We could already see the walls of Late Frost City before noon. Although I had no idea of our traveling speed, it should be close to ten or more miles per hour. With the fact that we departed at dawn, it meant that the city should be something like sixty or plus miles from our village.

This is something my father taught me, never lose the track of time, and be able to judge people speed. Although I didn't a complete confidence in the values I came up with, I was planning to ask my father if I was right.

However, when I started moving, the log of a friend called Djar, decided to wake up.

yawn

*Are we there yet Ven?"

With half-closed eyes and after making a big yawn, he asked me this question for the fifth time during this journey. Since the road from our village wasn't maintained properly, we didn't have a smooth journey inside the carriage, thus, it made him wake up multiples times.

"Yep, we can see the city from here already."

"Really?! Let's go out then! I'm tired of staying in this carriage."

Disregarding my opinion, Djar jumped out of the carriage full of energy despite being sleepy a moment ago. However, he was right. Even I was tired of staying in here, so after giving a quick glance to the girls feigning to be asleep, I also left the carriage.

When we exited the carriage, the adults gave us a strange look, while our fathers were blaming us with their eyes but didn't say anything.

I knew that if we decided to leave the carriage, they wouldn't be able to move at their usual speed and will have to slow down so that we won't be left behind or forced to go back in again. But since we were already so close I thought that slowing down wouldn't bother them.

"Ven! Come quick! Let's be the first to enter the city."

Djar was so excited about this new surrounding he couldn't stop himself from looking everywhere.

The city was built at the center of a giant lake and was connected to the ground outside through various bridges. The water wasn't reflecting the sun like I was used to. Somehow, despite the sun being high in the sky, the surface was clear and only had very few sparkling areas.

But it was enough. The bridges made of wood and rock, the sparkling water, the towering and gigantic city, this was the first time I saw something like this. I already saw this a while ago inside the carriage, but I still couldn't help admiring this scenery one more time.

"Ven, what are you thinking about? Let's go!"

Pulling my arm, Djar dragged me at the front of the group.

"Where do you kids think you're going? Can't you see that we're not alone?"

One the adult talked to us. His name was Stan, he was Vela's father, one of the girls inside the carriage. She had short brown hair and clear amber eyes like her father. She was the timidest of the three. Her mother is childhood friend with my parents. Apparently, they wanted us to grow together, but since Djar was my closest friend, it became quickly difficult.

Looking around us, we saw that there were multiples caravans and carriages like ours going toward Late Frost City. We could easily guess that they were people coming from other villages in the region, bringing their children for the annual event.

Although they didn't look dangerous, we could see that they didn't harbor any good feeling toward each other.

"Since we're coming to the city so you guys can get your talent appraised, those who'll be lucky enough to have children with Bronze or higher quality talent will want their children to have a chance to pass the school's admission test."

"Why don't they like us then? We didn't do anything."

"They're afraid of you all."

"Afraid of us?"

"Yes. Having a Bronze talent is already very good for us commoners since our lineage isn't good and our bloodline doesn't have any variant abilities... However, it's not that rare. And if you guys have that much talent, then we already agreed that we'll do the best we could to send you all to school."

Talking about school, Djar was making a very displeased face. He already didn't like studying with the old monkey at our village, the concept of something which asked you to study most of the time was similar to a world of pain for him.

Seeing Djar's expression, Stan sneered.

"Don't think about escaping or purposely failing the test or performing badly. We all know that you all can write and read, so if one of you fail here, let's see how he'll be punished. And as for the other tests, they change each year, but it shouldn't be anything too hard for you guys to be in the top fifty."

"They only accept fifty children?"

"Yes, and you'll be divided into two classes afterward."

"Can we ask to be in the same class as someone? If I'm taken I don't want to be separated from Ven!"

"You will do what you guys will be told. Don't make a ruckus there. There are a lot of people we can't afford to offend. And stay away from the nobles' children. There should be no discrimination in school, but this is only on the outside. In school, you guys should be equal, but once you step outside this equality is nowhere to be seen."

Stan's words made me worried a little. I don't know much about noble besides that they are very strong, and are very rich. And some of them are bestowed lands by the Emperor himself, like the governor of Late Frost City. And since they are in charge of the territory, its security is also something they should ensure.

Thus, we commoners should give them the respect they deserve since our lives are preserved thanks to them.

"What do we do then if they approach us?"

Stan looked at me with a pensive look.

"Make yourselves forgotten. Avoid interacting with them. Although if you can befriend one it'll be greatly beneficial to you in your future, the risks are too high. Those nobles are constantly fighting among them, and for their purposes, our lives are not worth much."

"Aren't they supposed to protect us?"

"From monsters and other countries, yes. But should they protect you from themselves?"

"I see..."

"That's why Ven, you'll be in charge of overseeing the other children there."

I looked at Stan with a surprised look.

"It's not even certain that I will be able to be admitted."

"Although, we have no idea about your talent, you're the most mature among the five of you. And we all think you will be able to handle it. The girls are already aware of that and some other things. They might come to you if they need anything there, is it okay?"

"I... I guess..."

While I wished to refute his words, I could feel that all the other adults were looking toward me as if they all agreed with this decision.

Djar was putting his hands on his mouth to prevent himself from laughing at my plight. He knew very well that this type of responsibility meant that I will be responsible for his behaviors too.

(Half an hour later)

We were in front of the West Bridge and were waiting for the guards to give us the permission to proceed. Since we are commoners from surroundings village, we need to be checked and be given a permit, so we won't be restrained and imprisoned inside the city.

Late Frost City was gigantic. It was divided into five districts. The 5th district were the residents of the city with commoner status could live. Their living conditions were much better than us people from the countryside. The Marchand and Organization district, the 4th district. If you wanted to set a stall or create a sect, or anything, you needed to go the 4th district. And the district which we'll be going, the 3rd district. Since school was a 6 years course, the area required to create accommodation for the students, the teachers and the rooms required for every class required a lot of space. The 2nd and the 1st district were the areas were the nobles and the Governor lived. It was forbidden for any commoner without a good justification to be there.

And for us countryside people, without a permit, we couldn't even walk in the 5th district legally.