[Summer, Year 312]
"Listen. Getting into the general curriculum for Randanolux Academy isn't hard." Kaitlyn commented.
"If you want to get into one of the five factions though, you'll need to do more. Randanolux Academy consists of 8 years of curriculum, separated by the first half for the general curriculum, mainly for those who are around 10 years old, and the second half for the specialty and applications curriculum. " Kai chimed in.
"The exams differ depending on which curriculum you go for. Both exams have a written, physical, and practical section."
"The exams are roughly the same each year. Althryl signed you up for the specialty and applications curriculum. For the written, we'll teach you the basics of history and ivrent. The physical tests your speed, reaction time, strength, and stamina. The practical tests your ability to apply ivrent during real combat, testing your quick on the spot thinking and skills when put under pressure." Kaitlyn explained.
"Don't worry, we'll teach you!"
"Thank you," Yuki muttered.
— — —
The entrance exam day quickly came, and Yuki left on her own from the hotel she stayed at for the past few weeks. She took a carriage to the entrance of Randanolux Academy, amazed by its complex, high, yet magistical architecture.
'...Are all schools like this?' Yuki questioned herself.
At the gates, a long line of parents with their children were already in line to get into the entrance examination place. The first exam was the written exam, which begins at 7am, ending at 9am. It was half an hour early before the examination time, and the line was already huge.
By the time it was Yuki's turn to check in, it was already 6:55am.
"What's your name?" The guard in charge of the gates asked sternly.
"Yuki."
"Last name?"
"I don't have a last name."
"Hm… Yuki. Alright, you may go in. The exam takes place in that building over there." He pointed after quickly scanning for a long list of applicants' names without a last name, flipping the page over to find Yuki's name near the bottom.
Yuki nodded, speed walking to the building. Unlike how some people were guided by faculty, nobody guided Yuki. She walked alone and entered the exam area before someone bumped into her, hard.
Yuki turned around, only to meet with laughing glances from the other applicants.
"You're the orphan who's trying to get into the speciality and applications curriculum? You? This little punk?" An older boy mocked, pointing at Yuki rudely.
Parents and applicants around all looked at Yuki with either a disgusted or mocking stare.
"You better leave right now before you tarnish the Randanolux Academy name. I bet your sh*tty parents abandoned you because you're useless!" He laughed, shoving Yuki.
Yuki stood her ground, taking a few steps back without falling. She glared at the older boy who was a whole head taller than her.
"I don't care if you look down on me, but I won't tolerate any disrespect towards my parents." Yuki spoke.
"What parents, you don't have none! They abandoned you and probably died off somewhere." He laughed hysterically.
Yuki grabbed the boy's collar and shoved him on the ground with one hand.
"Y-You dare!"
"Young master, are you okay? You! How dare you!!" His butler rushed to him.
"My father will make it so you can't set foot in this school again!"
"Everyone, the exam will begin in a minute. Please find your assigned seats and begin the exam when you hear the buzzer." A voice sounded in the headspeakers.
"Tch." He brushed his arm, leaving.
Yuki took the written exam and ignored everyone else' s stares. She was now in the physical examination area, where they first tested her speed and reaction speed.
The exam had cannons where fist sized red balls shot out from all angles. Nobody can use any items or ivrent, which will be detected if used at any point of the exam. The scoring was based on how long the participant lasted within the room without getting hit. Most people got a score of around 15 seconds, but Yuki's score was 1 minute and 24 seconds because she accidentally tripped on air, failing to dodge the red ball that hit her on her head.
By the time everyone finished taking this part of the exam, the written and speed scores were out, fast. The results were listed on a projector. Out of 500 participants, Yuki was ranked 444th for the written because she got 40/100 of the questions correct. For the speed part of the physical, Yuki was ranked an astonishing 3rd place.
'Oh, wow.' Yuki saw her rankings, impressed.
She moved on to the strength part of the physical exam, where everyone had to punch a wall that measured approximately how much strength one has, without using ivrent. When Yuki punched the wall, her strength was a little above an adult man's strength. A normal adult man's strength was roughly around a score of 30 to 50. Yuki's score, however, was a 67.
Once again, the results were projected on the screen. For this part, she was ranked 8th. This was impressive, especially with how young Yuki was compared to the other participants who were all around four to seven years older than her.
The updated rankings, merging the rankings of the written and completed physical, made Yuki ranked 14th out of 500 participants.
"How does that make sense???!" Someone stomped towards Yuki with a face red, full of anger.