I immediately went to the train station, its metal railings contrasting nicely with the smooth marble and opulent statues that covered the entire area.
The entire area was completely crowded, filled with other students and businessmen waiting for the train; it was exactly as I had envisioned and now remembered.
It wasn't so different from the modern world, considering it was a merger of real-life eras.
FWOOSH!
The sound of steam grew closer as another train arrived, its previous passengers slowly departing the train and being replaced by new ones, and that included me within the fray.
The entire trip was nothing to write home about, a simple train ride in a steam engine while I admired the sights of the city.
Sure, I was impressed, but with how my memories had already been merged, the wow factor was definitely reduced by a hundredfold.
It didn't take long before I arrived at the academy itself, which was as big as you would expect from a royal academy.
"I guess I'll go take the entrance exam..."
The exam itself was held across the entire academy's campus, each room having an assigned number. It was a huge operation, one that required enough security.
Professors themselves were patrolling the halls, each one tense and ready when the need arises, each one a master of their art.
The rest, however, stayed in their assigned classes, overseeing the examination, and it looks like I have arrived at mine.
"Cael Arden? Correct?"
A female professor asked, already holding examination sheets.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good, you're just in time, take a seat at unit twenty."
As I took a seat, I immediately grabbed my pen and began to wait as the professor began to distribute the papers.
Usually, this would be fairly stressful; I had to score high marks if I was to achieve my goal, but my talent was already proving useful.
[Photographic Memory]
With the activation, I felt everything flow inside my mind. The real Cael Arden never really paid attention to his tutors or even studied his textbooks, merely looking at them.
But that didn't deter me at all...
And who will if you have the entire textbook ingrained in your mind through a cheat?
SHUFFLE!
My paper was finally distributed to me, and just as expected, it was a piece of cake; everything I needed to answer it was easily accessible.
'Lady Evelina... your faithful servant is coming...'
I muttered as I finished the test in record speed, my prowess as an assassin surprisingly translating to my handwriting speed.
"Yes...? Cael?"
The professor asked, sitting in front of the room, as she saw me raise my hands, surprised, considering barely twenty minutes had passed.
"May I submit the examination?"
"Is this a joke...?"
"No, ma'am."
I answered bluntly; I was fully confident.
"Very well then, I hope you don't regret it later..."
The professor grabbed the paper herself, ensuring no funny business would happen when I passed it myself.
"Here, this is your permit to take the second part of the examination."
She handed me a small token with the academy's insignia.
The academy itself had three examinations: academic, practical, and magical.
The next step would be the practical exam, a simple physical test, but one that will definitely take longer than the academic one.
"Thank you."
I stood up and bowed, then left the room and followed the signs to the next exam.
The entire process was briefly explained by the novel, but it wasn't really explored upon, only being described in three sentences as the MC passed in flying colors.
And obviously, the original Cael Arden had the lowest scores, but still enough to somehow pass and enter the academy.
'Can't believe how pathetic this character actually is...'
I grumbled.
'Guess I'll have to work overtime to at least make this body serviceable.'
"What a crude test. Is this really the best this academy could offer?"
A spiteful voice came just from the corner, a voice that immediately made his entire body shiver.
A reaction that only one person could elicit from him.
"Calm down, Evelina, not everything has to be on your level."
Another voice sounded, it was the prince, Marcellus Lionbright, the MC's twin brother.
"He's right, you know?"
And speak of the devil, Julius Lionbright himself was here as well.
It seemed they had also finished the academic test at record speeds.
"Oh...?"
Marcellus uttered, noticing my presence.
"It seems like we have another overachiever within our midst."
"Who else is it this time...?"
Evelina sighed, also looking, her face was as spiteful and sadistic as I imagined.
In short... it was divine.