After passing through the outstanding wooden door of the guild, one could see the warm glow of torches illuminating the hall of the mercenary guild.
This hall was filled to the brim with history—a fake one, of course; the stone floors bore the marks of innumerable fighters, and the walls were decked with banners and elaborate sculptures that glorified the guild's illustrious history.
"Did you have to go to such extremes with your performance?" Erik questioned Lucy.
Lucy responded with a teasing grin, "Of course. It's all about making the test feel genuine and lifelike and completely immersing you in the experience."
The hall was teeming with artificially created mercenaries, each bearing a striking likeness to humans in their physical and mental makeup. Others were carefully attending to the upkeep of their weapons while others engaged in intense conversation.
Archers perfected their skills against some targets the guild made available for all to use to the point of mechanical perfection, resulting in arrows that flew straight.
A rich tapestry of sound was generated due to the symphony of whispered chats, the odd clinking of armor, and the occasional thwack of an arrow.
As Erik entered, he got some unusual looks because he was wearing a hood and a mask over his face. Despite this, there was just a momentary flurry of interest. In such a setting, it was not uncommon to see people hiding their identities behind a mask.
As Erik approached the counter, he was met by a robotic employee who was eerily realistic in appearance. Behind it were elaborate boards that displayed the different accomplishments and missions completed by robotic guild members.
Erik lifted his hood slightly, revealing his mask. "I'm Erik Kay," he declared, a blend of pride and weariness in his voice. "I've completed the test, securing the hostage."
The robotic clerk studied Erik for a moment. Verification is in process," it intoned emotionlessly. After a tense pause, it finally responded, "Verification complete. Congratulations, Erik Kay. Your accomplishment will be recorded."
The shrill sound of an alarm abruptly disturbed the peace, with its urgent cry reverberating throughout the imagined city. When the alarm went off, time stood still, and people across the city held their breath. After that, there was a startling void of sound.
The previously bustling streets, once home to automated sellers, children at play, and security officers on patrol, became disturbingly silent.
The bustling sounds that had presented a picture of a busy cityscape were now gone, and an almost eerie silence was in their place. Regardless of what it had been doing before, every robot immediately stopped.
A young robotic child was seized in the middle of a fit of laughter, and his expression of happiness stayed unchanged. A vendor had become a statue in the middle of his pitch. The once vigilant soldiers remained like motionless sentinels, their facial expressions immovable.
Erik halted momentarily as he took in the abrupt silence that had descended upon the room. The previously active guild hall, filled with activity and commotion only a few seconds earlier, now stood in eerie silence, with each robot stuck in the middle of its last action. It seemed as if time itself had been paused, catching every detail in a flawless moment that would never change.
The sky above seemed to shine a little brighter, maybe marking the conclusion of the intricate masquerade that had been going on. The entire scene demonstrated the extraordinary attention to detail and labor that had gone into producing such a lifelike test.
Lucy, who had portrayed the part of a terrified hostage just a few moments earlier, suddenly walked with an air of power. As she walked boldly past Erik, she briefly glanced at his concealed face. Her eyes were unexpectedly free of the anxiety that had been there before.
"Well done, Erik," she remarked, her voice firm yet kind. "You've completed the test."
Erik looked at her, slightly taken aback by her sudden transformation from a damsel in distress to a confident guide.
"Come with me," Lucy instructed, heading towards the rear of the guild hall.
Erik, who was still trying to make sense of the flurry of events that had just occurred, trailed, eager to learn what lay ahead and how well he had performed on the test. The act of freeing the prisoner was only one component; the final result was still unknown since it depended on many things.
After navigating two flights of stairs, they stood before a massive metallic door. Lucy gestured to a button on its right. "Press that," she directed. "It'll take you back to the entrance."
As Erik did so, Lucy continued, her voice professional but with a hint of warmth, "Once you're out, head to the locker room and wait. There'll be some refreshments available. Your results will be calculated and shared with you soon."
Erik nodded, appreciating her clarity. "Thanks," he replied, a sincere smile on his lips. The test's intensity and abrupt conclusion left him feeling a mix of exhaustion and anticipation.
After a few moments, the door slid open, exposing a large room resembling an elevator but with modern touches everywhere. Its walls were constructed of a combination of mirrors and shiny metal. A pedestal with a single button labeled "Start" stood at the center of it all.
Erik pushed the button after a moment of doubt. After the door was securely shut, there was complete silence, and instead of the usual sense of climbing higher or lower, Erik perceived the space as moving laterally, much like a fast-moving train.
The smooth motion of the elevator-like space made Erik feel as if he was gliding through a futuristic tunnel. As he looked around, colorful LED lights illuminated the walls, creating a mesmerizing display that shifted and changed with each passing moment.
The beginning of his travel back was signaled by a quiet hum that permeated the area, and the walls vibrated in a tiny way.
Erik gathered his composure and began to take several deep breaths. The sudden shift from a world filled with swords and shields to this room filled with cutting-edge technology was disorienting, but it was all a part of the rigorous testing procedure that the Mercenary Guild had in place.
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