During these days, Jack had been visiting different shops that sold all kind of goods.
He visited some alchemy shops that sold all kind of herbs and ingredients to brew potions and elixirs, which looked expensive even for him. Thanks to that, he came to understand how expensive brewing potions and elixirs was.
"That would explain why potions and elixirs are so expensive and considered a luxury. With just the ingredients being so expensive, I can't imagine how much it must hurt to fail brewing one potion or elixir." Those were Jack's thoughts while visiting the alchemy shops.
He also visited some big commercial buildings that had all kind of goods. A few items had caught Jack's interest, but he was not sure of what use he could give them. So he didn't buy anything and just went from one shop to another checking everything.
He also visited one armory, to see if he could replace his rusty sword. But no weapon gave him the feeling his rusty sword brought him while holding it. So he left another shop with empty pockets.
His last visit was to a library, but when he was standing in front of it and was going to enter to buy some books. A strange feeling came to the back of his mind, and he felt like there was no need to go inside the library to buy any book. So he left again with empty pockets.
He only bought something on Friday, when he went to Madame Berta's clothing store to buy his new clothes. When he saw the clothes she made, he finally understood where her reputation came from. The clothes looked simple when you first looked at them, but if you looked carefully enough, you could see that those clothes were made by a person of great skill.
The endurance charms attached to them seemed to work greatly after Madame Berta did some tests and showed them to Jack. Jack was so happy with the end product that he gave her a 2 gold coins tip along with the remaining part of the payment in appreciation for her work.
When he was not visiting some shop, he was having lunch on a restaurant. And if he was neither having lunch, nor visiting some shop, he would be at the Golden Gate Inn.
And just like that, Sunday came.
Jack woke up like any other day. He showered, dressed himself, had breakfast while chatting with a cute waitress who seemed like she forgot to serve other tables, and left through the front door.
Yesterday he packed everything he had inside his ring and asked Amanda to keep his room for 3 more days, since he didn't know if he would return, he decided to pay for 3 more days just so that no one takes his room in the case he returns.
Just after exiting through the front door, Jack looked up at the bright sky and a handsome smile came to his face. "It's a beautiful day. The sky is clear, and the sun is glowing like never before. This is a good sign."
Jack started walking towards the academy's entrance while humming a song that was in his memory. He didn't remember who taught him this song, but it was a song that was engraved on his memory.
"It's a beautiful day outside~~. The sun is glowing and rain has left~~. Sadness has been long forgotten and happiness is all is left ~~. Wherever I go there is light ~~. And wherever I pass through darkness should step aside ~~. Light, light, light ~~. The morning star shines high in the sky ~~. Darkness scared can only hide ~~. Cause it's a beautiful day outside ~~. It's a beautiful day outside ~~."
After some minutes, Jack could finally see the academy's gates at the front with an even longer queue than the other day. But today the queue went faster, and there seemed to be a lot more staff in front of the gates. They seemed to be checking the badges of everyone standing on the queue, then once they checked it, the person whose badge was checked was allowed to enter.
It didn't take too long for Jack's turn to arrive. And he was a bit surprised to see the person who checked his badge.
"Oh hello, Jack, was it? What a coincidence." It was the same woman who gave him the badge the other day.
"Indeed, how unpredictable is fate... I didn't think you would remember my name." Jack quickly composed himself before answering.
"Well, normally I would not remember a B rank student. But thanks to the crystal ball malfunctioning the other day, I managed to remember you." The woman answered with a smile.
"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or as an insult." Jack couldn't help but a wry smile to come to his face while taking out his badge.
The woman smiled even wider and made a small laugh. "Hehe, take it as a compliment."
The woman took a quick look at Jack's badge before allowing him to enter.
"Just go straight and when you see a big group of people just stand there and wait for further instructions. I'm Amelia by the way, if you are capable enough maybe we will see each other in the future. Good luck." Jack bowed to Amelia and went through the entrance.
He walked calmly while looking around. The big green gardens and magnificent buildings were a sight to behold. Some people who came from behind him passed by his side running to the front.
Jack wasn't in a hurry. The queue was really long, and he was sure that the entrance exam would not start while there was still so many people outside.
