At the colossal gates of Iadica, the air shimmered faintly with magic, each ripple of energy whispering the city's power.
The walls, hundreds of meters tall, were forged from mystic steel. Every inch of it radiated strength and danger, a silent warning to those who would dare to enter uninvited.
From the side, a uniformed man approached, his delicate features sharply contrasted by the deep, commanding tone of his voice. He placed a firm hand on Hyperion's shoulder.
"Who the hell are you, boy?" the man demanded.
Ida froze. She had seen that look in Hyperion before, the tightening of his jaw, the subtle shift in his eyes. Of all the words in the world, only one could make him truly angry. 'Boy'.
To her surprise, Hyperion's expression softened almost instantly. His lips curved into a calm, polite smile. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said smoothly. "My name is Hyperion. I'm visiting from the States. This wall, it's just such a wonder. I've never seen anything quite like it."
The officer raised a brow, his suspicion waning just slightly. "Still, I'll need to check you and your companion," he said, his tone even now.
"Please, help yourself," Hyperion replied, handing over his pack without hesitation. "Also, you wouldn't happen to know where two mages could go to take the Huntsman Exam, would you?"
The officer studied him for a moment, then nodded toward the city skyline. "Head into town. The Huntsman Branch is the one with the tall mast. You can see it from almost anywhere in Iadica."
***
After running a baton-like device over their belongings, the man handed the bags back. "You're free to enter."
"Thank you," Hyperion said cheerfully, adjusting his pack as he and Ida passed through the towering gate.
Ida looked at him in disbelief. "Wow. I've never seen you stay calm when someone calls you the 'b word,'" she said, still stunned.
Hyperion chuckled quietly. "Wouldn't want to start this adventure with trouble, would we? Besides, there were several factors to consider." His tone grew analytical, eyes narrowing slightly.
"You probably noticed his influence on the surrounding magical energy. He was strong. Fighting him wouldn't be difficult at all, but it would be… inconvenient. We're in public, and he only spoke that way to assert dominance. Once he realized I wouldn't contest, his tone softened. Not that you noticed."
***
The city beyond the gates was breathtaking, a metallic paradise of towering structures that glistened like silver under the sun. The air carried the faint hum of the magic that reinforced the infrastructure, resonating through the streets. The architecture was immaculate: no shabby bungalows, no scattered huts. Every building was a masterpiece of symmetry and enchantment, their surfaces polished to reflect the light of day.
Even the people looked luxurious; Fine robes, and glittering jewelry adorned nearly everyone. It felt like walking through a city of nobles. Ida's eyes darted from one extravagant passerby to another.
"Stop ogling," Hyperion said dryly, pulling her by the hand. "We have work to do."
They made their way through the bustling streets until they reached a massive structure unlike any other; the Huntsmen Headquarters. It rose to more than half the height of the city wall, crowned by a colossal communication mast that pierced the clouds. Its design was stark and utilitarian; grey stone and glass, standing with a military sort of beauty that contrasted the silvery and luxurious elegance around it.
Inside, the headquarters was calm, almost eerily so. Hyperion gestured toward one of the receptionists that were busy working behind their desks. "Let's go."
The receptionist barely looked up. "Good day...," "Huntsman exam?" he interrupted before Hyperion could finish. He pulled out a sheet of paper. "Take this. Fill it out now or later. Your choice."
"Are there no qualifications required?" Hyperion asked.
The man glanced at him briefly. "Strength is the only qualification. You wouldn't have passed through the door if you weren't strong enough. That door's enchanted." He pointed toward a distant set of elevators. "Odd floors are for scavenger exams, even floors for regular Huntsmen. Fill out your form, hand it back, and you're set."
They completed the forms immediately and returned them to the desk. The receptionist nodded curtly. "Pass the exams and you'll be issued a seal. Bring it back here for verification."
Ida looked up at Hyperion. "So, what will you be, scavenger or huntsman?"
He shrugged. "It doesn't really matter. Though I still don't get the point of the distinction."
"Not everyone's an all-rounder like you," she said. "Scavengers rely on their range arts, they can't fight up close. Huntsmen specialize in physical augmentation and direct magical combat."
