A team

"I dead Andreas, how am l alive now". She looked confused and in desperate need of valid answers.

Andreas didn't know how to explain things to her. He knew for sure that those memories were not gone, and she will one day recall all that happened but the only thing she got wrong was that she didn't die actually, she only lost to much blood and could have died if not tended to immediately.

However it really didn't matter now because the Lilith before him now needed answers and hoped he could give them to her but he was only going to disappoint her because he was definitely not ready to let her know how powerful he was, for her own safety.

"Lilith are sure that really happened? I mean that might just be a bad dream you had, it's not real" he said convincingly.

"No Andreas" she shook her head sturbbonly. "I am sure it was not a dream. It was real Andreas and it really happened. I can't help but to wonder how come l am alive and well now. What really happened? I need to know. Can you tell me? Please. Just tell me if you know anything about it". She said to him with pleading eyes.

"Lilith" Andreas walked to where she stood and stroked her hair as he spoke to her. "You need to calm down. I have always been here with you and l always will. If anything of that sort would have tried to happened to you, l will never let it be. You trust me right?" She nodded slowly to him. "Good. Then keep trusting me. Nothing happened to you, no one stabbed you and no one ever will so long as l am here. So stop getting yourself worked up over nothing ok?"

"Alright" she breathed. "I will think no more of it, besides l have a test to pass tomorrow".

"That's my girl" he gave her a kiss on her forehead which Lilith pouted at. "What's wrong?" He asked her after noticing her pout.

"Why did you kiss me on the forehead? What's wrong with my lips?" She retorted.

"Oh Lilith is that why you made that face? If you wanted me to kiss your lips, all you would have done was ask" he bent his head a bit to her height and gave her a kiss on her lips this time.

"That feels better" she said with a smile after the kiss.

"You are unbelievable Lilith" he pinched her nose.

"l will just take that as a compliment".

*

(Next day, dawn)

"Today, you will be facing your first test, the test of courage. You have all been grouped, thirty six members of each group and l am sure you have become familiar with your group members and l trust you will work together to achieve your goal"... Sensei Velskud, Nex's father was still addressing all level one aspirants before the test commences. He stood on the podium as he spoke to all of them at once with the help of the sound amplifier before him.

Lilith was already getting bored with the long speech, she looked at Rain who stood beside her and before Florate. She looked fine now after what happened yesterday , all thanks to Florate who took it upon himself to take care of her and help her return back to good health. Rain really appreciated his kind gesture and in return, decided to atleast give him a chance and things worked really well for the both of them, though just on friends level but still that's a stepping stone. Guess sharing feelings contributes alot in making them real.

She was definitely ready for any challenges they will face in the cause of the test and so was she (Lilith)

"Do you think Nex already knows everything about this test before now?" She whispered to Rain who looked surprised at her question.

"Of course not Lilith" she whispered to her too, so that they won't get unwanted attention to themselves. "He might be the grand sensei's son but there is fair play in everything concerning the institute. No one gets special treatment and definitely not to the extend of being told all about the test before the supposed day".

"Oh ok"

"The rules are simple!" The sensei was still speaking. "You are free to cause another's failure, combact with each other and prove that you are the strongest, but on no account should anyone cause another's death. No weapons allowed on this test and l advice if you have any on you, let it go now that you still have the chance to do so.

Remember, if the bars in your stats get to full power in cause of this test, it means that you have passed and you get to level up and become a second level aspirant. But if your bars don't make it to full power or at least a C, then l am only but disappointed to say that you have failed and will remain in level one till the next test which will surely be tougher than the former. So do well to prove that you are worthy of protecting Triven in this test.

"Bla bla bla" Lilith exhaled. "Let's get to test already" she said with impatience written all over her face.

"Oh come on Lilith" she finally got Florate's attention. "You will hear he is not blabbing if only you listen".

"Thanks for the tip Florate but my fists are itching to punch some faces already and this speech of his is elongating the time for that"

Rain and Florate chuckled softly.

"What?" Lilith furrowed. "Don't tell me that you don't want to kick some ass already, l know the perfect one to start with" she said with a smirk on her face, looking towards Nex who smiled evilly at her too.

She really didn't know for sure what happened but after yesterday, she began to see him as an enemy whom she would never let to intimidate her. "I will take on Nex" she said confidently.

"I believe that is a very bad decision to make Lilith" Rain rested her arm on her shoulder. "Nex as rumor has it is very strong and skilled l would put my self in such situation if l were you" she said sensibly.

"Lilith take Rain's words" Florate added. "I may not know Nex that well but he seems like someone who doesn't abide to rules. Just don't get yourself mixed up in all that, that's just a piece of advice".

"Ok fine l have heard you both, l won't try to get to him or anything. Now would tou please quit acting like grown ups to me. Jeez l feel like am getting a mommy and daddy counseling already". They all laughed softly at what she said and finally concentrated on what the sensei was saying.

"I will now say the purpose of this test for all to hear. Below the brigde in the forest of flowers, lies the ever flowing river of Nat. Trace the light and prove your courage before it and it shall grant you passage out of the dark. Remember, your time is limited. Take longer than you are supposed to and you have failed the test.

Moreover, any group that gets to the brigde first will be reward. I wish you all goodluck, but to get that wish, you must work as a team"...