The sun pierced Ray’s skin as he and the other children waited by the gate. The smell of dust and sweat soon filled the surrounding air. Sera stood at the front, near the gate, and Elaira paced around. Jon and Mei Zhi stood next to each other as he stole glances at her.

  Ray sighed, cracked his fingers and stretched his legs. He walked away from the gate and onto the training grounds. Mei Zhi squinted her eyes as she spotted him walking away. She slipped past Jon and followed Ray silently until he reached a secluded spot. He looked around and jumped over the wall.

  Mei Zhi blinked. “What is he doing?” She muttered as she followed him. She landed right next to Ray, who was waiting for her.

  She smiled. “Hello, Ray.”

  Ray frowned slightly. “Why are you following me, Vivian?”

  She shrugged. “You are going to check out the sound, aren’t you? Hooves, clapping, cheering?”

  Ray nodded. I see. She’s also mastered hearing.

  Mei Zhi smiled. I can’t get a read on him. He’s unusually calm.

  Ray pointed in the sound’s direction. “Wanna go check it out?” He asked with a smirk. Mei Zhi nodded. They silently made their way through on a road surrounded by trees and various plants.

  As they walked, Ray noticed three buildings on his right. Mei Zhi added, “Those must be the dorms.” Ray nodded, scanning the buildings.

  As they continued, the cheering grew louder. Mei Zhi asked, “Where are you from?” Ray ignored her question as they spotted a crowd clapping and cheering.

  They hid behind a tree and observed. Ray glanced at Mei Zhi and then back toward the crowd. “I can’t see anything.”

  Mei Zhi smiled. “Don’t worry, it’s just the king and his children.”

  Ray smirked. Hearing and sight. Just like me, huh? I wonder what else she’s hiding.

  Mei Zhi’s expression wilted. So he hasn’t mastered all of his senses? How disappointing.

  Seeing that the king had finally arrived, Ray and Mei Zhi turned to leave when one of the king’s Royal Knights, clad in black armour, glanced in their direction. He sighed, shaking his head. A young squire standing near him, with a silver belt tied to his waist, asked, “What happened, master?”

  The knight chuckled, “Looks like this year has promising candidates.”

  Mei Zhi and Ray both smiled, the knight’s words reaching their ears. They reached the wall and jumped over it, joining ?the group of children waiting.

  After a few moments, the guards opened the gate. The loud sound rang through the academy. Ray and the others entered, looking around. The guards led them through the garden road. Forming a canopy overhead, the trees shaded the children from the sun. Roses and fresh flowers covered the surrounding bushes. Their scent filled the air as the wind blew by. The dry leaves crunched under the children’s footsteps. They looked around in awe as they neared the crowd.

  Jon gasped as he spotted the king standing on an elevated floor. To his right was the knight clad in black armour and to his left, a space left for someone who hadn’t arrived yet.

  Next to them stood Maximus, staring off into the distance. A few other people stood slightly behind the king on either side.

  They must be the teachers.

  At last, a man dressed in a dark green robe stood just behind the king.

  The headmaster. Ray noted. He looks like the vice headmaster. He shook his head. They are brothers, of course.

  The applicants stood facing the stage. Nobles, gentry, the prince and the princess.

  When the children with Ray formed lines behind them, the prince scoffed. The princess shook her head. The noble children mockingly chuckled, and the gentry unemotionally glanced at them.

  Ray sighed, shaking his head. How arrogant.

  Sera glanced at Ray standing next to her, then at the prince and the princess. She nudged Ray. “Why do you look like them?”

  Ray chuckled. “It’s just the hair.”

  Sera squinted her eyes. “And eyes.”

  “A coincidence. Look, one of the gentry also has blonde hair.”

  “But blue eyes.”

  Ray frowned. “Will you stop?”

  Sera, still squinting, looked to the front.

  Silence fell over the ceremony grounds until the distant sound of hooves followed the wind. Banners of a raven chasing a falling star fluttered.

  The carriage halted just outside the second gate. As the door swung open, Aidan jumped out and walked toward the lines of children. The noble children made way for him, but contrary to their expectations, Aidan joined ?the lowborn and stood next to Ray and Jon.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  The prince frowned while the princess smiled.

  “Long time no see, deadweight.” Aidan said to Jon.

  Jon chuckled. “Want me to break your jaw again?”

  Sera sighed and said, “What do you mean, long time no see? It’s only been a week.” Aidan shrugged. “I would’ve joined you sooner if his highness weren’t attending.”

  Elaira smiled. “Listen here, try not to fall behind me.”

  Aidan smirked. “I will defeat you, Elaira. One day.”

  Footsteps echoed from the gate as the duke walked towards the stage. Awe-filled gasps surrounded him. Cedric followed close behind. He glanced at Ray and the others and smiled.

  They nodded at him as the duke climbed the stage and stood to the king’s left. Cedric walked past without greeting the king and stood at the back.

  “He’s still as stubborn as ever.” The king chuckled. “You’re late, Gordon.”

  The duke replied, “Mathilde is ill, as you know. We dropped her off at her father’s.”

  The king nodded. The knight in black greeted the duke with a respectful nod.

  The tense silence held for a moment longer, the air thick with heavy gazes and political ramifications. Then, the headmaster stepped forward, his dark green robe sweeping the floor. He cleared his throat, a sound that absorbed all others on the ceremony grounds. Offering the king a shallow, respectful bow, he turned his gaze to the assembled applicants. His calm voice carried authority, which seeped through the applicants’ blood, finally breaking the silence. “Now, the entrance exam of Acacia will begin.”

  The children murmured among themselves, but the headmaster silenced them as he continued speaking, “The introductory ceremony will be held only for those who pass.”