"I know the distinction," Hyperion said, half-smiling. "I just don't think it applies to me. I could easily do both."
"Cocky as ever," she muttered.
***
The pair ascended to the sixth floor, since the second and fourth were locked. The moment they arrived, the doors sealed behind them. Hyperion glanced at the barrier. "Seems there's a quota for each floor."
Before them stood lines of applicants. Hundreds, maybe a thousand, arranged with military precision. At the front stood a man of refined features, his posture impeccable and a feminine face, dressed in a black uniform streaked with gold patterns. His voice, when he spoke, was clear and commanding.
"Good day, applicants. My name is Wyatt Lawrence, one of the many Captains of the Huntsman Organization," he announced. "The examination you stand for today shall begin, and end, today."
A hush fell over the hall.
"The test will proceed in three phases," he continued. "The first: a written exam. Inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, but necessary to measure your intelligence and education. It will include mathematics, magical theory, science, and current affairs."
Murmurs spread through the room.
"The second phase," Wyatt said, "is the augmentation exam, testing your control over strengthening, enhancing, and healing through magic. And finally, the third and most important phase, combat."
His gaze swept the crowd. "You will each face a fourth-grade chimera for about an hour. When that time ends, the weak participants and the beasts will be removed. Those who remain will face a third-grade chimera for another hour. Your cumulative score across all phases will determine your rank within the Huntsman Organization."
Laughter broke out among the crowd.
...Come all this way just to quit halfway."
...What kind of cowardice would that be."
...Can never be me!" voices jeered from within the crowd
Wyatt raised a single hand, and the noise ceased instantly.
"No violence toward other humans will be tolerated," he said sharply. Any offender who harms another applicant will be detained indefinitely. "You will be given protective gear during the combat examination, to help reduce risk of lethal injury."
A ripple of unease passed through the crowd.
"After the examinations, ranks will be assigned based on your abilities," Wyatt went on. "Grade Five to Grade Two, determined mostly by your performance against the chimeras. Grade One, however, is reserved for those whose results are exceptional across all phases. Grade Ones are also eligible to contest for official positions within the organization, starting from receptionist."
Gasps filled the hall as the realization sank in, the receptionists who had handed them their forms were themselves high-ranking Huntsmen.
Wyatt concluded firmly, "You may rise through ranks through merit, and you may lose them through stagnation. Payment is based on rank, with bonuses for missions, chimera hunts and or criminal captures. Good luck to you all."
The room erupted into whispers once more.
***
As the crowd began to disperse toward the testing chambers, Ida looked up at Hyperion. "That was… a lot of information."
"Sure was," he replied flatly.
"So, what's the plan? Are we going all out, or keeping a low profile?"
Hyperion's expression remained unreadable. "You might be underestimating the difficulty of this examination to suggest we hold back. Still, do what you want. The bare minimum I expect is that you pass."
Ida sighed. "So inspiring."
"Come on," he said, walking ahead. "The written exam's about to start."
***
The written exam turned out to be unexpectedly challenging; dense with theory, complex logic puzzles, and formulas. Yet for someone like Hyperion, with a mind sharpened by relentless study, it was little more than a lengthy exercise in patience.
The second phase, however, was far harsher. It tested endurance in ways that bordered on cruelty. Candidates were placed in magically simulated environments of extreme heat, freezing cold, and crushing atmospheric pressure. The task; survive and maintain composure by manipulating their physical density, and composing barriers of magical energy, shielding themselves from harm through precision magic.
Within minutes, the hall filled with screams and gasps. Some collapsed, others forfeited, their energy drained. The number of applicants dwindled rapidly, from a thousand to barely six hundred.
Then came the second segment of the same round; perceptive augmentation. Participants were asked to sense objects and energies far beyond normal human perception. To see magic itself. Though no one quit this time, many failed silently, their frustration etched on their faces.
By the time the sun began to sink beyond Iadica's shimmering skyline, eight hours had passed since the trials began. The final phase, the combat examination was all that remained.
And as the arena gates began to open, the world itself seemed to hold its breath.