Inna grumbled as she looked at the walls of the corridor in dread.
"Ugh, are we there yet?"
They've been walking for about twenty moments and Inna was beginning to feel bored.
She wasn't tired from the walking.
Just bored.
"Heeeeeeeyyyy, are we there yet?"
Raghnall proceeded to ignore her question and kept walking.
She asked that question for about ten times already so he opted not to answer anymore.
After a quick turn at a corner, Raghnall stopped to look at Inna.
"Okay, before we go, I need to give you some tips."
"Finally!"
Inna looked at him with an eyebrow raised but she urged him to continue.
"Okay, so first and foremost, the professor that is teaching the subject is Professor Gnarly. And just like his name, his attitude is gnarly as well. He is the second strictest and meanest professor in the academy, next to Elder Fang. And it doesn't help that they're best friends in this academy. So, if you offend him, good luck to you and your future prospects in this academy."
Inna's face had a sour look.
Great.
Juuuuust great.
This professor Gnarly sound like someone I can TOTALLY get along with.
"Next, he doesn't like anyone commenting about his... uhm, height… Or actually, the lack of it…. Pffftttt…"
Raghnall held in his laughter as he recalled that old geezer's reaction only getting better year after year.
"Trust me, I've done that countless of times so I know how much he hates it."
Inna threw a confused look at him but he didn't seem to notice as he went on.
"So, no jokes or any references about his height in front of him. He's very very sensitive about it. Next, when you take the test, just try to smile and not talk. He always finds fault in everything so you'll have to get used to it and avoid getting offended… or worse, counter-attacking."
"Heck, even royalty, who received countless of lessons on proper etiquette were deemed barely passable in his eyes. So, don't feel too bad… and besides, it'll be a fun experience!"
…for you and for me… hehe…
Raghnall thought darkly.
"And, lastly, there are two phases of the test. First is the written one but don't worry, there are choices to choose from. So, if you don't know, just pick wherever choice you feel is the right answer. The written test will tackle the Anemolian Laws and Social Morals part. And depending on his mood, he might even add a bit of questions regarding Etiquette."
"The second phase is the presentation one. Its the part where you have to show the proper actions to do given his instructions. This one, well, let's just say its the fun part."
Inna suddenly had a bad feeling when he said that.
This 'fun' part is suspicious…
Feeling Inna's squinted eyes on him, Raghnall immediately changed the subject.
"Now since that's done, let's go!"
He grabbed her hand and dashed towards the room filled with multiple layers of barriers. He didn't forget to coat Inna and himself with the barrier nullification spell as they easily ran through them.
Then, when they passed through the last barrier, the magic array was activated and they immediately teleported towards the testing site.
When they arrived, Inna looked at Raghnall in shock.
"What was that?!"
"Hmmm?"
"Did you teleport us?"
Inna looked around her and saw that they were in a greenhouse of some sort. The building's walls was all glass but the outside was nothing but a heavy white fog. And inside, Inna was surrounded by different kinds of plants that are a bit huge in comparison with the plants she saw on earth.
In fact, there were lots of flowers that had petals that were as long as her forearm!
Raghnall proceeded to walk forward as he tugged on their joined hands.
"Nah, that wasn't my magic. It was most probably the Professor's. Some professors are bullies to the Rose class students so they purposely use spells and seals to prevent us from entering the class. They claim it as a measure to keep non-Rose class students away but in reality, they're obviously just testing us."
"Earlier, there were about five barriers set up. They were power level specific which means that if the barrier senses that you have enough ability to surpass that certain power level then, you're able to pass freely. If your power level falls short by a small margin, you can try and break or nullify the barrier with certain spells. Hence, if you weren't coated by my oh-so amazing spell of barrier nullification, then, you wouldn't be able to cross it even if you tried for a thousand of years!"
Inna rolled her eyes at his bragging.
Can he explain things without going all narcissistic for once?
Seeing Inna's unimpressed expression, Raghnall coughed awkwardly before continuing.
"Ehem. Then, after we crossed the last barrier, it transported us to the testing site which was the Plant Sanctuary."
"Plant Sanctuary?"
"Yeah. This is a place where all plants that was discovered by scholars were planted as a way to document them and to further study them. Most of them look pretty and enchanting but there are those that are poisonous as well. Don't worry though, the poisonous plants are secluded in a certain spot with an air-tight multi-layered barrier. Also, the plants' poison making functions are sealed and regulated. They are only unsealed during the night time where no one is present in the area."
"Why is this dangerous place the testing site of all places? Why not a normal room?"
"Well, Professor Gnarly is fond of plants and he likes sniffing and talking to them in his spare time."
Ugh, sounds like a crack head to me.
Inna snickered at the thought.
"So, it all works out well because he gets less stressed here than in a room. In fact, I think most students persuaded him to make this the testing site because of that fact."
After speaking, Raghnall suddenly stopped walking.
He turned around and looked at her with a serious face.
"Remember, no jokes and no counter attacks. Just smile and be quiet. Oh and, one last, whatever he says, no matter how funny, you must not laugh. At. All."
Inna nodded her head obediently like a good girl. But then, she broke out into a smile because she couldn't help but find an uncanny resemblance of his expression to the serious face of Solomon when he told her his rules.
Satisfied with the angelic smile he saw, Raghnall proceeded to walk forward, not knowing that he'll soon be regretting it.