On the 10th day of the 7th month in Year 580 of the 3rd Era, a massive castle looms on the edge of a sheer cliff.
Walls taller than most houses surrounding it, with towers atop it standing even taller. Runes of magic inlayed into the walls signifying protection and reconstruction.
To the castle's south is a city bustling with activity, to the west is a cliff leading down to the ocean, to the North is a forest teeming with monsters and dangerous beasts, and to the East are fields of crops being harvested for the coming winter.
Dangers on one side and pieces on the other, a balance rarely found.
Past the walls, you can see strange yet grand architecture. And even stranger are the smaller buildings spotted around.
Odd designed for the roof of small buildings, pipes and steam coming out of one another, plants growing from a set of glass walls, and several towers just standing out in the open.
Yet through the gate, a sight to remind yourself of where you are can be seen
teenagers and young adults walking about. Some were holding books, others carrying weapons and magic gear, and others were talking about their school projects. It is all a good reminder that this isn't a castle but a school.
The Second Academy of the Rumia Kingdom.
This school has stood for over 200 years. Giving rise to countless advances in magic and combat techniques. People from all over the kingdom and outside it scramble to enroll.
Standing just before the main gate is one of these students. Ark Moonfang.
He is about 5'8 and has light-coloured skin, brown eyes, and short white hair. He wears a simple black shirt and jeans, with old running shoes and is carrying a duffel bag on his back.
He is clearly nervous and doesn't seem to be able to walk in.
"Is everything ok?" a woman's voice asked.
I snapped out of my worried trance and spoke nervously "Y-yeah, I'm ok."
seeing that I was not moving she said "You're a new student right? Are you nervous?"
I flinched "Y-yeah," I said embarrassed.
She gave a slight smile "It's nothing to worry about, this is more common than you would think. Come inside, you will feel better once you do"
I stayed there for a few more seconds took a deep breath and stepped past the gate.
"there you go. That wasn't so hard now was it," she said with a slight laugh.
I relaxed a bit realizing that I was just making myself more nervous than I should have been.
"I am a teacher here, Amanda Arrow. So if you ever need help come find me," she said while pointing to a badge on her uniform signifying her as a teacher.
"Thank you," I said shyly and looked around.
"Where is everyone? I thought today was the entrance exam, shouldn't more people be around here?"
She looked confused "Yes, today is the entrance exam. Everyone went to watch it like normal."
"Watch it? Why would they watch us take a test?" I asked also confused.
She took a second and then asked "Wait us? Are you taking the Entrance Exam?"
"Um... yes?" I responded even more confused "Shouldn't everyone take the exam?"
Realisation showed on her face "Oh you're not a noble student. That makes more sense."
"Um, what does me not being a noble have to do with taking the exam?" I asked
She flinched and coughed "Well you see nobles aren't required to take the exam here then do it at home as they have the resources. Commoner students take the exam at the academy."
"Oh, that makes... more sense?" I said like a question
"Nobles have resources at their homes that normally can't be transported because of possible bandit attacks or certain precautions. So an exception is made that allows nobles to take the test at home," she explained with a slight hint of annoyance.
"Is everything ok?" I asked.
"Hm? Oh yes sorry.*cough* just had something in my mind. The entrance exam will start soon so if you don't mind, follow me," she said and turned around leading me through the school grounds.
We walked in silence for a minute. When I built up the courage I said "You still haven't answered my question."
She turned to me "What question?"
"Why would the other students watch us take a test?" I asked again
"Were you not informed about what the test is?" she asked worriedly
I shook my head.
"Ugh. Those idiots... I am sorry but if you were thinking it would be a written test you are wrong." she said apologetically.
Scared I asked, "W-wh-what kind of test is it?"
"You will enter an arena and fight a monster," she said
My face went pale.
"W-we have to fight a m-monster?" I asked even more scared.
She could see my fear and quickly added "You don't have to worry about being hurt. We have healers on standby and certain precautions have been put into place to prevent injury,"
It did help knowing I wouldn't be hurt but I am not a good fighter.
"I'm no fighter. Is there any way to pass if I don't beat it?" I asked
Amanda stopped, turned to me, placed a hand on my shoulder and calmly said "You don't need to beat it, we dont expect new students to beat them. This test, as barbaric as it is, is meant to find talent in students, not judge how strong you are."
"What do you mean?" I asked worried
she smiled and said "Just show us what you can do."
"...what are you looking for?"
she smiled, leaned over and whispered, "If you can use some powerful magic, if you use some special fighting technique if you have a powerful magic item and so on."
"Show off what you can do and you should have nothing to worry about. Only the students who do nothing fail the exam." she finished explaining.
I nodded feeling slightly better, but only slightly.
I am not a fighter, I have tried but I can't. One thing I can do well though is...
*Dong* I loud bell ring a few times from a clock tower on the castle.
Amanda turned to it and when she noticed the time she looked surprised but not worried.
"Oh. We should hurry up, it's 11 and applications for the entrance exam are done at 11:15."
"What! Where is the arena?!" I asked worried about missing the test.
"Don't worry. It's just around the corner and all you have to do is give your name and, if you have joined already, give your Adventurer Guild Ranking."
"Guild ranking?" I asked
"You know, the ranking for adventurers to help determine how strong they are," she said
"Oh right, that..." I said embarrassed, I never really learned about the adventurers' guild before so I didn't know.
As we rounded the corner I could see the arena.
It was a few stories tall made of stone and had several flags on it. Each one depicts something else, animals, beasts, plants, magic, and many more things.
The edges of the arena were built in a C shape allowing those standing at the open end to watch even if not seated.
Many people could be seen sitting in the bleachers waiting for the test to start and talking among themselves.
I let my ears pick up some of what they were saying and fear gripped him hard.
"Do you think someone will die this year?"
"I don't see why you brought me out here to watch a bunch of commoners fight something. It's not like they have any potential."
"I love this test. It is their first dose of reality. That lower-class scum like them is nothing compared to us."
I hated hearing their words.
'It's just like back home but at least here, people can't hurt me like 'they' did.' I thought back to bitter memories.
Not noticing my reaction, Amanda guided me to an office and sent me in with some words of encouragement.
"You will do great, Ark. Just trust in yourself. I look forward to having you in my class. Good luck," she said and walked off.
I stayed out there for a minute, but knowing I was limited on time I entered the room.
It took a few minutes but I managed to get fully registered for the entrance exam along with over 50 other people.
Looking around the room I could see a few races I knew of and ones I didn't recognise. But a few of the people caught my eye.
A large man with greenish skill and tusks, wearing leather armour and wielding a greatsword.
A lizardman with green scales holding a bow.
A person wearing black clothes and a face mask, hiding in a dark corner of the room.
A short lizard-like creature with blue scales, wearing a red and blue cloak and holding a staff with 2 different coloured gems on each end.
But the oddest one of all was a human male with brown hair, sitting on the ground against a wall reading a book with a spear lying on the ground next to him. He let off a strange yet familiar aura that, as it seemed, only I could sense.
Compared to them I feel like I don't have a chance.
At 11:30 we were all standing in the middle of the Arena.
The headmaster, a tall woman with short black hair came out to a stand and announced the start of the entrance exams.
As she neared the end of her speech, one thing made almost every applicant nervous.
"Now I know we normally don't put a limit on accepted students but due to certain issues this year, we will only be accepting 15 students this year," she said with no change of emotion.