The First Cultivator - Changing Existence

The coffee was loaded with sugar and espresso, an energy enhancing drink. Skymender finished it as he walked towards the Education building. By the time he arrived, he was wide awake and full of energy. Luckily, he was able to calm his mind down before the Imperial Scholar was ready for him.

At almost exactly 12 PM, the office door opened and someone exited. It was not someone Skymender had ever paid attention to.

The Imperial Scholar walked out and saw Skymender.

"I'm ready for you."

Skymender nodded and walked over. Entering, he sat on a chair across from the Imperial Scholar. 

"Would you like to be tested on medicine or poison?" The Imperial Scholar asked.

"Poison." Skymender responded. Although he had been studying medicine, it had been almost completely in relation to poison.

The Imperial Scholar nodded and took out a piece of paper prepared in advance. 

"You have up to thirty minutes to complete the first section. If you finish early, we can move on. Begin."

Skymender grabbed a nearby writing utensil and began. The questions were basic, but tested a vast array of knowledge. A part of it was naming plants, which was quite difficult. Another involved other, non-plant materials.

Another section gave made up scenarios and asked Skymender what he would do in that situation.

Skymender flew through it, completing what he was able to within twenty minutes. He handed it to the Imperial Scholar.

The Imperial Scholar nodded and placed it to the side. He then began the second portion of the test, where he asked specific questions. 

These could be whatever he wanted or believed could pertain to what Skymender was studying, which was poison.

It was similar to the test, with a few unique questions thrown in. All in all, as he left the Imperial Scholar's office, he wasn't sure how good or bad he had done.

He returned to the library, where he continued to study. He knew that the final test would be conducted a day later, around 4 PM. Results should come out the same day since most of it was decided by the Imperial Scholar and not some sort of system.

The next day, at 10 PM, he began to walk to his room in order to get some needed sleep. That coffee had kept him up for far longer than he should have been awake.

As he walked, he passed by the billboard and looked at it. It did not have any sort of test results on it, but simply a paper that said, "See board for results". The board it was referring to was the big board in the teaching room of the Education building. As curious as Skymender was, he was even more so tired. He returned to his room and fell asleep. Around 12 hours later, when he woke up, the first thing he did was get ready for his day. 

The second was to go to the Education building. Entering the teaching room, he looked at the board.

4th, Miria - 37 Intelligence points

3rd, Luke - 40 Intelligence points

2nd, Skymender - 50 Intelligence points

1st, Charles - 51 Intelligence points

In other words, during this round of testing, Skymender was at the top. 

Ignoring Miria and Luke, Charles had only gained 8 points, while Skymender had gained 10.

He had cut the lead down to one point. Wherever Charles was, he was surely unhappy. 

Skymender did not let it get to his head. He returned to the library and studied with even more intensity than usual. After all, he was coming off of around 12 hours of sleep. 

At noon, he met with the Imperial Scholar. 

"Congratulations on your victory. Let's continue." The Imperial Scholar said.

Skymender nodded and began to receive teachings. 

The Imperial Scholar was truly a terrifying individual, his knowledge gathered over years seemingly endless. Skymender wasn't confident that, given the same time, he could have as much knowledge as the Imperial Scholar.

Eventually, the hour passed and Skymender left. As usual, he had gained a lot. He left straight for the library.

As he left, the next person scheduled did not immediately enter, but waited outside in confusion, wondering why the Imperial Scholar had not called him in.

Meanwhile, after Skymender left, a person stepped into the room from another door. An arrogant and tall man stood with his hands behind his back.

"How is it going so far?" 

"It is going as well as expected, your Imperial Majesty." The Imperial Scholar said.

The Emperor nodded. "Is Skymender doing well?"

The Imperial Scholar nodded. "Incredibly so. Say, where did you find that kid with the photographic memory?"

The Emperor spoke simply. "I have tabs everywhere. It is simply by coincidence that someone with a photographic memory has been born in this time, and is the perfect age to be a rival for Skymender. No, call it fate."

The Imperial Scholar nodded.

"Do you want me to change anything? I believe that on his second appearance, Skymender may become worthy of being the next Imperial Scholar."

The Emperor shook his head. "Continue on. You are better suited to such matters."

The Imperial Scholar nodded in agreement.

The Emperor turned around and walked back through the same door. As he left, he left a few words behind.

"Make sure that Skymender can really surpass the challenge that is Charles. Otherwise, it might be better to let Charles be the next Imperial Scholar."

With that, he was gone.

The Imperial Scholar shook his head. 

He muttered to himself. "It has just begun. Charles may be a one in a million talent, but Skymender is a monster in body and soul. This is still the warm up. When the second time comes, who knows if Charles will be qualified to receive a glance from him."

The entire time, neither Miria nor Luke were spoken of or thought of, as if the competition they were participating in didn't even consider them challengers, simply extras. In the eyes of the Imperial Scholar, they were no different from the other 12 people, not including Charles and Skymender.