Chapter 184: Academy’s Entrance Test
A week passed quickly, and today was the entrance test for the academy.
Gara wouldn’t be taking the test himself, but he still came along to see Fian and the others.
The academy’s main gate was still closed, so everyone entered through a small side door.
Inside, dozens of young Liners in robes were gathering—some clearly nervous, others buzzing with excitement. Around them, family and friends stood in clusters, offering words of encouragement.
Those who would be taking the exam followed the staff into the academy building, while Gara and Madha, along with the other companions, were directed down a side path.
The trail curved around the building until it ended before a massive notice board.
Candidate Results Board.
The words were written boldly at the top. The space beneath was still blank.
"Looks like this is where the results will show up," Gara said to Madha. "We can just come back later to check."
Madha was about to nod when a sweet, melodic voice chimed in from beside them.
"This board updates live with their rankings. It’s way more exciting to watch it unfold than just seeing the final results."
Gara turned his head. A strikingly beautiful woman stood nearby. Her light-blue hair spilled over her shoulders, with one side tucked neatly behind her ear—an ear shaped like a gill, shimmering faintly. Scales of the same ocean-blue hue glimmered along her hand.
Curious, Gara asked, "What kind of test are they taking?"
"The test isn’t exactly a secret," the fish-woman replied warmly. "They just have to defeat wild beasts in the forest behind the academy. The top two hundred with the highest point will pass."
Gara tilted his head. "But with that many people, how does the academy know exactly how many each person defeats? Do they assign a supervisor to follow each candidate? Then have the results sent back here for staff to write on the board? That sounds like a total hassle."
The woman chuckled. "Ever heard of the Intai Birds?"
Gara dug through his memory. Yes, he’d read about them before. Birds used for reconnaissance—when bonded to a Tamer, they could deliver information fast and precisely.
"So the Intai Birds report back to the Tamers, and the Tamers send the data here to staff?" Gara asked, wanting to be sure.
"Something like that," she confirmed with a nod.
She gestured toward a bench nearby, shaded by a tall flower pot. "Come on, let’s sit. It might take a while."
They settled in, joining others who had already claimed seats, the atmosphere strangely reminiscent of waiting for a theater show to begin.
...
Meanwhile, on a vast green field, thousands of new candidates stood in neat rows, their Liner robes catching the breeze.
All eyes faced the podium up front, where none other than Rucian had taken the stage.
He launched into a speech, droning on endlessly. Within minutes, several students were stifling yawns. Kevio didn’t even bother hiding his, his jaw gaping wide.
"So, what’s the point of all this? What are we supposed to do?" he muttered to one of his subordinate.
"Defeat as many wild beasts as possible," the man replied flatly.
"That’s it? Then why the long speech?" Kevio grumbled.
No one disagreed. They were all thinking the same.
Finally, Rucian stopped only when a staff member discreetly tugged at his robe.
With a sour look, he cut his speech short and begrudgingly waved the candidates toward the back gates, the entrance that led directly into the academy’s rear forest.
Fian and the others headed toward the gate along with the rest of the candidates. While many of the other students broke into a sprint—hoping that by getting ahead they could claim more wild beasts—Fian’s group walked at a steadier pace.
Beyond the gate, towering trees cast cool shade over the forest path, though the atmosphere carried a faintly eerie edge.
The chatter of students drowned out most of the forest sounds, but Fian, being an elf, could clearly hear the creatures lurking within.
"How about we form a team? It’ll make it easier to fight wild beasts and keep each other safe," Yuvika suggested.
"Not a bad idea," Orman agreed. "The man on the podium said the academy won’t guarantee our safety during this test. We’ll need to watch our own backs."
"I disagree!" Kevio snapped. "I’m not going to let you slow me down!"
He admitted, at least to himself, that every time he faced Yuvika in a spar when he first awoke, he always lost.
But this test would be different.
He had used an enhance crystal. The first attempt had failed, leaving his talent even weaker than before, but his second attempt had succeeded.
Now, he was certain he was stronger than Yuvika.
Fian was strong too, but no matter how skilled he was, he was still just an E-rank liner who hadn’t even cleared his initial mission.
Meanwhile, Kevio’s two chosen subordinate were D-rank liners, and Orman, who had been assigned to him by his father, was also a D-rank.
"We’re slowing you down?" Yuvika glared.
"Yes," Kevio said confidently.
He turned on his heel. "Let’s go! You too, Orman!"
But Orman didn’t budge. "Me? You know what my task is. I’m here to make sure you earn your place in the academy with your own strength.
Do you think I don’t see that you’re planning to use those two underlings to kill beasts for you? That won’t fly here. To fulfill my task, I’m ordering you to come along with me, Fian, and Yuvika. Fight the beasts yourself."
Kevio spun back, his face twisted in anger. "If I go with you, the beasts I defeat will just get stolen by weaklings like you!"
"Who are you calling weak?!" Yuvika snapped.
"You and that elf, of course!" Kevio shot back.
Yuvika clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay calm. "Fine. If you think I’m weak, don’t expect me to help you later."
She turned away, jogging after Fian, who had already left as soon as Kevio started spouting nonsense. Orman followed shortly after, giving Kevio nothing more than a dismissive snort.
"Just you wait," Kevio shouted at their backs. "I’ll pass this test while you fail miserably. You won’t even be able to lift your heads in front of me!"
But Fian, Orman, and Yuvika didn’t hear him anymore. His voice was lost among the chatter of students gathered at the forest’s edge, hesitating before stepping inside.
The three of them, however, strode forward without hesitation. Their decisiveness drew a few admiring stares from the other candidates, though some dismissed it as nothing unusual for an elf.
...