The Next Day
Urgh'
Lean sighed, exhaustion settling into his bones as he awoke from a fitful sleep. He blinked, rubbing his eyes and looking around the unfamiliar room.
For a moment, he thought he recognized it—its layout and furnishings were nearly identical to his previous quarters. But as reality came back to him, so did the truth.
"Oh… so I really am inside the novel," he murmured to himself. The novelty of it was still hard to process. Shaking his head, he pushed the thought aside and got up to prepare for the entrance exam.
After a few minutes of hastily getting dressed, Lean was finally ready. He took a deep breath before stepping outside.
The day of the entrance exam had arrived, and he was about to embark on a journey that would change his life forever.
In all five cities of the kingdom, the exams drew large crowds. Every year, over one hundred and fifty hopefuls from each city would gather to test their skills and determination, competing for one of the fifty coveted spots that granted entrance into the academy.
Many participants, however, were turned away before they even began. Most commonly, this was due to misplaced entry cards—a simple but devastating loss that immediately disqualified them. Others found they simply weren't suited to the rigorous life of a mage and failed on merit.
Those fortunate enough to pass would gather in the kingdom's capital, Eldryn, where the academy resided. Eldryn, with its towering spires and ancient stone walls, had always been the heart of magical learning and power.
This year, however, was different. Lean was immediately struck by the sheer number of people gathered. Easily three hundred individuals had converged on the exam site, their voices a low hum of anticipation.
"Wow… there are quite a lot of people this year," one of the sub-mages muttered to his companion as they surveyed the crowd. He glanced at the list of names and numbers clutched in his hand.
"Oh yeah… a lot more than usual," the other replied, nodding thoughtfully. The two exchanged looks before resuming their duties, calling out numbers in order to check everyone in.
When Lean finally reached the exam site, he was taken aback by the sight of the bustling crowd.
The scene before him didn't match his recollections from After the Fallen.
In the novel, this moment had been described with much less attention to the size of the crowd. The author had perhaps omitted some of the finer details that now seemed so real and overwhelming.
"Number 225!" one of the sub-mages called out, his voice ringing through the air.
The numbers were called in strict sequential order. Each participant had to present themselves when their number was called; failing to respond led to immediate disqualification.
It was a simple, yet merciless system. The process also disqualified anyone unable to produce their entry card—a crucial slip of paper given to each applicant during registration.
Without it, participation was impossible, and the academy's standards were too high to allow for exceptions.
"Yes! That's me." A clear, melodic voice rang out as Natasha stepped forward. Her long, pink hair shimmered in the sunlight, dancing with the gentle breeze as she walked with a grace that turned heads.
"Oh… my! That's Natasha Sherrifield, of House Sherrifield," a young man murmured, eyes wide as he gazed at her with admiration.
"She's so beautiful! I wanna look just like her," whispered a young woman standing nearby, equally mesmerized by Natasha's elegance.
"But why is she even here, taking the entrance exam?" the young man continued, perplexed. "I thought she was a noble. Doesn't her lineage guarantee her a spot?"
"You fool!," another young man scoffed with a disdainful tone. "That's not how the academy works. Even noble blood doesn't grant automatic entry. They have to earn it, just like everyone else."
Natasha's presence stirred the crowd, murmurs rippling through as she made her way to the exam checkpoint.
The academy, it seemed, held no favoritism for nobility. It was a place where merit reigned supreme, and even the highest-born had to prove themselves worthy.
The sub-mages continued their methodical work, calling out numbers and checking in those who had managed to keep their entry cards safe.
As they progressed, the numbers climbed higher. Along the way, several hopefuls found themselves disqualified for not responding.
In some cases, they had lost their cards; in others, their cards had been stolen. Regardless, the academy showed no mercy—anyone without proper verification was turned away.
"Number 267!" another call went up, catching Lean's attention. This was his turn.
"That will be me!" he replied, raising his voice as he began pushing his way to the front of the crowd. He felt the weight of eyes on him as he moved forward.
"Huh… who is that?" The same young man from earlier asked, frowning as he watched Lean approach. "He doesn't look like a noble. Those clothes… they're so plain. Do you know him?" He directed his question to the other young man, the one with the arrogant air.
"Beats me," the second young man replied with a smirk. "He's probably just a lower-level commoner, like us."
"Yeah… he looks more like a background character to me," the first one added with a shrug.
Lean, however, paid no mind to their comments.
He walked with calm, casual strides, maintaining his composure as he approached the sub-mage holding his entry card. He wasn't here to impress anyone—not yet, anyway.
As Lean reached the sub-mage, he handed over his card with a steady hand, meeting the mage's gaze.
The mage examined the card briefly before nodding, motioning for him to proceed. Lean took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders. He was now one step closer to his goal.
The crowd around him buzzed with energy, a mix of excitement, anxiety, and barely contained competitiveness.
He could feel it in the air—the anticipation of those who, like him, had something to prove. The entrance exam wasn't just a test of skill; it was a proving ground, a crucible that would determine who among them had the potential to become a true mage.
As he moved further, Lean's mind raced with thoughts. He couldn't shake the feeling that this day marked the beginning of something far greater than he could fully comprehend.
He was no longer just a reader observing from afar. He was part of the story now, his fate intertwined with the world of After the Fallen in ways he could never have imagined.
He cast one last glance at the crowd, noting the diverse faces and the varying degrees of resolve etched on them.
Some appeared confident, while others seemed barely able to contain their fear. Yet, they all shared a common purpose: to seize the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of the academy's rigorous training.
As Lean waited for the mages to finish, he felt a strange sense of calm settling over him.
He knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but he also knew that he was ready.
Whatever the academy threw at him, he would face it head-on. He had already crossed a threshold, stepping into a world that would test him in ways he had never anticipated.
And so, with a quiet resolve, Lean took his first steps into a new chapter of his life, prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.