Having my curiosity settled, I hear another set of foot steps appear nearby.
"Its you?" a surprised voice can be heard.
A young man with short blond hair and a handsome face can be seen with an uncertain expression, his age is actually similar to mine.
"Gerald Neumann" I mutter, I recall the contents of my memory and remember he had attended the same college as myself before I dropped out, he had been in a few classes with the ex host, he's a little arrogant but overall mainly ignores others.
"Well, its no surprise you remember me" laughing, Gerald continues.
"But I didn't think it was true? I heard how you dropped out due to insufficient funds before applying for the scholar exam in desperation, having been forced to witts end and all"
"But isn't it a waste of gold?, don't you need it, to I don't know, buy this weeks food?" Looking smug, Gerald says loudly,
Although it seems like he's picking fault, but I can tell he isn't intentionally trying to embarrass me, he just doesn't care and says what's on his mind, he doesn't think anyone's worth his despise.
"Thanks for your concern, but I am indeed intending to pass the exam, don't mind the rumors" Nodding, I don't act arrogant and fly into a rage, because I understand the consequences.
The current me has no ability, if I were to somehow offend some noble, Id be found in a ditch by next morning.
"Hmmm, Oh, is that Savanah Chiaro?" Seemingly lost interest with this old class mate, Gerald ignores me and walks off, he didn't even glance at Callum once.
"Uhhh??" A suspicous look can be seen in Callums eyes.
"haha, dont mind it, I did indeed drop out of college but rumors are rumors afterall" shaking my head, I smile to him.
"Indeed, enough rumors can turn false into truths" Saying these words, Callums eyes narrow. His eyes contain a deeper meaning.
"But I've heard of Gerald before, The third son of Fred Chiaro, his father is a peak expert of the Martial Master realm" quickly, he changed topic.
"Already 20 yet taking the scholar exam like you"
"But unlike me, Gerald is already a stage four Martial Artist" I pause for a second.
"Is what you wanted to say right?" Raising a brow, I look at him.
"hah, no,no, ofcourse not" waving his hand, Callum turns away as he tries to hide his laugh.
"Beeep"
Static can be heard from some speakers that are stationed around the east district central square. An Oldman with glasses steps up onto a podium placed at the centre.
Everyone in the square begins to quieten down, as they await instructions.
Holding what seems to be a microphone, the Oldman clears his throat before speaking.
"The Scholar exam will now be open, for those of you who are wishing to partake in the scholar exam please enter through the Training field on the right"
"No punishment will be disputed to those who wish to forfeit the exam, but you are unable to receive your funds back"
"Now follow the gentleman below in an orderly fashion" There's no classy speech, no boring monologue, all cultivators are impatient.
Just a few simple instructions.
Hearing the Oldman's words, The middle aged man he is referring to is bald but has a long brown beard reaching his chest, he wears a light brown gown with a special badge indicating his status as an examinee.
With a signal, he gestures for others to follow him.
He enters a large open roofed building to the right, people don't dare break rules and rush, but they still try to push one another to be at the fore front.
Slowly, people order themselves in where they stand in the social hierarchy, I myself am at the back, but who wants to be at the forefront?
Shaking my head, It eventually becomes my turn to enter the building, there is a worker who stands at the entrance, I take out a letter of approval and hand it over, he checks the authenticity before telling me to enter.
Entering, what greets me is a huge field about the size of a football stadium. Several desks are scattered at one corner while training grounds cover the remaining areas.
"From Callums understanding, the test is composed of two parts"
"The first is the theory section which is written, then the second part of the test is practical experience"
Our group is guided to the desks that are all arranged with a number, we each have our own remembered, if you cant even remember your own desk number, what are you trying to be a scholar for?
"Number 196" I whisper, as I find my desk and sit.
Not far from me is Callum, who nods in my direction and mouths "Good luck", I just nod back with a "you too".
Besides everyone's desk are six piles of papers that are clipped together.
They indicate the subjects of history, geography, sciences, biology, maths and battle theory. Using mental energy I quickly scan all the contents.
"Yeah as I thought, The science and maths are very basic indeed, and its not suprising"
Having read the entire collection of Old Man Fu's book collection, I know science doesnt work in the same way as it did on earth.
Electricity is extremely weak on its own, Radio waves too arent strong enough to travel through the saint force in the air as its trapped and absorbed by it.
I first thought everyone focused on cultivation, but how could the geniuses who surpass the mortal realm be stupid?
Its just its difficult to get technology to function without arrays, and arrays need power in the form of spirit stones to function, how could the average person afford it? they cant.
5 minutes pass by and I've pretty much solved most questions without the exam even starting, a bell can be heard, signalling the start of the exam.
Taking a pen, I take the first stack of papers and begin filling them in slowly, I dont want attention drawn to me.
The last time after the battle between dark and light, everyone should be talking about it, especially so when a temple was burnt down.
When I was at the arena, only some small talk about a gas explosion happening nearby, but everyone else was reluctant to talk further.
But when I look at everyone here, these people are high up in the echolons so they should know that it wasnt any "gas explosion".
They know what really happened, but they dont talk about it, seemingly unaware, even Callum never mentioned anything, its as if it never happened or they're just pretending ignorance.
The only way to stop the spread of information is to force people, but who can order the entire kingdom not to speak of such a matter?
Theres only one such person,
"The king!" narrowing my eyes, I feel like the relation ship between the kingdoms are different than i thought.
Especially so when I looked at the map of the entire continent, I thought I was just unlearned in geography but according to the maps, the continent layout consists of Five kingdoms.
Surrounding the kingdoms is an endless forest, no map can be found of the forest.
The middle kingdom is the Holy nation, to the south is blue feather kingdom, the east is red feather kingdom, the west is green feather kingdom and lastly the north is purple feather kingdom.
Due to majoring in history, I know none of the kingdoms have ever declared war on one another.
"The continents history appeared 900 years ago, while anything before that has vanished"
"Or hidden!"
Did the holy nation really force the other kingdoms to accept their temples, or was it ordered? whos the true ruler of these feathered nations?
The more I think the more questions are raised, Its like a hidden hand is hiding somehwere, watching everyones movements.
Its best to stay low.
"Ding-Dong" the bell sounds, signalling the end of the theory exam.