When Alan returned to the Harris estate with Isabella, his face suddenly turned pale.
This was because Isabella's body began to emit another wave of distorted mind power, sharp and piercing, like an ear-splitting shriek that agitated sensitive eardrums.
His sister's strange illness was acting up again!
Alan's heart sank as he quickly looked at the essence stone in Isabella's hands.
Amid the chaotic and restless fluctuations of Isabella's mind power, the essence stone was now covered in fine cracks, as if a gentle breeze would reduce it to powder.
In the past few days, the supply of mental potions had already been depleted.
Since the essence stone was available and the Lioncrest Academy entrance exam was set for tomorrow, no new potions had been prepared.
As Alan grew increasingly anxious, a voice from a woman in a black robe suddenly rang in his ear, "Bring the essence stone to me."
Startled, Alan immediately followed her instruction, bringing the cracked essence stone and stepping into the abyss.
The atmosphere in the abyss was even more oppressive and dark than usual. The swirling ground beneath his feet trembled faintly, showing signs of changes not seen before.
However, Alan's focus was entirely on his sister, leaving him no time to dwell on these peculiarities.
The woman in black took the essence stone in her hand, and a wave of mana as warm as spring instantly gathered in her palm, flowing into the essence stone.
The cracks on its surface finally stopped spreading.
"This essence stone contains my power, but it will only last for about a day before completely disintegrating. After that, you'll have to figure out another solution."
Handing the essence stone back to Alan, the woman spoke with an uncharacteristically serious tone.
Alan nodded, gripping the essence stone tightly in his hand.
Only one day!
But tomorrow was the Lioncrest Academy entrance exam! If he could enter the academy, his sister's illness might finally be cured.
I must get into Lioncrest Academy!
With that determination etched into his heart, Alan left the abyss and carefully placed the essence stone on Isabella.
Once the stone, now glowing once more, was on her, Isabella—who had fainted from the pain—gradually eased her furrowed brows and fell into a deep sleep.
...
"Alan!"
Harris's voice called from outside the house.
Alan immediately opened the door and stepped out.
Harris's face was full of apology. "Alan, tonight's events were my oversight. I apologize. The second prince wasn't like this before. It seems he was just putting on an act."
Harris sighed deeply at the end.
Alan shook his head. "This isn't the head's fault. You've been nothing but kind to my sister and me. There's no need to dwell on it."
"Besides, if I may speak freely, isn't it a bit premature for the Light Guild to choose a prince to support, given your current strength?"
"True, but if we don't make a choice, the future king may not look favorably upon the Light Guild," Harris replied with a sigh. This was a problem as old as time and notoriously difficult to navigate.
"Still, I've made up my mind. The second prince isn't a viable option. As for the others, we'll decide later."
Alan nodded. "There's still plenty of time. No need to rush into a decision."
Harris sighed again. "Ah, let's not discuss this further. Alan, tomorrow is the Lioncrest Academy entrance exam. Once you're in, please take care of Carter!"
Alan smiled. "The competition at Lioncrest Academy is fierce. Are you that confident in me, head?"
Harris laughed heartily. "Lioncrest Academy has high standards, but not high enough to keep someone like you out."
Alan chuckled as well. With that, Harris bid him farewell, urging him to rest well before tomorrow.
Returning to his room and locking the door, Alan immediately entered the abyss again.
The moment he stepped into the abyss, he felt faint tremors emanating from the swirling vortex.
From the lower levels of the abyss came an ominous disturbance, as though some terrifying entity was trying to tear through the vortex's seal.
"Elder, what exactly is sealed in the next level of the abyss?"
Swallowing nervously, Alan asked, deeply uneasy.
Even the faint vibrations from the vortex made his scalp tingle.
"This is a sign that the abyssal seal is nearing its breaking point. Once you join Lioncrest Academy, find a suitable staff as soon as possible, break through to tier-bronze, and prepare yourself. Time is running out for you."
The woman in black didn't elaborate further, but her tone was unusually grave.
...
The next morning.
The thin mist in the air was painted orange by the rising sun, creating a dreamy, ethereal scene.
Harris stood at the entrance with Carter, waiting. When they saw Alan and Isabella emerge, their eyes lit up.
Alan's features were already striking, and after tidying himself up, he looked even more refined, exuding the youthful vigor and spirit unique to his age.
With a solid background in magic, his future was undoubtedly bright.
Harris's gaze shifted to Isabella. Though still young, she was blossoming into a beauty, her fair skin glowing like snow and her deep blue eyes sparkling like precious gems.
She was undoubtedly a budding flower of extraordinary charm.
Walking side by side, the siblings made for an impressive pair—handsome and beautiful.
Harris smiled. "Let's go. The Lioncrest Academy entrance exam is about to begin."
Alan nodded, and under Harris's lead, they set off.
The Harris estate was not far from Lioncrest Academy. As they got closer, the atmosphere grew more vibrant.
Though most of the people gathered here were young mages aspiring to join, many others had come simply to witness the spectacle.
