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Kai Morgan remembered miss Luna while they stood outside the door of the palace.
All the while the two large white doors creaked. Both had intricate golden patterns and a golden royal crest in the middle. It took a few seconds before Kai noticed the doors opening while professor Edegor stood before it.
"Majestic" was the word he uttered when he saw the inside of the academy's entrance, and it was palatial.
A velvety red carpet ushered into view. It covered the dazzling hardwood floor, and extended into the two wide and curved stairs until the second floor. In the middle of the two stairs were a door that was identical to the two front doors.
Numerous crystal chandeliers lit up the whole hallway. The quartz walls had large paintings stuck onto it, as the intricate golden patterns worked like a frame. Only he and his mother gasped at the sight they saw, while the others went in quietly. Well, they were probably used to seeing such grandeur designs.
When everyone gathered at the center of the hallway, between the stairs, professor Edegor talked, standing on the wooden floor. The students, their servants, and Kai's mother were all on the red carpet.
"Good morning, young lords and their respective servants," he seemed to have forgotten someone, but since his eyes locked with Mrs. Morgan, he swiftly added, "and guardians".
"Let us now get down to business," he followed. Whispers of both arrogance and nervousness began to swirl around the hallway, but it didn't last long.
"Ahem. May I have your attention?" professor Edegor asked loudly.
After hearing this, everyone looked at him with their mouths shut.
There was a moment of silence as he glanced at everyone watchfully. When he confirmed that no one had the intention to make noise, he began to speak.
"Before we proceed, you must first know the two rules we have in this academy," he said sternly. "Firstly, every student is equal. It does not matter if you're a noble, a child of a wealthy merchant, or a commoner. You must all treat each other without discrimination."
Stillness was the response the students gave. Well, it's more because of them thinking that everyone in the room except the servants were from the upper-class.
Not knowing that Kai Morgan, and his family were commoners. After seeing that no one uttered a reply to his statement, his began to speak.
"Secondly, you must always show exemplary results," he said sternly, and paused. "Do you understand?"
The students responded monotonously in an uncoordinated manner. Professor Edegor sighed silently. Disappointment was what he felt with how disorderly the students were.
"Quiet down, now."
They became silent.
"You must all respond by saying, 'understood, professor' or 'yes, professor'. Do you understand?" he asked.
Most of them responded the way he told them to, but others slipped.
"Do you understand?" he asked loudly.
"Understood, sir!" they all responded sternly in unison.
"Good, now follow me," he said, then took a step to his left.
The students tried to whisper at each other, but failed, as professor Edegor glanced at them and said, "quietly."
A clomping sound echoed until he reached the stairs. The students followed him in a straight line, and the soft carpet absorbed their shoes with every step.
Two doors identical with the others met them at the end. Professor Edegor stood in front of the entrance, while the others formed two unorganized lines.
"Ahem. Inside these doors are a classroom that you use," he said sternly. "The two hallways that you see beside you lead to the upper floors where your rooms are located."
"Now, do you have any questions?" he added.
Kai raised his hand, his eyes glimmered with curiosity.
"Yes, Mister Kai?"
"What will the exams be about?" he asked.
"You shall know when we begin."
"Okay!" he said cheerily.
"Hmm. What was that?"
"Ah, I mean... understood, professor!" he chuckled.
The others tittered upon hearing this, while the boy with a plummy voice sneered.
"Excellent. Now, let's head inside," professor Edegor grinned.
The two door knobs clacked, and the doors creaked. It looked heavy, but professor Edegor easily pushed it. Then a cozy atmosphere shined in their eyes.
As everyone stepped inside, their eyes were met with a palatial wooden room. Everything was in a reddish-brown, and chandeliers also dangled above their heads.
Everyone except professor Edegor gasped at the sight of large bookcases, stacked in books, left and right.
In-between these shelves were six long tables with wide individual chairs, and a stack of paper and quills were on top of every table. A huge blackboard was stuck on the wall in front, while two large windows accompanied it from both sides.
Professor Edegor walked towards the chalkboard.
"Ahem. The students may now sit. As for their servants and guardians, please wait outside," he said sternly.
Mrs. Morgan wished his son good luck, then went outside together with the servants. As they closed the door, the students took their seats, while professor Edegor stood upright in front of them.
"Ahem. Is everyone ready?" he asked.
"Yes, professor!" the students strongly said in unison.
He turned around and grabbed a chalk, resting on the frame of the blackboard, then began to write the test questions. With how nervous some of them were, they were shocked that professor Edegor wrote ten questions. But they weren't simple, but instead, they were mind-boggling.
Questions about the phases of water, the workings of Arcana, the cycle of life, and many more. Those who weren't rich to acquire the knowledge for this test wouldn't be able to answer them. Luckily, Kai studied endlessly for ten years. He read his handmade books, which he got from scrapped treaties and manuscripts, or hardbacks that he got for free.
While some smirked and others perspired in nervousness, they all began to write on their papers.
"Good luck," professor Edegor said calmly, as he placed down the chalk, and walked outside.
He shut the doors, and met with the servants and Mrs. Morgan.
"Ahem. The children will need a place to stay, so kindly prepare their rooms while they take the exams. Don't worry, the doors have nameplates," he requested.
