showcasing all the classes of, Fighter, Mage, Necromancer, Archer, Priest, and Assassin. It details what they do and what abilities the classes come with.
Nael reads through it carefully. Having 11 minutes on the clock, he goes through his limitations of what he can and can't take or do. By doing that, he rules out, Fighter, Assassin, Mage and Necromancer. That leaves Priest and Archer, leaving him with an indecisive decision and with only 8 minutes left.
With a short pause, a System message pops up again, giving its congratulations on picking a class, which was Priest. It then goes through more depth on the Priests abilities, stating that, Divine Healing- can heal any injury, Sacred Circle-a golden dome of light which can protect against de-buffs and offensive attacks. It also states that it is also most effective on the undead and dark magic. It continues with the last ability, which is The Eye of Savant, which is a one hit wonder, meaning it can kill off an indefinite amount of enemies at once, but since it's a one time use, it requires a half-a-day cool down period.
Lastly, as extra information, it says, the more he levels up, the more he can enhance and strengthen his skills/abilities. It continues saying that he could become so strong, he can kill a dragon.
Nael read through the System Message, having thoughts of how this was similar to a game with how its shown, but he isn't naive enough to believe that this was just a game, seeing as his own father had died in one a year ago. Feeling jittery and lightheaded, he watches as the clock hits zero.