Once again, Sam and Oz are queuing to enter the Mist Gate.
This gate serves a dual purpose: it is used for entering and exiting Stellarkeep and functions as a portal for moving between the different floors.
Each floor is equipped with four Mist Gates, allowing for convenient travel throughout the expansive floor.
Today marks the entrance exam for Mistheaven Academy, resulting in a dramatic increase in visitors to Stellarkeep.
The number of people has swelled to around thousands, and as a result, the line to access the Mist Gate stretches far beyond its usual length, creating a bottleneck.
"Next, keep moving!"
The gatekeeper's voice echoes with a sharp edge, pushing everyone to maintain the pace and avoid delays.
Oz decided against using the 'open sazham' jokes this time.
The gatekeeper appeared unusually tired and irritable, likely from the strain of managing the large crowd.
The duo quickly advanced into the Mist Gate, hoping to bypass the congestion.
The cold, damp sensation and the distinctive, floral odor of the Mist Gate triggered memories of his previous interaction with the gatekeeper.
[State your destination floor.]
"Oh, you're the same gatekeeper from yesterday, aren't you?"
Oz inquired, recognizing the voice despite its altered, mechanical quality.
[… State your destination floor.]
The voice now carried a tone of someone trying to mask their identity.
"Stop pretending. I know it's you."
[Hah… What floor do you want to go to, kid? Don't make my job harder.]
"I still don't know your name, even though we've met before."
[Fine… My name is Lizzie Hexam. Satisfied? Now tell me which floor you want to go to, or I'll send you to 4th floor.]
Lizzie's irritation was palpable, as she seemed to offer 4th floor out of sheer frustration.
"To 5th floor please, thanks Miss Hexam."
[Permission to access 5th floor as an entrance exam participant has been confirmed. Proceed forward.]
The familiar mist-free corridor materialized before Oz, and he moved forward without further aggravating Lizzie.
Emerging from the mist corridor, Oz was greeted by breathtaking view of 5th floor.
In the center of this floor, a grand castle dominates the landscape, so colossal it seems to almost touch the ceiling of the floor above.
That is Mistheaven Castle, the heart of the academy where all educational and administrative activities take place.
The path from the Mist Gate to the castle is lined with meticulously arranged marble paving stones, complemented by vibrant green plants and well-maintained grass.
The grandeur of the scene evokes a sense of awe akin to the experience of entering Disneyland for the first time, with the majestic castle standing prominently in the distance.
Surrounding the castle, several large buildings—presumably dormitories for the students—are visible, adding to the architectural splendor of the floor.
Suddenly, a white feather drifted down from above. Oz watched in amazement as the feather transformed into a small bird, no larger than a hand. The bird gracefully settled on his right shoulder.
[Attention participant, you are required to assemble at the west stadium within 24 minutes.]
The bird speaks.
*Poof*
A black cloak appeared next to the bird, materializing as if from thin air.
[Wear this cloak during the exam. Follow me to the West Stadium.]
The bird then took flight—or rather, hovered in place like a hummingbird—without flapping its wings.
Despite its unassuming appearance, the bird is actually a sophisticated surveillance device.
It can detect any magical activity, except for night sorcery of course.
Oz chose to enter 5th floor through the west gate, as it is the closest to the west stadium, where the assembly is to take place.
Initially, Sam had planned to enter through the north gate, being the nearest to their hotel.
"But where is Sam?"
He should have arrived before them.
"Oz, help! My food was confiscated again!"
Before they entered the Mist Gate, Oz had tried to convince Sam to leave his bag behind to avoid any issues. Unfortunately, Sam had stubbornly refused to listen.
During the entrance exam, all personal belongings brought by students are temporarily confiscated when passing through the Mist Gate.
This rule includes everything except their clothing and a few accessories like glasses, with the aim of preventing any cheating during the exam.
However, this regulation can sometimes be circumvented if one has insider connections.
Some individuals who have contacts within Mistheaven can still bring items by entrusting them to their acquaintances within the academy.
Today, all Mistheaven students have been dispatched to the lower floors to ensure they do not assist the participants.