After all, the Lioncrest Academy entrance exam, held once every three years, was a grand event that attracted most of the Plantagenet Kingdom's prodigies.
Such an occasion was not something one could see every day!
After walking for another ten minutes, Alan arrived at the foot of a vast mountain range.
The mountains stretched across the horizon like a giant beast, cutting off the path ahead.
At the base of the mountains was a massive plaza.
Thousands of people had already gathered there, creating a lively and bustling scene with voices rising and falling in waves.
Looking at the crowd of young mages in the plaza, Alan's pupils narrowed slightly.
Because most of these young mages were tier-bronze mages!
Tier-bronze!
Reaching such a tier at this age meant they were one-in-ten-thousand geniuses!
In most cases, a small town producing one such talent would already be remarkable.
Yet here, in this plaza, they were as common as cabbages in the market!
"No wonder Lioncrest Academy gathers ninety percent of the geniuses in the Plantagenet Kingdom," Alan marveled.
Seeing his reaction, Harris explained:
"Lioncrest Academy wields immense influence. It boasts the best training resources, the finest mentors, and unparalleled career opportunities. Coupled with the strong endorsement of the Plantagenet Kingdom, it's no surprise that it draws such a crowd."
"Moreover, Lioncrest Academy isn't exclusive to the Plantagenet Kingdom. Like the Church of Steam and Magic, it spans multiple kingdoms. In fact, Lioncrest Academy is even more colossal. Legends say its main campus is located far away in the central lands!"
Lioncrest Academy was not only vast and ancient, but holding its credentials also meant recognition in other kingdoms.
This reputation had led to an unprecedented phenomenon where even royal family members studied at Lioncrest Academy.
Alan nodded thoughtfully. The Northern District truly seemed too small in comparison.
Lioncrest Academy alone was already unimaginably vast.
It was hard to fathom just how expansive this world truly was!
The stronger and more powerful Lioncrest Academy appeared, the more hopeful Alan felt. His sister's strange illness would surely be treated well within its walls!
...
Suddenly, the sound of wind being sliced open came from afar.
A unicorn pegasus beast swooped down from the mountains. On its back sat an elderly man in a purple robe with a stern expression.
His gaze was sharp as he scanned the crowd. Then, in a loud voice, he declared:
"Silence! I am Hivrael, the admissions mentor for Lioncrest Academy!"
"Today marks the admissions test for Lioncrest Academy. I won't waste words. The first thirty people to pass the academy's set trial will be admitted as students. Everyone else will be eliminated!"
Only thirty spots?!
The announcement left the crowd visibly tense.
Thousands of prodigies had gathered here, but there were only thirty spots!
The competition would be brutal!
Hivrael ignored their shock and continued in a calm tone:
"The first test is the Sky Ladder. Anyone unable to ascend the mountain using their own power will be disqualified!"
All eyes followed his gesture.
Alan looked in the indicated direction and saw a stairway winding upward along the mountain. He frowned slightly, puzzled.
The Sky Ladder?
Was it referring to this ascending path?
"This seems too simple," Alan muttered, furrowing his brows.
Harris explained, "It might look simple, but underestimating it would be a big mistake.
The stairway is connected to a magic array. The closer you get to the peak, the more overwhelming the pressure becomes."
"Climbing it with your own power not only requires a high degree of purity in your internal magical elements but also strong willpower. Those with weak resolve will find themselves unable to move a single step!"
Alan was impressed.
He had anticipated that the Lioncrest Academy's test wouldn't be easy, and sure enough, it exuded extraordinary challenges.
His gaze shifted to Carter.
Although Carter was a tier-bronze mage, it was evident that he had advanced using potions. His chances of passing were slim.
Harris, slightly embarrassed, said:
"You don't need to worry about him. Carter is already a student at Lioncrest Academy, albeit in a special program. He's not an official student but can study there to boost his credentials."
Alan nodded in understanding, then prepared to ascend the stairs to the mountain peak.
But just as he was about to step forward, he noticed several skeletal remains hanging beneath the stairs.
These corpses, dried and mummified by the elements, swayed eerily in the wind.
"What's the story behind these bodies?" Alan asked curiously, overhearing murmurs from others.
"They were students of Sirius Academy," Harris said, squinting as a hint of nostalgia crossed his face.
"Sirius Academy?" Alan was taken aback.
"That's ancient history. Decades ago, Sirius Academy and Lioncrest Academy were the two major academies of the Plantagenet Kingdom, fiercely competitive. Over time, their rivalry escalated into a deadly feud.
"For reasons unknown, Sirius Academy's strength waned year by year until it was completely suppressed by Lioncrest Academy."
"These corpses are the remnants of the battles fought by Sirius Academy's students. Every time their students were defeated, their bodies were hung here."
"Sirius Academy has tried to retrieve the remains of their students over the years, but every challenger they sent died here without exception. This only added to the number of corpses, creating the grim spectacle you see now."