The morning air buzzed with anticipation as Aeri, Caelumis, Borun, and Vol stepped out from the inn, joining the throng of hopefuls streaming toward the Academy.
The cobblestone footpath was a river of parents clutching their children's hands, their faces a mix of pride and nervous hope.
On the roads, ornate wagons rolled by, their polished crests gleaming under the capital's dawn light, carrying noble heirs swathed in silk and ambition.
Borun gawked at a gilded carriage pulled by white stallions, while Vol clung to Aeri's hand, his eyes wide,
Aeri glanced at Caelumis, her sky-blue eyes catching the sunlight as they navigated the crowd. "Do you know the number of applicants this year?"
Caelumis tilted his head, his white hair ruffling in the breeze. "Around 110,000 last year, so… maybe 130,000 this time?"
Aeri nodded, her expression grim. "132,000, not counting walk-ins like me."
Caelumis's golden eyes glinted with curiosity. "Miss Aeri, do you know how many seats there are for first-years?"
She frowned, her fingers tightening around Vol's hand. "I heard the acceptance rate's brutal. Maybe 10,000?"
"Eight thousand," Caelumis corrected, his tone matter-of-fact. "And of those, about 5,000 make it to second year. By the third year, the number of graduates averages less than 1,000."
Aeri's jaw dropped, her glare pinning him. "Why are you scaring me first thing in the morning, right before the entrance exam?"
Caelumis grinned, his voice light with mock menace. "Just cutting down the competition, haha!"
"Wha—? You're the worst," Aeri groaned, swatting his arm, though a reluctant smile tugged at her lips.
She fell into step beside him, her brow furrowing. "Why's there such a demand? It's not like this is the only academy in the world."
Caelumis's grin faded, replaced by a thoughtful look. "The graduation badge you earn here... It's a golden key. It lands you any position you want, as long as it's your major.
"Even if you don't use it that way, nobles trip over themselves to hire fresh graduates. The more Academy alumni they employ, the more power they flaunt. Sure, some hire for talent or experience, but showcasing worth in this world means parading elite employees.
"Plus, the Academy's open to all races, elves, dwarves, beastkin, with faculty departments tailored to every system of education. That's why the competition's so fierce."
Aeri nodded slowly, her gaze drifting to the towering spires of the Academy, just visible over the city's rooftops. "If I get dropped out halfway, won't we end up on the streets?" Her voice was quiet, the weight of Borun and Vol's future pressing down on her.
Caelumis glanced at her, his expression softening. "Miss Aeri, you're already stronger than 90% of first-years and most second-years. You won't get kicked out right away."
She shot him a flat look, her lips pursed. "You suck at comforting. Don't try again."
Caelumis chuckled, scratching his neck, but his golden eyes held a flicker of respect.
The Academy's grand entrance loomed into view, its towering gates of polished obsidian and silver gleaming under the morning sun, etched with runes that pulsed faintly with ancient magic.
The spires beyond pierced the sky, their stone facades adorned with carvings of mythical beasts and legendary scholars, a testament to the institution's storied legacy.
The crowd surged forward, a tide of hopefuls, all drawn to the promise of the Academy's prestige.
Borun's eyes widened, his voice bursting with awe. "Wahh, look at that! It's like Fath—"
Aeri's hand clamped over his mouth, her whisper sharp and urgent. "Hush, Borun! Most nobles are here, and even if they don't know what you look like, a slip could give them enough to track us. Don't talk about it, okay?" Her sky-blue eyes scanned the crowd, wary of every glance that lingered too long.
Borun nodded, chastened, and Aeri released him. Vol, his small frame barely reaching her waist, puffed out his chest. "Leave Big Bro to me. I'll make sure he doesn't slip!"
Aeri and Borun exchanged a glance, their eyebrows rising in unison. Their eyes said "You?". "Seriously??"
Vol's face reddened, his tiny fists clenching. "Hey, why're you looking at me like that?"
Caelumis laughed, his golden eyes crinkling. "Wow, how reassuring!" His voice dripped with playful sarcasm, but Vol, missing it entirely, grinned triumphantly, his chest puffing out further.
The gates were a bottleneck of chaos, guarded by Academy sentinels in gleaming armor, their halberds glinting as they checked invitation forms.
