The Novel's Sidekick

Chapter 8 07: Admission Test

Q: What actually happened to Edward’s family?

A: It was mentioned that they all died in some unfortunate accident related to Red Phantom.

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Today was the day of admission and I went to the place where the test would be held before the designated time. Part of the reason was that I woke up early and did not want to miss it, but more importantly, it was the curiosity about the thin girl I met a couple of days before.

I had no recollection of someone like her in the novel, yet she gave me 4 destiny points for just healing a not-so-serious wound. Clearly, there is something about her I did not know yet. Well, the author did not have the luxury of writing about everyone in the web novel, but the kid appeared somewhat special—at least, there should have been some mentions.

Unless she died or failed to enter the academy.

I went in front of the academic building where the magic department’s test would be held and man! It was crowded. My old instinct played its role, and I found a vacant corner to hide in. Well, hiding was not the right word. After all, I feared crowds and strangers only when I was young—they no longer strike any fear within me.

But the place I was in was too new for me. I have been living in Shrankor for four and a half days and still not used to it. It would take me far more time to get used to this place.

There were at least a couple thousand people in the lines, and the door of the building was still closed. Most of the people were commoners or lesser nobles, though at least a ninth of them should have noble lineage from their great grandfathers or else they might not even get to take the test.

In the regulations, it was clearly stated that anyone with a proper identity and age could take the test, however, that was far from the truth. If they had strictly followed the rules, the test could have been extended for the entire academic year. After all, what was so embarrassing about failing the admissions test for the most prestigious academy in the realm? Boys and girls from all over the empire and even the neighbouring places will come to take the test, thinking what if they have talent in the spirit arts?

Boy-oh-boy, that would make the school a circus.

This is where reality differs from the written regulations. The individuals in charge of the test sent away people just by glancing once at them. They told the crowds that with one glance, they could pierce through their talent and decide whether they have an affinity to spirit arts. In reality, what their eyes saw was the luxury of the candidates, from their clothes to any ornaments, to discern whether they came from a rich family or if they were just another commoner wishing to hit it big.

This was somewhat cruel to the commoners, but the reality was far crueller as the academy's tuition was not free. To be more specific, it is so expensive that most well-off families could not afford it, even if they possessed comparable talent to a noble scion. Though there are those with exceptional talent who could receive a substantial scholarship from the academy, sponsorship from other noble families, or even sponsorship from the imperial families. Yeriel was one of those few. Her family was not dirt poor, but they would have to invest their entire year's savings to pay the tuition fee for a single month.

Certainly, the Knight department was not like that. Then again, in the Knight's department, they did not need expensive instruments and ingredients every day. I wonder how I will manage the tuition fee now, considering Daddy Emberheart has cut off his lines of capital to his once-favoured son.

Unfortunately for me, I have to worry about all this even though I transmigrated into a first-class noble. There are a lot of ways to earn money, I mused. Which one will be the easiest for me without getting me into trouble?

The thought brought me back to the thin kid again. She did not appear to be from a well off family. Bloody hell, she did not even have warm clothing the last time I saw her. From what I observed, she might not even have a family.

My scrutinising gaze searched throughout the crowd, hoping to find what I was looking for, but alas! The kid was nowhere to be seen. Every so often, the guards came and cleared all the families of the candidates, and then the place turned a little vacant. Now I had a better opportunity to look for her, but the result was the same.

Time was running out, and it was only a few minutes before the gates would open. If that girl was not here by then, she might have to give up enlisting this year. I leaned against the cold wall, still looking for her, as I had nothing better to do. I wondered for what reason I cared so much about this stray kid. Was it just because she gave me the 4 destiny points or something else?

Certainly, I have no plan of farming destiny points from her, healing her, helping her in any sorts of ways. Trust me, if I could garner destiny points that way, I would have started a charity trust already. Unfortunately, gaining destiny points through these kinds of healing, or helping, stagnated easily.

The building finally opened, and the girl was still nowhere to be seen. A dozen people or so appeared wearing long white robes. They stood on the podium in two separate groups. The group on the right, where mostly robust men stood, were for the Knights, while the group on the left where a few graceful figures stood with just a few males were for Magi.

"Line up!" said the robust man, leading the knights. "Those that want to take the test for knights, come here. As for Magi, go to the left. And I need not have to mention the regulations."

The boys and girls moved in lines immediately. Nobody made a noise and the only sounds heard were of feet shuffling on the gravel-covered ground. I moved as well and took a spot on the far end of the lines to the magic department.

