Yuna felt quite uncomfortable being among so many people even though the people around her are children, children aging 13 to 15 years old. The age requirement to enroll in any of the three academy of which minimum is thirteen and maximum 15 years. Yuna is fourteen years old while Austin is 15 years old –albeit it being their physical body.
Most student enroll at the age of fifteen that is for noble or high class children but those who came from slums or backward places, they enroll early to get out of their hard life. Those students whose age are 13 and 14 are those who came from a life of hardship.
Compared to the other children present, Yuna and Austin are among the few who dressed decently. There are even children whose clothes are a patch of different clothes combines, some even almost looking like wearing a rag.
After a few more minutes, those children of higher class arrive one by one, their carriage most probably being stopped a few metres away, not allowed to bring in as per protocol.
The children of higher class stood a bit further away, keeping distance with children of lower class. Some does not even hide the disdain and revulsion from their face. Children like Yuna and Austin who are a bit better off, not of lower class but not of higher class either stood at the middle, becoming the dividing line of the lower class and higher class.
Finally, those children who truly have major weight started arriving.
A hair as red as blood, Yuna attention was caught upon the novel character that she has not seen for a long time. The only novel character she has come in frequent contact with is Austin and she had seen the Arryn siblings only once. Time has passed and once again, Yuna saw them again.
It seems, time favored the siblings, they have grown even more beautiful, so striking that it made Yuna wonder what their adult self charm would look like— Maybe striking enough to stir one's soul; their appearance as good looking as Austin although different in their own respective charm.
Finally, Yuna got distracted by a figure. The appearance of the person Yuna manages to memorize as well.
The third character from the novel
Crown Prince Alaric Kaelar, the third character from the novel
You might think the royal family should have the iconic golden hair representing the Sun God, but it was not so. The royalty bearing 'Kaelar' as their surname has Black hair and not Golden hair. Among those who bear the surname 'Kaelar', only those who have Violet eye color will be raised to be a ruler of an empire. And so, Crown Prince Alaric Kaelar has hair as black as crow feather and a deep set of violet iris.
"Your highness"
Crown Prince Alaric was greeted with enthusiasm but even before they could strike up a conversation, a playful yet snarky voice disrupt them, not giving them a chance to interact with the crown prince.
"Are you worthy to talk to the crown prince?" His voice full of deride and mockery
The noble children used to being high and mighty does not take such derision lightly "Young Master Cailum, his highness haven't spoke yet, when is the time for just a mere study companion to speak up? Acting like a fastidious 'servant'"
"At least the status of his highness servant will have a much closer relationship than any of you"
The quarelling was going on for a bit before Crown Prince Alaric finally spoke up "Cailum, that's enough…." Having a helpless expression, he sigh "I hope you don't mind Cailum, he has always been like this, quite a headache"
"It's alright your highness"
"It must be tough to deal with him everyday"
They comment while the Crown Prince just smile politely, he maintain a sense of dignity, not looking down on them like Cailum did.
Yuna watching from the sideline sigh.
That Crown Prince sure is...something. It won't be wrong to say—As expected of a child from royalty.
Their act was easy to see through, at least for her. That was the classic carrot and stick method, Cailum action highlight the crown prince benevolence. He does not even apologize for Cailum and the others take everything the crown prince do for granted, treating him as being kind, lamenting on how patience he was having a friend like Cailum, as expected of the magnanimous crown prince.
The more snarky and bad tempered Cailum appear, the kinder the crown prince seems.
Even in private, Cailum might be as just snarky but Yuna does not believe one bit that the crown prince is truly a kind person. After all, to clutch the crown prince title, kindness is not an option.
Ehh….what does she know, this has nothing to do with her.
On another note, the crown prince is also truly good looking. As one of the important character, he has to be good looking. That is what most author logic is anyway.
(A/n: Including me...cough cough)
Bzzz….
A sound as if a microphone has been tap sounded
A male voice followed, loud and clear.
[Good Day! Greetings!]
