The path leading to the Golden Luminary Academy's Registration Hall buzzed with energy. Children from all corners of the kingdom streamed in, their expressions a mix of awe and determination. Some wore fine
cloaks embroidered with family crests, while others had the humble attire of farmers' sons and daughters. Yet, no matter their origins, all
shared the same goal: to earn a place in the prestigious Academy.
As I walked, the sheer magnitude of the competition began to sink in.Twenty thousand students, I had overheard someone say, were gathered here today. And out of them, only two thousand would be admitted. The rest would return home, their dreams deferred.
While navigating the winding paths of the campus, I caught sight of a group of boys huddled together near the entrance of the Serenity Gardens. Their voices were low, urgent, as if they didn't want to be overheard.
"…I'm telling you, it's real!" one of them whispered.
"Don't be ridiculous," another retorted, though his voice betrayed
unease. "Ghosts don't exist. Not even here."
"It's not a ghost," the first insisted.
"They call it the Black Ghost, but it's something else. My brother swore he saw it last year. He said it watches from the shadows, moving like smoke…"
The mention of a "Black Ghost" made me pause. My curiosity flared—I wanted to know more. But the weight of the entrance exam
registration pressed against my mind. There wasn't time to linger.
Still, as I walked away, their words stayed with me. A ghost—or whatever it was—lurking within the Academy? It seemed unlikely, but
in a place so steeped in magic, could anything truly be dismissed as impossible?
The Registration Hall was a sprawling building at the edge of the main campus, its stone façade alive with faintly glowing glyphs that guided the endless stream of students inside. The air buzzed with mana, a subtle hum that set the hairs on my arms standing on edge.
Inside, rows of enchanted desks operated without attendants, their quills floating above parchment forms. Students stepped up, answered a series of questions, and pressed their palms against a glowing sigil to complete their registration.
When it was my turn, the sigil beneath my hand flared to life, a warm golden light spreading across my palm. The quill danced across the parchment, inscribing my name, age, and region in elegant script.
As I finished, an attendant approached—a tall man with a stern face and robes marked with the insignia of the Examiner'sGuild.
"You'll receive your schedule for the first round of exams shortly," he said without preamble. "Good luck."
Stepping back outside, I couldn't help but feel the tension in the air. Around me, students gathered in small groups, some nervously
reviewing spellbooks while others whispered strategies. The sheer number of applicants was overwhelming. Each of these people had
worked tirelessly, hoping to claim one of the precious two thousand spots.
I glanced down at my hands, flexing my fingers as if to remind myself of the magic I held within. Light and shadow—two sides of a coin. It was a rare combination, one that could give me an edge if I used it wisely. But for now, I would keep my shadow magic hidden, as I always had. Let them see only what I wanted them to see.
As I moved through the crowd, I couldn
't help but wonder about the stories each of these students carried. Like me, they had dreams, ambitions, and perhaps secrets of their own. Yet only a few would rise to claim their place at the Golden Luminary Academy.
As the afternoon sun began its descent, the faint hum of excitement settled into a nervous hush across the Academy grounds. At exactly 4:00 PM, a soft shimmer appeared in the air around each student,followed by the sudden materialization of a magical letter.
The letter hovered before me, suspended in midair, glowing faintly with a golden aura. Its border was intricately designed, shimmering with delicate glyphs, and the pure white background was as smooth as polished marble. Slowly, it floated down into my hands, its touch warm and comforting, as though infused with the promise of something
extraordinary.
I opened it carefully, almost reverently, the faint scent of parchment and magic wafting up as the seal dissolved into golden sparks. The handwriting inside was elegant, flowing as if it had been written by an unseen hand moments before:-
Golden Luminary Academy Entrance Examination
Candidate: Michael
Time: 5:30 PM Tomorrow
Location: Practicum Arena
Examination Schedule:
1. Round One: Mana Proficiency Test
Objective: Demonstrate control over raw mana by creating a stable mana sphere and sustaining it for at least two minutes.
Bonus points for demonstrating elemental affinity.
○ Time: 5:30 PM
○ Duration: 20 minutes
2. Round Two: Spellcraft and Innovation
Objective: Create a unique magical construct or demonstrate the creative application of a basic spell. Judges will evaluate originality, precision, and mana efficiency.
○ Time: 6:00 PM
○ Duration: 30 minutes
3. Round Three: Combat Simulation
Objective: Engage in a simulated duel against an enchanted automaton designed to test both offensive and defensive skills.
The automaton's level will adapt to the candidate's abilities.
○ Time: 6:45 PM
○ Duration: 40 minutes
4. Final Evaluation: Personal Interview with the Examiners
Objective: Discuss your magical philosophy, aspirations, and the role you see for yourself in the magical world.
○ Time: Following completion of practical rounds
○ Duration: 15 minutes
At the bottom of the letter was a glowing sigil—my candidate ID. It pulsed faintly, syncing with my mana signature, ensuring only I could
use the letter for entry.
I let out a slow breath, clutching the letter tightly. This was it—the beginning of the trials that would determine my future. Each round seemed more daunting than the last, but the excitement bubbling in my chest outweighed any nerves.
I glanced around at the other students. Some looked pale, their eyes darting nervously over their letters, while others were grinning with
determination. Whispers filled the air:
"Mana Proficiency… I've been practicing for weeks."
"What if my automaton's difficulty is too high?"
« I heard the judges are ruthless in the spellcraft round. »
For a moment, I allowed myself to feel the enormity of the competition again. But then, I clenched my fists. I had prepared for this. Years of quiet practice, secret experiments with light and shadow, had brought me here. I might not flaunt my power, but I knew my strength.
As I slipped the letter into my satchel, I couldn't help but recall the hushed whispers I had overheard earlier about the Black Ghost. Was it a mere rumor, or something more? Part of me wondered if this "ghost" might make an appearance during the exams.
Either way, I had more pressing matters to attend to now. Tomorrowwould mark the first step in my journey toward the Golden Luminary Academy