Time flew by and in the blink of an eye two months passed, it was early morning when Ray was suddenly awoken by Aaron.
"Wake up Ray, registration are in 3 days, if we don't go now we will be late."
Hearing that they would be going to school, Ray was very excited, although he had already experienced a lifetime worth but this world made his knowledge useless, all he could use is common sense and being smarter than kids his age, but he is as clueless as any other in the affair of magic, mages, the towers or anything else. so everyone goes to school to learn about it. So even though Ray is quite old in terms of age, his knowledge is the same as other kids his age.
"Am coming!" Ray went to the bathroom, took a quick bath before running down the stairs.
"Ah Ray, come sit." Lune had her trademark beautiful smile on her face, she seemed genuinely happy.
After eating breakfast Aaron and Ray made themselves ready to go, Lune just stood at the door waving them off, for the last 10 years they have been hunting so much so that they have enough gold to give Ray the best education possible and they barely managed to pull it off.
"Have a safe trip, do visit in the vacation Ray!"
"En, I will mom, bye, see you!" Ray and Aaron moved to the city gates and where the took a Mana cart to Rune City.
Rune City is the largest city in The Kingdom of Mew, founded by the Time Sage, Lyn Mew. Rune City is build around the Tower Of Kings, these towers are everywhere around the world . There are a total of 21 towers around the world, but the one in Rune City is definitely the most used. because of the location of the tower being at the center of 6 kingdoms it is a hotspot for Climbers and Divers.
After a 3 day ride with the mana cart, they made it to Rune City, when Ray first saw the city and the magnificent structure piercing the clouds, Ray had no words, the City looked like a cleaner version of modern society on earth, the air was clean and instead of electricity the city runs on mana and beast cores.
'This is much more beautiful than the most known places on Earth, this world, is a paradise.' Ray thought while looking at the city.
Aaron who noticed his reaction let out a laugh "Ray, this is where you will be living for the next few years, remember, don't leave the school grounds alone and never go into places such as alleys and such where there are not many people. Underneath this beauty is something you have no business with. Remember, always stay at school grounds unless you are in need of things, don't go out."
"Do they not fear the Academy?" Ray looked confused, normally when it is such a famous place, the safety of the students or guaranteed.
"That is not important, while they won't do much to you if they know you are a student of the Academy, but there are always those that do not fear or those that try their luck in desperation, never put your trust in the system Ray, The system can only stop regular people, powerful ones or those with deep backgrounds don't fear it. Look out for yourself Ray." Aaron stroked his head as he looked him deep in his eyes.
Ray now understood what Aaron meant. 'I see, because the security and power of the US military and police not many people dared to cause trouble, even murder was a rare during the later years of my life. I was mistaken believing both world would have the same values and same security, no wonder people go into the tower, they need to protect themselves by getting stronger, even when the danger levels are way higher than when practicing outside.' "I understand dad, I will be careful."
'wmmmmmm' "Alright people, we have arrived at Rune City, don't forget your belongings and have a pleasant stay in Rune City." After the mana cart stopped Ray and Aaron went towards the academy, the registration had already started and the deadline is today, so they both rushed there on smaller mana carts meant to be used inside the city. after a 30 minute ride they arrived at the registration office.
"Hello there, how may I help you." a good looking young man came forward, he had the academy uniform on and looked to be someone in his later years.
"Hello, I would like to register my son for the entrance exam." Aaron politely answered, he could feel that the person in front of them was not much weaker than himself.
"Ah, please go the room number 3 and wait in line."
"Many thanks, let's go Ray."
"En"
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.....
After waiting for 5 more hours, it was finally their turn to register. after they went into the room there was another person there, but he looked very short, he was barely taller than Ray but Aaron could feel his strength, that person was without any doubt an Archmage and a very powerful on at that.
"Welcome, registration fee is 100 Gold, yearly fees for the school is 5000 Gold, how many years would you like to register?"
'HOLY SHIT, 5000 A YEAR? AND 100 JUST TO TRY FOR THE TEST? THIS IS A RIP OFF!!! FUCK' Ray was speechless, even if parents worked non-stop for 5 years they would only assemble 5000 gold, a single gold can cover expenses for a year in their household.
"6 years please, as for the examination fee, here it is."
"Name?"
"Ray River."
"Age, Gender"?
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....
"Alright you need to be at the academy entrance hall at 6 in the morning, Being late is not acceptable, your right to take the exam will be revoked and no refund will be giving. Your examination hall is number 16."
"Many thanks, let's go Ray." Aaron pulled Ray's hand while getting out of the room, behind in the room the the man who just completed their registration was looking in Rays direction with some curiosity a d anticipation. "Light and what seems like thunder attribute, let's hope his affinity with them is good enough, he could be one very useful player in the school wars in a few years." "NEXT"
"Dad, how long does it normally take, the examination?"
"They will definitely test your Attribute and Affinity after which there will be a tournament between the those that pass to determine the individual strength, the higher you place the more resources you will get."
"We have to fight? but I can't cast any magic yet." Ray was depressed, if they fought with magic, he would not be anyone's match.
"Ray, you seem to misunderstand the term 'Mage', a Mage is not one who only uses magic, such mages need to either be very talented or have a very power background. but even they would not just go for the magic, because a weak body will be a huge weakness , so we mages need to strengthen our bodies together with your mana, if your body is weak, it does not matter how strong your magic is, you won't survive long. so the majority of mages focus on their bodies as much as their magic, some more on one subject than the other, but very, very few actually go one path only. It is too risky."
"I see, so I can use my daggers?"
"ofcours, remember, get a high spot but not the highest, don't draw too much attention to yourself, you need to keep your safety in mind." Aaron warned him, the world was not a great place.
"En" Ray naturally understood what Aaron meant, if he managed to take first place, many people will try to manipulate him for their own uses, if he, as a president did not understand such basic logic, he would have never been one.
"Alright go rest, tomorrow you have to go to the examination site, only the examinees are allowed to enter from the outsiders."
"oke, goodnight dad."
"night"