For several hours, they flew over the vast forest until a gigantic meadow came into view.
(Karlo): This should be far enough. Liber, you can descend now.
They landed a short distance before the end of the forest. Karlo then dismounted from Liber's back.
(Karlo): Alright, we'll do it like always. Stay hidden until I return. I should be back shortly before nightfall. If anyone sees you, take to the skies as fast as you can.
(Liber): Kryu.
(Karlo): I'll get going, then. See you later.
(Liber): Kryaa!
Karlo stepped out of the forest and immediately looked up at the sky as he set foot on the meadow.
(Karlo): (It should be around six-thirty or so. The exam is at eight… looks like I'll have to pick up the pace.)
Karlo prepared himself to run. A gray magic circle appeared beneath his feet, strengthening the muscles in his legs. With a powerful burst, he began to sprint, accelerating faster and faster.
He continued running at full speed until he neared a massive city. As he approached, he gradually slowed down, and once he stopped, the spell faded.
At the city gate, there were two lines—one for carriages and wagons, and another for people on foot, all waiting to be allowed inside.
After a few minutes, it was Karlo's turn. The city guards wore red tunics with golden buttons and white trousers, along with pieces of armor covering their shoulders and legs. They also wore helmets and carried large magical rifles strapped to their backs.
(Guard): Documents, please.
Karlo took a metal identification card from his pocket. At first glance, it appeared blank, but when he released a small amount of mana into it, information began to surface. He then handed the card to the guard.
The guard spent a moment examining the document.
(Guard): Village "Paxies"? Ever heard of a village by that name?
(Guard 2): "Paxies," huh? Hmm… I think I've heard it before, but I have no idea where it is.
(Guard): If you don't know, how would I? Still, it doesn't look like a fake ID. Are you traveling alone?
(Karlo): Yes. I came to take the entrance exam for the Selenti Academy.
(Guard): May I see your certificate?
Karlo took a rolled document tied with a red ribbon from his pouch and handed it over.
(Guard): Everything checks out. Welcome to Alcarcia.
The guard returned Karlo's ID and certificate.
(Karlo): Could you tell me where the academy is?
(Guard): Go straight ahead to the central plaza, then take the avenue to the right. After that, go up the second street on the left and you'll reach the noble district. Walk forward a bit more and you'll see a fence made of brick and iron bars. Keep going straight and you'll reach the academy gate.
(Karlo): Thank you.
(Guard): Good luck on your exam.
Karlo entered the city.
(Karlo): I'd better hurry. If I arrive late, this trip will have been for nothing…
Suddenly, he heard something nearby. Without thinking twice, he changed direction and slipped into a dark, empty alley. A black magic circle appeared in the palm of his hand, and the space in front of him began to tear open, forming a portal. He stepped toward it.
A few minutes later, the portal opened beside a coliseum, and Karlo emerged from it.
(Karlo): (I get that this used to be a coliseum, but to think there are so many of them around here…)
Moving away from the coliseum, which is located near a small wooded area, he saw several young people heading toward a massive building divided into two wings, standing at the end of a long path paved with yellow bricks.
(Karlo): (So this is the place… it's much bigger than I expected.)
He followed the path to the entrance. There, several teachers were guiding the examinees to the classrooms where they would take the test.
(Karlo): (Looks like she's not here. Could she be supervising one of the classrooms? If so, all the better. I'll finish this as quickly as possible and head back home.)
(Professor): Your certificate, please.
Karlo handed it over, and the professor quickly checked it.
(Professor): Left wing, second floor, classroom 3-B. Good luck on your exam.
Karlo headed toward the assigned classroom. When he arrived, several candidates were already waiting. Everyone in his classroom was a commoner.
Karlo took a seat at one of the desks in the back and waited for the exam to begin.
Not long after, a female teacher entered the classroom.
