Chapter 28 — At the School Gate
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Kael Grenfort:
The carriage sped down the road like the wind.
Outside the window, trees, houses, fields flashed past one after another. The speed was so great that even squinting, everything appeared blurry.
People on the road muttered behind us:
"Bastard! Couldn't he drive slower?"
"Money does that to a man. They fear nothing."
"For them, there's no law."
"A man with money is the law himself."
I heard these words. But I said nothing.
Father stuck his head out the window:
"I apologize to you all! Especially you, old woman!" he said, laughing at his own joke.
Sedric was in a brighter mood than usual today. He and Silvan must have drunk quite a bit last night. Both struggled to wake up this morning.
"Hey, drive faster, Silvan! We overslept and need to hurry! We might be late for the opening ceremony!" Father said.
"I tried to wake you since morning. You didn't get up yourselves. Can anyone sleep that deeply?" Silvan said.
"Yes, yes, I understand. Here — money from your father. May it wash away my guilt," Sedric said, pulling out several coins from his pocket and handing them to me. "Son, take them. You'll need them in the future."
I took the coins. "Thank you, Father."
"You should have drunk less, isn't that right, Silvan?" I said teasingly.
"Oops... uhhhhhh... yes, that's right, young master."
Silvan cracked the whip again. The horses galloped even faster.
They flew like the wind.
---
The school approaches.
Finally, the school came into view. But there was still some distance. The time was already 9:15. The assembly had been scheduled for 9:00.
As we arrived, the guards began closing the iron gates.
"Well, Silvan, stay with the carriage. Don't come," Father said. "You know what to do."
He lifted me and leaped out of the carriage, rushing forward. I was under his arm. Silvan remained in the carriage.
Once the gates closed, they wouldn't open until evening. And the school grounds were always surrounded by a barrier spell. In short — no entry. For us, that would mean waiting until next year's exam.
Father used teleportation magic. In an instant — we were inside the gate.
"Hey, hey! Stop!" one of the guards shouted.
"We're a little late. Can we still enter? Don't close the gates!" Father said.
"No, it's impossible, sir," said the guard on the right.
"Well, what if we come to an arrangement?" Sedric said sarcastically.
"Well... I suppose we could," the guard hinted.
As Father and I walked past the guards, he whispered:
"Thank you, gentlemen."
The guards glanced at their pockets — they were filled with coins.
Hmm. I knew this from the start. That fool Sedric and his tricks. Hehe.
---
Inside the school grounds.
We entered and walked forward.
A large crowd had gathered. Before us stood three magnificent buildings. Their surfaces were carved with intricate patterns, their high domes pointed. They were about six stories tall.
No one had entered the buildings yet. A throng of people stood at the entrance, each having brought their children.
We stopped at the back.
At the front, beside the entrance, there was a small stage. A middle-aged woman of striking beauty stepped onto it.
"This is Revius High-Level School." she said.
Her voice carried no emotion. Clear, precise, and eloquent — admirable.
"The special opportunities, so-called 'gifts' you receive upon entering. Revius High-Level School is the second-ranked school in the empire. Once your child enters here, you need not worry about their future. We have agreements with academies across the empire and the world. If your child graduates from here, they may choose any academy they wish. This depends somewhat on your child's grades — the higher the grades, the more choices you have. Don't worry — if your child performs poorly, the churches will accept them. Yes, and we have direct ties with the Barrended Church. You know this church — it is famous worldwide and very powerful. Any person who graduates from here can enter that church."
At that moment, clouds gathered in the sky and it began to rain. A very heavy rain.
"Ahem... ahem... well, I'll continue now."
She flew up into the air. She threw four talismans to the four corners of the school. The talismans formed a barrier. The rain no longer fell on the school grounds. She returned to her spot.
"Where did I leave off? Yes. I'll now state the rules. Follow the internal regulations. I'll mention only the basics:
One — the internal rules. You can read them in detail later.
Two — payment. Tuition must be paid in full by the middle of each academic year.
Three — regarding attire. Many schools require uniforms. Here, there is no such rule. You may wear whatever you wish. Within reason — please keep that in mind.
Four — leaving the school grounds is not permitted. Once a year, the gates open, and only then may you leave. Visits are also forbidden. The school program lasts for three years.