  The headmaster looked around at the applicants standing in front of him. He turned to the crowd of apprentices standing by the ceremony grounds and said, “All of you. Back to your rooms.”

  Some of them frowned, some sighed, and some complained that they wanted to watch. But ultimately, they returned to their dorms. Now the only people left were the king, the teachers, some nobles and the applicants.

  The headmaster coughed. “There will be two exams. One will test your physical capabilities; the other, your mind.”

  The children murmured again until the headmaster raised his hand to silence them. “You can choose either of the two. And pass. Those who fail…” He glanced at the noble children, “Will never enter Acacia.”

  He put his hands behind his back. “I’ll speak my mind. Out of the seven hundred applicants here, half of you will fail.”

  He then turned around. “I wish you the best of luck.”

  Several men and women in red-white clothing brought chairs for the king, nobles and the teachers to sit. A woman with long brown hair climbed onto the stage and turned toward the applicants. “My name is Lysa, and I will be your overseer for the entrance exam.”

  She said, crossing her arms, “Those who want to take the physical test, stand to my right. Those who want to take the mind test, to my left.”

  She then pointed to the middle. “And those who want to try their luck and take both stand in front of me.”

  More than half the applicants stood to her right, while only two stood in front of her. Ray and Mei Zhi.

  Lysa smirked. “Are you the ones the vice headmaster has been praising?”

  The headmaster chuckled. “It seems they are.”

  The prince laughed mockingly; the noble children followed his lead. The gentry chuckled silently. While the lowborn admired the two.

  Lysa clapped. “Since you chose both exams, I will test you first.” She pointed at the other applicants. “Choose one of them to duel. If you lose, you fail; if you pass, they fail.”

  Ray looked around. Should I choose Vivian? No, I still need to figure her out. She might very well be stronger than me.

  Mei Zhi glanced at the noble children. One of them would be nice to humiliate. Which one?

  Her eyes sparkled when she spotted a guy leering at her. She immediately pointed at him. “That one with black hair.”

  Lysa traced her finger and smiled. “Alright, Leroy, son of Count Tragos, step forward.”

  The other noble children around him patted his back and cheered for him as he stepped in front of Mei Zhi. Leroy stared at Mei Zhi’s chest and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you. And I’ll even make you my wench.”

  Jon clenched his fists and glared at him from ?behind the nobles on Lysa’s right.

  Ray, still looking for someone, stepped to the side. Mei Zhi smiled at Leroy as they stood facing each other.

  Lysa raised her hand. “Remember, one of you will fail.” As soon as she lowered her hand, signalling the duel to start, Mei Zhi was in front of Leroy. She kicked his jaw, sending him flying through the ceremony grounds and crashing into the front gate.

  Silence filled the air. The headmaster, along with all the nobles, and teacher’s eyes widened. The other applicant’s jaw remained open as they watched Mei Zhi smile and nonchalantly walk and stand next to Ray.

  The headmaster covered his mouth. “He said she was exceptional, but this much?”

  The teachers murmured among themselves. Men in red-white clothing rushed to treat Leroy, who was now covered in blood and mud.

  Even Ray couldn’t believe his eyes. What the fuck was that? I could barely see her.

  He looked at her, and she just smiled at him. She is insane.

  The headmaster cleared his throat. “That was a wonderful performance. Now, the next applicant, please step forward.” And signalled the men in red-white clothing to send Leroy home.

  Ray sighed and stepped forward. He looked around once more. This time, more of the applicants hid in the crowd.

  Lysa, still shocked, shook her head. “Come on, choose someone.” Ray nodded and pointed in a random direction. I’ll let her choose for me.

  Lysa traced his finger. “That one?”

  “Yes,” Ray lied.

  “Okay, Faelan, son of Count Lykos, step forward.” She shouted.

  A noble, nice.

  Faelan stepped through the crowd and stood in front of Ray. He nodded. “My name is Faelan. I hope to learn something from this duel.”

  Ray blinked. Is he perhaps a nice guy? He sighed. I might fail, maybe the only nice, noble kid.

  Faelan asked, “Why did you choose me?”

  Ray scratched his chin. I didn’t. I just pointed in the crowd because I didn’t want to choose.

  “Of all the ones over there, you seemed the most exceptional.” Ray said with a warm smile. At least I can be polite.

  Faelan chuckled. “You seem like a good guy. No matter the outcome of this duel, I hope we don’t hate each other.”

  Ray let out a long sigh. Why does he have to be a nice guy? Couldn’t he be like Lorey or Leroy? So that I don’t feel guilty.

  He smiled. “Yes, my thoughts exactly.”

  Lysa raised her hand, but Faelan, before unsheathing his sword, asked, “Where’s your weapon?”

  Ray shrugged. “I don’t have one.”

  Faelan straightened. “I am a swordsman. I won’t fight an unarmed opponent.”

  Lysa sighed. “This is a duel to pass or fail. Honor doesn’t matter here.”

  Faelan shook his head. “It does for me. And you never said that the person they choose has to accept.”

  He turned and walked back into the crowd. Ray stood there and wondered.

  He’s also smart? Nice.

  Lysa frowned. “Alright, alright. Choose someone else.”

  Ray nodded. Let’s actually choose this time. He scanned the crowd when he spotted a guy glaring at him. That one will do.

  He pointed at him. Lysa traced his finger again, smiling. “Okay. Darren, son of Viscount Aix, step forward.”

  Darren walked out of the crowd, still glaring at Ray. Lysa asked, “Do you want to duel with him?”

  Darren nodded and unsheathed his sword.

  Ray smirked. Now, he looks like a bad guy.