Chapter 10: The Entrance Examination
The Academy courtyard buzzed with excitement.
Thousands of new students stood in neat rows, each wearing uniforms bearing the crest of their noble house or homeland.
Vee scanned the crowd.
"So many..."
Some students radiated confidence.
Others were visibly nervous.
A few stood with closed eyes, meditating before the examination.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A powerful pressure descended upon the courtyard.
Conversations died instantly.
Every student's attention shifted to the massive stage overlooking the plaza.
An elderly man, dressed in white robes embroidered with gold, appeared without anyone noticing his arrival.
His silver hair reached his shoulders.
His presence alone made the air feel heavy.
No one dared speak.
"My name..."
He paused, allowing the silence to settle.
"...is Headmaster Orion."
"I welcome all of you to the Royal Academy."
His voice wasn't loud.
Yet every student heard it as if he were standing beside them.
"Each of you believes you are talented."
"Each of you believes you deserve to be here."
His sharp eyes swept across the crowd.
"I assure you..."
"...most of you are wrong."
Several students stiffened.
Some frowned.
Others lowered their heads.
"The Academy does not exist to praise talent."
"It exists..."
"...to expose weakness."
Vee smiled.
"I like this old man already."
The Headmaster continued.
"Today, you will take your first examination."
"No written tests."
"No interviews."
"Only one rule."
He raised a single finger.
"Reach the summit of the Academy Mountain."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"The mountain?"
"That's all?"
"That sounds easy."
The Headmaster smiled faintly.
"Oh..."
"I forgot to mention."
"The mountain..."
"...is alive."
The smiles on many faces disappeared.
Before anyone could ask questions—
The ground beneath them trembled.
RUMBLE!!
The enormous gates behind the Headmaster slowly opened.
Beyond them stood a mountain so tall that its peak disappeared into the clouds.
The path leading upward twisted through a dense forest.
Dark mist drifted between ancient trees.
Somewhere deep inside...
A beast roared.
The sound echoed across the entire Academy.
Several students instinctively stepped back.
"Your examination begins now."
"No teachers will assist you."
"No one will save you."
"If you reach the summit..."
"You pass."
"If you fail..."
"You leave this Academy."
Silence.
Then—
"Begin."
Like arrows released from a bow, hundreds of students charged toward the mountain.
Some sprinted alone.
Others quickly formed teams.
The courtyard emptied within seconds.
Vee adjusted the strap on his bag.
"No point rushing."
He began walking at his own pace.
As he approached the forest entrance...
A familiar voice called out.
"So..."
"You actually made it."
Vee turned.
Kai stood beneath a massive oak tree with his arms crossed.
"I was beginning to think you'd embarrass yourself before classes even started."
Vee grinned.
"And miss the chance to beat you one day?"
Kai smirked.
"You still talk too much."
The two stared at one another.
Not with hatred.
But with quiet determination.
Finally...
Kai turned toward the mountain.
"Try to keep up."
With one powerful leap...
He vanished into the trees.
Vee chuckled.
"Still showing off."
He stepped into the forest.
The moment he crossed the entrance...
The atmosphere changed.
The cheerful sounds from the Academy disappeared.
The air became cold.
The trees seemed impossibly tall.
Even the sunlight struggled to reach the ground.
Then...
A low growl echoed from somewhere in the darkness.
Vee's smile slowly faded.
He placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.
"This..."
"...isn't just an entrance exam."
The bushes ahead rustled violently.
Heavy footsteps shook the earth.
Something massive was approaching.
Vee narrowed his violet eyes.
"Looks like..."
"...my first Academy battle has arrived."
Stolen Prey
The forest fell silent.
Not the peaceful kind of silence.
The kind that warned predators they were no longer alone.
Vee tightened his grip on his sword.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Heavy footsteps echoed from between the ancient trees.
The bushes burst apart.
A beast nearly three meters tall stepped into the clearing.
Its body resembled a wolf, but black scales covered its back like armor. Two crimson horns curved from its head, and its golden eyes locked onto Vee.
Saliva dripped from rows of razor-sharp fangs.
Shadow Horn Wolf.
Vee slowly drew his sword.
"...You're ugly."
The beast growled.
Then it lunged.
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath its paws.
Vee sidestepped at the last possible moment.
The wolf crashed through a tree thick enough for three men to wrap their arms around.
Fast.
Much faster than ordinary monsters.
The beast spun around instantly.
Its claws slashed toward Vee's chest.
Clang!
Steel met claw.
The impact forced Vee back several steps.
"So that's your strength..."
Vee smiled.
"...Good."
His father's voice echoed in his mind.
"Don't overpower your opponent."
"Understand them first."
The wolf attacked again.
And again.
And again.
Each strike was savage.
Each bite aimed to kill.
Vee remained calm.
He watched.
He adapted.
Its left paw always moved a fraction of a second before its right.
Its breathing became heavier after every long charge.
Its scales protected most of its body...
But its neck remained exposed for the briefest instant whenever it bit.
"Found you."
The wolf roared and charged one final time.
Vee lowered his stance.
Waited.
Closer.
Closer.
Now.
His body twisted.
He slipped beneath the beast's jaws.
His glowing blue sword arced upward toward the exposed neck.
"This one's mine."
SHIIING!
A golden spear streaked across the clearing like a bolt of sunlight.
It pierced straight through the wolf's skull.
The monster's body froze.
Then collapsed with a deafening thud.
Silence.
Vee slowly lowered his sword.
"..."
He looked at the dead beast.
Then...
Very slowly...
He turned toward the direction the spear had come from.
A girl stepped out from the trees.
Golden hair shimmered beneath the sunlight filtering through the branches.
Blue eyes sparkled with amusement.
She casually walked to the monster, pulled her golden spear free with one hand, and twirled it effortlessly.
"Perfect timing."
Vee stared at her.
She smiled brightly.
"Morning."
"..."
"...You."
"The one and only."
Vee pointed at the dead wolf.
"I had that."
She tilted her head innocently.
"Did you?"
"I was literally swinging my sword."
"True."
"And then you stabbed it."
"Also true."
Vee folded his arms.
"So..."
"You stole my kill."
Aurelia tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"When you put it like that..."
"...yes."
Vee narrowed his violet eyes.
She looked at his expression...
And burst into laughter.
A real laugh.
The kind she couldn't hold back.
"Hahaha!"
"Oh..."
"I wish you could see your face."
Vee continued glaring.
She wiped a tear from her eye.
"You look like someone stole your favorite dessert."
"They did."
"What?"
"My experience points."
That only made her laugh harder.
"You really are impossible."
Vee sighed dramatically.
"Princesses are thieves."
Aurelia gasped in mock outrage.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
"You heard it."
"I definitely did."
The two stared at each other for a moment.
Then...
Both of them smiled.
Somewhere high above the trees...
A pair of mysterious eyes watched the scene.
"Interesting..."
The hidden observer smiled.
"They've met much earlier than expected."
"And they're already changing each other's story."
The forest grew quiet once more.
But neither Vee nor Aurelia realized...
Someone had begun taking an interest in them.
To be continued...