The walls of the hallway were so clean that even an ant would refuse to crawl across them.
They were only adorned with monograms of the past students—those who graduated with supernatural ability. But one monogram was special.
It had its own glass-and-gold cage, looking almost idol-like. The way it was placed seemed to defy the law itself.
Beside it stood a monument of a strange figure—a hybrid of dragon and ant. Something not possible to exist.
Surprisingly, the figure stood at the very door they were moving towards.
"Are you wondering who the person actually is? And where he captured the creature from?"
Mr. Lee's words slipped into Leon's mind just as he began to ponder on what he was looking at.
"Well, judging by the look in your eyes, I think you really need time to learn. And with that being said, I received news from the recent entrance exams you took part in.
"Entrance exams? Is he talking about the one I barely cried after writing? Oh God, am I going to be suspended like they said?"
Leon's heart pounded as he raised unanswered questions to himself.
"How will I even fulfill my dream of changing my parents' situation? God help me!"
"Let's go inside so they don't see your reaction when I deliver the entire news."
Mr. Lee opened the door and entered right after his voice faded.
To step into the office was now like a battle of gods.
Leon's mind was torn—half wanted to flee the building, while the other half braced him to hold his ground.
"Come in, what are you waiting for?" As soon as he felt some space behind him, Mr. Lee said with a sharp but calm tone.
Then, slowly, Leon stepped inside. Everything in the office was so good to the eyes. It was like a luxury room for a prince.
"Have a seat." Mr. Lee urged Leon to feel free in the office.
Not having any male child, Mr. Lee took Leon as his child due to his humble, obedient, and polite attitude he'd been portraying since he stepped foot in the school.
Seeing the brown sheet drawn from the drawer, Leon swallowed hard.
Mr. Lee's eyes raised a bit as he heard the sound Leon's throat was making.
"The result for the entrance exams came in this afternoon, just before I came to your class. Here, have a look at how you performed."
Handing the envelope to Leon, Mr. Lee stood up from his chair and stood at the window on his left.
"I wonder what kind of training these children go through at home. And even if they had some. Hmm, it's hard to raise a child these days."
As soon as he stood at the window's angle, he saw Tiger.
Just like always, instead of sitting in the class and learn, he was rather outside, slamming some girl's ass.
The manner in which he slammed and squeezed them was out of place for a place like that.
But that wasn't all; right after realizing he was being stalked by Mr. Lee, he grabbed the lady and kissed her.
What Tiger was doing was so irritating that, if he were to be in Mr. Lee's era, he would have stopped the very first time that kind of attitude came to mind.
Not to mention, Mr. Lee was fifty-five years of age. He really knew what life really is and how and where those actions would lead.
But he wasn't that sure because of the wealth, fame, and power Tiger had—not just in the school but outside the school.
"Sir, please, can you clarify something for me?"
Leon whispered, his eyes narrowed on the sheet almost as if he was finding it difficult to read what's on it.
"Why do I see another entrance exam? I thought that's the one Jade, Zoe, Vera, Tiger, and I took part in, so why this?"
Leon's question moved Mr. Lee from the window.
But even as he moved towards Leon, Mr. Lee kept shaking his head, as Tiger's action still seemed to linger in his mind.
"What did you even ask? I didn't get what you asked."
After clearing that dirty action from his mind, he gave his full attention to Leon.
"Wait… Another entrance exam? I thought I was done."
Leon repeated the same question, but this time in a low, calm, and steady tone.
"That's the second entrance exam, and that's not just a mere entrance exam like the one you wrote with them."
Mr. Lee paused with a smile. But that was the smile he usually shows when something is off.
"Remember the monument right at my office door?" He paused, giving Leon space to recall the image well.
"Yes, I remember. Isn't it the one that has the strange hybrid of a dragon and ant beside it?"
Leon nodded his head right after answering Mr. Lee.
"That's the founder of these exams." Mr. Lee paused while scrambling to find something among the medals in the drawer.
"Wow, my family will be happy when I break the news to them. But how will I get the fund to sponsor this one, since all our family treasures were used for the one I wrote?"
Leon murmured to himself while showing acceptable joy on his face. But deep within his heart, there was just a tiny needle left for him to break down in tears.
"Oh, why can't I find the badge…" Mr. Lee paused with a curious face. "I remember placing it here."
Mr. Lee rose to the five-foot wardrobe after he couldn't locate it in the small drawer on his desk.
"Aha, it's here." He gasped, then went back to his desk, raising the silver badge with the green ribbon.
"After writing that exam, you will gain this badge. Most people tend to shift minds after gaining this particular badge. Some also gain extra abilities to their own ability."
Remembering Leon hasn't been able to awaken his ability, he paused.
"Don't worry, the more struggle you go through to awaken yours, the higher its level will be when awakened." He paused, then continued.
"Also, with a background like yours, I have a feeling you'll be unique from all your classmates."