Chapter 14 - The Academy's Tests

We arrived at the crowded gymnasium. We went on our separate ways and sat down on the seats based by our room numbers. There were waves of students, all of them freshmen, still entering the gymnasium, but despite that, it's still cold inside.

I waved to Jack and Ceil behind me. They were neighbors, so they sat next to each other. I also noticed them staring with disgust on someone sitting across them. So that's the guy Roland, huh. I'll remember that face.

A long hour of waiting and the headmaster finally stepped onto the stage in front. A stout and round man with a well-groomed graying hair along with a trimmed beard wearing a white robe. His peaceful demeanor both calms and soothes people's hearts, but his sharp and keen gaze feels like it could pierce and detect your hidden secrets. He tapped the microphone to see if it was working. A microphone is a tool that enhances one's voice when used in its perimeter, made by a unique piece of magic stone.

『Ehem. Hello, hello everyone! It is a great sight to see all of you gathering here today. I am the Academy's headmaster, Rigel Rullen. As you all may know, everyone of you needs to partake in a test and complete it, so none of you are yet an official student of the Academy. The test this time may be harder than the previous tests we ran, but there is also a reward for completing it, so there's that!』

Most of the freshmen groaned when they heard the test was harder than usual, but immediately roared with excitement when they heard about the reward. I saw their eyes brimming with light, excited to hear what the reward was going to be.

『So... Everyone here will partake in the same tests and we will keep track on who is doing the best in each of them. Then we add that and the total score will decide what your placement will be.』

Everyone eagerly listened. Even the ones who were not listening were now on their toes. I also listened carefully. Considering that this Academy is one of the continent's best, it's reward surely isn't something bland.

『The first placer will receive the privilege to enter the Academy's treasury and take a single treasure of their liking. They also will be able to choose two wands or any equipments, be it a robe, in our equipment vaults. Additionally, they will be receiving five potions of their choice made by the Academy's Master Alchemist. The last reward they will get is a familiar. They can form a bond on any familiar that is residing our Garden of Freedom.

The second placer can choose a single equipment on the vault and an additional two potions would also be given as a reward. Our Master Alchemist will personally brew you the potion you want and it will always be of best quality.

The third placer also gets to choose a single equipment from our vaul and also a single potion you want our Master Alchemist to brew.

Fourth until the tenth only gets a single potion brewed.

Anyone else that does not reach the top 10 that passed gets two platinum coins. To those that do not pass, well, you could always try next year.

The description of the tests will be informed to you by one of our two Master Alchemists, Master Raven.』

The vigorous shouts of the boys and the cheerful yells of the girls resounded on the gymnasium. They really went all in with the prices they're giving. A treasure of the Academy, even a kingdom covets it, yet they're giving it to a student. The Academy's equipments and potions are also the same. They are hard to come by and can only be made by top-tier crafters.

The potions are the thing that the students want. There are a multitude of potions out there. There is a potion that permanently grants one knowledge upto a destructive potion that when thrown, it creates a huge explosion and will deal significant damage.

The familiar is also a special reward, yet most of the students only yearns for it but never wants it because they know their strengths and that they could never get first place.

Everyone was also surprised by the large sum of money the Academy is willing to give out. A single piece of platinum coin is equal to that of a hundred gold coins while a single gold coin is also equal to a hundred silver coins and a single silver coin is equal to that of a hundred copper coins. A single copper coin is called a Riz and is mainly the name of this continent's currency.

Considering that there are hundreds, no, thousands of students here then they will be giving out money equal to that of a prosperous kingdom's yearly expense if at least 75% of the students passes.

After a minute of the headmaster's leaving, a tall elven woman walked onto the stage. She has a blonde hair braided together with a bow on top, while her clothes looks that of a scholar. She wears a black and gray robe, not the wizardly kind, but a scholar's robe. She gives off a shy and meekly vibe to her and considering her beauty, it could melt one's heart.

『Uhm... Hello. Sorry, I'm bad at this stuff, communication and all... I am Claire Freflaw and also one of the Master Alchemist of the Academy... I am here in front of you all to tell you of the test's description.』

Every boy's heart melted. The elf was just too adorable, even some of the girls got affected too. After her short speech, silence, for the first time, filled the room. She must've felt the stares on her person when she looked down and covered her red while continuing her words.

『The... First test is a test of knowledge. It will be consisting of all the different subjects and everyone will receive different questions. The second... Is a test of aptitude and strength. You will first be placed in a room one by one and a professor will be there to test you of your elemental aptitude and other arcane talents. After that test will be the gauging of your strength. You will be facing an illusionary monster inside an illusionary world. The monster's strength depends on how strong you are. Lastly, there is the test of willpower. Willpower is an arcane practitioner's greatest ally. Even if you're a wizard, an alchemist, or just a researcher mage, you will need its help in the direst of times. You will be transported in a frozen, burning, or thorned world that is hard to live in a normal condition. You will be living there for at least a month, but if you want to, you can quit early and fail the test. You do not need to worry about time as that world's time works differently. That means a month there is only an hour here, though that may affect your mentality a bit, that is also a part of the test.』

Each and every word she spoke, mixed feelings aroused in everyone's heart. They know how hard these tests are going to be and if failing once meant failing the test overall, then they had to do their best.