Chapter 320 - Raelion’s Tests (Part 1)
Aspiring candidates flooded the meadow wherever Kai looked. From mid to late teens, short and tall, girls and boys, eager, bright-eyed, and jittery. The sea of chattering bodies submerged the grassland, leaving only the examiners’ podium soaring over their heads.
More continued streaming out of the buildings at his back—everyone who passed the initial screening and test. The wide field didn’t let Kai see the fenced boundaries of the property, somehow still within Nerethi.
This is gonna take a while.
At a glance, it looked like any large school gathering back on Earth, plus some fanciful hair colors, all except for one other detail. Every teenager in the meadow was yellow ★ or higher, with no exceptions.
Over a thousand of them…
This was only one of five such fields Raelion had set up for winter intake, spread across the city.
“Uh—“ Kai twisted to the side to avoid clashing with a girl. Her purple ponytail fluttered like cotton candy on her back, woven with golden beads and the steel plaque with her applicant number.
She moved to join a group of upright kids, never once glancing back. Even in plain attire, the patrician spawn stood out. They flocked together, looking down their noses at the plebeian masses, often not bothering to hide their scorn.
Every candidate must bring nothing except unenchanted clothes for the tests—spatial artifacts included. The Head Evaluator had been starkly clear on the matter. His voice had thundered over hundreds of teenagers in the hall as if shouting right beside them.
Kai ran his thumb where his ring should be—now safely with Reishi. His ears still rang with the warnings. Any piece of enchanted gear in their possession would lead to immediate expulsion and a ban from future acceptance tests. Same went for consuming enhancing potions, external buffing skills, or any means to boost their abilities.
Cheating wasn’t tolerated at Raelion. The dean didn’t believe in second chances for those unable to follow basic rules.
Who’s even stupid enough to cheat here?
“—do anything. You can’t treat me ! It’s not mine. I—” A shrill voice cried.
Kai turned to watch a blue-haired kid struggling in the grip of a stone-faced woman. The young examiner dragged the boy away like a piece of driftwood, deaf to his cries. Her dark green attire featured a single white stripe on the arm, indicating she was an assistant evaluator, likely an upperclassman working for credits.
More pleading and angry shouts rose over the meadow as the examiners picked out cheaters. No explanation was given, just a command to follow. Most left willingly, their heads bowed in shame; only a few loudly protested and were forcibly lifted.
Fools were a persistent breed.
No matter the circumstances, someone always thought themselves smart enough to avoid getting caught, or was simply too stupid.
It’s the most prestigious academy in the Republic, they must have seen people try every method.
Kai noticed with a bit of schadenfreude that the majority of the teenagers eliminated seemed patrician. Who else could have the arrogance and means to attempt cheating?
Money burned with no refund.
Taking the test alone cost five to twenty golds—depending on the course of study—and that was chips compared to the enrollment fee. It shed some light on how the academy possessed extensive land holdings within such an expensive metropolis.
Is that why they take so many students and halve them in the first year?
Winter intake accepted half the number of the late summer testing, two and a half thousand among all courses.
They must make a killing.
Kai stopped doing the maths when the number passed one million mesars. The amount was mind-boggling, and he didn’t like being reminded of things he couldn’t buy. It was just distasteful.
Are magic academies expensive to run…? They must have an army of employees… Still, they better be worth—
“Hey!” Flynn exclaimed in his ear, grabbing both shoulders from behind. “How’d it go?
That damn profession skill.
Kai froze and bit his cheek. He’d sooner chew sand than show surprise to the sneaky bastard. “It went fine.” He turned to face his beaming friend. “I assume you also passed?”
“Of course. I got full marks!” Flynn said with a smug grin. “Five whole points! Who knew the Republic education would turn out helpful, eh? What did you get?”
“Does it matter?” Crossing his arms, Kai turned to search the crowd for someone, probably Rain. “That test serves only to screen applicants. It barely counts.”
Anyone with an education and some brains could pass the questionnaires. From the number of patricians, that was probably the point…
He had completed the sections on math, logic and skills just fine. However, his knowledge of the Republic’s geography, history and laws was a little rusty.
Stolen story; please report.
What do they matter? I’m going to a magic academy. It’s pointless.
“C’mon, tell me. Pleeease,” Flynn watched him with pleading eyes. His tanned face shone with the sheen of his new grade, stepping to remain in front of him. “It can’t be that bad. You’re so smart!”
How to praise yourself by praising me. You’re not fooling anyone.
“I’m smart enough to know that test doesn’t matter,” Kai said. When the smiling fool intruded on his vision again, he grabbed his ear to pull him aside. “Stop hopping around. It’s distracting.”
“Ahi! Okay! I’ll stop. Let go of my ear! Please. You’re hurting me.” Flynn held his hand, trying to pry the fingers open.
He was riding the high of his recent advancement. The rush of attributes at Yellow made everyone feel invincible for a period, though that didn’t make it any less annoying.
Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
Kai released him. “Stop behaving like a hyperactive kid. We should be looking for—”
“Hey! Rain!” Flynn easily overlooked the crowd, standing on his toes, and waved his arms at a head of platinum hair. “We’re here!”
