The said day had arrived, and to Gabby's excitement, we got into the academy a little earlier than scheduled. She was so thrilled about the idea of attending school, she almost couldn't sleep at night and made us leave the house before the sun could even rise.
And the moment we arrived, we were met with a large campus and tall school buildings. But only a few students could be seen loitering on the campus, and most of the academy's stalls were still close.
"Just like I told you, it's too early. Let's grab something to eat outside first."
"Fine…" she groans then someone approaching caught our sight. A girl similar to our age and also in civilian attire. She had long straight hair and rectangular glasses.
She moved her way towards us slowly, then asked "Are you two participating in the exam as well?"
"That's right."
The girl sighed in relief, then said "I'm so glad I asked the right person."
"I'm Aika. Aika Tailor and I'm also a participant. I hope we get into the academy." she claimed.
"Yeah, same as well. " Gabby replied with a grin. "We're grabbing something to eat, why don't you come with us while waiting?"
Although reluctant, she agreed as she nodded in silence.
"Can I come as well?" a voice from behind jested. It was another teen in civilian attire, much likely the same age as us. His hair is a bit curled and ruffled, and he has goggles placed on his forehead. He also had this large backpack carrying behind him which was almost the same as his size. "Edison Humes. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. By the way, where are your badges?"
"Badges?"
"Of course, it comes along with the letter… hold on, you got one, don't you?" he asked.
"Hold on, let me check." From the storage, I took the envelope and a pin fell from it. It was a black badge with the image of the Academy's logo.
"Whoa! How did you do that!? You just like, took the paper out of nowhere!" he gasped while the girl just looked at me in awe. Then Gabby took her badge too in her storage. "She can do it as well? Come on, you gotta teach us how."
"It's… kinda complicated…"
"Come on, it can't be that hard" he claimed but I just couldn't disclose such valuable information about us having the system of the abyss. Yet it didn't stop him from bothering us about it. Even outside the academy.
"Can you please stop? I already said I don't know. It just happened."
"Oh please, there's gotta be something that triggered it. Probably an unnatural item? An unofficial invention of pocket dimension? Come on, just a hint." he groans as we walk the streets near the academy.
There were nothing but closed shops and student boarding houses as we went to venture the street until we spotted an eatery that was just about to open and someone familiar hailed from it.
"Oh, my. What are you kids doing here?" Ruri asks as we approach. She was still opening the shutters of the shop but the scent of the sauteed onions tells us they were already preparing. "Oh, is it today? Gosh, I completely forgot about it."
"Yeah. We kinda left in a hurry and skipped eating breakfast thanks to someone here." I claimed as Gabby glared and then averted her gaze as she crossed her arms. "Are you guys already serving?"
"Of course. We already had a customer inside just before you got here" Ruri replied and a silhouette of a young man eating inside could be seen from where we stood. "Why don't you come inside? Just ask at the counter what you want to eat. I still have to put the open sign and menu board."
The eatery was smaller than the ones we had passed. While it did have a second floor, most shops had larger spaces and taller buildings. However, the interior was impeccably clean and well-maintained, comparable to any high-class restaurant despite its simple decorations and furniture.
"Good morning," the old lady behind the counter greeted. "What can we get you, young lads and lass?"
As I perused the menu posted in the corner of the counter, I was taken aback by the prices. They were much lower than I had expected, considering we were so close to the academy. However, the expressions on the faces of our two acquaintances seemed somewhat uneasy or unsettled.
"Ha-ha, I guess I'll just have juice and some biscuits." Edison laughed.
"S-same goes here…" Aika added yet her stomach suddenly grumbles.
"I think you should get something more nutritious. We are taking an exam after all."
"N-no, really. I'm fine" she claimed yet her stomach disagrees.
"Don't worry, we got this. Just pick anything you like." Gabby insisted. It took a little convincing from Gabby, but eventually, the shy girl agreed to be treated. But of course, not as hard as getting the other one to agree. He was already waiting for it.
