John got on his feet and walked to the door. "Wait," Jake said. John paused, he looked back at Jake. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"How do you feel the Hundred Trials is going to be?" Jake asked.

"Hmm, this will be the last trial you get to sit down and have some peace. From here on out, everything goes downhill.

You might not be able to stay in Olen, you might not even be able to find out who wants you dead, why, or whatever.

After this second, many things will change. It's been the same every hundred years—there is no exception.

Up till now, I believe that everything we have done was some sort of tutorial. We will be sure of what is coming when the next phase of the second begins in three days," John said. He took out his cigar and held it.

"John, take care of the issue of the assassin tomorrow. If you find anyone, that's great. If not, then don't worry about it. Our lives are already on the line, after all," Jake said. He interlocked his fingers and leaned forward, looking at the ground in front of him.

John stared at him. He could tell that something had happened, so he looked around the house and realized that he didn't see the little girl, Ophelia.

"Did something happen to her?" John asked.

"I got carried away during a fight, trying to take down a Minotaur. I left her unprotected for a few seconds, and that put her in danger.

I thought I had lost her in the moment. Right before my eyes, she almost died. She survived somehow, but she fell unconscious. I don't know if it is something she'll wake from soon, but I put her at risk," Jake said. He intentionally hid the part about her emitting such huge amounts of light. He wasn't going to share something like that until he knew exactly what it was.

"The assassination was unexpected and truly disturbing, but the current situation doesn't call for such worries right now. All I have to do is get stronger and stronger to battle the trials and come out on top and also make sure that Ophelia is safe," Jake said.

John looked at him. He saw the heaviness inside Jake, the guilt that he might have done something irreparable to that little girl.

"I understand, kid. I'll handle everything that had to do with the assassination. I feel there is more to it than a simple attack, and I want to get to the bottom of it. I'll keep you posted, and if you don't see me for a while, then I probably died," John said and chuckled before walking out. He closed the door behind him and left Jake alone inside the house.

Jake sat on the chair doing nothing for close to ten minutes, just thinking, replaying what happened right from the moment he left Ophelia, seeing how he could have done something better in that instant.

[Do not punish yourself too much for what was not in your control.]

"But it was in my control. If I had done some things right, I would not have left her, and she would not have been in the state she is in now," Jake said to the system.

[Arghhhh, Drake, talk to your master. I'm going to sleep.]

"Master, mistakes happen not because they are wanted. It's because someone didn't do something he was supposed to do, and then it caused a mistake.

If you tripped on a rock, it's simply because you weren't looking at that moment. That doesn't mean you are a clumsy person.

You made a mistake once, Master, and yes, she was hurt. But she is still alive, and so you have the time to fix that mistake and protect her better from now on," Drake said in a calm tone.

Jake heard his words, and they made actual meaning. He couldn't argue with that. "Thank you, Drake, I understand what you are saying," Jake said. He clenched his fist. "I'll protect her for sure next time," he said, filled with conviction.

Suddenly, as he sat there, the sound of someone clearing their throat reached his ear. But it was not someone close—no, it was a transmission being sent all over the city, and everyone could hear it.

(Good day, citizens of Olen. This is Count Valemont, your governor and leader.

We all understand the dire state that our city has found itself in due to the beginning of the Trials. Many have died, many have lost their families, many have lost their homes and source of livelihood.

And despite the gruesome nature of what is happening, it is something that cannot be stopped—an inevitability. The nature of this trial has turned into something that is heavily impacting the lives of the common man.

It's sad to see people with no concern in this being put in pain. So as the Senate agreed and the king has signed on it, every commoner will be taken to a safe place.

A few locations have been mapped out as places where only commoners and nobles will stay in: the Adventurer Guild, the Mercenary Guild, the Mages Tower, the Olen Trade Academy, the Rising Phoenix Mage Academy, the Trade House, the Knights Barracks and Training Grounds. And as for those that live in Valemont's Hold, you are to enter the estate.

All those locations will be guarded with the best warriors and knights to ensure that everyone is safe and no monsters come in.

There will only be a few people allowed to be in town—the first few being the knights that will fight on behalf of Olen along with the mages.

And finally, the Chosen. The Chosen must bear the brunt of their trial. They are not allowed to come into the safe places that have been listed, as their presence can cause jeopardy to everything that has been set up.

Everyone is to head to their closest safe space before the end of tomorrow. If you do not, your life will be in your hands.)

The transmission ended, and the city went quiet.

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