"Yes, sir," the servants responded in a submissive tone, and went upstairs, but Mrs. Morgan looked to be troubled.
"Um, professor. Will it be alright if I leave?" she asked.
"It's alright, but do you have a reason to?"
"It is unfortunate, but I must leave for work, professor."
"Hmm, is that so? I understand, but first..." he paused, trying to find something inside his pockets. "Ah! Here it is," he said smilingly, as he looked at a golden coin which he held at his fingertips.
"What is that?" Mrs. Morgan asked.
"This is an entrance ticket," he replied. "So you will be able to come back anytime."
"Here," he said calmly, and held the left hand of Mrs. Morgan, palm up, with his off-hand. Then he placed the coin in her hand.
"I see..." she said, staring at the coin. The golden royal crest was engraved on it, but this time, the letter -A- was in the middle.
Professor Edegor folded her hand that held the coin.
"You may go now," he said.
"Then I shall leave Kai in your care," she said calmly.
"That we will, Mrs. Morgan," he replied, slightly bowing his head.
She swiftly went down the stairs, and off into the outside of the academy.
"So, how is everyone faring so far?" professor Edegor asked while walking towards the blackboard.
"It's very easy, professor," the boy with a plummy voice scoffed, he rested his head on the table.
"Hmm, is that so, mister Stout Hendricks?" professor Edegor inquired.
"Yes, professor," Stout said lazily.
"That's good. But how about the others?" he asked proudly while glancing at the students.
There were eighteen students who sat on the chairs, and only four of them were still writing. Professor Edegor pointed at them, one-by-one.
"Mister Kai Morgan, is there a question troubling you?" he asked Kai who scratched his head.
"Yes, professor. It's about Arcana," Kai inquired. "Aren't they blessings of the Gods? And yet, the question is about its origin. This was supposed to be a difficult question, right?"
As bored as those who finished were, they wondered upon hearing Kai's question, so they took a look at their paper.
Some thought deeply about it, while the others didn't care, so they went back to resting.
"A splendid question," he smiled, chortling proudly.
"Indeed, many have considered it as a blessing from the Gods, yet no one has ever seen them, haven't they? But the most important thing to know is that Arcana is everywhere, and existed before our ancestors were born," he explained.
The students nodded at his explanation, but the four of them were still unsure.
"But, professor, what should we put in our paper if it is how you say it is?" asked a girl in a non-rhotic accent.
She was a brunette with short curly hair who looked petite and vivacious, and her rainbow eyes didn't suit her honey tanned skin.
"You can write down anything. To be honest, this test is for measuring your current knowledge of the world," professor Edegor replied. "The second test will decide if you stay."
"Understood, professor," she nodded and forced a smile.
"Ahem. Any more questions?" he sternly asked, eager to answer more.
"None, professor," said the four of them.
"Good. Now, excuse me for a moment," he said, and went outside again.
A few minutes later, Professor Edegor came back inside together with four adults who wore the same attire as him.
"Young lords, I would like for you to meet your professors for the second test," he sternly said.
They stood beside him, in a line and held a smile. Those who rested slowly raised their heads, while the other four settled their quills down.
"First, we have professor Sky. She will be responsible for those who will take a wind-related exam," professor Edegor said, pointing at the woman that was nearest to him.
Professor Sky smiled, and waved her fingers shyly. She had decrepit white hair and rainbow eyes. Despite that, her porcelain skin was still as young as it could be.
"Second, we have professor Mundus. He will guide those who will take an earth-related exam," professor Edegor pointed to the man that was beside professor Sky.
Professor Mundus stood sternly and flicked his arm up and down, then placed it behind his back again. He was bald, and his skin was made out of bronze, matching his dark hazel eyes. With how buffed he was, he looked like a rock, especially his head.
"Third, we have professor Ignus-"
"Hello! To those who'll take my exam, prepare yourselves," professor Ignus chipped in, he smiled. "And don't go crying to your mothers, understand?" he added.
"Understood, professor!" the students said cheerily, giggling. It's like they had a breath of fresh air.
He had an upbeat voice, yet his voice was filled with mockery. Despite him being rude, he still exuded a classy vibe. He had dark-red undercut hair, which suited his eyes that had a faint red color, blended in white, and a well-proportioned face.
Well, he was handsome, but a big burn mark could be seen on his forehead.
"You're as rude as always, professor Ignus," professor Edegor mumbled.
"Ahem. Moving on," he said clearly. "We have professor Aqua for those who will take a water-related exam."
Professor Aqua curtsied gracefully, and a gentle smile was seen on her face. Both her hair and eyes had the color of water, and she held a soft and loving face. Upon introducing the four professors, professor Edegor waited for the last four students to finish. Then he separated them for the second exam.
Those who had rainbow eyes went with professor Sky. Then those who had hazel eyes went with professor Mundus. Thirdly, those who had a faint red color in their eyes went with professor Ignus. Lastly, those who had blue eyes went with professor Aqua. But those whose eyes had a color black went with professor Edegor.
Each of the four professors took in four students each, while professor Edegor took in two. They soon commenced their exams, testing the students' affinity with the element unique to them. All the while, not knowing of the deep secret that Kai possessed.