The Broken Halo

Chapter 116: 116: Wall of Masks

After the female Veilmaster gave the candidates who were now Initiates some information they should know, she concluded her speech.

A few seconds later, the Initiates suddenly sank into their shadows, causing many to scream, yelp, and curse in immense fear.

Only those like Thorgan who had a high shadow affinity were not shocked by the sudden fall into their shadows.

However, even Simon was shocked by his sudden descent into his shadow since he did not expect it.

But in the next moment, he blinked and he saw himself standing some meters before a wall with countless masks on it.

A lot of students were disoriented and they could not stop themselves from vomiting out whatever was in their stomach.

The sound of dozens of demon kids vomiting was not pleasant to the ears, and even the smell was worse.

Due to Simon’s spatial affinity, he did not vomit out his insides, he only retched and spat to the side.

Although he had a spatial affinity, he did not have a shadow affinity.

’If I feel like this, then how do the others feel?’

Simon thought with a frown as he used the back of his left hand to wipe away the saliva on his lips.

He looked around, and he saw that some were still on their knees and groaning in pain.

He saw the female Veilmaster and the others observe every single one of them with scrutiny.

’Are they checking to know those that have a potential shadow affinity?’

Simon knew that this was a method to know those that could potentially have a shadow affinity.

’Those like Thorgan who felt nothing and did not react after been teleported here definitely possess a high shadow affinity.’

’Those like me who retched but did not vomit out my insides might have the potential to have a shadow affinity… Even if the affinity is low.’

’And those who are on their knees, vomiting, most likely have zero shadow affinity.”

’They must not know this, which means this might be another sort of unofficial test.’

“I wonder if having shadow affinity or the level of one’s shadow affinity would affect us in the near future. The chances are not low since this is the Shadowgrave Clan, a clan that mainly deals with shadows.’

Simon shifted his gaze from the Veilmasters to the massive wall behind the Veilmasters.

The wall had countless masks on it, and Simon could see why the female Veilmaster called it the Wall of Masks.

It was literally a wall of masks.

’But I’m curious… Why a wall? Why not a building that can hold so many masks? What’s the purpose?’

The Wall of Masks was as wide as a basketball court, and when Simon looked up, attempting to see where the Wall of Masks ended, he could not see the end.

The Wall of Masks seemed to flicker in and out of existence in his eyes. At one moment, it seemed to reach the heavens, and in another, it seemed to be as tall as a three storey building.

’An illusion formation?’ Simon furrowed his brows in contemplation.

He observed the wall with interest for a few more seconds before choosing to observe their surroundings.

’It seems we’re at the peak of a mountain. There’s nothing else in this place aside from this Wall of Shadows.’

’But it’s quite surprising that we’re at the peak of a mountain. It would have been less surprising if we were underground since this is an assassin clan that calls themselves the Shadowgrave Clan.’

A few seconds after Simon had this thought, the female Veilmaster clapped, and it resounded in the surroundings and ears of every Initiate.

“Alright, all of you get up.”

Everybody instantly got up at the words of the female Veilmaster.

“A word of advice for all of you, especially those of you that have a poor and non-existent shadow affinity. Try as much as possible to get resources from the clan that improves your shadow affinity.”

“Majority of the clan’s techniques deals with shadows, and there would also be cases where shadow teleportation would be required to places inside the clan and outside the clan.”

“So, try and increase your shadow affinity. I did the same. My shadow affinity was not great, but after consuming some of the clan’s resources, my shadow affinity is rather high right now.”

The Initiates all kept quiet, then the female Veilmaster gestured at the Wall of Masks behind her.

“This is the Wall of Masks, and you guys can see why it’s called to that. There are countless masks on this wall, and each of you are to pick one.”

“The masks on the wall were created by blacksmiths of the clan and blacksmiths outside the clan. Some are the masks of dead clan members.”

“You should not bother yourselves about the masks above. They are masks meant for Shadow Blades, Veilmasters, and Grave Lords. They are not meant for you, Initiates.”

“Pick a mask, wear it, and once you’re done, you’ll be teleported to the main clan where your information would be taken.”

At the mention of the word ’teleport’, some of the candidates paled.

They truly did not want to go through another round of shadow teleportation.

“You may pick your masks.”

The Initiates all went forward, and some quickly went to pick the masks they already had their eyes on.

Simon calmly and indifferently walked up to the Wall of Masks, then he stood with his arms folded as he scanned the masks in front of him.

There were a variety of masks on the wall. For example, there was a skull mask, there was a split skull mask that was cracked down the middle but held together by black resin, there was a hollow face mask with no eyes and no mouth, a jawless mask, a bone mask with an unsettling smile to it.

Simon also saw a mask with a glossy red surface that looks perpetually wet, a pale mask carved with thin channels like veins, a mask that appeared sewn together with black thread, a metal faceplate that was deeply gouged and dented, and a mask with subtle protruding fangs carved into the mouth area.

The more Simon walked and observed the Wall of Masks, the more masks he saw.

He even saw masks of beasts like a Serpent Mask, a Raven Mask, a Wolf Mask, a Mantis Mask, a Jackal Mask, and even a tiger mask.

Simon saw so many masks, and he wondered why some masks were even placed on the Wall of Shadows because they were too flashy and not meant for assassins.

After walking around for some minutes, he finally stood before a mask.