Early in the morning Irwyn and his entourage had passed through the gates of the Black city. Adorned in the proper black clothing were not only his 4 proteges but also Brite accompanied by the familiar young maid. Although their destination was the same, Brite had split off and took a detour just to avoid walking alongside Irwyn. Thanks to that the journey to the venue ended up being utterly uneventful. Although they tried not to show it, Irwyn clearly felt the slight tension and anticipation among his companions. They were undoubtedly going to pass but Irwyn had set their goal to aim for the very top in the exam. In relative silence, they arrived at the venue in the city centre. The town hall had been temporarily taken over by the Academy delegation while the participants were occupying the city square in front of it. There were about a hundred youths, mostly teens with very few just above twenty, standing all around the area. The basic requirements for entry were either to reach the 2nd tier before the age of 15 or the 3rd before 25. Of course, since the Academy delegation only came around once in 5 years they checked those conditions retrospectively.

“Lord Irwyn!” a voice called out from within the crowd making Irwyn turn towards it, finding a youth with handsomely chiselled yet kind visage.

“Crowley, right? It has been a long time,” Irwyn quickly recognised the boy he hadn’t seen in years. Back during the festival of Dragoncull more than 4 years before, Crowley had been a participant along with Irwyn and Elizabeth. In fact, they ended up competing and winning as the members of the same team. From what Irwyn could remember the boy had been a member of the mage guild, however, their characteristic robe was no longer present on him.

“I am honoured you still remember me after 4 years,” the boy gave a slight polite bow with a smile. Although he was about as old as Alice or Desir, his respect for the younger boy was apparent.

“You are the boy back from the Dragoncull finals!” Alice realised and exclaimed. Crowley also took a moment to look at her before his eyes widened.

“You are the mysterious space caster, perhaps I should not be surprised Irwyn had decided to pull you to his side,” his eyes than redirected to Elizabeth, “Of course I also recognise the underdog who had wiped the floor with me in the preliminaries. It reminds of those simpler times back then,” his head then turned towards Desir and Minet, in particular he instantly spotted the ring on Minet’s hand and only diverted his gaze from it after a moment, “I don’t recall you two at all. As you have already heard, I am Crowley. Glad to meet you,” he then extended his hand.

“Desir, the pleasure is all mine,” Desir took the hand, his eyes slightly sparkling as he looked over Crowley’s handsome features, “And this is Minet, he is timid so try to not scare him.”

“Hey!” Minet grew slightly red in his cheeks at Desir’s introduction though he did not say anything else.

“I see you are no longer wearing the robes of the Mage guild,” Irwyn changed the direction of the conversation before it could escalate.

“Things had changed a lot after the guildmaster’s death,” Crowley shrugged, “Although my master had been formally named the elemental lord of the flame element he could still see the writing on the wall. About a year ago he finally completed his preparations and completely vanished, instructing me with a letter to come to the Academy. Although I am grateful for what the guild has done for me, in the end, my loyalty lies with the man who raised me from nothing. Moreover, even I can see the futility of attempting to save the guild.”

“I have heard rumours but is the guild degrading so quickly?” Desir asked. He had not been a part of Irwyn’s group back when Avys had put her schemes into motion so he wasn’t too well informed.

“The hall of flames is in shambles,” Crowley sighed before revealing what would probably be considered confidential intelligence, “Amadeus, the former elemental lord, completely lost it when he was discharged from his position in the favour of my master. It had reached a point where he was caught in an attempt to defame my master. In the times of dire strife his selfishness was beyond excuse and after a long consideration, he was made to indefinitely depart from the guild under the guise of a long term mission to explain his absence to the lower-ranked members. I imagine that the rest of the guild is not doing much better.”

“Especially when you consider the assassinations of high ranking members which will start happening in the nearby future,” Irwyn smiled.

“Good thing we left while we could,” Crowley shook his head at the hint Irwyn gave him, “No offence but I am starting to understand why my master used to call duchess Avys the most dangerous woman in the North.”

“Then I wasn’t giving your master the credit he was due,” Irwyn’s gaze sharpened a bit, “Few people are so acutely aware that my mother had been the mastermind behind everything.”

“Let’s talk less conspiracy and more people, shall we?” it was Desir who discharged the conversation that time, apparently losing interest and patting Crowley on the shoulder, “You must have been lonely without your master. Do you seriously have no friends here?”