(Professor): Attention, everyone. Before we begin, I will explain how the exam will proceed. The written test consists of eighty questions, and you will have four hours to complete it. At 10:00 a.m., those who have finished may leave and will be free until 1:00 p.m., when the practical test begins. It will take place in the arena beside this building. Only pens are allowed on your desks. If you mark two answers on the same question, that question will be invalid—even if one of them is correct. There are magical monitoring devices on the ceiling and walls. If you attempt to cheat, you will be caught immediately and fail the exam on the spot. That is all. Good luck to you all.
A green magic circle appeared in her palm, and the exam papers flew onto each candidate's desk. Moments later, the signal rang and the test began.
Many examinees were nervous and frightened, but Karlo remained completely calm.
(Karlo): (Hmm… eeny, meeny, miny, moe… let's go with this one.)
Karlo finished the exam exactly at ten o'clock. He and several other candidates handed in their papers and left the classroom.
(Karlo): Yawn (Nothing to do until the practical test starts. I'll find a comfortable tree and take a nap…)
(Scoundrel 1): Hey, isn't that her over there? That girl who's the daughter of one of Count Bralz's mistresses?
(Scoundrel 2): You mean ex-count, right? After what happened, he lost all his titles. Serves him right.
(Scoundrel 3): Why did they even allow the daughter of someone who disgraced the nobility to take this exam? And since when are commoners allowed into the academy? Until last year, only legitimate nobles could take the entrance exam. But because of this change, people like her are starting to get in…
(Scoundrel 2): Relax. I highly doubt she'll pass anyway. She'll be gone soon enough.
Karlo noticed three noble girls wearing blue uniforms talking about a girl with blue eyes and long brown hair, with a white fringe covering her right eye. She was sitting alone on a bench near the building's entrance, a sorrowful expression on her face. She had clearly noticed people speaking badly about her.
Karlo glared at the three girls with a cold expression. When they realized he was staring at them, they immediately dispersed.
(Karlo): Mind your own asses before talking shit about others.
He headed toward the building's entrance, passing by the girl.
(Karlo): Don't just stand there listening to them insult you.
Before the girl could even look at him, Karlo had already left the building.
He returned to the wooded area, climbed onto the branch of a tree, and took a nap.
After a few hours, the signal sounds, announcing the start of the practical test. Everyone heads toward the old coliseum located within the academy grounds. The examiners are already there, along with several senior students seated in the stands, having decided to watch the practical exam.
Karlo notices that one of the examiners is a woman with purple hair streaked with pink and light pink eyes. She notices him as well and discreetly waves with a smile.
(???): It seems most of you are already here, so I'll begin explaining the practical test. It is quite simple in concept, but that doesn't mean it will be easy. Your objective is to hit those test dummies from a distance of at least 20 meters. Each of you will have five attempts. If you land at least three hits, you will pass. That is all you need to know.
(Examiner 4): Since starting this year the number of candidates is higher, to save time, five people will take the test simultaneously, and each of us will evaluate you individually. There are enough test dummies for everyone, so there's no need to compete over them. Just focus on passing.
(Examiner 5): Without further delay, we will begin the tests.
The examiners begin calling the candidates.
(???): Candidate 1, Noiren Valenkar, step forward.
(Karlo): (I'm number 378… looks like I won't be going home anytime soon. At least I'll get to see the level of magical power people have here. Still, there's something different about those dummies—there's magic surrounding them.)
A noble raises both arms toward the test dummy, and a large red magic circle appears in the palms of his hands.
(Noble): Sagitta Ignis! "Fire Arrow!"
A flaming arrow forms in front of him and rapidly flies toward the target, but the spell collides with something and dissipates before even hitting it.
(Noble): What the—?
(???): You still have four attempts. Hurry up.
The examiner is a man with brown hair and eyes. He has a large burn scar on the right side of his face and wears an eyepatch.
(Noble): Irritated Damn it, then I'll go all out!
He casts the same spell four more times, but only two of them hit the target.
(???): You have failed. Leave immediately.
(Noble): Panting What do you mean?! I hit the target every time!
(???): Are you sure? I only see two successful hits. I'll say it one last time—leave immediately.
The boy storms out of the arena in a rage.
(Candidate 143): To think Professor Whiler would be one of the examiners…
(Candidate 85): He's terrifying.
