"You look good, Master Rohan."
"If you say so."
I scratched my neck because of the discomfort of the bandages.
"Well, where exactly is the examination venue for the imperial academy?"
"I know the way, follow me."
Hans said only to walk in the direction of the hospital exit.
With difficulty I followed him out of the hospital, when the bright sun came out, shining in my eyes, forcing me to use my arm to block the fulminating light.
"Is something wrong young master?"
"No, it's just that my eyes still don't adjust to the light."
Hans nodded and continued leading the way.
As I walked I observed the streets of Noctis, although it is the only city I have visited, I really think it is the most beautiful city in the urban area of the entire kingdom.
I could have marveled at the streets of Noctis longer if it hadn't been for Hans' signal that we had already arrived at the complex.
The complex that would be used as the registration site would be Noctis's own mayor's office, a 400m² place that had a wide flow of people, you could constantly see people coming and going.
"Are you sure the exam location is here?"
"Yes, the place of the exam is not in the mayor's office itself"
"Actually it is in the lower facilities that are made as an evacuation place in case of disaster"
'What kind of disaster could make you have to hide underground?'
Chat with Hans on the way to the lower facility.
"And do you know what the exam is about?"
"No, I have no idea sir."
I raised my eyebrow in confusion.
"Didn't you say that being an aura user they should give me an automatic pass?"
"Yeah."
"How can you know that?"
"Why have they never failed an aura user."
'Never? How strange. Is the empire so power-hungry?'
Little by little I began to doubt the veracity of Hans's words, but I still followed him in silence, until we reached the entrance to the Underground fortress.
"Shouldn't someone control who enters and who leaves the place?"
I asked as we dived deeper and deeper into the fortress.
"Why would there be? The examiners should at least be level 4"
"Level 4?"
"It means your level of control, it doesn't matter if it is mana or aura, since aura and Mana have 10 known levels it is the most common way to abbreviate them"
I nodded, losing interest in the matter.
"In addition, the fortress should have magical barriers that can withstand at least level 5 attacks."
'I mean, entering for malicious purposes is suicide, it's clear to me'
"Well, young master, let me introduce you to the Underground Fortress."
I observed the large underground space, it was a place where there were multiple high-density homes capable of encompassing the population of Noctis, it had a large sphere on the roof to simulate a day and night cycle.
I watched as a couple of people walked the streets in leather armor and a few in mail armor.
"Why are there people in armor patrolling?"
"It's not so patrolling, they live here."
'Oh?'
Hans must have seen me with an expression of utter confusion because he quickly began to explain.
"The underground fortress is where Noctis' militia resides, this one. Being a place where there is only one exit and ample privacy, no one bothers to enter so they can train at their leisure here."
"Why don't we have an underground fortress in our town?"
"That's why only one city has enough income to be able to maintain an underground fortress."
'so only a county viz could have one?'
After what would be a few minutes of walking through the underground fortress watching the soldiers train, eat, and continue with their daily lives, we arrived at one of the corners of the underground.
"Young Rohan, before he introduces himself to the examiners I must warn him to be extremely respectful, the dear sirs are originally from Entrania."
I opened my eyes completely surprised, even though I had a basic knowledge of the societies that make up the empire, this was completely the opposite of my knowledge of Entrania, the place of origin of the empire.
Entrania is known as a Pristine land where the emperor along with other legends became deities, the residents of Entrania are born with a body blessed by the divine land of the place.
That is also why Entrania is the place where the so-called true nobles are, where the royal families of the kingdoms could only choose to be at most one count in the blessed land.
Which means that a marquis of the empire could be praised by a king, that's how important the natives of Entrania are.
I nodded nervously and we approached the crowd of young hopefuls.
Hans stayed behind and I continued on my way, as soon as I arrived I saw the strange looks of the Corcunsantes.
"Noble name and surname if you have one"
I heard the serene voice of one of the 3 people who were in front of the crowd.
When I turned I saw a white-skinned man, about 1.90 tall and dressed in white plate armor with a symbol of an eclipse that contrasted with his fine black hair and sharp features.
He was the most beautiful man I had ever seen, he was so attractive that he made my father and Count Vendrick look like rag dolls.
"Rohan Ghialand"
The examiner looked at his partner with a doubtful expression, he quickly took out a sheet of paper and nodded.
"You're late"
He looked me up and down, analyzing my state.
"Are you sure you can take the exam?"
"Yeah?"
'I have no idea what the exam is about, but my father won't let me back out now.'
The examiner nodded, losing interest, without wasting any more time I inserted myself into the crowd in silence.
The silence continued for a few minutes until the time required to begin the test had passed.