[Fifteen days before the city guardian entry exam.]
"What are these for?"
Vince looked at the horrendous pile of books in front of him. After dinner, Raine had called him to the study, and he thought she wanted to spend some time alone with him, but it turned out she had other plans.
"I asked Tony to compile these materials for you to read. Everything you need to know, from the rules of Demon City, to the rules of the entire kingdom, and the city guardian guides—all of those are in these books. You'll learn everything once you read through them."
Vince's face slightly contorted as he eyed the towering stack of books.
"Do I have to read all of them... tonight?"
"Not tonight, but you should start now so you'll finish before the entry exam. The city guardian exam isn't as simple as you think, Vince darling."
Raine gently touched the side of his face with her soft knuckles.
He sat in front of the table in the study, while she stood beside him, slightly leaning on the table as she looked down at him. A bright smile lit her face.
"The exam consists of three parts: the written test, the survival test, and the combat test. The first, though not necessarily the easiest, is the written test. That's why I want you to study all this material."
"Okay, okay... I get it now."
Even though Vince had a photographic memory, which had been very useful to him in this life, he still found the idea of reading all these books overwhelming.
If they had been engaging novels, he could have read them without getting bored, but they weren't.
But he had no choice.
He had to pass the city guardian entry exam, no matter what.
It wasn't just because Raine would officially accept him as her mate once he passed, but the perks of being a city guardian sounded appealing to him as well.
He also realized he would grow stronger under Raine's guidance.
Becoming a city guardian wasn't an easy feat, but if he was exposed to many risks, those experiences would surely make him stronger.
After all, experience was the best teacher.
* * *
[Three days before the city guardian entry exam.]
Raine stood on the roof of her manor in the middle of the night.
Stars twinkled around the crescent moon, and the night was quiet and cold.
A few steps behind her stood Nyx, who seemed to blend into her shadow.
"I've done my best, Captain, but he still hasn't awakened his power core."
For the past few weeks, Nyx had been training Vince, except on the days when his duties as a city guardian took priority. Raine occasionally supervised Vince's training as well, but over the past week, Vince had started training on his own.
"He's a fast learner, which I didn't expect at first. He has potential, but being a dormant is holding him back. Do you still want him to join the entry exam, Captain? It's in three days."
Raine understood Nyx's concerns.
There wasn't a rule that a dormant couldn't participate in the city guardian entry exam, but she had yet to see a dormant have the courage to do it. If Vince was willing, he would be the first.
"Hmm, he's trained for a month just for the exam. It would be a waste not to see it through to the end. Let's see how it plays out."
Vince had always surprised Raine, and she hoped he would do so again during the entry exam.
"Why are you betting on him?" Nyx asked coldly, his voice low like the soft murmur of the wind.
Nyx thought Vince had pleasant looks, which he assumed had initially caught his captain's attention, but he knew there was more to it.
Raine was a royal lady, holding high status, wealth, and power. Handsome men vied for her attention everywhere. Surely, she wasn't simply captivated by the dormant's appearance.
"Why not?" Raine chuckled softly. "As you can see, Vince is smart, and there's something intriguing about him. He's a dormant, but he has his own way of handling things."
Although Nyx strongly suspected there was more to his captain's plans, he dared not inquire further, as it no longer concerned him.
"Any new cases of corrupted demons in the city?" Raine asked, her tone suddenly serious.
"The last one was a week ago, in the town of Maydew. No new cases this week."
* * *
[One day before the entry exam.]
Vince stood on the balcony of his room, looking over the garden of Raine's residence as the sun faded on the horizon.
The sky was painted in hues of orange.
Though his face appeared emotionless and unbothered, deep down, he worried about what awaited him in the entry exam.
No matter how hard he tried, he remained a dormant.
The written test wouldn't be difficult, as he had studied all the materials Raine had given him. He wasn't sure about the survival test, but what concerned him most was the combat test.
Raine had warned him that all other participants would be at least first-class awakened.
Vince knew he'd made decent progress in combat training, but what could a powerless guy like him do against participants with magic and gifts? He was clearly at a disadvantage.
But still…
There was no turning back now.