Retrieval

The candidates ran into the woods like people possessed. The goblins close by were right at their tails and didn't show any signs of giving up in their pursuit.

The hot sun blazing overhead didn't make it easy for them either. They were getting fatigued with each step they took.

A lot of the goblins gave up though at the fringe of the woods. Others pushes on dividing themselves into different groups as they followed a different route to cut off the candidates at the front.

Magnus had slipped into the crowd amidst the commotion and joined the candidates in fleeing.

At the moment, he had a different personality. He had changed into a burly nondescript teen. He knew he could get away with it since no one knew all the faces of the candidates.

He held his katana close to him as they ran though. There was no changing that.

Ahead of him, Kelvin was having a hard time choosing their escape route as he was in the front.

Retreating had been his idea so the others looked up to him to lead them as they ran.

"Down here," He yelled, pointing to a thick vegetation to their right.

Without wasting time, they all listened to him and changed routes.

Behind him, Magnus spied Sarah running with Bryan who was now awake. He still looked pale and he leaned on her for support.

"These two," Magnus said surprised by their attachment. He wondered what debt she owed him to be that protective.

He reckoned that she could very well fail because of how she was weighed down by him.

Everyone had passed them and they were the only ones left. Two goblins were almost at her heels and Magnus saw that they couldn't make it in time.

"I guess I can help since there's no danger of recognition."

He hurled his katana in such a way that the blade struck both of the goblins heads at the same time.

Sarah heard bodies drop behind her and looked back to see the goblins. She shuddered as she realized how close she had been to failing.

"Thank you very much," She said in between pants of tiredness.

She looked up to see that he was already gone. Sword and all.

"Huh, that speed. He must be a Knight class fighter. I didn't hear him leave at all."

"What just happened?" Bryan asked on her shoulder as he tried to look around.

"I'm not so sure myself," She replied as she joined the others in the thicket.

The place they entered was a bit darker than where they left due to the tall trees blocking the sunlight from streaming in.

The grass here was thicker too giving them the feel of walking on a plush carpet.

"I think we've lost them," Kelvin said, watching the entrance as they all settled down around.

"So what's the bright idea now?, leader," Mark addressed him mockingly. "We just sit here like a bunch of pussies and hope we don't get killed."

"If you want to die, feel free to go out there. No one is stopping you," Kelvin snapped at Mark stepping closer as he glared fiercely at him.

Mark stepped back in surprise as he hadn't expected such a reaction from him.

Magnus smiled as he watched the commotion. Everyone had a breaking point and it seemed that the dashing hero was no exception.

"Fine, that's what I'm going to do then," He said at last, not wanting to lose face in front of the others.

"Who's ready to go with me to get those knight cores?" Mark said looking at the rest of the candidates.

With the exception of his gang, no one else volunteered as most of them looked at each other with uncertainty.

"We're tired from fighting, shouldn't we rest at least?" Someone piped up from the back.

"There's no time to rest. We don't know how long this test is going to go on for. The whole point of the test is to retrieve the cores."

Kelvin looked at the crowd to see that some of them were beginning to consider what Mark was saying.

"Don't be easily swayed by rash words like this. We have to rest first and restrategize on what to do next. Not all of us are built like the Rook class are.

It wasn't hard for many of them to agree to stay back after that. He had just spoken what was on their minds only that they had been scared to say it for fear of being tagged a coward.

They had seen how Kelvin had performed on the field so they knew he was no coward. It raised his reputation even more.

"We won't stay long and will be back before you know it. We're only retrieving the cores of the goblins we already killed, don't you all want to win," Mark said trying to win them over.

Magnus knew that it was a lost battle immediately Kelvin had pointed out their class difference.

The Rook class had a higher endurance rate than others which accounted for the fact that Mark and his guys weren't as exhausted as the rest of them were. The insensitive blockhead hadn't taken that into account.

"Don't expect any share of the cores when we get back," Mark said as a parting shot to the rest of the candidates as he organized his squad and left.

The rest of them all watched their retreating backs till they were lost among the trees. Magnus hadn't even considered joining Mark's group at all.

Trouble was always sure to find people like that.

"Don't mind what he says. We would organize our own hunting group later on," Kelvin said, turning back to them.

"You're such a darling, Kelvin," A beautiful blonde girl at the front uttered, drawing him into an awkward glance as he acknowledged her with a wave.

"Let's all rest for now. I'll appoint some of us to take hourly shifts when night falls. By then, Mark and his boys should be back."

Night came with no sign of them. There were whispers and murmurs among the candidates as they all speculated on what could have happened.

Kelvin addressed them again when he noticed the unease spreading among the group.

"We have to assume that the worst has happened to them. I hope that serves as a lesson to you all on decision making."