None of the eleven passed. One girl also reached two yards, but still failed.
That same day, the youths were sent down the mountain and escorted home by monks. The one taking Martin back to the family was Gerald, the same young monk who had brought them. With him were Sebastian and Raymond.
"Brother Sebastian, congratulations on becoming Father Theophilus's disciple. Your future is limitless," Gerald said with a smile and a bow.
Sebastian looked proud. "Of course. Father has already said that once I settle my worldly affairs, he will teach me holy magic."
Raymond curled his lip. "I've always hated your smug face. So you have a master. So what? I'll be making elixirs."
Sebastian glanced at Raymond disdainfully, then looked at the silent Martin. "Well, Martin? I told you before. You don't have what it takes. You and your father didn't believe me. Now you see."
Martin looked up, gave Sebastian a faint glance, and said to Gerald, "Holy father, my parents are waiting for me. Please take me home as soon as possible."
Sebastian sneered, "Go back to being a carpenter like your father."
Gerald smiled faintly at the three youths, said nothing, swept his sleeve, and flew off with the three.
The wind was the same, but Martin's mood was worlds apart. He had come with hope; he returned in despair.
Soon, the Lynn family manor came into view. Martin saw crowds inside, feasting. The celebration was far grander than the one Thomas had thrown. All the Lynn relatives were there, toasting and congratulating each other. The tables were laden with fine food, and the courtyard was packed with people.
The stars of this feast were Victor, Thomas, and Frederick. Everyone flattered them.
"Second Brother, your son will surely be chosen. You won't have to do carpentry anymore. Everyone will call you 'Second Master.'"
"Thomas, I always said you would amount to something. Now it's happening through Allen."
"Second Brother, my Allen and your Sebastian will both be chosen. Let's drink. We won't stop until we're drunk."
Thomas felt the wind in his sails. He had never been so honored. But a stone still pressed on his heart. Allen, please be chosen.
"Sister-in-law, you'll enjoy a good life because of Allen."
"My daughter is of age. Allen is so handsome. Let's arrange a match."
Victor watched coldly, thinking, Wait until the monks return the children. Then we'll see. If Allen isn't chosen, how will Thomas handle the shame?
Suddenly, a rainbow appeared and landed in the courtyard. Four figures stood there. Gerald looked around, sighed, and looked back at Martin. He knew what the boy was about to face.
"The holy path is merciless," Gerald muttered, then flew away. "Settle your worldly affairs. I'll be back in three days."
Victor hurried to Sebastian. "Was Father Theophilus pleased?"
Sebastian smirked. "Naturally. He said I would be among the best within ten years."
Victor laughed heartily and patted his son.
Raymond's father asked anxiously. Raymond yawned. "Father, don't ask. Your son is already a disciple of the abbey."
Raymond's father was overjoyed and downed a cup of wine.
Sebastian sneered, "Uncle Nicholas, you have a fine son. He shamed the Lynn family by begging and bribing his way in. Just a servant."
Raymond shot back, "I don't care. We'll see whose holy magic is stronger. Then we'll know who shamed the family."
Thomas looked at Martin's face and saw defeat. His heart sank. He felt a terrible premonition. "Allen… how did it go?"
His mother asked expectantly.
Martin was silent. Sebastian sneered, "I told you. He failed all three tests. He should have stayed home. I was accepted in the first test. I didn't see the later tests, but I heard he failed all three. He'd have been better off not going. I bet Frederick's son would have done better than him."
Frederick frowned. "Sebastian, even if you become a monk, don't be insolent in front of me. My boy's abilities are none of your business. Show some respect for your elders."
Sebastian's eyes flashed coldly. He sneered and said nothing.
Thomas seemed to age ten years. He slumped into his chair. His mother was stunned. "Allen, is it… is it true?"
Martin bit his lip until it bled, knelt, and kowtowed heavily. "Father, Mother, I wasn't accepted by the holy monks. I'm sorry… In my next life, I'll repay you for raising me."
His mother sensed the despair in his voice. She ran and held him, sobbing. "Child, it's all right. Don't be sad. So you weren't accepted. Next year you can take the county exam. Child, don't do anything foolish. Your father and I still need you to bury us."
His father recovered and held Martin too. "Allen, don't do anything stupid. Your father is here. Listen to me. Come home and study. Next year's exam is still there."
The relatives' faces changed instantly. They moved away, whispering maliciously.
"Allen was never that good. How could he compare to Victor's Sebastian? What an embarrassment."