(Candidate 252): But why did he fail? He hit the dummy every time, didn't he?
(Karlo): (This exam isn't as boring as I thought.)
Some time passes, and only eleven people have passed so far.
(Examiner 1): Candidate 25, Melyssa Bland, you're next.
A girl with orange hair and purple eyes prepares to cast a spell—but in an unconventional way. She draws a sword sheathed at her waist, and a red magic circle appears in her left hand.
(Melyssa):Ignis aeternus qui mundum calefacit, sanguinem meum, carnem meam, animam meam tibi offero; in vicem, partem potentiae tuae ardentis desidero, ut malum quod hunc mundum affligit expurgem: Lamina furoris ferventis!"Eternal fire that warms the world, I offer you my blood, my flesh, my soul; in return, I desire a fragment of your burning power, to purge the evil that afflicts this world: Blade of Scorching Fury!"
Suddenly, her sword blade ignites. She swings it, and the flames detach from the blade in the shape of a concave arc, striking the dummy but leaving no burns—not even a scratch.
(Examiner 1): You still have four attempts remaining.
She repeats the same chant, but this time releases the spell diagonally instead of vertically. The fiery trail flies toward the dummy and hits it again; this time, the dummy's right shoulder catches fire.
(Candidate 412): That one hit… are there certain points you can damage and others you can't?
She performs the spell two more times, and each time she manages to burn part of the dummy.
(Examiner 1): You passed. Congratulations. You may go home, or if you wish, stay and watch the other candidates.
(Melyssa): I'll stay. I'm excited to see who else passes.
(Examiner 1): Very well. You may head to the stands and watch from there.
She leaves the arena and heads toward the stands.
(Karlo): (She did pretty well. Incantations make spells easier to control and help maintain stability… but they also have drawbacks.)
As time passes, the exam continues. Several candidates pass, but most fail.
(Whiler): You passed. You may leave.
(Candidate 371): Yes! I did it! I can't believe I passed!
He leaves, overflowing with joy.
(Whiler): Candidate 376, Fernanda. Your turn.
(Fernanda): R-Right… She looks quite nervous.
(Karlo): (She's the girl I saw sitting on the bench…)
She raises her arms toward the dummy, and a white magic circle forms in her hand.
(Fernanda): Sacrum Cannonem! "Sacred Cannon!"
A powerful beam of light strikes the dummy, leaving a small hole in its center.
For a brief moment, Whiler looks impressed, but quickly regains his composure.
In the stands, three unpleasant figures watch.
(Scum 2): Tsk She doesn't even try to hide it. She thinks she can compare herself to us just because part of her blood is noble.
The girl starts to grow nervous.
(Whiler): You still need two more hits. Continue.
(Fernanda): Ah—yes, sorry.
(Fernanda): Sacrum Cannonem! "Sacred Cannon!"
She fires another powerful beam, but misses.
(Noble): Laughs.
(Noble 2): Looks like that first spell was just luck. Obviously it wouldn't work twice.
(Scum 3): Muttering Just leave already. Nobody wants your filthy blood walking around here.
The girl lowers her head, holding back tears.
(Karlo): (I know my parents told me not to cause trouble, but it's hard. Every word those stuck-up boars speak just makes me want to hit them more.)
(Whiler): You still have three attempts. Just focus.
(Fernanda): Okay.
She takes a deep breath and fires her last three shots. Two of them manage to damage the dummy.
(Whiler): You passed. Congratulations.
(Fernanda): Thank you. She smiles happily.
She leaves the arena and heads home. Many seem displeased with her approval.
(???): Candidate 378, Karlo. Your turn.
(Karlo): Finally.
He walks over to the purple-haired examiner.
(Karlo): Honestly, I'm at my limit. I need to vent my anger fast.
(???): Go ahead. The dummy is all yours.
Karlo closes his eyes and lets his arms relax.
(Karlo):(Absorb as much mana as possible. Visualize the target—left side of the head, waist, right shoulder. The magic in those areas is weaker; they're the most vulnerable points of the barrier. Visualize the spell reaching those locations. Use a large amount of mana and keep it as concentrated as possible.)