Despite this, if participants manage to hide their items in concealed locations, they can still offer indirect support.
People always find ways to bypass rules, as evidenced by Sarah's documents. Utilizing insider connections is even permitted and can potentially earn extra points.
"Your food will be returned once we're done."
Oz reassured Sam, who was looking dejected.
"Oh, really? Alright then. I hope the exam ends quickly."
—Huh? You're more concerned about your food than the entrance exam?
It takes roughly 10 minutes to walk from the west gate to the west stadium. However, as Oz passed through a garden adorned with numerous fountains, he detoured towards one of the fountains.
"Oi Oz, where are you going?"
"Just wait a minute. There's a place to sit over there; you can wait there. I need to use the restroom!"
Oz used the classic excuse of needing to 'use the toilet'—a common reason for leaving a situation.
In the midst of the garden of statues, Oz was searching for a statue without arms.
"Oh, I hope this statue is the one I am looking for."
"Revelare!"
This is a Charm Magic. Occulatus and Revelare are a pair of spells used to hide and reveal objects, respectively.
At the base of the statue, a small pouch appeared—perfectly sized to fit into his robe pocket.
This pouch is one of the perks provided by Sarah. To achieve the highest score, certain items like this are crucial.
From a distance, Oz noticed several students casting Revelare on statues. It's likely that those here are also utilizing Sarah's services.
—Actually, I could use Revelare on all the statues here, but Sarah would definitely find out.
Rule No. 1 when trolling: Don't get caught, or you'll end up with problems.
At least Oz remembered the faces of those students, as their parents are likely wealthy or influential.
In both this world and on Earth, magical power related to money is also incredibly potent.
"Oi Oz, are you finished?"
Sam's voice called out as he saw Oz emerging from behind the statues.
"Yep, let's head to the west stadium right away."
From a distance, a large number of participants had already gathered in the west stadium. Their black cloaks gave the stadium a dark, carpet-like appearance.
*Murmur*
The collective murmur of thousands of participants created a buzzing noise, reminiscent of a swarm of bees.
"Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me."
Oz guided Sam through the edges of the stadium, maneuvering around various groups of participants. Their goal was to reach the front row, which provided several advantages on the first exam.
*Ding* *Dong* *Ding* *Dong* *Ding* *Dong*
A large bell from a building across the stadium tolled, cutting through the noise of the crowd.
The bird that had been silently perched on Oz's shoulder suddenly began to speak.
[Time is up. A total of 9,738 participants are qualified. 1,563 failed to reach their destination within the allotted time.]
The number of participants who failed was significant. Even before the official test commenced, Mistheaven had already performed a preliminary screening of the candidates.
According to the event schedule, the exam officially begins at 7 am, but Mistheaven had intentionally advanced it to 6:30 am. This alteration is within the rules, as the organizers are allowed to modify the schedule as needed.
Publicly, Mistheaven evaluates four main skills represented by four distinct exams: endurance, decision-making, intelligence, and magical-prowess.
However, few are aware of the five hidden exam: insight, creativity, resourcefulness, networking, and wisdom.
Even if participants enter through the east gate, the school has cleverly designed a serpentine path leading to the west stadium.
Participants who enter the fifth floor through the west gate will receive points for their insight.
A fierce wind sweeps from all directions, whipping through the stadium. Then, like a dramatic curtain falling on a stage, the entire stadium is shrouded in darkness.
Then, what once an open field morphs into a fully enclosed indoor stadium, complete with high walls and a vaulted ceiling.
At the front of this newly revealed space, a previously unseen stage emerges.
[Welcome to Mistheaven, dear hatchlings!]
On the stage, a line of professors and academy staff sit behind long desks, their expressions a mix of authority and curiosity.
In the center of the stage stands a striking young woman, perhaps in her early twenties, on a raised podium.
Wearing a delicate light blue dress and a white robe reminiscent of the students' attire, her garments flow gracefully with each step she takes.
Her long, curly, golden blonde hair cascades in rich waves, perfectly embodying the name 'Goldilocks' given to her.