Only those with merit-based recommendations or special quotas, sports, cultural, or arts, held the coveted documents, their parchment stamped with the Academy's crest.
The queue stretched endlessly, a writhing serpent of applicants, while wagons were redirected kilometers away, the capital's roads sealed for this auspicious day.
Caelumis joined the queue, his white hair catching the sun as he turned to Aeri. "Miss Aeri, this is the line for verifying invitations. The walk-in line must be elsewhere. Let's ask that guard over there."
Aeri shook her head, her gaze steady. "No, you stay here. You might lose your spot and get pushed back. I'll ask." After a brief exchange, she returned, her expression calm but focused.
"Walk-ins are exempt from this queue. They're checked inside the Academy. There are already 2,000 walk-ins with various crests."
Caelumis nodded, unfazed. "No limit's specified, so it should be fine. Best of luck. Let's meet inside."
Aeri gave a curt nod, her hand tightening around Vol's as she led her brothers toward the Academy's side entrance.
Caelumis watched them go, then turned his attention to the queue. It inched forward, a sluggish beast under the guards' scrutiny.
His eyes wandered, catching sight of students, clearly not guards, assisting with the forms.
Among them, a girl with silver hair stood out, her voice sharp as she directed her peers to specific spots, streamlining the chaotic process.
Her Academy badge gleamed, marking her as a leader, likely the head of the first-years.
Caelumis's thoughts drifted. Heard some students are handpicked before they even join, chosen for exceptional talent during their schooling. My school didn't have that privilege, but certain institutions do. The Academy scouts them early, grooming them for student council roles. The silver-haired girl, commanding the crowd with effortless authority, had to be one of them.
Her efficiency was undeniable. The queue branched into orderly lines under her direction, students and guards moving like pieces on a chessboard.
The screening quickened, the crowd's restless energy settling into a rhythm. Caelumis's gaze lingered on her, and for a fleeting moment, her sharp eyes locked with his, piercing through the sea of applicants.
The Academy's gates loomed closer, their runes pulsing with unspoken power. Caelumis tightened his grip on his invitation form.
He stepped through the Academy's towering gates, his invitation form freshly stamped by the guards, their stern faces softened only by the efficiency of the silver-haired girl's command.
The path split beyond the barricades, with separate routes cordoning off regular students from the flood of aspirants.
Caelumis followed the stream of hopefuls, his boots echoing on the polished stone as he was funneled toward a vast open ground, its edges framed by a sprawling stadium. A podium loomed at one end, its dark wood carved with the same pulsing runes that adorned the gates, a silent reminder of the Academy's ancient power.
He scanned the crowd, his golden eyes searching for Aeri's familiar figure. But the sea of 135,000 aspirants swallowed any hope of spotting her.
Noble crests gleamed on some, their intricate designs marking wealth and lineage, while others, like him, bore only the weight of their ambitions. Walk-ins must be led here too, he thought, catching the sight of those noble crests.
The air buzzed with nervous energy, whispers and shuffling feet blending into a low roar.
Caelumis's gaze drifted to the podium, expecting an instructor or a robed scholar to take command. Instead, the silver-haired girl from the queue stepped up, her presence commanding the vast ground into silence.
Her Academy badge glinted, a symbol of authority far beyond her years. The crowd stilled, every eye fixed on her, as if she held their fates in her hands.
Caelumis's pulse quickened. No instructors? The realization hit him: the Academy was ruled by its students, with teachers as mere overseers, shadows watching from the wings.
She raised a hand, her silver hair catching the sunlight like a beacon. Her voice, clear and unwavering, cut through the morning air.
"Hello, I am Sylviora, the selected representative of the first-years, which 8,000 of you will join. I stand here on behalf of the student council, tasked with overseeing your examination through five rounds designed by the Academy. I will ensure they are conducted fair and square."
Her words were casual, just enough to convey the important parts, no impressive make-up. But those very words hung heavy among the hearts of aspirants.
The crowd shifted, some squaring their shoulders, others shrinking under the weight of her gaze. Caelumis's eyes narrowed, his mind racing.
Five rounds, 135,000 aspirants, and only 8,000 seats.
Somewhere in this throng, Aeri faced the same daunting odds, her brothers' futures tethered to her success.
Sylviora's piercing gaze swept the field. The first round was coming, and with it, the true test of the Academy's gates.