(Karlo): Right. My mother told me not to hold back, so how about I show them something interesting?
(???): The examiner laughs.
A black magic circle appears in the palm of Karlo's right hand. Soon after, a thick, dark mass forms around him, taking the shape of three small spheres. They rush toward the target, piercing the barrier at its weakest points before returning to their original form. Within moments, the mass completely envelops the dummy, forming a kind of cocoon. When the spell ends, the mass dissolves and disappears—and the dummy is gone.
(Whiler): Surprised Dark magic?
(Candidate 311): Shocked What kind of spell was that? What happened to the dummy?
(Candidate 252): It just vanished.
(Candidate 261): He didn't even recite an incantation…
(Karlo): The test was to hit the target at least three times. Nobody said they couldn't be three at once.
(???): You passed. Congratulations—though that was obvious.
(Karlo): Finally. I just want to get home and rest.
He heads toward the exit.
(???): Give your mother a hug for me.
(Karlo): Sure. I hope we see each other again soon. You should visit the village once in a while—everyone misses you.
(???): On my next day off, I will. I promise.
Night has already begun to fall when Karlo leaves the city. Upon reaching the place where he left Liber, he whistles to call him.
Liber suddenly emerges from a tangled mass of bushes, completely dirty and covered in leaves and twigs.
(Liber): Kryaa!
(Karlo): Laughs Let me guess—hunting insects again? Looks like I'll have to give you another bath. But that can wait until tomorrow. Today was exhausting and stressful.
Karlo climbs onto Liber's back. Liber quickly takes flight, heading back toward Paxies.
That night, a meeting is taking place in the academy's council room. Present are professors, coordinators, and the director.
The director is an elderly man with a thick gray beard, short hair, and yellowish eyes.
(Dir. Roume): So, how was this year's exam?
(Whiler): It was quite impressive, if I may say so. As always, most nobles passed both the written and practical exams without much difficulty. As for the commoners, fewer passed than I expected, but some of those who did scored well above average.
(Examiner 4): Especially during the practical test. There were many talented candidates—both nobles and commoners. Here, these are the ones who stood out the most.
He hands several records to the director.
(Dir. Roume): Hmm… 14. Marta Vastoz, 36. Johan Liubent, 212. Gabriel, 376. Fernanda, 378. Karlo…
(Examiner 5): Marta Vastoz was expected—her family lineage is filled with great sorcerers. Liubent comes from a family of dukes from the Kingdom of San Fiore. Their specialty is summoning magic. We were surprised when he summoned a Lunar Fairy and ordered it to use magic against the dummy. Finding one is difficult enough—forming a contract with one is even harder.
(Examiner 4): Gabriel stood out because he managed to use two different elements simultaneously. Even if his spells weren't particularly impressive, being able to wield two elements at that age—especially as a commoner—is impressive on its own.
(Whiler): Fernanda is the daughter of the former Count Bralz. She caught my attention because she managed to damage part of the barrier where it was most reinforced. It obviously couldn't stop an experienced sorcerer, but it also wasn't weak enough to be destroyed by a few mediocre spells.
(Dir. Roume): I see. He glances at Karlo's file. You mentioned that someone from your village named Karlo would be taking the exam this year. Could this be him, Professor Silvia?
(Silvia): Yes, Director Roume. That's him. He easily destroyed one of the exam dummies, just as I told you he would.
(Dir. Roume): Laughs It seems you truly meant what you said about him.
(Whiler): A dark magic user… I never thought I'd see one in this country again—at least not in public.
(Examiner 1): And to think the dummy was simply swallowed. I know any magic can be dangerous, but isn't dark magic especially risky? Not to mention, he seems somewhat aggressive.
(Silvia): It's fine. He may have a short temper, but he understands there's a limit. Could he get into trouble from time to time? Yes. But he's a good boy. You can trust me.
(Dir. Roume): Well, if Professor Silvia says so, then we can give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, having someone like him in this academy might prove… interesting.