As the headmaster of Mistheaven, she commands respect and authority. Though her youthful appearance, she is actually around 80 years old.
Despite her age, her vibrant presence and commanding demeanor make her a formidable figure in the academy.
To those unfamiliar with her, she might seem like a mere youth, but she is one of the Dark Lords, the 135th to be precise, known as the 'Scorching Dark Lord.'
Her rise to Dark Lord status occurred during the second great war. Between 1939 and 1945, when the Slaughterer Dark Lord was the main antagonist.
The Slaughterer Dark Lord unleashed terror across Europe and Asia, slaughtering millions, and in August 1945, a massive conflict erupted in the Asia-Pacific islands country.
With no other viable options, Goldilocks wielded an artifact with mystical power, as magic alone was insufficient to defeat the Slaughterer Dark Lord.
The result was two colossal explosions that annihilated the cities where the battles took place, leaving behind scorched earth and devastation.
In essence, she was a walking nuclear bomb. She remains unquestionably the most powerful Dark Lord of current era, with the capability to wield the mystical artifact.
Though the Slaughterer Dark Lord was ultimately vanquished, the death toll from the conflict soared into the millions. Thus, Goldilocks earned the title of Scorching Dark Lord after obliterating two cities.
There was significant debate and conflict over whether Goldilocks should be hailed as a hero or condemned as a Dark Lord.
Ultimately, she was appointed by the Stellarkeep Council as headmaster, with the condition of refraining from using Dark Arts on another human.
The primary reason for her appointment is that Goldilocks's destructive power could serve as a political tool to intimidate nations or other entities.
[Congratulations to those who arrived early. Since my watch is 30 minutes ahead, I'll start the exam now. The schedule will follow the time on my watch. Any objection?]
Despite her somewhat irksome tone and arbitrary rules, no one dares to challenge Professor Goldilocks.
[If there are no objections, I will assume everyone agrees.]
—Naturally, no one here dares to protest.
[The first exam is a physical endurance test. Why should a wizard be tested on physical endurance? Well, if you faint after casting just one spell, you shall become an office worker instead.]
—Hey, don't mock office workers. I've worked for 20 years without fainting even once, except when I'm out of money.
*Murmur*
A chorus of murmurs fills the air, with many participants grumbling despite having been informed of the four exams beforehand.
Goldilocks snapped her fingers, and with a rumble, three towering gates, each 10 meters high, materialized behind the stage.
[Now, choose one of the gates. There are 3 doors leading to 3 different stages. If you reach the finish line, you pass. The faster you finish, the higher rank you earn.]
—My goal in being at the front is to get a head start.
[Oh, one more thing: if you are too far from your surveillance bird or if you kill the surveillance bird, you will be returned to the stadium. However, you are free to reenter the gate.]
It seems this rule was designed to prevent participants from targeting others' guide birds or attempting to escape surveillance during the exams
The first exam lasts for 3 hours. However, waiting in line to enter the gate could waste valuable time.
"Oz Oz. Which gate should we choose?"
Sam asked in a panic, his eyes darting between the imposing gates.
Oz pointed decisively to one of the gates.
"Pick the middle one. If you choose the left, you might freeze, and if you choose the right, you might get roasted."
The Goldilocks Zone, also known as the habitable zone, is a region around a star where conditions might be just right. This zone is neither too hot nor too cold, making it potentially suitable for life.
These three gates symbolize that concept, each leading to a different stages.
[Oh, it seems some of you can't wait any longer. In that case, the first exam officially begins now.]
Oz immediately grasped Sam's hand and sprinted with all his might.
Sam, who was somewhat chubby, struggled to keep up his breath.
The sensation through this gate was familiar. The Mist Gate felt cold, damp, and smelled like flowers. But this gate made every cell in his body vibrate with an unsettling intensity because he was excited.
*Chirp*
The bird on his shoulder chirped as he exited the gate.
Beyond this gate lies a stage enveloped in dense green forests, where the light is perpetually dim and diffused, as though the sun has been swallowed by an unending shroud of clouds and a steady drizzle of rain.