Eventually, after the very long bumpy and unsettling ride, they got to the Academy, the gates were crowded with an enormous crowd waiting to swarm into the school to take the entrance examination. Her carriage had guards and a Royal flag accompanying it so no matter how unwilling the people were to move away from their spots they still had to. One by one they stepped aside making a pathway got her carriage and entourage to pass through.
As the carriage rolled pass the sea of people, Gwen was opportuned to see their faces through her tinted carriage window. Gwendolyn was fascinated by the people she saw. The Magic Guild was really special for this amount of people to come trooping from all over the world just to attend the entrance examination.
She didn't even know there could be this amount of Magic practioneers in the world. What she heard was that the Mages around could be counted on a broom but this looked like a number that could rival the amount of population in one of the plains.
As much as they were, it was obvious to see the diversity of their origin. Less and less faces looked like one that were from Western Plain and more faces looked like ones she had never seen before. Each Plain had a basic characteristic that identified its inhabitants, although there were also diverse kingdoms in each plains, still one could be able to tell that they were from the same axis. From the crowd she saw that there were more people from outside the Western Plain than there were from the Western Plain.
The numbers of Mages in the Western Plain had reduced substantial since the war in Chaldea. Even she knows of the fact.
Her carriage made it through the crowd an into the Magic Guild lands.
The Mages were being modest. Very modest if she should say. Their land was vast enough for them to fight to be called a Kingdom of their own still they maintained the Sectarian title. They weren't the only ones though, there were other sects scattered across the plains. A few just a family sect and other magical faction secluded from the eyes and knowledge of people. Rumors had it that there was also a Poison sect that cultivated on the acts of poisons and ways to control the human mind. There was also whispers of a Demon Sect, the Western Kingdoms whispered they had been the cause of what happened at Chaldea, still it was all just rumors carried around by the lips of people, no less than the rumors of the Light Sect that had connections to heaven and could ascend to a world above. They were all just groundless rumors.
Nevertheless, there was no smoke without a fire.
There were emissaries waiting at the gate for her. They led her carriage to there it designated spot.
"Crown Princess Guinevere, it's a pleasure to have you in our midst" The Academy Vice Dean greeted. As he greeted, there was only a warm look on his face and nothing else. No fawning or judging look in his eyes.
The mages has no Peculiar relationship with any Kingdom in particular neither were answerable to any of them, so they were always neutral in the service to all Kingdom. Even when this dean might have already been used to welcoming Queen Eleen each year, he showed no dissatisfaction as he greeted Gwendolyn.
"The pleasure is all mine. I'm grateful I was given this opportunity by the Magic Guild" it was not an exaggeration. This had given her the opportunity to peek into. A world she was unfamiliar too. Unlike rich nobles who were taught as they grew, she never got to actually know what the magic world was all about. It was only a figment of her bedtime stories. But now, she had a glimpse of just how much of her world she had no idea about.
People would say ignorance was Bliss. That was wrong. Ignorance was Ignorance. Not knowing something meant you simply didn't know it. It didn't make you happier, sadder, wiser or foolish. You simply were ignorant.
The man nodded lightly "This way Princess, the Dean awaits your presence"
Gwendolyn tensed up a bit, still she nodded and trailed after him. On her way here, she had asked for a few information on the important people of the Magic Guild. The information she got were peculiar. Every major person in the sect were known for one thing or the other. The Dean was even more a peculiar one.
A tough nut to crack. She was said to be a very rigid and distant person. Stubborn and could well be hotheaded sometimes. She was born from a Noble family in the east. Luck shone on then as they were born with the gift to posses Mana, even still they were no magic family. Royalty was more to them than magic was. At least to most of them except one.
The young dean rivaled her parents against a marriage she was arranged for. They wouldn't hear of it. In the end she runs off to become a mage and at last becomes one of importance.
"Leader Myar the Princess is here" The Vice Dean announced when they got to the Dean's office.
The magic Guild was divided into Factions. Each Faction Head was referred to as Leaders. The Dean was the Faction Head in charge of the school this was why she was being referred to as Leaders Myar. After Factions, there was a further division into Elemental peaks. This was most exhibited in the Academy, where mages would learn based on their Elemental attributes.
"Come in" a clear voice rang out through the thick wooden door.
"Please this way" She was urged into the room with one of her guard. The rest of her guards remained outside the room.
Gwendolyn walked in cautiously, whilst making a mental note to watch her words. There was a woman seated in the room. She didn't look to be middle aged and she didn't look young either. She was probably just past her youth days.
"Princess Guinevere" she stood up and shook hands with Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn received the handshake with a smile on her face.
"It must have been inconvenient to have you here on such short notice. Please accept our apologies" Dean Myar pleaded courteously. They had initially written to Queen Eleen inviting her for the event but King Vuk had written back asking they sent their invitations to the Princess instead. Truth be told they would have changed it if there was much time left. Rylica was the closest Kingdom to the Magic Guild and so it had unknowingly become a tradition to invite Queen Eleen, but that didn't mean they wouldn't invite nobles from other Kingdoms.
Gwendolyn shook her head "no I'm most honoured and grateful to have been sought out"
The Dean nodded and said "The Examination starts in about an hour. You could take a rest while you wait. The Academy is in your service" Following the Dean's words, the Vice Dean stepped forward to show her to the waiting room that has been kept for her.
Taking a rest would have been a good idea but she had more than a lot to catch up on if she was determined not to embarrass herself. She could take her time reading through the remaining books she was yet to cover.