Durin officially stepped through the gates of Piltover University.
This highest institution of Piltover, renowned across the Valoran continent, was invested in and built by the various Great House groups of the Council. Durin's first impression was that it felt like returning to a university on Earth; the entrance was inevitably a straight and wide main road, which then faced a majestic, towering domed spire building—and this building was surely the Administration Building.
The work of verifying Mage Apprentice qualifications was conducted within the first-floor lobby of the Administration Building.
Piltover University had over a dozen different departments. The most prominent among them were the five major blocks: the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Department of Crystal Structures, the Department of Geology and Mineral Resources, and the Department of Magical Science.
The other departments included a series of fields such as Medicine, Architectural Science, History, Culture and Art, Philosophy, and Jurisprudence.
Along the way, Durin compared the physical buildings with the map he had just memorized, figuring them out one by one.
From the Mechanical Engineering building to the exclusive laboratories of Chemical Engineering, from the development base of the Geology and Mineral Resources department to the university library, and the vast, ultra-large sports field—he wanted to have a clear mental grasp of every main road, every small path, and the exact distances between buildings.
Because this was not Zaun beneath the cliffs, and there were no alchemical pipelines running rampant in mid-air, the layout of these buildings was exceptionally important to Durin.
Durin stopped in front of the library, silently measuring the height of the tower before him and its respective distances to the surrounding buildings in his mind.
Atop the high, soaring spherical dome was a massive metal gear sculpture. A long, pointed lightning rod pointed straight into the sky, making it the highest point of the university.
"If I stood at the top of this building, I should be able to overlook the entirety of Piltover!" Durin thought to himself with a sigh of admiration.
After entering the first-floor lobby, Durin looked around. There were about twenty people.
There were examinees all around him. Most looked younger than Durin; the younger ones were leisurely crossing their legs and resting with their eyes closed, while men who were older or even surpassed Durin's age were nervously wiping sweat frequently. Most people of similar age were buried in the books in their hands, reviewing.
He was number 11, so he found a bench to sit on and waited without saying a word.
Durin then looked at the robot standing by the door. It was probably over two meters tall, its entire body cast from brass, with massive bolts, nuts, and gears pieced together.
Its right hand had been modified into a massive pincer, while its left hand consisted of thick brass fingers. A pair of faint blue eyes scanned the surroundings.
The examinees born in Piltover were fine, mostly ignoring it, but those examinees from poor backgrounds with limited experience stayed far away, casting looks of awe and fear at the robot.
Of course, according to what others said, that was merely an assistant robot.
However, at that moment, the robot suddenly spoke.
"Will all examinees please be prepared," it said in a mechanical and dull accent. "The assessment has officially begun."
As soon as these words were spoken, Durin's heart instantly leaped into his throat. He watched as people went in one by one; some came out with faces full of smiles, wearing a brand-new mage robe, while others came out dejected, and some were even wailing loudly and had to be carried out.
But Durin observed that there were far more unsuccessful losers, which made him slightly worried about his upcoming assessment.
Nearly half an hour later, someone finally called for number 11.
"Durin, from Ionia." The middle-aged woman wearing a monocle read the basic information from the profile in her hand. She then glanced at Durin's face to confirm it matched the grayish-white one-inch photo before continuing, "Preparing to verify Mage Apprentice qualifications... Hmm, no problems. Follow me."
After speaking, the middle-aged woman turned to leave. Durin followed behind her and entered a small room.
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