A few people told me I could go before them, but I declined as I had to watch out for the girl. The people before me seemed to have recognised me, or rather the infamous red hair and red eyes. The reverence towards the old blood of Emberheart runs deep.

Both the people standing in front and behind me seemed to have a lot of questions staring at me with wide-open eyes. I knew what they were thinking. After all, a descendant of the Great House Emberheart should not have to take the test with commoners. I did not feel even a tiny bit of virtue in their reverence, but remembered about the infamous rumours. In all of their faces, the only thing I could think of was that they were scorning me. Perhaps they were, or why else would a prince with blue blood mingle with the commoners?

Is it my paranoia? Most likely. Taking in a deep breath, I ignored everything with my aloof, haughty look. Acting. Yes, that's it. I have dealt with everything quite well these four days, ignoring the very first day, of course, I thought. Acting is the way. At least until I am no longer bothered by the piercing stares.

The professor in charge took the candidates inside the building while I was still looking for the kid. A dozen professors working together would take only ten minutes or so to filter the candidates and it was even less for the magic department, as their number was not even half of the knights'.

Half the numbers in my line had already entered. Why did I feel nervous? Was it for my test? Unlikely. With Scar's overwhelming affinity for spirit, all I have to do is present myself well, and prove that I'm not a bloody imbecile, to get into the department of Magi. Thinking about the thin girl as well as the gazes of the crowd made me even more nervous than I already was. Fortunately, with Scar's handsome and aloof look, almost no one could see through my inner nervousness.

Now there were only a dozen more people before me.

"Oscar." a female voice called to me. I looked to find the woman leading the admissions into the magic department. "Are you looking for someone?"

"Y-yes." I said, trying to recall the woman's name.

She appeared to be in her prime, though I hardly believe that. They were, after all, magi. Wizards had a much longer lifespan and could be young for a long time. She had black hair, an oval-shaped face, and was fairly pretty, but not as gorgeous as Yasmine or Ciara. She appeared to be wearier, though she still had her charm, as all the boys in the camp were giving her the stares. Magus attracts crowds wherever they stand.

I finally managed to remember who she was. She was none other than Scar's maternal aunt.

My attention was abruptly broken as I felt some disturbance in the direction of the gate and finally found what I was searching for. Surely, it was the kid, but she was on the ground, trying hard to get in, and her ankle was pulled away by the warders of the academy.

"Let me go!" said the girl and threw a kick at the one who caught her ankle. The warder was not-so-subtle when dealing with a thin girl like her. She had capitalised on it and got her ankle free when the warder guarded against her kick.

Getting free, she rolled on the ground and started running. She was fast and within a couple of seconds; she had caught most of the folks' attention. The warder was not a person to let go. After all, it was his job not to. He lurched up and after a couple of manoeuvres; he appeared before the thin girl.

"Wait!" I yelled at the two of them. The warder who was about to immobilise the girl stopped and so did the girl who was about to run away.

I walked towards them amid the stares of hundreds of people. Feeling a little uncomfortable and uneasy from all the eyes on me, I continued on my path.

"What happened?" I asked, coming before them.

The girl answered before the warder. "They didn't let me in."

I looked at the warder with a sharp look and the aloofness aura of the nobility worked. I sighed in relief inwardly.

"She was late getting in." the warder said. Even though he was giving the descendant of Emberheart proper respect, he was not looking down.

I looked at the kid and saw her uncomfortable expression. I sighed. "It does not matter anymore," I said, looking at the warder. "Get back to your work."

The warder did not do as he was told and looked at the professors on the podium. Seeing the nod from the lady in the magic department, he bowed a little before departing.

I watched him go and transferred my gaze to the thin girl. She was fidgeting with her rags of clothing.

"What's your name?" I asked her.

The thin girl was looking towards the crowd and the high podium where the men and women in charge stood. A resolution flashed in her eyes.

"Elinor," she answered.

"Elinor," I repeated, searching through my memory for the name. There was no mention of it in the book. I could not help but take a deep breath before asking, "You want to get into the academy?"

Elinor nodded instantly, and her eyes drifted off towards the lines. Even after I came to her rescue, she should be too high on adrenaline to feel this anxious.

"Fine, then get in line," I said and walked back towards my line. I joined again at the end of it, ignoring the stare others were showing. Elinor came with me as well and stood behind me. "Apologies for the delay."

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Edited by Mysteries. Proofread by kqwxz.