Elemental Cats

"Is that it?"

The general only raised an eyebrow in response to Toz's impudent question. His guard took it a little more personally, but they didn't do more than show off their hostility.

"First, you lead me around the camp. Then you have me stand on suspicious enchantments and send me tumbling down a dirt tunnel. And all so you can take a look at me before sending me back like some piece of meat?"

The displeasure in Toz's voice grew with every word he spoke, which elicited an equal response from the general's guards. Though none of them actually made any intentions to move, probably because the general didn't react to Toz's rant.

"So?"

The general's uncaring attitude further irked Toz. All his anticipation and curiosity that helped him stave off the boredom and displeasure of the process that took him to the secret room were for nothing. Toz couldn't help but get a little upset. However, he also realized that he was a little childish. And he didn't actually want to get in a fight with the five high level combatants standing next to the general.

Toz just sighed, and he got his frustration under control.

"Okay."

If the general didn't want to be cooperative, neither would Toz. He went back to the tunnel and gracefully lowered himself to the ground to enter it. When he was inside the tunnel, he covered his body in the same smooth, silvery armor as before. And then he ejected explosive flames out of the sole of his feet to push himself up through the tunnel.

Since they hadn't seen how Toz sped through the tunnel on the way down, the general and his subordinates were caught by surprise. And even the general, known for his composure, openly showed his surprise by widening his eyes.

"Was that in the report?"

"No, General."

The only one who maintained somewhat of a straight face was the general's secretary, Riella. Not that anyone noticed the flash in her eyes hidden by glasses since everyone else was taken aback by Toz's stunt.

The general quickly put on a calm expression as he looked at the second-tallest person in the room.

"Brax, can you redirect him back here?"

Although Braxton wasn't as tall as Merr, he was a lot bulkier, so he looked like a mountain when compared to Cooper, who spoke up with nothing but a gaze from Brax.

"Right. That guy should be around a third of the way up. But as I was about to say earlier. Something's off. I can't tell his exact location– Ah, wait!"

Cooper closed his eyes and concentrated, and everyone but Braxton, who focused on the wall, impatiently waited for Cooper to talk again.

"I lost him! How does that make sense? Wasn't he supposed to be combat specialized and at the sixth level to boot?"

Cooper directed a confused and questioning look at Riella, who nonchalantly ignored the small and skinny scout.

"I guess we have another irregular on our hands. He shouldn't have had any mana left, either, after the test. Let's give him the respect he deserves when he gets back here. How's it going with that, Brax?"

"I think I missed him at first, so I'm going for the entrance before he gets out. It should be a couple of minutes, sir."

After Braxton spoke, the secret room fell into silence. The only thing that filled everyone's minds was how the general's intentionally provocative and trying attitude might have caused a potential ally to become something other than an ally. It wasn't the first time the general did that when they brought in a new recruit, but it was the first time that recruit just left.

Though, it was very likely that Toz was one of the few who could actually leave with confidence after passing the first test since the first test was supposed to drain most or all of the recruit's mana. Not to mention how there weren't any visible exits in the room, so if one wanted to leave, they had to have the general's permission.

But Toz didn't need to ask where the door was since he could jet himself through the tunnel with his magic.

The general wanted to get a feel for what Toz would do in a situation where his hand was forced and find out what personality he displayed when upset. But his plan had obviously backfired a little. And since that was what filled his and his guard's minds, no one dared say anything because the only thing that would come out of their mouths if they opened them would be an inappropriate comment.

Thankfully, they didn't have to bear the awkward silence for too long before Braxton successfully redirected the tunnel to lead back to the secret room.

As long as Toz wasn't stupid or directionally challenged, he would notice it as soon as he began sliding down instead of up. But even if he noticed it, there wasn't much he could do unless he were an earth mage superior to Braxton.

And since Toz wasn't an earth mage superior to Braxton, he could only acquiesce and continue sliding through the tunnel. Though, as a final act of defiance, he intentionally decreased his speed to a crawl in order to make the general and his subordinates wait.

Toz could also use void magic to try and break free from the earth, but that might be going a bit too far. But when Braxton tried to push him forward, that's what he did.

If the general wanted to fool around, he would also have to find out, and Toz wouldn't allow the general's subordinates to bully him without good reason. Not that there was a reason good enough for Toz to let himself get bullied.

Eventually, despite all his stalling, Toz left the tunnel head-first. Since he slid through the tunnel on his back, he stopped sliding by rolling backward and standing up while simultaneously turning around so that he faced the general.

"Enough testing?"

The general sighed and answered.

"Enough testing."