That is all. Yes, one last thing…"
"Enough already! Why do you talk so much? Who do you think you are?" an old man shouted.
"Be patient, please. Do not interrupt me when I am speaking."
"How dare you?!" the old man said. "Your only concern is money, nothing else!"
"Huffffff… ufffffff… quiet, please. I am almost finished. Be patient. Five minutes, no more."
"Finally — to take the entrance exam, you must have special tokens. That is, permits. The documents given by our sponsors. If you lose them or something else happens — we do not care. Turn back now. If you enter without a token, you will be subject to a heavy state fine."
"What are you saying?!" the old man shouted again. "Do you know how far I've brought my grandson? Because of one missing token? They gave it to me. The road was long and dangerous. I lost it somewhere!"
His voice was loud, the old man raving.
The talisman's power faded. The rain began to fall again.
"I do not wish to hear it, sir," the woman said. "I am leaving."
She stepped down from the stage and walked toward the door, opening it.
"Hey, you whore! What is the meaning of this? Was my effort worth nothing?!"
"Grandfather, stop… I'm scared," the grandson said, hugging his leg.
---
Hanna Scarlett.
The woman turned toward us.
"Yes, I almost forgot. My name is Hanna Scarlett. And in this school…"
"I don't care, you bitch!"
The air turned sharp. Everything began to freeze. Raindrops turned to hail. Breathing became difficult.
"Hello, sir…"
Before him stood a handsome young man in a long white robe, his hair white as snow.
"H-hello. Who are you?"
"I am the director of this academy. And that woman is the vice-director. You cannot treat us in this manner."
"Manners are not demanded, sir. Respect is not demanded. They are earned."
"Yes, I know that well. And I am older than you. At least respect my age, old man," the director said.
"Lyung Dzao, Director. Please, you don't need to do anything," Hanna said.
"Yes, I know."
"How dare you?!" the old man shouted again.
"Well, you are not permitted to enter here," Dzao said, turning his face and walking backward.
"How dare you?!" the old man shouted.
Suddenly, a violent pressure burst from his body.
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
Several nearby parents stepped back in fear. Some children began crying.
Mana surged around the old man's body like a storm. His wrinkled skin seemed to tighten, his bent back straightened slightly.
"So that's why..." one of the spectators whispered.
"He was hiding his strength."
The old man's eyes burned with rage.
"I crossed mountains and forests to come here! I risked my life! And because of one missing token, you tell me to leave?!"
Hanna Scarlett narrowed her eyes.
"Sir, calm yourself."
"Calm myself?" the old man laughed bitterly. "Do you know how many magical beasts I killed to bring my grandson here? Do you know how many years I saved money for this day?"
The pressure grew even heavier.
Some weaker people could barely breathe.
Lyung Dzao finally stopped walking.
He slowly turned around.
"Enough."
The old man pointed his sword at him.
"No. Not enough."
Mana exploded from his body.
Several cracks spread across the stone ground.
For the first time, the crowd became truly silent.
This was not an ordinary old man.
This was a veteran mage.
"You will let my grandson enter," the old man said.
Dzao sighed.
"And if I refuse?"
The old man raised his sword.
"Then I'll make you."
Silence.
A second later, ten swords materialized behind Dzao.
The old man attacked first.
One sword flashed.
The world became quiet.
The old man's head separated from his body.
His sword fell from his hand.
The battle ended before anyone could even understand what happened.
Even I couldn't follow that attack. So this is the level of Revius School's Director...
"Let us maintain respect, please," Dzao said.
The old man's head was still spinning in the air. The grandson would not stop screaming and crying:
"No! Grandfather! Grandfaaather!"
"Hey, boy, come here," Dzao said.
He took the boy's hand.
"I will send you home," he said, and walked inside with the child.
"Now, everyone, enter. Sit in the waiting hall — the exam is about to begin."
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Kael Grenfort:
I watched these scenes unfold.
The old man's head flew through the air. Blood — but it didn't touch anyone. After a few seconds, the head fell to the ground.
The child's screams still rang in my ears.
Not the first time. And it won't be the last.
The rules of this world are different. Be strong — or die.
I looked at my father. His face showed no emotion. Only observation.
"Father, did you know this would happen?"
"Yes, son. This is Lyung Dzao, the director. Much is said about him."
"Is he powerful?"
"Very."
We walked inside.
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