Chapter 24: Entrance Exam

I rang the small bell on my bedside table to call the maids for getting myself ready. Even though I wanted do it myself, I've learned better since that incident.

When I was 6, Emma got extremely mad at me when I tried to take a bath by myself. She never left my side after that, only when I had to go to the bathroom. It was pretty stressful. I never tried to do anything like that ever since.

Emma came into the room right away and helped me into the bath. Usually it is only Emma helping me with things like getting myself ready, but since yesterday, I was titled as crown princess so it was automatically decided that I would have more attendants. I was introduced to the two properly today, Adamaris and Earlene.

Emma dressed me and Adamaris and Earlene both did my hair. Today, since I was going to take the entrance exam for the Academy, I chose to wear a simple outfit since I was planning to take the combat exam as well. I was planning to wear the shorts I received from Ms. Foxard but Emma started to glare at me when I put them in my hands, so I decided against it. I didn't want to anger Emma, after all.

In the end, I had to decide on a simple dark red knee-length skirt with a white button-up shirt. Emma put a blue ribbon at the collar for appearance's sake, and Adamaris and Earlene put my hair up in a loose braided bun. I was about to put on leather combat boots I also received by Ms. Foxard but I was once again stopped by Emma. With much pleading and convincing, I was allowed to wear comfortable ankle high formal leather boots. It worked out great, since I'm sure she was going to force me to wear heels. I also put on a belt with three pouches at my side that held my magic gems.

I got onto the carriage, heading towards the Academy. The Academy is situated on a small country near the Cornerius Empire. I think it was Jamaica on Earth. Since it is really far to get there, we are heading to the capital of Floria, where the elimination exam will take place.

Each year, there are many applicants so the Academy hold a preliminary exam to scout students that are satisfactory enough to take the entrance exam. The students who passed will be taken to the Academy via transportation device. Since I come from a royal bloodline, I am allowed to skip to the official entrance exam as long as I was tested before to see if I had magical power. To reach the Academy, I am heading to the capital to use that transportation device. It seems that the tests take place in the capitals of each country, excluding the Fairy and Demon Continent.

When I arrived to the venue of the small examination in the capital square, an examiner quickly appeared to my side, greeted me and guided me towards the device. I peeked at the crowd, and I saw that everyone there were lowering their heads and putting their right hands over their hearts. I did not know why, but smiled at the younger or slightly older youths firmly holding their positions.

I was lead to a small dark room, with a large purple crystal in the middle. I was instructed to place my hand on the crystal, hand release a small amount of mana to activate it. When I did so, there was a bright lilac flash and I greeted a completely different scenery I was seeing before.

What I saw was a grand white castle with a cylindric base and many towers. It was decorated with golden ornaments and lush wall fountains. The island was not big compared to the grand countries, but there was the charm of a lively and peaceful place unrelated to the darkness of the outside world.

There was a small village on the first level with many powerful looking masters at the residents. The second level looked similar to dorms and training grounds. The castle, or the Academy, stood in the centre on the third and highest level.

While admiring this other-worldly place, I noticed a very powerful presence walking up to me from behind.

"Well well, what a promising young lady we have here. May I ask for your name?"

An elderly man with a short white beard and a buff body came up to me. He resembled an old and wise general, while having an air of a grandfatherly like presence.

"Liliane Acton from the Royal family of Floria, sir."

I gave a small curtsy, giving my respects.

"Hm. Well Liliane, here we do not care about formalities. Students are simply students and students will respect their teachers. Is that understandable?"

"Yes, understood."

"Good. Good. You can call me Headmaster. Why don't I guide you to the examination hall?"

"Thank you, headmaster. That would be an honour."

" By the way, which examinations will you be taking? As you may know, there are 2 mandatory exams and 1 of them is to be chosen from 3 optional areas of examination you can take."

"Yes, the academic examinations are mandatory, right? I am planning to take all three of the optional exams."

"All three? I understand why you would want to learn the magic and technical areas, but why combat? As a royal, you must have enough knights to protect you?"

"Just like magic, I want to be able to protect myself if a time that demands such comes. I know that there are many honourable knights that work under the flag of the royal family, but I believe they should focus most on the people. Even for the knights that work directly for my family, if there is a situation where my family in in danger, I want them to be reassured even just a bit that the crown princess is capable to protect herself. If they do, they might be a bit more relieved from their constant work by just a bit."

"Isn't it part of a knight's job to worry for their masters?"

"But even so, I wish to be a ruler who can protect her people. If I can't even protect myself from danger, how can I protect others?"

"..."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I don't know why I just rambled that right now. Please ignore that. Think of it as a foolish, naive girl's ideals."

I frantically waved my hands in front of me, flustered. I don't know why I started talking about my ideals in front of this elderly man! Ah, so embarrassing!

"Hahahahahahahaha! No, that is good, good! One should have strong goals as that. I look forward to having you at the academy. But you must first pass the exams, no? Now, let us hurry, we don't want to be late."

