"You should have an explanation but it could wait, test failed." Celeste strictly said.
His words drove a cold feeling, a shiver down his spine. Not just that but the room looked familiar, it's the room with the pillars from his dream.
"I'm sorry." Xander said calmly. He didn't want any issues with any of the lords, he waited for a while. Celeste stared at him silently without any words slipping out of his mouth. He walked a to and him calmly, pacing and staring at his body.
"A lord never apologizes for his presence. Another test failed." Xander felt like cutting his own tongue out. "Xander? One more failed test and you start all over from Apex." His cold words drove a sharp arrow into Xander's lungs. He didn't know what Apex was like, even if he showed a trace of kindness the first time.
He can't be serious, "Noted." He affirmed.
"Now take your swords and read the book out loud. It'll change the swords to something else. The book gives you the ability to transform yourself into something else if you practice well enough."
He did and nothing happened, he read it twice and still nothing happened. He turned to Celeste. It was a mind trick, he turned to the book and he let out fire from his mind. It burnt to ash.
Celeste asked, "I asked you to read it and you burnt it? You failed a simple test by ignoring a simple instruction. Solstice will hear of this." Out of vexation, Celeste left him standing there.
Xander stood still as Celeste walked out. He didn't give a fan anymore. He just wanted a simple moment of peace and not some sort of external conflicted control.
He sat in his room with his bags packed, the solaract walked in, "Lord Xander, you are summoned to the courts by Solstice."
Xander walked through the portal, he saw Solstice and the other court masters seated. The council sat waiting in silence as he walked past them.
He stood before them, Celeste stood to make his accusation known. He had such a bitter heart for a kind personality. A mix of the worst with the best, confusing.
After he finished reading it, they applauded. Xander felt like letting the ground swallow him. From behind, a council master walked up to him and gave him a handshake saying, "Congratulations."
That's not the word he expected himself to hear, "Thank you." He shook his hand and boldly without letting out a single grin. Solstice hit the bell, Apex took the paper and medal. He placed it on his shoulder. "You are now a council master, welcome."
He smiled and turned to Celeste, he didn't look happy at all. Celeste walked out, he wasn't happy with the fact that he escaped, now he's got a competitor for the throne of the courts. Nebula as well wasn't moved by his boldness and royal blow, he sat still in pride and dignity.
Solstice walked up to him, he stared at Xander like Xander was his own son and he kissed his forehead. No one had ever seen Solstice intimate with anyone around the courts. "Well done boy." He gave Xander a friendly tap on his shoulders.
"What happened? I thought I failed the tests." Xander asked.
"No, a true lord only listens to his inner intuition and does what he feels is best for his people." Solstice reassured.
"Oh… I never knew. Why's Celeste mad at me? Even Nebula?"
"They aim for the seat of authority, but their hearts may not be able to get in. Ignore them, you'll get used to their gloomy expressions soon. You can't please an unhappy person, you'll only waste your time."
He smiled at him and walked away. Xander moved to Apex, "What's next now? I don't think I'll stay with Celeste."
"Of course not, move to Earth SOID. It's time for a change and also you beat him at his own game. That's something we don't see everyday." Apex stated.
"What happens when he wins?"
"The defeated person or opponent rather loses their title and they get thrown into the Hyperion Station. The prison for the galactic forces. Have you ever been there?"
"I don't think I want to be, I'm a council master now. What's the duties of a council master."
Apex turned his eyes to his, "You will be assigned to a realm and a gateway depending on how strong you'll be. It's not time for it yet, soon you'll get your news. Get to Earth SOID, we have an edge over the exiled one. Quickly but first follow me. You'll need weapons."
Xander followed Apex into a secret room, on the walls were drawings of creatures that looked pretty real. Apex cut his thumb, he used his blood to open the walls by putting a drop into the hole in front of the door.
Right before Xander's eyes, his wounded thumb healed mysteriously. He waited for a while before he saw a little blister turn red and then back to normal skin. He stared at it puzzled.
"Earth SOID is a scary place, a really scary ground. You'll need enough stamina to survive and there's a tip I have for you, Earth SOID is a place for solo trips. Therefore you have no master there, but yourself. You must run through the planet and escape to the other side. When you come out, come straight to me or move straight to Solstice."
Xander responded, "Noted, what's that weapon in your hand? It looks like it could blast my head into nothing."
"Gravity grenade launcher. Take it and take the chrono blade as well. Leave now."
Xander opened a portal and crossed into Earth SOID. The earth of fire, brimstones and smokes. Made solely for the creatures of the dark. He walked into the realm slowly hoping for the best.
Before he set his feet fully , fire moved past him. He felt the brimstones too. He wondered how and why Apex could move through a place like this.