We sat near another customer who was eating, and I noticed a pin on his collar that hinted he was also participating in something similar.
"So, what do you think will happen later?" Aika asks as she reluctantly eats the meaty fried rice we ordered for everyone.
"Well, the letter did say we'd take three parts…" Edison replied as he munched a mouthful of rice. "But I'm kinda worried too. Rumors have it that the special exam is harder than the usual ones."
"By the way, what are your stories? What made you participate? Me, I'm entering cause my master said I need to improve my skills and she recommended enrolling in the academy. I don't really want at first but she said she'd kick me out of the house if I didn't go so that's what happened… " he added, then gazed upon Aika.
"M-me? Well, I'm… an orphan. I was left in the orphanage as my parents died in an accident and after learning I had… abilities, I decided to try participating to help back the orphanage who took care of me for so long…" Aika replied.
"Oh, come to think of it, there is a program that lets the students of the academy have allowances. Are you aiming for that?" Edison asks as the girl just nods in response. "How about you two? What's your reasoning?"
Gabby and I looked at each other, waiting for one of us to respond first. None did, so in the end, I said "To learn magic, and survive in this world."
Edison burst into laughter all of a sudden, choking on what he was eating "S-sorry. I just didn't expect such a short serious reply."
"Well, that's all there is."
"Okay, okay" he was still laughing, slowly calming himself then turned towards the other table. "How about you? I see you have a badge as well. What's your story?"
We waited for a response as he was still eating his bowl of noodles, and then out of nowhere, he stood up.
"My story… is not of your business." the young man replied then grabbed his blade placed on the table and took flight outside without even facing us.
"Dang, that's cold. I wonder if there's a match-type exam. I really want to teach him a lesson." Edison claimed.
"Don't be like that. Maybe he's just having a hard time." Aika said.
"He is." the old lady from the counter claimed as she walked towards us with a tray of beverages. "That child's a regular here and he's trying to enter the academy for three years now. He's going through a lot so don't take his words to heart."
"Y-yes, ma'am…" we responded.
"Oh, shouldn't you be going as well? I think the school event is about to start." the old lady claimed.
She was right, it was almost six and we only had a few minutes left before the event started.
Luckily, the four of us reached on time before the gate closed, but many participants weren't able to make it and disappointment could be seen in their eyes as they returned while those who tried to enter by climbing over the gate were forced to be taken away by the guards.
"T-that was a bit harsh…" Gabby implies.
"Come on, let's focus on finding where our exam will take place." Edison insisted.
We arrived at the hall where numerous participants awaited, while the students of the academy stared at us from above, seated on the hanging seats, and the teachers stood on the stage.
Most of the participants were teens like us, but there were a few whose ages had already reached beyond young adulthood. And their faces didn't look kindly at all.
Suddenly, the lights went dark, and a flat-screen television appeared above the ceiling, playing what appeared to be the anthem of the academy. Everyone remained still and quiet as the anthem played until the lights came back on, and the speakers emitted a short, high-pitched sound.
"Good morning, aspiring students of Saint Andrea's Academy!" A man from the stage spoke as the speakers scattered within the hall amplified his voice. "I am the academy's current school president, Nicael Reford and I welcome you to today's special exam."
"But it seems today's participants are larger than usual. With that, we decided to add another special event," he added.
Within the hanging screen, it displayed a list of 5 people grouped into 50 different teams. Coincidentally, the four of us were on the same team. Group number seven.
"In addition to the other parts of the exam, we will create a race, and the team who didn't make it into the top 10 shall not partake in the other parts of the special exam." the school president claimed then the lower section of the stage revealed an automatic sliding door, opening an entrance to a ring-shaped machine and on its center, a sphere similar to what I had floats. "You have twenty minutes to find your teammates before the gates open. Good luck"
After the announcement, the participants soon began to disperse, looking for their teammates.
"Looks like we're all here… except for one person," Edison claimed. "Who is this Lawrence Rex anyway?"
"That would be me." the guy from earlier approaches. "I'm Lawrence Rex."