"However, before it begins you need to understand the following rules." Raymond placed his hand down and continued.
"The exam would be in three stages. For every stage you pass, you’ll move to the next stage. However, if you fail a single stage, that is the end. You will lose your chance of getting into the royal academy." He paused, letting the silence stretch just long enough for the weight of his words to settle over the crowd.
"The first stage will be a written exam. A test of your understanding on who and what a mage is. Whom you want to become. The total score is one hundred. But, the pass mark is seventy-five. If you need even a single mark to enter seventy-five, you fail. Those that pass will move on to the next stage."
As soon as the words left his lips, a wave of restless murmurs swept through the crowd. Among the candidates, hushed, disbelieving whispers rippled down the lines as they traded wide-eyed looks.
"That’s not fair. How can someone pass if that’s the rule?"
"I didn’t study anything. What could the questions be?"
Discontent flickered through the crowd over the first rule, and the seed of doubt was already beginning to take root among the participants.
I see why it’s said to be very tough. There is no mercy here. It’s strict, just like the military. And that’s just the first stage... Derek watched as the rules were explained.
Roselle didn’t utter a single word but kept her sharp gaze. She was unwavering.
After letting the crowd disagree amongst themselves, Raymond continued.
"If you think you’re not fit for this role it’s best you keep away." This was the last thing anyone would have expected from the heir of the Kingdom to say. However, despite being an heir, Raymond was also a high ranked mage.
"As for the second stage. This will be a show of talent. Magical power. Impress any of the captains here, and you’ll pass. However, if you fail to produce anything, you’ll fail in an instant."
Impress the captains? So like a show off? Most people here just got their blessings from the gods and it isn’t even up to two weeks. Do they expect that you should have trained already? In that short time?... Derek glanced at the crowd. Then over at Roselle.
Most people here are already feeling the heavy burden, it looks like they didn’t anticipate this since they just got their blessings. But why does she look unbothered? If it’s a show of your magical power, then royals and nobles would probably pass this round easily since they have a large amount of mana. Hmph.
Derek didn’t say anything outward and glanced back at all the captains seated. Raymond was the only one standing since he was still explaining the rules.
He continued, "This stage is to show that you are highly in control of your magical power and will be useful in times of need."
Actually, after what happened last week, I couldn’t take any chances. If that cold beam of light that night is as a result of magical power losing control, then it would have been one of the newly blessed. If they are here today, they might lose control. I do not expect it, but this rule was added to draw them out if it were to happen... Raymond’s eyes narrowed slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping over the ocean of heads below
"Now, for the last and final stage. There’ll be a duel. A duel is to show what you’re capable of in combat. Is your strength enough to protect the Kingdom and the people in it? You’ll have to show. Only those that produce extreme combat abilities will pass this round."
After hearing this, Derek smiled... I might not have anticipated the previous stages. But this, I did except. There’s always combat in exams like this. Hmph... I’m sure I’m not the only one.
He glanced over at Roselle while she did the same. They exchanged glances but didn’t utter a single word.
She seems confident. It looks like this exam would be a breeze for her. Has she trained?... Derek might have asked the question, but Roselle’s sharp gaze had already given the answer a long time ago.
"Hold on. There are over five hundred participants inside here. And this arena can only contain just about five hundred. We can barely move around. So how are we going to write an exam in this crowded, clustered, clustered place?" The participant in front of Roselle asked, looking curiously to the other.
"I don’t know." The other participant across Derek shook his head.
"It looks like it’s not all the answers he had." Roselle mumbled.
At that exact moment, Raymond extended his hand, his voice echoing across the arena. "Let the Royal Academy entrance exam begin!"
The moment the words left his lips, the earth trembled. Before the wide eyes of every candidate, the colosseum began to shift and warparp, its massive walls pulling back to stretch both in width and length. Within seconds, the cramped space opened into a vast, sprawling battleground, giving every participant room to move freely.
Derek was taken aback as he saw this happen. Actually, every participant was stunned by it. No one had expected the entire structure to expand and fit everyone without clustering.
Since my number is seven hundred and sixty-seven I thought we were might reach up to a thousand. Although we are a lot here, this number doesn’t look like one thousand to me. Is this the number of people that apply every year?
As if reading his thoughts, Roselle spoke out, "There are a lot of people who dropped out before the exam even started."
"What do you mean?" Derek asked, curious.
"I heard when I was registering that this is the largest number of participants ever recorded to take the royal academy entrance exam. Approximately one thousand people applied this year, and many were not even teenagers that got their blessings this year. Some had gotten it years ago but applied this year. However, many people dropped because of the massive number. They probably lost confidence because only a handful of people would get accepted anyway. Still, with that many drops we’re still quite a lot."
Derek looked around and understood what Roselle had just explained. The young man was surprised but didn’t show it on his face.
"So that’s why I felt that we are not up to one thousand, considering it was possible?"
"Yes."
It does make sense. The royal academy entrance exam has a lot of benefits. But it’s the toughest to get into. Many applied because of those benefits but many also dropped off because they felt intimidated? It does make sense if you know you’re not capable enough to take the exam. It will only be an embarrassment if you didn’t get in. Also, since there are other academics, many took that opportunity not to feel humiliated even if they had to go for the lower academies. Or am I thinking wrong?... Derek looked around.
The expansion of the colosseum had stopped and a new space was revealed. The entire arena was now wide enough to contain double the amount it could before.
"I remember now. This is a magic colosseum structure that feeds on mana." The individual across Derek uttered. "That’s right, the structure uses mana, although a small amount. It expands if the number of people in it is larger than the original size can contain."
Bravo... Derek applauded, highly impressed.
"With his knowledge, he might actually have no problem passing the first stage." Roselle murmured
As the expansion fully stopped, Raymond raised his right hand, his palm bursting into a brilliant residence.
"Creation Magic: Magic Items Descend!"
Almost immediately, wooden desks and chairs rained down from above, crashing into the ground in front of every single participant.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Chaos erupted as candidates scrambled in panic, diving out of the way to avoid getting crushed by the falling furniture. Gasps of shock ripped through the crowd. Summons of this magnitude were far beyond the realm of an average mage. It was a staggering display of power reserved only for high-tier archmages.
Within a couple of minutes, the raining timber ceased, and silence settled back over the arena. Standing before every single examinee was a neatly placed desk and chair.
"The first stage will now begin. Take your seat and begin." Raymond instructed.
Derek moved the chair and desk in front of him, while Roselle went to one beside him and sat down.
The desk was empty but because anyone could speak out, a piece of paper alongside a quill pen and ink appeared from the surface of the desk. On top of the paper were writing questions about the test waiting to be answered.
I have not sat down before a piece of paper and pen for a long time. Seeing this now is kind of strange.
"You may begin!"
Derek looked at his sides and saw that Roselle noe the person at his other side were not showing any signs of worries.
It must be easy.
The young man with messy spiky hair stared down at the paper and read the first question.
{What is the name of the first Magus King?}
Upon seeing this, Derek frowned... Shit. I might be cooked.