After five minutes of walking, he saw a really huge crowd of people standing in front of a big stone stage. He had never seen so many people gathered in one same place. New Year's Eve on Times Square back on Earth would be a joke compared to what was in front of him.
Jack looked around for a quite spot and sat down on the floor. There was no need to be mixed with the crowd standing when he didn't know when the entrance exam would start.
"It's not like you can't see the stone stage from afar..." Jack muttered while he started meditating and channeling the Mad Lord technique. He had been feeling a blockade whenever he used the technique since he first got near the academy. He had been trying to get over that blockade, but he felt like he was missing something.
While Jack was meditating, he heard steps getting nearer him before stopping next to him. The owner of those steps sat by his side and silence was everything left.
"You know, there is more space." Jack opened his eyes and looked besides him.
A blonde young man wearing a blue shirt and white pants was looking at him with a smile. He looked handsome, and even though he was making a funny face, Jack could see way beyond that by looking at his eyes.
"He is smart, he is no idiot at all. I don't like him." Jack hated fake people, and the young man's expression was a total façade. He could see deep in the young man's eyes a myriad of thoughts. He didn't understand why he wanted to look like an idiot when he was obviously an intelligent guy.
"Hello young man, may I introduce myself? I'm Klaus, 18 years old. And I'm taking the entrance exam just like you. May I know your name?" Klaus made some big gestures while talking. Jack had to admit that this Klaus guy had charisma.
"I'm Jack. Now Klaus, can I ask you why you came to sit just here to talk to me? From what I see, there is much more space." Jack was on the defensive.
"Oh, you hurt my feelings Jack. Couldn't I just want to talk with you and know you better?" Klaus continued with his act.
"Ok, cut the act. If you really want to talk with me, don't try to fool me by acting like a different person. If you want to continue with that act, I will have to ask you to leave me alone." Jack answered with a serious face.
Klaus funny face vanished and a honest smile came to his face. "I'm sorry for that, I was just testing you. I apologize for that." Klaus made a very small bow towards Jack.
"It's ok, but don't do that ever again. I hate fake people the most." Jack spoke with a cold tone before asking his own question. "Now, could you tell me what do you want from me exactly?"
"I wanted to offer you an alliance." Klaus answered with a serious face.
"An alliance?" Jack was confused with Klaus answer.
"Yes, an alliance. Once inside the academy we will be on our own. Inside there, neither status nor money will matter. It is harder for us new students, since we know so little about the secrets the academy hides. Not even mentioning our knowledge compared with students who have been on the academy already for some time. That's why we should make an alliance. If you need help, or you find yourself in trouble, I will help you the best I can. And you will do the same for me." Klaus looked serious when he talked about this topic.
"I'm sorry, but I work alone." Jack was not interested in Klaus's proposition.
"Hey Jack, I understand that. I'm also used to being on my own. But trust me when I say, that we need at least the two of us together. Even the actual top students allied with at least one person when they entered the academy. Neither of us would last long in the academy on our own. I promise it would be just the two of us. Even though having more people in our alliance would be good for some things, it would be best to only be the two of us in the long run. I can't explain too much, but you will understand once we enter." Klaus was trying really hard to convince Jack.
"Why me?". Jack was silent while a pensive look could be seen on his face.
"Because you are smart, just like me. You were not mixed in the chicken crowd, and instead preparing your mind for the exam. Also, I can tell you are strong. There is a strong aura surrounding you. Please, accept my proposal. I don't have any other candidate at the moment." Klaus was almost begging Jack to accept.
Jack thought for almost a minute before answering with a face that hid all thoughts. "Ok, I will accept. But you have to know that I don't trust you completely."
"Hahahaha, it's ok, it's ok. Trust can be built over time." Klaus seemed genuinely happy seeing Jack accept.
Suddenly, big shouts could be heard from the crowd, and some people seemed to be going up the stage.
"Oh, it's starting. I'll leave you alone then. I'll see you inside the academy. Don't you dare fail the entrance exam. You failing the exam would be equal to me failing it since I would be fucked inside the academy. See you." Klaus waved Jack goodbye and disappeared between the crowd like a ghost.
"I could say the same thing..." Jack muttered before he stood up and neared the stage a bit to hear more clearly what the people above the stage had to say.
The entrance exam had already begun but neither Jack nor anyone knew that.