Chapter Twenty-Seven: Entrance Exam Part-I
~ One Week Later ~
Today is the day for the entrance test exam, and I am already here standing in front of the main gate of the academy. And the first thing that came to my mind seeing this was, "Woaaah! So this is the Magica Academy, the only academy in the Miscentia continent that teaches you everything one should know."
As you already know, Magica Academy is the only academy in the Miscentia continent. Here, one will learn the history of the Sapein kingdom and of the continent as well. Academy also teaches you about magic, things related to magic, and many, many more things.
But there's one thing you should know about the academy. Theory-based things like histories, concepts of magic, etc., are taught in the primary years (i.e., from twelve to fourteen.), And in the secondary years (i.e., from sixteen to eighteen), it's all about combat experience, learning practical based things, and many more events.
For a fact, most families take their child's admission in the secondary years. Since the fees and other expenses are too much (except noble families) if one takes admission from the primary years. Well, some noble families follow this method. In the end, it's a matter of family decision.
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After showing my invitation, I was allowed to go inside. And now I am being escorted by a senior student to where other participants are.
{Magica Academy is not located inside the city but outside the city since the academy has the largest compound and many infrastructures, and many other facilities. Even the royal palace is nothing compared to it.}
The kingdom has put a lot of money into making this academy, but I guess it's worth it. I haven't been into the academy before, even in my previous life, because that's how weak I was.
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10 minutes have passed, and I am in a huge hall waiting with other participants. It's pretty crowded here, and I cannot see what is happening in front. Suddenly I hear,
" Ahem…. Ahem…"
My gaze fell on the main stage and saw someone standing there wearing the same outfit when I first saw Instructor Linnea.
"Attention here, please; nice to meet you, everyone. I am professor Shira, and I heard that many students are here to get into the academy this time. Well, it's a good thing, but not everyone will be selected. "
*Murmuring of other students*
"What? Not everyone?....."
"...Do you know what test is it?"
"I don't know either…."
Professor Shira continues speaking,
"Following our tradition of the entrance exam for the new students, you need to give a test or task, and that task is a race."
Hearing that made everyone confuse, and they again started talking among themselves.
"Ahem…Please let me speak…."
Ugh! This time the professor is mad as she says this in a heavy tone.
"I know you all are confused but don't worry, we have assigned mentors who will help you out and make you understand what exactly needs to be done. The 43rd admission test for the year XX21 will start in two hours. See you all in a bit."
Saying that, she concludes her speech and walks off, and everyone starts clapping.
*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*
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It has been one hour since that speech, and every participants are with their mentor, and here I am, just sitting outside the hall on the stairs waiting for my mentor. Wait! Did she forget about me? "Sigh" well, let's just stay here.
Minutes later, I saw a girl with orange hair approaching me, holding a display pad.
"Hey you, you are Arturo Kei, right?"
I stood up and replied, "Yes."
Her height should be around 5'4 or so, and she is wearing the uniform but has one strip, which means a second year. This noticeable orange hair…. I have seen her somewhere.
"Okay, I am sorry for being late, but my self Chloe Aubert, a second-year and your assigned mentor. And yeah, you can just call me Chloe."
I nodded and said, " Looking forward to working with you. "
No wonder I know her, Chloe Aubert, a genius Tier-6 flame magic-user. She had played an important role when the war broke out. I also heard that she was like a role model for other students during her years in the academy
"So you are commoner, eh? Well, not that it matters, but if you are a splendid magic user, you will be treated equally; otherwise, you will be differentiated. I guess things will be harder for you as it is written that you are good at using sword and hand-to-hand combat."
Wait, how did? Oh, I see, the display pad, huh? So all my information is written here.
{Display pad, it's made up of special material on which you can write with mana and acts as a digital tablet with information on it.}
She winced and then asked me to follow her. So instructor Linnea did as I requested her to do
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"Well then, let me tell you what your task will be. As professor Shira said, it will be racing, but this is not an ordinary race."
Well, I expected that much.
"….. All you need to do is cross the white line to win while following rules in a normal race. But in this race, there are no rules. You can use your magic and also be allowed to hurt others to win the race."
"Isn't that a bit too much?" I asked her.
She chuckles and replies, "Is it so? But again, it all depends on individuals."
As the conversation ended, we had already reached the main building. The sliding door opened as we got near it, and we entered the main building. As I entered first thing I did was looking around. The main hall is wide, and many flags on the walls represent the academy's logo. Two stairways leading to the next floor, and each and everything is pretty. But the hall is crowded. I guess it is because both students and the examinees are in here.
Chloe then turns around and asks me, "Isn't it impressive?" I distracted myself from looking around and looked at her and replied, "Yes, it is."
"Right? Could you please wait here? I will be back soon." Saying that she goes off somewhere and disappears in that crowd.
When I first saw this academy for the first time, it was in rumbles. It was the main building that I first saw in the whole academy's compound cause all other buildings were destroyed. Destruction of the academy was a significant loss for the continent.
"Sorry for the wait, Kei and here is your group information." Saying that, she hands over that display pad to me. As I looked at it, she commented, "It is sad to see that even luck is not on your side."
[ GROUP – K
Artemis Windsward
Charlene D'Vincent
Mason Bret
Arturo Kei
Tucker David ]
"You will be going against Charlene and Artemis, and both of them are----"
Charlene, eh? That's some coincidence meeting both my party/team members, Artemis and Charlene. "Chuckles"
"Are you even listening to me?
Crap! I didn't hear a single thing she said but then lets reply with,
"Yes, Yes."
She sighs, and then we hear a sudden announcement.
"The Entrance Examination will commence shorty. It is requested that all examinees gather at the test site. Your mentors shall guide you to the test site." An announcement was made by someone from the academy.
Hearing that announcement, everyone starts walking towards the test site. Following that, Chloe also guides me. IT WAS YET ANOTHER HUGE ROOM when I reached in there, but the build was different from the hall. The test site had different small floors built around the room. There's also a portal in between that room.
(That huge portal inside the room is nothing but spatial magic. One use of spatial magic is like a portal that can teleport or take you to a different location. But there are restrictions like the user should remember the area very well to make a portal to that location.)
{Spatial magic is said to fall under space magic.}
".....As mentioned, the task is a race that will take place in the great plains of Solemn. The main objective of this task is to cross the white line faster than everyone else in your group or before the time is up. You will get a maximum of 15 minutes, and the finish line is 6 kilometres away from the starting point…."
*The crowd starts murmuring*
"only 15 minutes?"
"Isn't that bit too much?"
"....You may use magic during the race, and using magic attacking other competitors is also allowed. Following the safety regulation, the pain reception is reduced to 90%. One can forfeit the match, and in case of critical injury, we will immediately pull you out of the race and treat you."
*Everyone starts murmuring again*
"Group – A, please proceed."
Simple yet not simple task, eh? On top of that, going against Artemis and Charlene is a bit too much, though I don't know anything about the other two. Thank god I brought my new sword that August made. Finally, I can try this sword.
~ Hours later ~
"Group – K, please proceed."
Finally, it's showdown time.