"Y-yes!"

I followed the headmaster as he started walking towards the grand castle doors, which were opened by the knights. The hall was decorated with many, many medium-sized portraits of good looking men and women, with small golden plaques underneath them.

"They are the graduates from the fist generation from the academy who held exemplary results. Most of them have passed, but all remain as well-known masters around the world and their names are probably etched somewhere in history."

The headmaster explained a few things I noticed in the halls and we reached the room where the exam was taking place.

The knights placed in front of the doors opened them and greeted the headmaster. Inside, there the rows of wooden tables filled with students and a teacher behind a pedestal at the front which strongly resembled a lecture hall.

The teacher looked towards me and signalled me to come inside. He glanced at the headmaster, gave a slight bow and faced the class once again. The headmaster nodded his head back and turned toward the hall as the doors closed. The teacher looked strict, but still quite young. Maybe 25 to his late 20's.He had dark brown hair and sharp dark blue eyes which he directed at me.

"State your name."

"Liliane Mary Acton."

"Well, Ms. Acton. Please take an empty seat. We will take the exam in a few minutes."

I turned around and found that most of the seats were taken and there was no familiar face in the crowd. I walked up the steps towards the middle row and took a seat in the empty window seat on the right side of the hall.

Since there were many applicants, there were many tests taken at the same time, and repeated by the same instructors until all the students have been examined. I pitied the teachers that would have to go through many batches of students for the rest of the day.

Once I focused my attention towards the exam again, the test sheets were handed out. Since it was the academic test, knowledge of each subject would be tested in one exam. There was a time limit of 3 hours for the test and the test is probably around 10 pages long, double sided.

Once the tests were all handed out, the teacher signalled for the test to begin. Once I opened the exam, I saw that these were the basic of the basic and I was able to smoothly go through the whole thing. I had a bit of difficulty with history, but Ms. Eira's, the little-but-not-so-little-cute-teacher-of-mine, teachings came to the rescue in these parts. In the end, I was able to finish the test 30 minutes early, revised and everything. I reviewed it again, and handed it in to the teacher 15 minutes early.

I was excused after class, so I decided that I would take the magic exam next. I followed the wooden signs in the hallway and headed towards the courtyard where they would hold the magic exam.

I was greeted by another odd sight. There was a single wooden dummy in the vast gassy field, a buff warrior-looking man and tens of students(?) behind him. I can't see if those are actually students, though. It could be a pile of rag dolls...

"Hmmmmmmm? It this another girly taking the test? Come here."

I heard his loud and booming voice from across the courtyard, as well as his powerful presence. I walked towards the buff man.

"Hm. A B rank magician? That's hella good for you. What's your name?"

"Thank you. My name is Liliane Mary Acton."

"Good manners. A noble? No matter. So...all you have to do is hit that dummy from here with your magic. Barrier magic is surrounding us so don't worry about the damages."

About a quarter of a kilometre away? Earth Needle should be good enough.

"Spirits of the earth, please grant me your power, Earth Needle."

I visualized my needle that it formed in the air and with a wave of my hand, the needle spun and struck the dummy in it's core with tremendous speed.

"A shortened chant? As expected of a B rank. I see you're an earth magician? It seems like you're a blessed person though."

"Yes, I have been blessed by 3 unique fairies."

When I said that, I saw the man frozen in place, with his lips clamped together.

"How old are you again?"

"14 years old, sir."

"You...pass."

"? Thank you very much."

I was a bit surprised, since I thought the exam would be more difficult. I slowly walked towards the halls again, following the signs to the next exam.

"As expected of you, Lili."

I turned around quickly, finding Ren grinning behind me.

"Ren! I thought I wouldn't be able to see you today."

"Me too, to think we would meet suddenly like this."

We smiled momentarily at each other, then Ren walked up to me and held my hand.

"No one's here right now, so this much is okay right?"

"I guess."

He's back to his forward attitude...I thought that kiss would make him revert to his cuter side, I guess not. Too bad...

"Are you going to take the combat and technical exams too?"

"You are too?"

"Yup. Combat's a definite since my dad's a military freak, and technical is something I should know a bit to broaden my knowledge. You're the same. right?"

"More or less."

"So, technical exam first?"

"Okay."

We walked towards the class where one of the technical exams were taking place with the help of the signs. Technical classes focus on many subjects, like business, agriculture, architecture. If I were to become queen, I should know at least sufficient knowledge of each area to give my utmost to advance and support them. I'm sure Ren feels the same.

"I guess it's here."

Ren spoke up and I saw the similar double doors from my academic exam. We let go of each other's hands and pushed the the doors open, to find a few seats taken with, mostly by commoners, merchant children and kids from lower noble families. We both sat in the back row, next to each other. The tests were handed out, and the old teacher in the front signalled to start.

I flipped through the test and saw it was about 8 pages long, double sided. The time limit was 2 hours and 45 minutes, so I would have just enough time. Most of the questions were simple enough, but I had trouble on some of the agriculture and architectural questions.