The loud voice that echoed startled and silent everyone before the venue suddenly became noisier. People started discussing among themselves, some looking around to seek out the source of voice.
The voice as if unbothered by the noises and curiosity of the children continues speaking with its same excited yet monotonous sound.
[Assuming everyone have gathered here to get a chance to get admitted at the academy, I won't drag this out on talking but get straight to the point]
[The content of the entrance exam and a way to get admitted is as follows]
[Number one, No ordinary civilian will be accepted]
[Number two, Go through the exam ground and reach the finished line, anyone who passed the finish line will be accepted by Evigheden Academy]
The name of the academy was enough to get Yuna full attention. It is the academy that she aspire to enroll.
[Number three, traps are being set up inside the exam ground, beasts and monster are released inside the exam ground so tread with caution!]
[Number four, Maneuver against the trap set up by the senior of the three academy generate 1 to 5 points depending on the ingenuity of the tactics used]
[Number five, Defeating beast and monster generate 10 to 20 points depending on the grade of the beast defeated]
[Number Six, Oriel academy and Asra Academy will provide admission to those who score more than 200 points, priority given to high score individuals of the available 100 seats]
[Number Seven, Evigheden academy will give a prize to the student with the highest point who enroll in their academy]
[That's it for the time being, All the best!]
After that cheerful yet monotonous voice, a music eerily resembling a cheerful but monotonous tune of the speaker started playing.
Bzzz….
[Oh….I almost forgot, please take the wristband that record your points, hehe]
A wrist band appears out of thin air, floating before each person.
Yuna reach out her hand and scrutinize it, however she look, it does not look anything extraordinary. But this is fantasy world, so this ordinary looking thing might be a device with unknown mechanism.
Yuna put on the wristband and turn towards Austin who was quietly observing the portal gate that was affixed at the centre of the venue.
The portal will transport them to the examination field. There are three portals, provided by each academy. Competitors started entering the portal as soon as they put on the wristband, likely, they don't want to fall behind in hunting down monster to earn points. The earlier they enter the examination ground, the earlier they can get to hunt down the monster.
There might be a case of monster scarcity in the later stage.
The exam deadline is three days, during those three days, the exam taker will have to survive, rely on themselves and reach the finish line before three days passed.
Although nervous, Yuna felt a slight sense of comfort having Austin with him...although…..main character tends to encounter unexpected things, apprehensive as she might be, Austin fighting prowess is undeniable.
Yuna decide to believe in the main character halo to pass through the hurdles.
She has no fighting experience of monster and beast alike.
Her elemental skills have never been honed and she has no plan on honing it either. She just want to learn her own way of controlling element and having fun with it. Learning in a way she found it thrilling and is curious about.
Having read countless novels, Yuna has always wants to learn a unique way of controlling element. She is not a combat manic, all she wants is to have fun and satisfy her curiosity on different ways to control elements. She don't want to take life too hard, going with the flow and live simply and idly.
Once she got all the basic settled down like attending school and learn more of the world, Yuna decide to live a retirement life. Continuing in taking care of the café, read novels and live life leisurely.
There are so many things to consider in her past life, so many what if. Not to mention opening a store or café is not so simple in her previous life, problem of capital and place, customer base and all that; her family pressure to get a stable high earned job –living up to their expectation, being responsible for her siblings, putting on an image, having to build connection and socialize.
It was tiring.
Exhausting
Starting a new life, living in simplicity became much easier in fantasy world.
Living became more breathable.
She don't want to let go of the life she has now, living without needing to concern over everything.
Being spoiled by the only family member she has in another world gave her so much ease and courage to carry on with her life in another world.
"Protect me well Austin, I'm relying on you!"
Being afraid of separated when entering the portal, Yuna took the initiative and hold Austin hand. A rare occasion.
Austin eyes lit up subtly at Yuna own initiation of grabbing his hand, he firmly grip the hand back that prevent all the chance of withdrawing the hand from his.
Austin who was a head taller than Yuna look down, his eyes deep "Rely on me"
Rely on me, depend on me…
So much so that you won't be able to live without me as I am to you.