“Hi!” Rain squeezed past a trio of patricians to reach them. He watched the throng of people, patting his own arms and shifting his jaw. “I was looking for you. There are a lot of… humans here…”
“Yup! It’s packed.” Flynn used his body as a barrier to make space for him. “It shouldn’t take much longer. What score did you get?”
“Uh… the paper test? Four and a half points.” Rain said distractedly, then smiled at the tall boy for the courtesy. “My studies didn’t cover the laws of low— other kingdoms.”
“Well, you did great!” Flynn cheered and spun toward Kai. “See, Mat. It’s easy. Now’s your turn to tell the score. We all shared.”
Damn snooper… He’s not gonna drop it, is he?
Resigned, Kai sighed. “I got four points. Happy?”
“Oh… that’s okay.” Flynn ruffled his hair with lightning speed. “Don’t sulk, Mat. Four is still good. I mean, it’s not five. But just one step below it. You only needed two to pass. You don’t have to feel inferior. Not everyone can be an unparalleled genius after all.”
Ah… ah… I should have ripped your ear off.
Kai raked a hand through his hair to comb them. “I’m not sulking.” Probably the worst sentence one could utter to sound like a sulky child.
“Of course you’re not.” Flynn shared a look with Rain and leaned forward. “C’mon, man. Give me this one. We both know you’re going to beat me on the rest of these tests.”
Uhm, I hate when he’s right.
“Fine. You won.” Kai clenched his jaw, forcing the words out. “You're the smartest.”
I’m— I’m never going to hear the end of this.
Flynn’s smug grin could melt sand into glass. “I— I never thought this— this day would come.” He dried an imaginary tear from his eye, voice cracking with emotion. “I want to thank my admirers. You were right for believing in me. I knew I was destined for—”
A deafening clap saved Kai from further nonsense.
The Spirits haven’t forsaken me.
Over two thousand teens turned to the podium across the meadow, whispering and covering their ears. Examiners in muted colors gazed back. The Head Evaluator stepped to the edge of the platform, three stripes on his arm indicating his rank. He was a balding, old man of middling stature, possessing no notable traits, except for his overbearing aura.
Green. Not an early grade either.
The sight had become more common after traveling across the Republic, but none had projected their presence so openly.
Hmm… it feels almost nostalgic… like when I met Virya. I hope Elijah and Dora are doing well…
Around him, numerous teens had gone pale, some held their throats as if choking for air.
You’re at Yellow, get a grip.
They were fully grown adults by the standards of the Republic.
Flynn rested his head on Rain’s shoulder, looking mostly peeved to have his triumphant speech interrupted.
“Quiet.” The Head Evaluator thundered, silencing the field of heads. “If you have passed the first round of testing, congratulations.” He spat the word like an insult. “Your head must hold something resembling a brain. Now that we’ve gotten rid of dead weight, we’ll start the tests proper.”
He slowly surveyed the sea of candidates. “If you have done any research, you should know we’ll be assessing your status and affinities next.” His hand rose to hush the stone silent crowd. “Before you start whining, the test results will be kept private. Every examiner is bound by soul contract not to disclose your details. Only your point score will be made public.
“Raelion is proud to offer the highest degree of privacy. Even to students who have nothing worth hiding.” The man stood upright like a nail. “The tests will proceed within two distinct rooms for evaluating your status and affinities. And yes, even applicants for Martial and Artisan Studies will have their affinities measured. While the weight is lower than for Mana Studies, elements offer unique advantages that can’t be ignored.
“Behave and don’t make trouble if you want to try another year.” Flaring his presence, the Head Evaluator turned to leave but doubled back. “Almost forgot. If you score less than fifty points for your status, you’re out. Raelion has no need for slackers.”
Done, the man marched off the podium.
Personable much. He must have the same social skill as Kea.
Before the crowd recovered from the shock, a woman with two white stripes took the stage. Her amiable smile and pink pillbox hat put her in stark contrast with her superior.
“Good morning, candidates. I hope you’re all having a pleasant day.” She spoke with a light, almost musical tone. “I will explain how to proceed with the tests, so we have a smooth experience. Please listen carefully. I will say it only once.”
Nodding to herself, pleased at the quiet crowd, she detailed how they had to divide for the measuring stations. “…don’t be anxious. If you’ve always worked hard, the status evaluation will be a breeze. And you won’t get eliminated regardless of your affinities. Now, follow your assigned marker and wait for your turn. I hope to see you in the next test!”
Leaving the podium empty, colorful bubbles flew above the crowd, each reflecting a number in black letters on three sides.
Kai looked down at the pin he fixed on his chest—n.1785.
“Neat! Looks like we’re in the same group,” Flynn tapped his steel plaque with n.1799, and half-hugged Rain, who had n.1771.
The numbers must loosely follow the time of registration, rather than the course of studies.
There were twenty-one stations spread throughout the buildings that delimit three sides of the meadow.
“Uhm… That’s ours.” Flynn pointed to a lime green bubble with the number 17 that floated beside the podium.
A scuffle of bodies and voices swarmed around them. They waited for the most eager students to go before heading toward their line.