Standing around sixty feet or eighteen meters tall, the colosseum was a massive two-tiered structure anchored right where two major streets met.
"Is this the colosseum"?
Derek stood at the entrance of the massive colosseum, taking in its grandeur. Mesmerized by its towering scale and architecture, he quickly pulled his gaze away.
His eyes shifted down to a long line nearby, where a man in a green robe was attending to the candidates... Is that the entrance?
Derek joined the short line and, after a brief wait, reached the front.
"You number please." The man in a green robe asked with an expression that showed he didn’t like his job.
Not minding him, Derek called out. "Candidate Seven hundred and sixty-seven."
"From batch seven. It’s alright. You can go in." The man with his not-so pleased expression uttered as he pointed at the main entrance.
Derek nodded and left. He entered the main entrance of the colosseum and was graced with a wide interior. Inside, multi-tiered stone seating curved around a central arena, backed by towering walls lined with vaulted arcades and stacked rows of arched openings.
The arena was packed with candidates of different heights, and background. Well over five hundred had already gathered, filling the space to its absolute limit, yet more were still streaming through the gates.
Derek kept his amazement to himself, maintaining a neutral expression. He wove past several examines and made his way toward one of the stacked rows of arched alcoves. Leaning his back against the cool stone with his arms crossed over his chest, he quietly observed the growing crowd.
So this is what the royal academy entrance exam looks like? There are over five hundred people here. The majority are teens and many are still coming in. Even so, it is not everyone here that will pass... Derek kept a calm and expressionless face as he surveyed.
Some candidates stood by themselves just like he did, though many were visibly anxious and restless. Others had already gathered into tight groups, chatting with easy familiarity as if they had known each other long before stepping into the arena.
This was a strategy to get to know people and be acquainted. The more people you know the better your chances of making it through the academy.
Although you think that now. But you would be all on your own when the exam starts.
Derek shifted his gaze to another side of the arena. Here, a select group of young men and women stood apart from the rest. They were clad in fine silk and tailored garments that radiated wealth, status, and effortless authority.
Those must be the noble. From their expressions you can definitely tell. Nobles always have that pride in them.
Although their dressing was enough to give them away. Derek was able to recognize these elite individuals by their expressions.
His eyes were drawn to them involuntarily when the murmurs of the surrounding crowd caught his attention.
"Do you see them?"
"Yeah. They are nobles and royals. Their magic power is unmatched."
"What are such high individuals doing here? Shouldn’t they have the connection to bypass exam and get into the academy?"
"You fool. The royal academy is managed by a certain group in the Kingdom. It’s not a mere place that you can just bribe your way into even though you are of noble blood."
"Hmph. I’m guessing if they are here, they are likely to get into the academy because of their immense magic power."
Derek placed his ear down and picked up everything that was said among the crowd. They were a good source of information.
I guess commoners are intimidated by the noble blood. Your bloodline determines your level of magical power?... He glanced back at the select few of noble born.
Hmph. I see why the majority of people fail. They say it’s highly competitive but the truth all comes down to your magical power. Those with the best and immense magical power get in. While those with little talent and nothing to show are dropped.
A smile curled across his lips as he mumbled, "Well, you never know."
He turned back to the crowd, watching as more candidates began to mingle, some trading personal traits, others boasting of their magic levels and training. He was completely drawn into the chatter when his own name echoed over the noise snapping his attention away.
"Derek!"
His eyes suddenly narrowed as he turned to see who had called him.
A young lady walked towards him wearing an ashen silver, asymmetric wrap coat cinched over fitted trousers and thigh-high leather boots. A holster was strapped tightly to her thigh, and her red hair framed a cold, composed gaze.
"Roselle?"
What’s she doing here?
Derek kept his composure on the wall as he called her name, although surprised to see her.
"I see you are alive." Roselle joked as she reached him.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
Roselle leaned onto the wall just like Derek, facing the crowd. "You know, from what happened that day. I thought perhaps you died in it all." She glanced over at him. "I’m talking about the forbidden area."
That’s right. Roselle was the one who took me there. I’m guessing after all the commotion she must have thought I was caught up in all of it. But died? Heh... she would be stunned if I told her I’ve had that experience twice already.
"Well, what can I say? I’m perhaps lucky."
Roselle’s gaze drifted back to the crowd. "There was a big explosion that night. I saw a light shot into the sky. It was red and came from that area. This wasn’t long after you went there." She turned to Derek. "What happened?"
Derek smiled, though his eye twitched slightly... Damn. How did I forget? She’s always good at asking the right questions. But I don’t even know what happened that night. My memory is still blurry from after encountering the golem. Of course, I can’t tell her about that. Tsk... this is a tough one.
"Well, it doesn’t matter." She faced the crowd once more. "Seeing that you’re alive means you didn’t get caught up in whatever happened there. The place was branded dangerous and forbidden. But who would have thought it held such power in it?"
Sigh... she almost had me there. Glad I don’t have to reply. What I was going to say?
Roselle sized Derek up and noticed that his build was a little different from the last time she saw him. Obviously, this was as a result of his daily quest. The young man looked more fit and strong than his first day of training.
"So, what about you? What are you doing here? I thought you were going to continue the business, what changed?" Derek asked as he glanced over at Roselle.
Roselle’s gaze was razor-sharp, radiating an aura so intense that it made approaching her nearly impossible.
"It doesn’t matter anymore. What’s gone is gone, and can’t be restored. But I will push forward and climb through the ranks." Her words carried a sense of determination and zeal.
Those weren’t the claim of an average individual, but of someone who had a goal in mind and would stop at nothing to get it.
What’s gone is gone. What does that mean? Is she talking about the tavern?... Derek obviously didn’t understand what she meant by those words, but left it as they were.
He glanced over, catching her sharp and piercing expression... Looks like she has a goal in mind. And to do so needs to climb the ranks. Just like me. Hmph... this world is full of surprises.
His gaze drifted back to the crowd. "Well, that makes two of us."
Hearing his words, Roselle curiously shot a glance at him. What’s this? His aura feels different. He’s like a completely different person from the last time we met. Something definitely happened. It must have to do with that night.
Before she could leave a comment a sudden commotion broke out as a sharp voice drew everyone’s attention.
"It’s the captains."