I woke up to the sound of horseshoes clacking on cobblestones.
"Wake up, Master Rin," I heard my driver yell. "We’ve arrived at your destination."
The rays of the morning sun hurt my eyes as I tried to open them. But in ti, I lifted up my head and glanced out my carriage window.
Before us was a large alehouse and inn, two floors high, with wooden doors and windows, built to house nobles and rich commoners alike.
Visible in the distance, was the Imperium Magic Academy.
"You need to prepare, Master Rin, the entrance examination is in three hours."
Yes, the examination!
I jumped down from the carriage and marched towards the inn door, my n quickly following behind .
As soon as we opened the door, a sudden hush fell upon the room.
Most of the tables were already filled, save for a few empty seats. I half-expected the alehouse to be empty this ti of the morning, but it seed the people of Viridale had different customs.
I navigated past the seated n, enduring their weird stares as they wondered what a silver-haired noble was doing with a bunch of bandits.
Walking straight to the wide-eyed brown-haired innkeeper, I gave a brief smile and tossed her a gold coin.
"I need a room to dress in."
I tossed her another coin.
"And get sothing for my n to eat." I pointed at the table where the trio sat together with my driver.
The innkeeper stared at the coins with joy, which quickly faded when she saw the n.
"Oh no, my lord! We don’t serve bandits here."
"Bandits, where?"
Her fingers shook with fright as she pointed at the table.
"Those are my n. Guards loyal to House Stormborn. Serve them properly, will you?"
Reluctantly, she replied with a "Yes, my lord" and yelled orders at her servants to serve the n.
She led up to an empty room upstairs, and handed the key, then scurried back down.
Without wasting much ti, I had a quick cold bath and changed into my academy uniform. All the while trying to ignore the high-pitched moans and screams from the room next door.
This early in the morning? Gross.
After I was done, I marched back downstairs, fully dressed in my purple blazer suit and polished shoes. Without wasting another second, I walked straight to the inn door and beckoned on my n to follow suit.
"Master, won’t you have a al?" My driver asked.
"After the exam."
I opened the carriage door and stepped in. I was about to take a seat, when I noticed my n weren’t doing the sa.
"Co on," I beckoned.
Bren shook his head. "As much as I’d like to et a bunch of pompous nobles, we can’t go any further."
I reopened the carriage down and stepped out. "Why is that?"
"We’re wanted n in all Viridale, little lord" Dar replied. "Our heads will be on a block by sundown if we took another step further."
That was probably true.
"Well... what will you do then?"
"We’re waiting on you to tell us, Master Rin."
"Oh... Right."
I reached into the carriage and pulled out another purse, then tossed it to Brenn. A wide grin quickly reappeared on his face.
"If you hear anything about any survivors of House Daevalia, send word to imdiately," I ordered the n.
"Understood."
After a second, I quickly added, "If there’s anyone else looking for them, let know too."
"Sure thing, little lord."
One by one they patted on the shoulder, which was probably their way of saying goodbye. When Theo ca forward, he whispered a ssage in my ear.
"If you need , send a ssage to Frey’s Coven. Ask for the recipe for a good night’s sleep."
"Al... right."
Without another word, the trio began their march back.
*****
The large golden gates of the Imperium Magic Academy lood ahead of . They were beautifully designed and tall enough to intimidate anyone.
But at the mont, I was more concerned about the fact that they were closing. Slowly.
I sprinted towards the gate, having parked my carriage at the designated spot. My hair was now quite ruffled, and my well polished boots were totally covered with dust.
"Wait!" I yelled out to the guards, "Don’t close it."
The guards at the gate slowly turned around, one of them staring at in confusion, like I was a lost sheep.
Their pause was just what I needed.
I arrived in ti before the gates closed completely, squeezing myself through the tiny gap left between the two swings.
"Na?" one of the guards asked as I recovered from my sprint. Apparently, I wasn’t as famous as I thought.
"Aldrin," I replied. "Of House Stormborn"
The guards checked a small list. When they found my na, they gave a modest bow. "All students were expected to arrive before noon."
"I know. Where is the examination hall?"
One of the guards pointed in the direction of a large hall in the distance.
"Thank you." I nodded.
From the gates of the Academy, one was first greeted by a large garden with a long straight cobblestone path right in the middle.
Students dressed in similar suits of varying colours clustered in separate little cliques. So looked like they had been casting spells right from birth, while others liked like they had no idea what magic was.
I weaved through them, drawing a little more stares than I anticipated. My ruffled hair and dusty shoes didn’t exactly scream noble heir.
Judging from their disapproving stares, I could tell that most had never been outside a castle a day in their lives.
A loud bell echoed all through the academy, it’s sound originating from a large belltower at the hall where I was headed.
That probably ant one thing.
The exam was about to start!
After one more final sprint, I arrived at the exam hall and slipped my way in through the large arched doorway.
The entire hall was filled with rows of desks, most of them occupied by new students who were about to take the test.
I silently slipped into one of the desks, but not before I was noticed by a fair skinned lady standing on an elevated platform at the north end, whose high-pitched voice bood throughout the hall.
"Lateness is highly discouraged in this academy."
Yeah, whatever.
One of the examiner pulled out a test paper and placed it on my desk.
"You have all decided to co here," the female voice bood again. "Not because of your bloodline, or your na, or your wealth. To be honest, most of you here have all three, but that is not what you are here for.
"You are all here to prove your worth. To make a na for your own selves. So of you will succeed. The rest of you, will fail."
I swallowed.
This was it. This was the entrance exam.
No magic tests. No weird battles. No fighting demons.
Just a piece of paper and pen.
I was afraid that my loss of magic would affect my entrance to the Academy. But now, that fear was over.
Or so I thought...
One final bell echoed through the hall, and the female instructor smiled.
"The first part of the entrance examination, begins now."
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