Decisions

I went outside and saw Eve and Master Waylen standing near the Holy Tree on the high raised top.

Jin appeared to be enjoying the ride as he was feeling the wind from a soft, comfortable place, which happens to be my head.

Eve and Master Waylen rushed towards me with puzzled expressions as soon as I landed. I still am having a hard time realizing, Time really didn't pass when I was inside the Holy Tree.

"Eth! What are you doing here? Aren't you taking the trial?" Eve inquired as she stood in front of me.

"I took the test and passed it! Eve, I'll explain it to you later!" As I turned to face master Waylen, I said.

Jin sat on my head and raised his body with a "Hyu!" sound to look at the new people around me.

"Ethan! Is that a White snake?" Jin jumped from my head and landed on Eve's shoulders as master asked me, making a rattling sound and licking her face.

"Heheh... Stop it....Hey...Hehe! Is this snake your Partner beast, Eth? It's incredibly cute!" Eve stated as she began to pet him.

Jin appears to like Eve as well.

"Yes master, its my new Partner Beast! Jin!" I replied to both Master and Eve.

"Jin eh? nice name!" Eve exclaimed as master Waylen became increasingly perplexed.

"Eth! You told you already passed the Trial? But you just went inside the holy tree and now you are here? Tell me how"!  Eve asked me again.  I guess she doesn't likes suspense as well.

"Ethan...did you go through the Trial of Death, Fear, Guilt, & Justice?" Master asked me with a trembling expression on his face.

Leave it to man to figure it out!

"Yes, sir! I did!" I responded by nodding as Eve did.

Eve didn't understand what the trail meant because she didn't follow that trial to become an assassin in the council. However, Master Waylen is wise and has trained almost every top assassin in this organization. So, he seems to have understood what that trail meant.

Even I was shocked when Uncle Arthur said that the trial was to select the heir to become the next president of this council. Hama, on the other hand, stated that she wanted to put me to the test in order to prepare me.

Whatever anyone says, I admit it was beneficial to my training.

"Uncle Waylen, What is that test Ethan mentioned?" Eve asked Master Waylen.

"Evana, the trial of Death, Fear, Guilt, and Justice, is the test to determine who will be the next president of this council!" He stated.

"Huh? So....are you going to become the next president?' Eve asked, her surprised expression on my face.

I shook my head saying no, and replied, "But, I refused when I met the current president!"

Eve was still in awe, so I just secretly admired her expressions and pretended I wasn't seeing her.

"And...master Waylen, I broke through Dark yellow Stage!" I told him to keep the amazed atmosphere going.

"Dark Yellow stage? Even I am at Light Orange!!" Eve said in surprisement as soon as she heard my words.

"Ethan...You really are a crazy kid! Well, here!" As Master Waylen instructed, he drew a mask from his spatial ring.

The Mask was plane white in colour, with a pair of phenoxy eye holes and a crack at it's left eye like it was slashed with sword. It also appeared to be made of some kind of wood.

I noticed Eve's delighted expression when she saw the mask.

"Master Waylen, give that mask to Eve; she appears to really want it more than I do!" I told him."

"Eh? Eth, I already have a mask given from my master! I don't want this crap!" She said this as Master Waylen began to sigh.

That was a terrible way to say no thanks.

Suddenly, while we were talking, Jin jumped to my head and extended his body to observe the mask that Master Waylen was holding out.

Seems Jin sees something in that mask. So I'll just take it.

"Thank you, master, if Eve is certain!" After seeing Eve's expression again, I took the mask.

"Okay Ethan, I have had enough crazy talk for one day! I'll return to the office because I have some work to do. What are you planning to do?" as Master Waylen inquired,

"Talking about that," I said as I turned to face Eve and asked, "Eve, would you go with me?"

I planned to bring her home with me and to accompany her to the academy when the time comes. I also wanted her to see the true me. Only if she agrees though.

"W-What? I mean, go with you? I don't really have anything planned but are you okay with me coming along with you?" Eve seemed taken aback by my surprise.

"We can't stay only as assassins now that we're old enough to go to school. As a result, the president granted us both permission to attend Atlas Academy. If you're cool with that, I mean, if you're not, I can always get you out of this by asking the president again!" I grinned.

Evana looked at me as if I had said something incorrectly. She is girl after all.

"I'm sorry, but I still don't understand. How would I even get into the school? I mean… I may have the qualifications, but not the experience. Even though I don't have that kind of money to attend the school."

Sighs.

I guess she still didn't get it.

Patting her head, "Don't you worry about a thing, my friend, Even I have no such money!" As I laughed, I said.

"Ethan...You made a deal with the president? You cunning cat!" Master Waylen understood what I was saying.

"I did, indeed. And I got seats, with the council footing the bill for both of us!" I replied as I noticed Eve's agitated expression. My patting seemed to make her nervous.

I quickly retracted my hand from her head and returned my gaze to her.

"All right!" she said immediately, "I'll go then.  I had wanted to go to school for a long time, but I had no such money to pay the tution fee. Perhaps it was fate that You and I met! Thank you very much, Eth!"

"It's fine, but...Are you sure you're okay with that?" I asked her again to confirm that I wasn't pressuring her to do so.

"Yes, I'm certain! I'd love to go to school with you!" She smiled as she replied.

I guess she decided for herself. As a man and a friend, I suppose it's a win for me too.

***CHAPTER 39***