They arrived in front of an elegantly carved wooden door. Corvan clamped a hand over the brass knob and revealed the entrance. He stepped aside and made way for Valeriana to pass. Once she slipped through the doorway, she found a long table that took the shape of a crescent moon. Five people sat behind it, Seraphina included, waiting quite impatiently and silently.

Valeriana scanned the room nervously when her eyes met with someone else’s. The girl didn’t look too pleased at her arrival, her eyes flashing with impatience and irritation while raking her fingers through her long, auburn locks. If she didn’t carry herself with such an air of regality and sophistication, she would’ve probably spat on the ground at the sight of her.

She broke the staring contest and turned to Seraphina for help. All she was given was a reassuring smile in return.

“We've been waiting, Miss Kerrigan. You and Lord Corvan were running late.”

“Nothing we can do about that now. We will commence this special exam.”

“I assume you have questions before we begin?” someone said.

“Uh . . . yes. Is this a written exam?”

One of them laughed at her. “Not every exam is written, young one. Seeing as the court leader recommended you to take up the Celeste’s course training, you will be placed in the Knight’s Wing to join with the other students under the same program. If you were to be placed in the Development Department, then yes, we would’ve given you a written assessment, but since a knight’s work is all physical, we will need something physical from you as well.”

“Um . . .”

“Well, then, why don't you show us what you can do?”

Crap! Valeriana said in her mind.  Nobody even told me about this!

“Remember, Valeriana. Once you fail this entrance exam, you'll go straight to you-know-what.” Valeriana gasped at the familiarity of the voice and dragged her eyes towards its direction. Her eyes widened once she realized that Lord Aeron had made himself at home in one of the seats.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to watch, of course.”

She started to panic internally.

“W-what exactly am I supposed to do?” she asked.

“Anything,” one man answered. “Do you have any special skills holding a weapon? A bow, perhaps? How about a spear?”

“N-not really.”

“Then what can you do?”

Cold sweat soaked her back and she unknowingly wiped off the perspiration on her brow.

A few minutes into silence and she still could not think of anything. She wasn’t well-versed in anything physical. She did recall being quite good in bowling, but that was hardly useful.

“I can run.” She shrugged.

They shook their heads and gazed at her in disbelief.

“Do humans not train in the ways of swordsmanship and the like?” asked the old man with round glasses.

“Not really. Some do but it’s not really common unless you’re the sporty type of person? So sorry to disappoint but I don’t know how to do any of that. I live in a modern society so . . .”

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“This obviously isn't working. We are wasting our time.”

“And so we go to the second resort!” Lord Aeron exclaimed, his smile as wide as open arms. “Courtney, come forward!”

The girl with whom she had a staring contest with earlier marched forth and stopped just beside her.

“Why is she here?” Seraphina asked.

“A duel.”

They all turned to him and stared at him in wonder. “A duel?” they all chorused.

“Yes.” He nodded. “I had a feeling this would happen so I prepared everything just in case! A duel will be most appropriate, do you not think so as well? After all, there is no chance we can see Valeriana's true potential through this examination at all!”

Speechless, Valeriana held her hands up in surrender. The room was filled with thick silence and Corvan, who was standing on the other side of the room, watched the scene unfold with fascination.

“A duel? You mean like combat? Isn't that a bit . . . ?”

Courtney frowned impatiently. “Does fighting scare you?”

“I . . . I . . . can't we settle this peacefully?” She began to sweat.

“This girl? If she’s such a wimp, I do not understand how she’s getting this much privilege.” The other girl shook her head. “Peace won't get you anywhere, it surely won't help you attend this school either. So, it is either you fight me or not.”

“Look. I don’t want any of this as well, okay? If I wasn’t being forced to do this, I wouldn’t even bother standing here.”

“Just tell me if you accept or not. I wasted my time coming here, I, at least, deserve an answer.”

She sighed. How was she supposed to win this thing? Though she knew a bit of self-defense and other stuff, she still wasn't skilled in the area under discussion. Heck, she never held a sword her entire life—actually, she did but that was only a few days ago.

Courtney huffed, growing even more impatient from the lack of response. “Listen!” she exclaimed. “I do not intend to wait for you to make up your mind—”

“No one told you to,” Valeriana muttered to herself, her voice so low no one else heard what she said.

“—so let me tell you one thing. There are plenty of people waiting to be given the chance to attend this academy! People more worthy than you. So, either you prove to me that you are taking this seriously or I'll slit your throat and make sure you do not see the sun shining the next day!”

Unsure of what to do, Valeriana gulped. The girl's gaze never seemed to have left her face. “B-but . . .”

Seeing the indecisiveness of the girl, Lord Aeron decided to butt in.

“You needn't worry. In the end, it would be up to us to decide whether you pass or not. If you can prove to us that you have what it takes, then we will gladly accept you. All your academy fees are on me.”

There was a pause.

Then, all so suddenly, Valeriana screamed, “I CHOOSE SLAVERY!”

Her sudden cry made people gaze at her in wonder.

“You're fine with working for me for the rest of your life?” Lord Aeron taunted.

“No way!” The girl childishly stomped her feet. “You told me it should go for at least only a year!”

“I recall no such thing.”

“Urgh . . .”

“Then, choose.”

She was cornered—left with no choice but to oblige. She clenched her fists. “Fine! Geez!”

She sighed. She took a deep breath and straightened her back. She could see the satisfied smirk of Courtney from the corners of her eyes and the look of discomfort Seraphina had on her face.

“Prepare yourselves. Before dawn, you must rise.”

“Can't we do it next week?” she begged.

“We have other duels that would require the arena for the next few days. It'll only be available later since one was cancelled. We want to get this done and over with. The sooner, the better.”

“That's just . . . bad timing.”

They all then stood up and started to leave. Seraphina, on the other hand, made her way towards Valeriana and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Don't worry. Rest easy for a few hours and I'll do what I can.”

“Thank you so much,” she told her.

“Come on, I’ll take you back to your room.”

Valeriana was then led away by Seraphina.

Once there, she saw a paper, a quill, and a bottle of ink sitting on top of a table she remembered pushing by the wall when she came back. Seraphina bid her goodbye and left shortly. She inhaled and exhaled noisily before making her way towards it. And since there was no chair, she pulled the one which was lopsided and tested if it was alright to sit on. When it didn't give out, she made herself comfortable and got to writing.

Writing with a quill was . . . weird.

She spilled her heartfelt emotions on the paper, careful not to tell the whole thing about being dragged to another world or being kidnapped.

After she was done, she folded the paper and sealed it inside the envelope she was provided before hitting the sack. As soon as Valeriana's head hit the pillow, her heavy lids closed and she succumbed to the blanket of darkness that sucked her in.

A loud sigh escaped her lips. “I wish this is all a dream. An impossible, crazy dream.”