Orion laughed and said, "Hahaha, then I can't wait to go there, hurry up now."
Edgar smiled, "You should prepare yourself for the test, Master. It only happens for a week each year. Master tid it right to reach this place. It's the sixth day now, it should be quite crowded."
"Then it would be quite a spectacle to watch it." He smiled and relaxed comfortably into the carriage seat, gently tapping his fingers against his thigh as he turned his head to stare out the window, watching Stormspire City's bustling streets pass by.
"Uncle Lucan, Uncle Edgar," Orion began thoughtfully, "what exactly is this academy like? I know it's prestigious, but are there any specific things I should watch out for during the test?"
Lucan chuckled from the driver's seat, driving skillfully through the streets. "Young Master, the Thunderhall Academy is also called Thunderpeak Royal Academy due to how many nobles there are. And it is the best in the entire kingdom. It attracts talented youngsters from all noble families and even gifted commoners. Competition there is fierce, especially during the entrance tests, but it only gets tougher from there."
Edgar nodded in agreent, sitting opposite Orion with a calm smile. "Indeed, Young Master. The tests asure your innate mana capacity, your elental compatibility, and your affinity level. Naturally, you'll excel, but you should still expect so jealousy and perhaps even hostility from others."
Orion smiled lightly, not caring about that. "If competition bothers , I wouldn't be suited to walk this path. The only issue I have is the higher-up nobles stirring up trouble."
Lucan laughed heartily, glancing back briefly. "Hahaha, you don't need to worry about those, Young Master. None of them will dare to do anything to you on the surface. However," he paused, looking at Orion with a aningful smile, "they can still deploy underhanded tactics."
Orion raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Assassination?"
Lucan's smile widened, "Not only that, there can be honeytraps for you as well."
"…I expected too much from you." He lightly exhaled and shook his head, while Lucan laughed out loud, looking at his expression.
Lucan's laugh subsided, and he said with an excited smile, "But anyways, Young Master, with your talent, you'll shake the whole academy for sure. I'm already looking forward to the rumors you'll stir up."
Edgar smiled slightly, pulling a small ornate token from his storage ring. It was intricately carved, bearing the emblem of Stormspire Citadel, a silver thunderbolt striking a mountain. While on the other side was written 'Helstorm' in bold letters.
"Young Master, take this. It was prepared by Master Eldric. Present this token at the gate, and they'll allow you to participate directly in the test."
Orion accepted the token, examining it curiously. The smooth, cool tal felt quite good in his palm. "This token holds that much influence?"
"It represents authority on the sa level as a Duke Household," Edgar explained gently. "Only those directly connected to high-ranking nobility possess such tokens. It guarantees you won't be unnecessarily troubled during your entry."
Orion pocketed the token securely, nodding appreciatively. "Got it. Let's hope I can back up Grandpa's reputation, then."
Lucan's laughter echoed warmly through the carriage. "Young Master, once they see you perform, they'll know that no one connected to Master can be normal."
Amidst their chatter and laughter, the carriage swiftly traveled towards the central part of the second ring, where the majestic Thunderpeak Royal Academy ca into view.
Orion gazed in excitent as the academy appeared. It was enormous and awe-inspiring, a testant to both architectural grandeur and magical prowess.
Towering pillars spiraled gracefully upward, shimring with faint mana enchantnts visible even at a distance. Orion could already see the massive academy taking an enormous amount of space, with giant colosseum-type structures all over the place. From a distance, he saw the outside of the academy packed with people.
As their carriage stopped outside the crowded entrance, Orion saw a sea of noble youths gathered anxiously. Chatter buzzed through the air, accompanied by whispers, laughter, and the occasional heated argunt. Clearly, emotions were running high.
"We've arrived, Young Master," Lucan announced cheerfully, pulling the carriage expertly to a halt.
"Good luck, Young Master," Edgar said calmly as Orion stepped out. "We'll wait here until you're done."
Orion glanced back, smiling confidently. "Thanks, both of you. See you later."
[Best of luck Master!!! (≧ω≦)]
Lumi's more-than-usual excited voice echoed inside his mind.
He inwardly smiled, 'Thanks for the encouragent, lil Lumi.'
Turning back towards the crowd, he took a deep breath before walking forward. The extra crowd parted ways looking at his deanour.
Despite not being born in nobility or even living like a noble for long, his three Emperor lineages gave him an aura greater than the vast majority of living beings can hope to achieve in their entire lives.
The older generation looked at him with curious eyes, wondering where such a fine young man ca from. While the younger generation eyed him warily, no one was happy with gaining another tough competitor for the few spots they get each year for academic admission.
While the noble ladies looked at him with appreciative eyes, his aura seed to be captivating their hearts with its re presence.
However, Orion ignored all of it and approached the academy gates. There, he saw a teacher standing—an elderly man with a stern expression on his face, carefully checking each student's token before he allowed them entry.
"Next," the teacher called out sternly as Orion approached.
"Good morning," Orion greeted politely, handing the ornate token to the instructor.
The teacher took a good look at him before glancing at the token casually. However, his eyes widened suddenly as he recognized the level of the token he had gotten, his expression quickly turning from shocked to surprised.
He glanced between the token and Orion several tis before recovering his composure and coughing discreetly.
"Ahem, welco to Thunderhall Academy," the teacher said with a hint of respect in his tone, returning the token swiftly with a slight nod of acknowledgnt. "You may proceed directly inside."
"Thank you," Orion replied courteously, slipping the token back into his pocket before walking through the towering gates. Behind him, whispers grew louder and more animated as the surrounding nobles attempted to discern his identity.
As Orion stepped past the towering enchanted gates, he felt the mana density in the air sharply rising. And following that was a scan by the gate. He raised his head to see the gate flashing so runes, as if scanning for sothing before dimming again.
He barely felt the scan. Just a soft tingling across his skin, like static brushing against his arm. He frowned, no one would like it if they are scanned by an unknown treasure without their consent.
However, since he couldn't do anything about it, he just shook his head and continued forward. The inside of the academy was even more breathtaking than what he had seen from the outside.
The entire stone pathways curving around the green garden seed to be made out of polished jade, with inscriptions written all over them. At the center of the garden was a fountain surging with mana-infused water, making the surrounding greenery even healthier.
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