"Thomas, you're old enough to know better. Why did you make such a fool of yourself?"
"The boy was never that smart. Thomas must have been bragging."
"Three children went, and only his failed. He's the worst of the Lynns. What a disgrace."
"I was blind to consider marrying my daughter to him. Thank goodness he wasn't accepted. Who would want him now?"
Every kind of venomous word was thrown at the family. Martin clenched his fists, the pain inside tearing at him.
Victor said coldly, "Thomas, I told you before. Monasteries have strict requirements. Unless a child is as outstanding as my son, there's no chance. You took it too seriously, and now the boy is so devastated he can't go on living. Was it worth it?"
Thomas snapped. "Victor, shut up! Father left me a share of the inheritance, and you schemed with the relatives to steal it from me. Now you mock my son? Do you have no humanity? And the rest of you—you flattered us earlier, now you sneer. My son is in this state, and you kick him when he's down. Have you no decency?"
Victor shouted back, "Don't bring up the past. Your son simply isn't good enough. I was trying to give you good advice, and instead of thanking me, you yell at me. Like father, like son. A coward begets a coward."
The mocking laughter and insults fell on Martin's ears like sharp thorns stabbing into his heart. He forced himself to endure the tearing pain. He looked coldly at everyone, memorizing every face.
"I'll kill you!" Thomas grabbed a stool and charged. Frederick quickly held him back. "Second Brother, don't lose your temper. He has many servants. You'll only get hurt. Let me handle it."
Frederick glared at Victor. "Brother Victor, I can't listen to this anymore. If you insult my brother again, don't blame me for forgetting we're family. The Lynns are powerful, but I have many friends in the martial world. It would be a shame if your house burned down one night."
Victor backed down, afraid of Frederick's wide connections.
"Frederick, that's not fair. The boy simply isn't suited for the holy path. Are we not allowed to speak the truth? That's unreasonable," the great-uncle said.
"Fourth Brother, you wasted your slot on the wrong child. Sebastian was right—your own son would have done better," another relative added.
Sebastian added smugly, "They brought it on themselves."
Raymond looked pained, but his father silenced him.
Frederick said, "Enough. Whoever mentions this again is my enemy. Allen, don't take it to heart. If you want, come with me. I have some influence in worldly martial schools. I was going to send my son there anyway."
Sebastian laughed. "Yes, go to the martial school. Tell them you were rejected by the holy monks. I'm sure they'll welcome you."
Martin slowly raised his head. His dark, empty eyes swept over the mocking relatives and finally rested on Sebastian. He said, word by word, "Sebastian, mark my words. I, Martin Lynn, will one day enter a holy monastery. I will remember every insult you and your father have thrown at my family."
Sebastian sneered, ready to mock again. But Frederick shouted, "You little bastard, say one more word and I'll cripple you. Let's see if the monastery wants a cripple."
Victor pulled Sebastian back. "Frederick, you wouldn't dare!"
Frederick laughed loudly. "Oh? Brother Victor, you think I wouldn't?"
Thomas held Frederick back. "Frederick, listen to your second brother. You have a wife and children. Don't risk them for me. I'll never forget your kindness. Frederick, take us home."
Frederick stared at Victor, sneered a few times, then nodded. He took Martin's hand and led Thomas and his wife to the carriage and left.
From afar, Martin could still hear the relatives' mocking laughter.
Sitting in Frederick's carriage, the family began the journey home.
Inside the carriage, there was silence. Thomas sighed. He was disappointed, of course, but Martin was his son. He sighed again and said, "Allen, this is nothing. I was once driven from the family and felt worse than you, but I survived. Listen to me. Come home and study hard. Do well in next year's exam. If you don't want to study, go with your uncle and see the world."
His mother held him close. "Allen, don't do anything foolish. You're all we have. If anything happened to you, I wouldn't want to live. Be strong." She began to cry.
Martin looked at his parents and nodded. "Father, Mother, don't worry. I won't do anything foolish. I have my own plans."
His mother held him in her warm embrace, and the wound on his heart slowly began to heal. Martin was exhausted, mentally and physically. With the rocking of the carriage, he fell asleep.
He dreamed he became a holy monk, flying through the sky with his parents.
Late at night, Martin woke. He looked at his familiar small room, sighed, and his eyes flickered with determination. He looked toward his parents' room, took a brush and paper, left a letter, took enough food, and left home.
I will not give up on the holy path. I will try St. Helman's Abbey again. Even if they still won't accept me, I will find out where the other monasteries are.
The moonlight stretched his shadow long as he walked away.