"Pens down!"

The older man with the red gruff beard shouted out loud and I could hear the pens hit the table accompanied with many sighs. I also unconsciously let out a small sigh, led by the atmosphere created.

"Pass your tests to the person who is closest the centre in your rows."

As we did so, the instructor collected the tests and made his way up. When he came up to our row and looked at our answer sheets, something flashed in his brown eyes but it disappeared quickly.

I paid it no mind and Ren and I left the lecture hall together, heading for the combat exam. The signs pointed towards the gymnasium where the exam would be held. Yells and grunts could be heard from time to time, but we simply went inside.

"Next!"

A blonde stone-faced woman in knights clothing shouted towards the group of damaged youths each holding a weapon.

"Newcomers? Join in. Whoever lands a clean hit on me passes the exam. Weapons are over there."

She tilted head toward a corner of the gymnasium, where many type of weapons were held in stands. Ren and I looked at each other, shrugged and walked towards the weapons. I picked up a good weighted metal staff and Ren took a one-edged sword, similar to a katana.

"Ready?"

"Yup. I'll go first."

"Okay."

I sprinted from the weapon stands towards the woman knight. One meter before I reached her sword reach, I burst my speed and closed the distance in a second and swung my staff against her sword. The instructor looked shocked, but quickly regained her composure. She deflected my attack with ease and while I lost my balance in the air, she tried to hit my stomach with the hilt of her sword. I forcefully pulled myself back and flipped backwards, landing on my feet.

I took a breath, smiling a bit. I guess making a knight like her step back isn't so easy. I attacked and attacked, but there was no success. On my sixth try, I attacked with speed again and proceeded with the same strategy I used the first time. She went to block again but I pulled and spun the staff before impact and struck the end of it in the slit there was no armour between her hip and her waist. She took a step back, with a shocked face and smiled.

"Not bad. Not bad at all. You pass, congratulations..."

"Liliane. Liliane Mary Acton."

"Congratulations, Ms. Acton."

"Thank you."

I nodded my head at her and gave Ren a thumbs up and a smile. He gave a thumbs up back, and he proceeded to start walking up to the knight instructor.

"I'll be quick."

"Mhm."

I stepped back and leaned against the wall facing the two. Their battle was pretty even, with Ren constantly attacking. Of course, the knight blocked his attacks beautifully, but eventually, she slipped a defence and Ren laded a hit on her armour, making her step two steps back due to the impact.

"You have good potential. I hope to see you in my class."

"Yes!"

Ren grinned and sent me a V sign. I flashed a smile back and we both left the gymnasium, bowing a last time to the blue-eyed knight. While walking to the front of the Academy, Ren started talking.

"Well, I guess we'll see our rankings tomorrow."

"I guess so."

"So, how do we get back?"

"I think we have to ask the guards over by the school gate to transport us back."

"Oh, I see. Do you think you did good?"

"Of course, I think I lost to you in our combat exam, though."

"Can't deny that."

We both laughed and continued to talk as we headed towards the main gate to leave.

"Ahem."

We turned around, seeing a familiar face. Fluffy brown hair, gentle brown eyes and small pink lips.

"Hello, Miss Clara. Fancy meeting you here."

"Hello, Prince Ren. Hello, Li-Princess Liliane."

I saw Clara twitch her eyebrow slightly when she said my name and I couldn't help but smile a bit.

"Prince Ren, did you just get here? I was about to take the tests, would you like to take them with me?"

"No, thank you. I was just about to leave with Liliane."

Ren said it with a gentle smile. As expected of a prince.

"Oh........I see."

"Yes, well. I should be going. Father said to report right after I ended my exams. Goodbye, Miss Clara. Goodbye, Liliane."

Ren took my right hand, and kissed it gently. He swiftly turned around and walked towards the guards. Darn it, he left me with her alone. Don't tell me he ran away...

"You............"

"?"

"You..."

"What?"

"You cast a more powerful spell on him, didn't you?"

"...why would you come to such a conclusion?"

"Obviously because he kissed your hand! You must have done something that controlled his mind!"

Well, we actually kissed on the lips too...

"I sorry, but I have to get going now. Good day, Miss Clara."

"Don't ignore me!"

I kept walking.

"Let's have a bet! Whoever gets a higher average score in magic and academic exams will get to have Ren."

"I refuse."

"Ha! You scared, chicken?"

Is she actually a child?...Maybe she's actually an 8 year old inside?

"Ren should not be treated as an object of one's bet."

"Hmph. Fine...Whoever wins gets to order the loser for a whole week."

...

"Okay."

"Don't regret it!"

Clara ran off into the Academy, while I walked towards the gates. I greeted the guards and they transported me to the capital of Floria.

The carriage was still there, Emma as well. Today, I was very tired. At least, now I can get her to leave Ren and I alone for a week. That would be great. While I thought that, I drifted off to sleep in the carriage.