I entered the crowded amphitheater and sat down at the second table in the fourth row. After a good half hour of waiting, someone asked me my first and last name then checked my token and took it. A second individual passed between the tables to distribute copies whose content seemed to touch on the history of the kingdom and the continent.
A teacher came up to the large stage in front of the tables and then said, "Anyone who hasn't received a test come forward to receive one. Nobody? Alright, in that case, start the test now! You have two hours. I remind you that any attempt at cheating will be seriously sanctioned by a ban on representing oneself as well as a fine of one gold coin."
After the teacher had finished his annual speech, I started to read and then answered the questions one by one. So far everything seemed childishly simple compared to the standards I had been used to on earth. However, the last question made me put my quill down.
('What is democracy *1 point* and what do you think about it? *1 point, optional*'. This is with no doubt a question gauging our level of political allegiance. I better show clean paw and give a good impression of myself.)
I write my answer to the first question and then, after a little hesitation, mark the following things about the second: 'Democracy essentially negates the distinct role of the state with society…Any society must be governed by a conscious and reflective minority rather than the thoughtless thought of the masses...the State is not a summary of popular thought, but a distinct organ that superimposes on this instinctive thought a more meditated thought...'
After partially quoting Émile Durkheim, a former Earth sociologist, I waited patiently for the end of the allowed time. One of the supervisors approached me. "So! We're already giving up? Show me your paper… Huh? You know it's not enough to fill randomly! I don't know who recommended you to take this exam but continue with this attitude and you will not achieve anything in life! I advise you to pull yourself together, brat." he said, returning my copy.
(I really don't want to incur anyone's wrath on day one, let's brush it off.)
"Yes sir, I'll get back to it right away."
The man nodded proudly, then left. I would then pretend to proofread and write on my paper until the end of the test. At the end of it, we were granted a break. I took in the fresh morning air again, then drank some fruit juice from my bottle. I could hear all around me the complaints of the candidates who complained about the difficulty of the test.
"It's impossible to answer all the questions! The time given was not enough and the test is more complicated than last year's."
Another person answered him: "Don't be so surprised, I heard that there were only 300 places this year for 2000 recommended candidates. So they have to make a stricter selection. You can always try your luck at the third, fourth, and fifth academy should you fail this year."
The voice of a professor then resounds throughout the exterior of the amphitheater. "Let all candidates join their respective tables for the rest of the examination!"
I then complied by returning to my table and received a copy of the basics of the functioning of runic systems. Suffice to say that everything went well for me and that I was able to eat with peace of mind on one of the many benches in the park inside the vast academy.
Suddenly someone interrupted my meal. "Gorgeous, just beautiful. Others may not have noticed it, but I did. Did you know that among humans, only one in 100,000 people have purple eyes like yours? Amazing no? Why they are 'blessed by the elements' remains a mystery."
"Am I supposed to take this as an advance? Sorry to tell you, but I'm not much into that kind of relationship." I replied satirically to the young child with very pale skin and blond hair who was now facing me.
"Very funny! However, that was not my intention. I would just like to introduce myself. My name is Bennet Alyn, I recently turned 13 and have aspirations to unravel all the mysteries of this world! I hope we can get along for the years to come."
"Well, Bennet Alyn, nice to meet you. My name is Mayron Lizharte, I am almost 11 years old and I aspire to a quiet and peaceful life. Whether we get along for the next few years or not will only depend on our success. at the exam."
"Ha ha ha! 11 years old! You're as tall as me in size and above all, you are already an apprentice mage. This is not the best way if you want to lead a quiet life, especially when you could rely on the wealth you have accumulated as the leader of the lizharte company. But whatever, we will indeed get to know each other later, the practical exam will start soon. So I'm going to have to leave you," he said before walking away.
(Weird… How come he knows so much about me? We don't put the company name on our products though. Anyway, we'll see about that another time. Let's focus on the exam for now.)
I joined one of the training grounds that had been assigned to us for the last test, then was able to observe fixed wooden targets located 10 meters away from all of us. After a while, the candidates were called one by one until my turn came.
"Mayron Lizharte! It's up to you. Please, as I explained before, hit at least three targets using magic with the fewest possible attempts in one minute. Start now."
I then accomplish the requested task in 6 seconds and with the bare minimum of power necessary so as not to attract too much attention from the other participants. The targets were cut short and I still got the maximum score.
I then observed the level of my possible future comrades which was not negligible, as expected from the best academy in the country, until a young girl with blond hair literally destroyed the three targets with an explosion that did not fail to attract everyone's attention.
(Clearly, not everyone cares about discretion like me.)
"Young girl, you pass. However, I advise you to use proportionate spells next time." said the teacher in charge of her.
"Forgive me! I was anxious…" she exclaimed, bowing slightly.
Calm returned quickly, then finally came the turn of the young child who challenged me earlier. This one cut off the heads of the three targets in 6 seconds, just like me, then turned in my direction, giving me a wink that made me shake slightly.
We were then finally gathered in the first amphitheater which had been cleared of all its tables for them to tell us that the results would be posted in three days at the entrance of the academy.
(Gliese, our star, is starting to set. I should join Sebastian who is waiting for me outside to get back.) I thought before leaving the academy.