Roq P.O.V
I woke up feeling slightly different than usual; a feeling of annoyance and irritation seemed to dance around my mind as I looked heavily dejected; I laid on the bed for a few minutes as I kept thinking as to how I would get into Dawn academy, as I only had 6 more days left till the examination.
3 years..., that how long I had been saving, for god-forsaken years! I had only barely managed to scrape half of the entrance fee for Dawn academy; it broke me down through and through.
The choice of hope really looked hopeless for me as it left no more time to cough up the money needed.
I laughed internally at myself, knowing that there wasn't much hope from the get-go. The road was already narrow, and my chances were as slim as a thread. If others knew what I was trying to accomplish, they would say it was a futile effort, but I was far too ambitious to give up.
My mind was slowly resigning to its disappointment, but my heart refused; It refused to resign because of something so damned, something so mundane and material. My effort had already gone too far for me to resign, but all this was just wishful thinking.
I knew that unless a miracle unlike any seen before were to happen, getting into Dawn academy was nothing but a pipe dream, and the price will force my ambitions and aspiration into an early resignation. I chose not to think about my unfortunate dilemma and just got cleaned up and headed down for breakfast.
Getting downstairs, I could see a new face in the house... 'Another stray soul' I thought, it was not a shock for Maryl to pick up someone desperate from the streets and shelter them for a day; it was just a matter of when will fate throw the next one at her, so to speak.
I stared at him for a second; noticing how he had an eye cover on, I assumed he was blind until he turned his head straight at me and gave me a brief nod. His stature was imposing but not overbearing; his hair was akin to fresh snow without a speck of dust to be seen on it.
His presence was not forceful but rather soothing and attuned with his surrounding, making it comfortable for those around him. It really creeped me out, knowing that there was someone this calm and in sync with his surrounding to the point where it seemed abnormal.
I tried to feel his magus stage, but I was left clueless. There are only three scenarios where this occurs; the first is if the scanned person has no magus stage achievements. Second, the scanned person has a higher magus achievement than that of the one scanning.
The last is if the scanned person has a far higher density and purity of his/her mana. Judging from what I could tell from the phenomenon he created around himself, it certainly couldn't be the first possibility; else, he would not be able to create such an anomaly.
Understanding it was one of the final two, I couldn't help but be amazed as I couldn't feel even a sliver of it! Even those in the higher class of the same age do not have it this dense and pure, as I could still feel theirs, although thinly for those high-class citizens nurtured intensively.
I sat, and our breakfast went by quickly, and the teen beside me named Clovis. He brought up a matter regarding Dawn academy as my dejected state momentarily returned though, I was nevertheless interested.
He intended to take the exam like myself, as he said he is confident in his capabilities and certain the test would not be a challenge for him; I was shaking. Not because of his confidence, but rather because of the question that followed from him shortly after.
"Ah... By the way, do you know the contents of the exam?"
I froze on hearing this as I thought, who in their right mind takes an exam and does not know what the exam entails?! It was either absolute confidence or unhinged stupidity, but Clovis made it look more like absolute confidence.
"Eh... This is a joke, right?!"
"Clovis is not from here, Roq, so naturally, he will be unaware of the contents," Maryl stated, explaining Clovis' lack of knowledge.
And so that was how I began to explain from the beginning of the basics to complicated matters. Clovis eventually spoke on the difference between us in the low-class and those in the higher class. There was no difference; we were all just human.
And so that was how I began to explain from the beginning of the basics to complicated matters. Clovis eventually spoke on the difference between us in the low-class and those in the higher class. There was no difference; we were all just human.
All went smooth as Clovis seemed to get the point, and I became shook to my core. Not because of anything else, but due to the question he asked next.
"Hey Roq, can I borrow the money you saved up?"
"huh??!"
"I can make you richer than what you could dream!"
As he said this, I couldn't help but look at Clovis as if looking at a fool, his words had a feeling of assurance behind it, but I could not deem it credible and sufficient to sacrifice five years of my labour and effort.
I hesitated even though I had essentially made up my mind, and nothing anyone said would make me waver; I hardened my resolve. The sly smile on Clovis's face was quite unnerving no matter what a person says.
"Roq, look, I know you don't know me, nor do you trust me... but believe me when I say at the very least I can get you into Dawn academy. I need you to take this risk."
Truth be told, I could sell something in any one of the cubes for a hefty price, but there was no need to be wasteful with the items in there, so Roq's savings were the only choice.
"Just this once."