After organizing my stuff in my room I went out to have a breather. Gowing downstairs to the first floor I met with Bernard. He was currently drinking tea while reading a book in the living room. This building is actually a living complex for teachers. Even though most of them have their own houses since their pay is quite high some still choose to live here. Bernard had explained this to me and Sophy before. The first floor has a kitchen, living room, shared studio as well as a small library. The second floor is divided into two, the guest rooms and the teacher’s rooms. Unlike the guest rooms, the teacher rooms are far bigger to the point they can’t be considered rooms anymore. They are more like separate apartments with than anything else.

“Oh? Amelia? I thought you would rest for a while since travelling tends to be exhausting”

From the looks of things when Sophy isn’t around this old man acts calm, composed, and gentlemanly. However, after seeing how he acts around Sophy there is no way for me to see him as anything else but a dotting parent. No really, their quarrel a lot but it’s obvious the two hold a great parent and daughter bond.

“I am not really tired, I slept most of the time in the carriage. Not to mention I have an abnormal recuperation rate”

“I see, then would you mind accompanying this old man for a while?”

He said that as he offered me a cup of tea. I took the cup and carefully took a sip since it was pretty hot. The warm liquid went down my throat warming my stomaching giving me a relaxing feeling. Not to mention the aroma and the bitter taste was to my liking too. As a smile escaped me I could help but close my eyes and enjoy the feeling for a second or two.

“It’s quite good, isn’t it? To tell the truth, this one is my favourite albeit a bit expensive”

“Yea it tastes and smells amazing”

I gave him my honest opinion. After opening my eyes I saw the old man smiling seemingly satisfied. After that, he told me stories of his time as an adventurer while I also told him of some of my exploits. The conversation flowed without any problems and soon enough we were talking about the academy and the entrance exam.

From what he told me the exam consisted of five different tests. Two for physical capabilities, two for magic capabilities and one written for general knowledge. To be admitted into the academy you need to pass at least two tests. This might bring someone to the wrong conclusion that getting in is rather easy however Bernard made it clear that its the other way around. The reason why only passing to out of five tests was necessary is that each test is absurdly tough. Because of this passing two can already be considered good enough.

The first physical is a simple strength test were the participants will hit a measuring device as hard as they can without any magic strengthening them. This is to measure their base strength. After all, strengthening magic worked as a multiplier over your basic strength. This is the reason why a mage can’t release the same amount of physical strength as a warrior even after strengthening. The second test is an endurance, dexterity and speed test. How it works is rather simple as well. It is an obstacle course that will force participants to display or their abilities. The faster one reaches the end the better the grade.

As for the magical tests they are even simpler. Just like the first physical test, the first magical test will measure raw power. This is done by pushing as much mana as possible into a measuring device for ten seconds. The more mana one is capable of releasing in the allocated amount of time the better the grade. The second test is applied magic. Participants will be given a minute to attack a dummy with magical means, the more damage they can cause the better the grade. However, the dummy adapts to damage so using the same spell or even the same attribute will result in diminished returns.

Finally, the written test is held for two hours with multiple subjects such as maths, history, etiquette, magic theory amongst others. This one is mainly aimed at nobles since most commoners tend to fail it. On my part, I think I can do fairly well in math and maybe in etiquette? Who am I kidding, I know nothing of etiquette.

As I kept chatting with Bernard Sophy came down and joined us in our talks. She also told us a few of her adventures which I found a bit more interesting than the old man’s. We were also told about the academy’s mechanics, in other words how class and stuff worked. Listening to the explanation I came to the conclusion the academy works pretty much the same as most universities on earth. By that I mean you get some classes that are absolute and everyone has to take and others that are electives. For example, magic theory is a class everyone has to attend. However, applications of magic is an elective. The same goes for a few others like combat theory and combat practice.

We continued chatting until night fell after which we went to our respective rooms to rest. The test will be held in three days from now so we better rest and prepare ourselves for them. As I laid on the bed my thoughts drifted towards the tests. Should I go all out or should I try and keep my abilities hidden? If I go all out I might stand out too much and it would become a bother. However, if I keep my abilities hidden and that leads to others underestimating me that could also become a bother. In other words, no matter what I do it will become a bother. Well, if that is the case I guess I will go all out at least that way the teachers will know the full extent of my abilities and I will be thought accordingly. Or at the very least I hope it goes like that.

As I kept going back and forth I slowly drifted into sleep. The next three days went without much happening. I and Sophy would go out sightseeing around the city while buying this and that, mainly food or cute hairpins. Well, I say I went with sophy but in reality, it was more like she was dragging me around. To tell the truth, my plans for those days was to stay shut in sleeping only going out to eat. What can I say? My old habits have started resurfacing now that I know I will be going back to school.

On the day of the testing, we readied ourselves and left towards the auditorium where the chairman would be giving a short speech. When we reached the place it was packed full of people around my age. Well, I say around my age but last night I came to the realization that I am not ageing at all. After looking at myself in the full body mirror in the bathroom I saw the same old plain me. No, growth in height nor in bust, damn it. I still look like a sixteen-year-old girl despite being twenty-four right now. Well, as long as I don’t develop any wrinkles in my thirties or forties I am fine with looking like a sixteen-year-old for the rest of my life.

Going back on topic, when I say someone is around my age I mean they look around sixteen. However, I could also see a few others that looked older, around their twenties. While I was distracted trying to guess the age of those that might become my peers the chairman had begun his speech. The man had a serious tone and his deep voice gave a militaristic sense of order. His appearance was similar to Bernards, however, his body looked muscular unlike the old mage’s. He also sported a scar over his right eye that made him look somewhat intimidating. The speech went something like this.

“Welcome to all of you for coming to our glorious Valencia Royal Academy Remalen. I know many of you have come with hopes of improving your futures. Moreover, many of you may be highly skilled. However, it is a given that not all of you will be able to enter. After all, only the best of the best are chosen to be nurtured in this great institution. For these reasons, I hope for all of you to do your utmost to reach our expectations of you all. With this, I announce that the academy has once again opened its doors for those with talent to grasp the opportunity and reach higher heights”

As the speech ended, cheers rose all over as the tension was as high as ever. Soon after everyone was separated into different groups for the testing. Sophy and I ended in different groups so she wouldn’t be around. My group consisted of around thirty people and we would be taking the physical test first. Looking around I could see many muscular men as well as flimsy ones. It was obvious at a glance that we hadn’t been separated between warriors and mages.

After walking for a while through a dark passage we came inside a coliseum. The place was absurdly big, with the arena being around two to three hundred meters in diameter. The spectator seats were about ten meters up and kept going for about maybe a hundred or more rows. Inside, multiple groups had assembled each coming from a different tunnel. In front of us, there was a massive egg looking things with magic runes carved on it. Looking around there were many such objects each in front of one of the tunnels were candidates had gathered.

“This is a strength testing device. How this test will work is simple, over there are some wooden weapons. You will pick one and hit the tester with as much force as you can. Then it will give you a score and with it, we will be able to determine if you pass or not. The passing grade is a hundred and fifty. Just so you get an idea a normal farmer in their prime would punch with a score of eighty”

That is quite harsh. A farmer works in a field most of their life and they gain quite a bit of muscle. They are asking us to hit with about twice their strength. Well, its nothing out of this world, I bet I can double or even triple the bottom line. Now that I think of it, if I were to convert this measuring score to newtons from earth would be about ten? Maybe? Well, whatever, this is getting interesting.