When they got outside the house, a car had already been prepared, just waiting there on the street. Black, blue and with the ever familiar two headed eagle there was no doubt that it was owned by the Arkatal family.
Sophie got in the front seat while Kaden slipped into the back.
The car had plenty of space, especially since only two people were using it. As a luxury car there were no seat belts to speak of, the car had been deemed safe enough to forgo them. With tinted windows it was also impossible for anyone outside to see in, making it a very comfortable and relaxing ride.
In the middle there was a console where Sophie was already at work entering some numbers rapidly. Finishing the string of information, the car made a few noises before transformations started taking place. Most importantly, the wheels clicked sideways and with a swoosh the car was now hovering in the air, slowly increasing its distance to the ground.
Once it reached a suitable height it started flying towards the destination. Kaden watched through the window as the car took off and the mansion disappeared behind them.
Inside of the flying car, Kaden was enjoying the leisurely ride. Flying through the air meant that there wasn't any waiting in traffic.
The flying cars would communicate with each other and make sure no crashes would take place. Kaden's flying car also had priority. When taxi's or other privately owned cars steered onto his route, the other cars would stop or slightly adjust their route so that Kaden's car could continue unimpeded.
Since it was such an easy ride, they were soon approaching the academy. The closer they got, the more flying cars started to appear around in the skies. Initially they had been far away from the center of the planet, but now they were entering the urban area. It had only been 20 minutes, but the landscape went from mansions with plenty of space and backyards, to densely packed skyscrapers reaching far into the sky.
Soon they arrived at the school and were promptly cleared for landing. The flying car descended and took up a prime parking spot right in front of the academy's gate.
Kaden said goodbye to Sophie and hopped down from the car. He strode through the academy's gate, heading towards the registration area where other new students were being processed rapidly.
The academy was a mix of people from all over. Many people belonging to a worse societal class than Kaden. With a crest on his uniform he naturally stood out.
"Look at that guy! Isn't that a family crest?
"Wow! You're right. I see it too."
"That's the Arkatal family crest." One knowledgeable person spoke up.
Kaden enjoyed the attention on him. If he was supposed to be royalty, then it was natural for people to look up to and admire him.
The line quickly shortened and Kaden came up to a female attendant sitting at the registration desk.
"Hello, how can I help you?" The female attendant noticed the blue crest on his chest, quickly figuring out his identity, "Ahh, you must be Kaden."
Before he could even state his own idendity, the woman had already figured it out. She began entering a string of information on some device. "Please put your com device on this scanner here."
Kaden did as told and tapped his com against the scanner on the table.
"Have you decided which tests you want to take?" The attendant stopped tapping on her device and asked a question.
"Yeah I want to take the Force test." Burcham had already told him about the different available tests.
"Only that one?" The attendant tried to persuade him, "I advise you to take a few more tests. It'll increase your ranking."
"No it's fine." Kaden dismissed the attendant's concerns. He didn't really have any other talents. There was no reason to waste time on useless things.
"Okay. Let me just take a picture for your student ID." It wasn't her job to make him change his mind. Since she had already said her piece, she took the picture and finished the remaining procedures, "Go ahead to the testing room marked A, they are waiting for you."
Kaden said his thanks and left. The elites certainly enjoyed a difference in attitude from these workers. Kaden didn't even have to call out his own name for someone to notice and take care of his things. Judging by the attendant telling him that they were waiting, it also looked like he would be skipping the line.
Finding the testing room was easy. Temporary signs had been put up to guide the students around the school.
Today was merely registration day so there wouldn't be any classes for the new students. Classes had also yet to be allocated. This was why he was going to a testing room.
The classes were split into different levels. There were five common classes which were for the majority of the students. Then there were the two Special classes for gifted students. Finally there was the Elite class of which there was only one in every year.
Since there could only be 50 students in each class, the Academy believed this structure promoted competition between students. Everyone wanted to achieve the prestige of entering a better class. The harder everyone tried, the more the students would develop.
To ensure students didn't grow complacent, you could get pushed out of your class if someone overtook you on the rankings. These opportunities were available twice a year during the mid term exams and the final exams.
On registration day there were a few different tests that could be taken. Tests were available for the extracurricular subjects. This way students could take extra subjects and also receive a bonus to their ranking. It was a competitive environment so ranking was important. With a low rank, it'd be impossible to enter one of the better classes.
Most of the ones aiming for the Elite class had naturally chosen to take up one or two extra subjects. Kaden was dissapointed enough when he had found out that math, physics and the like were still mandatory subjects at the Academy. He had thought that he would be done with those when starting school and being free from his tutors. There was no way he was going to make it even worse for himself by voluntarily taking on the higher level math or physics courses.
In the end, strength was the most important. He was confident he could get into the Elite class by relying on his cultivation attainments.