The line wasn’t long. Artists were as much desired as a dried up lake — wanted only by a particular few.

“Assistant Hol,”

My turn arrived quickly, and I gave a curt bow to the examiner before me. Judging from the reactions of those that had gone before, it wasn’t that hard to get in. All I needed was a sufficient amount of knowledge regarding either runes or mystic patterns. Among all six of the prospective artists, four got in and the other two were guided out of the orchard.

The passing rate was decent. Moreover, as the designer of many of the universe’s runes, I had a fair share of know-how.

If I failed this examination, then…

That would be quite embarrassing, to be honest.

“Hm,” Hol nodded, seemingly exhausted by other matters. “Give me your name, and a list of runes that you know. As for mystic patterns, please demonstrate your mastery over them.”

Looking into Hol’s eyes, I saw my visage reflected within. I used to have irises and hair that were as black as the night. Now, as Lewis Kava, all of that was practically reversed.

Silver hair and green eyes… I looked exotic.

Still unused to my appearance, I sighed.

“My name is Lewis Kava. 16 years old.”

I then handed the man a list of runes, all written on a piece of sheepskin.

“Here are the runes I know.”

Hol went over the runes, and after a brief moment, he nodded. It seemed like he had his own ways to verify the authenticity of my list. After that, with a lazy glance at me, he noticed that I was the last person in line.

A look of relief flashed across his face.

“Good. You passed. Now, follow me.” Hol eyed the other four aspiring Artists, “I’ll lead you all to the Academy so you may complete your enrollment.”

“...And so that I can finally get some shut-eye.”

***

Although Athelei had ridiculed the Orchard of Time, the other young teenagers with him didn’t have the same sentiments.

…While Athelei’s flowing robes drifted across the grass, they were walking with a skip in their step.

…While Athelei moved with his back straight and his chin up with noble poise, the other aspiring Artists looked around in awe, like country bumpkins who were visiting the big city for the first time in their lives.

“Guys, look!”

It seemed like they had grown acquainted with each other over the few minutes that had passed.

“A rune! Do you guys know about it?”

“Oh my! No, I don’t! But I feel like I have seen it somewhere else…”

“Same. I just can’t seem to remember where.”

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“It feels like a rune that came out of my dreams.”

Their chatter filled the immediate surroundings as Assistant Hol guided them through the orchard, looking like a robot fulfilling his duties.

Athelei followed behind Hol, seemingly deep in thought. Chatting with the other youngsters felt so alien to him.

He was used to the thought-invoking conversations he had over tea.

However, he did not hate such idle chatter. In fact, their enthusiasm brought him a small smile. The words of the locals echoed in his mind, speaking of the cheerful youth who all aspired to be great.

‘Oh, how beautiful it would be to watch their dreams come crashing down in the near future.’

Such were Athelei’s thoughts, relishing in his daydreams.

***

While the Artists were traveling through the Orchard of Time, the lines for the Dictator Class were slowly getting shorter. The sun rose with each student completing their exam, and eventually, when it was almost noon, everyone had been tested.

There were many joyous cries throughout the hours, and many frustrated ones as well. Some even picked a fight with the examiners, only to realize that they could do nothing against them.

Those who needed to pick fights just to pass weren’t worthy of becoming a student of the Eternal Pursuit Academy.

“If you want a place so bad, then return next year,” An examiner spat as he used his palm to send a young teenager flying.

Disgust was apparent on his face as he dusted off the dirt on his hands. The surrounding audience jeered and chuckled, their eyes flashing with schadenfreude.

No one went to help the boy up. They had their own problems to worry about.

Though, not that many had actually reacted. After all, this had happened at least a dozen times already. The people had grown tired of the sight and instead began to focus on passing.

Just like this, the entrance exams came to a close.

The small army of to-be students trudged into the Orchard of Time, ready to begin their respective journeys.

***

The Eternal Pursuit Academy was built atop several hills sprawling throughout the land. It was like a world of its own within the medieval city, looking like a piece of fiction brought into reality.

The landscape was very much akin to the Chocolate Hills in the Philippines, but with beautiful marble structures built throughout, like the Parthenon in Greece.

Many Earthlings would find this place to be a magical site.

Especially when they realize that the setting of the academy had a pinch of some cultivation sects within its walls. With the flowing robes and the different peaks, Athelei couldn’t help but smile brightly upon seeing, with his own eyes, the school he had so intricately carved out through words and paragraphs.

“Wow,” He would gasp, truly in love with his own creation, “It’s quite the sight.”

Walking past the buildings, up and down winding roads, he toured the Academy until the sun began to set. Everything was as he had described. Everything was in place.

He felt at peace with all that was, and that will be.

Until suddenly,

[Your trait, is reacting.]

[You can only gain the effects of meditation by rearranging book shelves.]

“...”

Stunned silent, Athelei halted in his footsteps. A few twitches wormed its way into his lips. His blood vessels began to bulge while he calmed his bubbling wrath.

Annoyed by the disappearance of that tranquil feeling, he headed to the library. Swearing, with almost every step.

“************ ** **** * *** ** ***** **** *** **** *** ******* ****.”

Censorship was quite important in cases such as these.

***

While Athelei visited the library to apply for a part-time job, killing a few birds with one stone, the social ladder for the first years had begun to form. An event that Athelei found no need to attend due to his own lack of combat abilities was taking place throughout the afternoon and into the night.

“I have no reason to embarrass myself on my first day in the Academy. In fact, I refuse to.” He would say to the upperclassmen he had passed by during his walk. This answer elicited a few laughs.

“That makes sense,'' they would say, rushing towards the first year’s amphitheater.

The Freshmen Duels were a sight they would not miss.