Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) novel Chapter 1342

In front of Andrew was a pile of various items. At a quick glance, there were pieces of horn, bones, and some dark, lumpy objects. He immediately understood that this round was testing a doctor's ability to identify medicinal substances and distinguish toxic materials. It was not exactly difficult, but it was definitely designed to be tricky and misleading.

After a brief inspection, Andrew picked out a bone and a dark, knobby lump. While unremarkable at first glance, this lump was actually a highly toxic tree root.

The examiner standing in front of him raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised at Andrew's speed. He had barely paused before picking out the correct items.

The old, bald examiner let out a low whistle and gave Andrew a thumbs-up. "Not bad, kid. One word—impressive!"

Andrew smiled, replying modestly, "Thanks, it's just a bit of good luck."

The examiner muttered to himself as he scribbled on his clipboard. 'This kid had seemed cocky earlier, but maybe he actually has some real skill after all.'

Around him, the other contestants also began selecting the toxic items from their piles.

Francesca's face was tight with concentration, and she could not help but glance nervously in Andrew's direction. When she saw him flash her a reassuring wink, she let out a long breath, relief flooding her face. She was glad she had picked the right items.

Not far away, Jared's expression was growing darker by the second. Lowering his head, he muttered, "Damn it, this is just a guessing game at this point. Who the hell can tell which of these things is toxic and which isn't?"

He glanced toward Thomas, hoping for a hint. However, his mentor did not even spare him a glance.

Jared's heart sank further, the bitter taste of frustration rising in his throat. As much as Thomas appreciated his talent, he was also a strict perfectionist—there was no way he would break the rules to help him here.

Seeing that both Andrew and Francesca had already passed the round, Jared's anxiety only grew.

The examiner leaned in, asking, "Have you finished identifying the toxic items?"