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Part 3
Birds warble for the cloudy sunrise. Yunnan groans into Jake’s guitar strumming, reminding him of a horrible past that jolts him out of a nightmare. Cold sweat trickling down his neck, a drenched tank top and he looks down under his blanket to see if he peed himself. Goodness gracious if he did.
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“Woah, did I scare you?” Jake asks the obvious, somehow he earned himself the nickname of nightmare conjurer whenever he strums his guitar. It is that horrible.
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Yunnan sits up, eyes cold and sticky. He coughs and drinks a glass of water. The hunter exam is today and he has had all the bags prepared since yesterday.
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“Have some breakfast first!” Jake asks him with a mouthful of warm potatoes. Yunnan comes up to the table and sits with him. Still silent and eyes focused at the ants rallying in line. He does not even hear Jake calling him, until he pokes him, “Hey bro, are you sure about this?”
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And Yunnen nods, reassuring Jake with the same ‘yes’ over and over again. But Jake insists, even blocking him on the way to the door. “I can come with you if you want.”
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“Don’t bother,”
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“Bro, your head is empty now.”
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“I need to go Jake!”
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“I’m just worried…” Jake firmly holds onto Yunnen’s shoulder. “Have you spoken with Ms. Priestess…I kinda forgot what her name is.”
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“Aespa,” Yunnan answers, “I already did and she blessed me.”
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“Oh!? That’s good! You must have gotten a power up or some sorts.”
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“More or less.”
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“Can you show me?” Jake’s eyes expectantly like stars,
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The duo walk outside and Yunnen starts dancing when Jake nodded his is ready. Slowly dancing before abruptly clapping, then he holds his breath and dances once again, smooth like a flowing river free of any stone, before WHOOSH, striking with a point finger and a stream of air pierces through a tree. He has grown, indeed, powerful and Jake agrees. But still, Jake is still worried and does not wish to lose Yunnen. But Yunnen insisted on him to stay, looking down on him and telling his friend that he was useless and would just die on the first mission. And Jake cries as Yunnen leaves.
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Yunnan makes his way through rivers and mountains. Boarding boats by himself, asking carriage drivers to lead the way and telling the wind to guide him. During his travels, he meets a little girl with a bag on her back. The bag is something ominous, one that always distracted him as something sinister could be inside. The girl was also covered in bandages and he never got to speak with her, failing his curiosity.
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He arrives at the first venue. A dagger in his belt and only his bag of supplies. Unlike others that seem to carry a whole lot of camping equipment. Even a pink headed twink twig is struggling to carry his cooking pots.Yunnan approaches him, asking if he needs help carrying as the examiner walks up a hill and asking everyone to follow her. But the pink twig twink kindly declined his offer, before comedically rolling down hill. A girl, taller and mature, saves him by her foot before stepping the ground and causing the earth below them to detach and hover. She looks down on Yunnen as they pass.
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Other magic-able users follow her example. Bending nature to do their bidding. Meanwhile Yunnen, who is perfectly able, decided to simply hike along with other bulky men. Enjoying peaceful banters and introducing himself to the many. Though most are competitive with some even trying to play dirty already. The first task was simply going uphill, then downhill, then another uphill, then another downhill. Really exhausting already now that Yunnen has spent all his saved up five water bottles. His new friends also became his rivals as they now solely focus on reaching the end goal. With his legs weakening, Yunnan is tempted to use his magic but not yet. He holds himself. As they slide down a steep hill.
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This time, he cannot hide it anymore. Sliding down harsh rocks with trees and boulders in front. Many are screaming–abruptly ending because they either hit against something or fainted. Yunnen jumps off from the slope, falling fast to the ground where the examiners and others are watching him with serious faces. Some closes their eyes, expecting a splattering horror but then, roaring winds blow the trees and leaves aside. Like a helicopter landing, Yunnen safely drops with a ball of swirling air underneath him.
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Rather than making himself a fool, he makes himself look like an enemy. By everyone who survives the first venue.
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