"Here we are, welcome to the University of New Dawn!" Amelia exclaimed.
"Where? You can't honestly mean this shack?" said Damien more or less disappointed with what he was seeing.
"Actually, I've never been to the university myself, but from the way you always described it I always imagined it would look… presentable," Krista added.
In front of the group was It was a large, but terribly haggard building. Other houses sometimes had similar problems, but they always had a… natural feel. As if trees themselves bended themselves to make the houses people lived in. Here the place just looked unkempt, Broken glass, rotting wood, in fact, if Damien had to be honest, the best place he could compare this to was his own home.
I understand your confusion," said Amelia, " Come with me."
"Are you going to show us the real college?" asked Damien, "There's nobody here, or is everyone invisible?"
"No, well yes, it's just tradition," protested Amelia.
"Excuse me?" asked a perplexed Damien
"Sigils," explained Amelia, "Take a look at the building, really stare at it right above that door."
Damien and Krista did as they were told, staring directly where Amelia had pointed. As they stared something happened, Krista started to feel a bit sickly and Damien felt his eyes burning for no real reason. Sensing something was amiss, both of them continued to stare where instructed, and soon they were able to make out some words, 'University of New Dawn'. Beside it were several blue markings that radiated with a familiar energy. Though even further above that were a row of faces, one of them Damien noticed was familiar, albeit younger.
"Why did they place a warding sigil here?" Krista asked, "Are they trying to hide something?"
"From something, prospective students," Amelia clarified, "Unlike the Guild Coalition, the university is selective with its applicants. If I remember correctly, out of 25,000 letters of application, 1,000 were invited to interview, and only 500 were admitted last year. Mind you that they typically average around 300 per graduating class, so they may have lessened their requirements, or they were just an exceptional class, either way now is probably the best time for me to try and be admitted."
"I saw something above the name, looked like a bunch of faces, and if I'm not mistaken, one of them looked a lot like your mother," commented Damien.
"I'm surprised you noticed," Amelia said with some reservations, "Before she was Madam Heart, my mother taught at this university. Actually, she was Headmistress, not that she'd ever tell you."
"Well, isn't that a lucky break!" exclaimed Damien, "That along with your invitation, getting in should be a piece of cake."
"Not… exactly, I'll be going in as what they call a Wanderer," Amelia replied, "People who manage to find the building without being invited. I'm only aware of this place because Madam Heart brought me here once. Each year there are about 100 of us, but we also have to go through an extra test."
"Even with your recommendation from your Madam Heart, wouldn't that count as an invitation?" Krista pointed out.
"About that…" started Amelia.
"About that, what does about that mean, Amelia?!" inquired Krista.
"I may or may not, leaning on may, have come without the letter of recommendation," Amelia answered, "it's too late now anyway, let's just forget about it."
"Too late, no, we can just come back tomorrow," Krista argued, "That way we can have your recommendation when-"
"I already burned it," Amelia said flatly, "It's gone."
Krista didn't exactly know how to respond to that, and didn't really have much time to form another thought before they were met by a small doorway.
"The admissions office," said Amelia.
Damien quickly opened the door smashing it from its hinges shouting out, "Sorry, my fault," into the darkness while attempting to put it back in its place.
"Allow me," offered Amelia as she lightly touched the door with her staff, "Heal." The wooden door slowly reached out and attached itself to the hinges. It was a bit longer than before and didn't close all the way, but it should be fine for now.
"A life affinity, how fortunate, might make this test a little easier on you Wanderers." A lone man sitting on a dark chair with light greying hair, a large and muscular build, and pale skin was sitting there watching the group.
Amelia gingerly stepped forward, "I would rather not give my last name until after the test is given., but my name is Amelia, and I want to be admitted into the University of New Dawn."
The lone man smiled and stood up from his chair, he opened a small toolbox behind him and began to draw a big white X on the wall behind him with a piece of chalk, "You and so many others, but it's my job to find the flowers that would bloom and pull out the weeds that threaten to entangle them. I must say you're cutting it close, though, classes start in a few short months."
"But admission is still available, correct?!" asked Amelia worriedly.
"Of course, you still have time, a full week at that if you want to come more prepared," he answered, "You only get the one chance until next year, but my special test is simple. I specialize in physical education so all I want you to do is touch the X here within one hour like so."
When he touched the X, it changed into a bright red color, a signifier that examinee completed the challenge. They were in a large but incredibly dimly lit room, more of an auditorium if anything. Wooden floors, brick walls, from the door where they were at, the wall couldn't have been more than 30 feet away. Around them were very few things, the desk they had found the muscular man sitting at, a row of chairs that could be barely made out in the distance, and a set of lockers close nearby. Aside from that, it was just them and the muscular man leaning on the wall behind him.
Amelia's face grew a bit sickly, she was aware that an extra test would be served to the Wanderers, but she was completely unaware that it was going to be a physical test. She was ready for a battle of the minds, maybe a battle of wits. A comparative test such as this was not easily passed by someone with her skill set.
Seeing the worry in Amelia's eyes Krista spoke up for her friend, "Are there any other test Amelia could take? You said it yourself, she has a life affinity, but she's never used her wattiez for any kind of fighting. Testing her like this just seems a bit unfair."
"Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that you can all come at me at once, I'd be willing to take you on if there were 10 more of ya," he laughed, "As long as one of you touch the X, you all pass. Even those royal guards of yours are fair game. My doctor says I need the exercise."
"By decree of her grace Cassandra Knightley, we are not to interfere in the personal business of her Highness Kristhalla Knightley." the guards said in unison.
"Well, isn't that unfortunate," Damien remarked, "Any rules about tools we can use? I don't really have a staff on me, and my friend here specializes in sharper instruments, but out of concern for safety-"
"Whatever you got, you could and should throw it at me," he answered, "Swords, maces, a cannon if you had it, I don't really care. If I'm dead, it'll only be that much easier for you to complete the test. As for a staff, of you need one we should have a few extras in those lockers over there, among a few other things. They're a bit older, so the affinity patterns may be a bit withered."
"Perfect!" Damien cried, "Amelia we got your back, whenever you're ready we'll-"
"I want to take the test alone," Amelia said quietly.
"I don't think I heard that right, it kind of sounds like you said-" Damien started.
"I said I want to take the test alone, without the help of you or Krista," Amelia said sharply.
"Okay, no, what's going on with you?" When Amelia didn't answer Krista prodded further, "It was the recommendation first, then not wanting to give your last name. Just give me something!"
"I'm upset!" Amelia finally shouted.
"At what?" Krista asked.
"At myself," she answered, "Of my inability to do anything of my own. For the fact that I needed you to come here with me even though this is my dream. You told me before that you had nothing to prove, but I do, so please just let me do this."
For Krista, there were a lot of first today. First time she had a real conversation with her parents, the first time she's been to the University of New Dawn, and the first time Amelia had ever asked her not to help. In her mind, Krista knew that she still wanted to help regardless of what her friend had said, but her heart sided with Amelia. Krista knew the feeling of wanting to prove their worth, no needing to. Against her better judgement, she was about to confirm her feelings when Damien spoke out from behind them.
"Not gonna happen, Teach," He said before quickly turning to the muscular man, "We'll all be taking the test together, pay no mind to what Amelia might say, we're ready!"
"Finally!" the man cried, " Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Professor Dyne, but you can just call me Derek, here to instruct."