“None who even stand a chance of passing,” Crowley shook his head, “Moreover, I prefer to avoid getting attached. I let the tomes keep me company.”

“You won’t be carrying those on your way to the Academy though, will you?” Desir chuckled and took a step towards Crowley, getting almost uncomfortably close.

“Bloody hell,” however, before Crowley could react to Desir’s gimmicks a new voice sounded from within the crowd, “A traitor like you has the gall to show up?!” together with that voice, a small group of youths entered Irwyn’s sight. Each was wearing a two coloured robe, one colour grey to signify the second tier and the other different for each of them, showing their main affinity. Based on the choice of clothing alone, they must’ve been the members of the mage guild.

“You talk as though you own the city,” Crowley did not cover in front of his former peers, instead he taunted them.

“You are just a coward hiding behind the Blackburg influence, Crowley,” one of them stepped forward, a boy in grey and crimson robes with a vaguely familiar face, “Ever since your master left you did not dare even leave the city.”

“I would much rather be a coward than a fool,” Crowley only answered with a laugh, “The guild is dying. Soon enough it will either become a puppet or cease to exist altogether. Yet idiots like you refuse to acknowledge that. It truly shames me that I had once upon a time considered you my rival, Darius.”

“I remember you,” Elizabeth recalled after hearing the name, “You are the Elemental lord’s disciple I knocked out back at the Dragoncull festival.”

“Former Elemental lord’s,” Desir reminded with a laugh, joining Crowley in the provocations by trying to rub some salt into the wound.

“What are you doing here?” however, Darius did not seem to even hear Desir’s remark as he stared at Elizabeth, momentarily more surprised than angry. That did not last as his eyes darted around and he spotted Irwyn. For a moment he stared at him like an idiot before he clenched his fists as his eyes became wild and his teeth even clattered, “Let’s go!” he half-yelled, turning around and leaving.

“Who is the coward now, eh?!” Desir yelled after him with another laugh, though Darius did not seem to react, “I fucking hate his kind,” Desir eventually said with a sigh, “Just throwing around the weight of whatever faction or noble house stands behind them as an excuse to do whatever they want.”

“You seemed to have a different attitude when you were almost arrested for attempting to scam the city guard,” Irwyn took a jab at him.

“I haven’t heard about that one yet,” Alice’s eyes sparkled a bit as she curiously shifted her eyes between Irwyn and Desir.

“This is gonna become one of those stories you keep reminding me of, isn’t it?” Desir sighed in defeat, though he avoided answering Irwnyn’s question.

“Line up!” a magically amplified voice finally sounded from the town hall’s direction, “The preparations are complete. We will confirm your identity before granting you entry,” everyone ceased their conversation and looked over so the second message's volume did not need to be as loud. Four lines quickly formed in front of the entrance, however, since Irwyn and his group were relatively near the crowd’s edge they would end up near the end. While Irwyn did not seem to care about that, Crowley had already separated during the announcement and secured himself a slightly better position. Irwyn also recognised Brite standing at the very front of the leftmost line.

“This is going to take a while,” Desir commented, walking right behind Irwyn, almost struggling to not overtake him.

“Then let’s just skip ahead,” Irwyn remarked and trod forward, not stopping at the back of the rightmost line but instead walking beside it. Although people looked in his direction and some seemed to be about to shout at him, everyone quickly noticed his appearance and clothes, stopping themselves. Irwyn was infamous enough around the Black city to be recognised by just the combination of the Blackburg black clothes and his young age, especially among those who had the talent to advance into the main round of qualification for the Academy of Ignis. Although Alice and Minet seemed very uncomfortable skipping the line, they did not comment and soon enough their group was at the front where the first person was just about through.

“No skipping in the line,” the doorkeeper was a woman in her late twenties. The lack of special feeling around her told Irwyn that she had definitely not yet stepped into the fourth tier, though she wouldn’t be sitting at the entrance in the first place if she had. She must have also been a student at the Academy, though a long term one considering her age. Despite its size, the Academy had limited staff of actual instructors who almost never left the academy grounds. Everything else was taken care off by the students themselves who received contributions for handling Academy business such as bringing in the newest attendees.

“It doesn’t seem like anyone really minds,” Irwyn glance at the few people at the front who quickly shook their heads and almost in panic gestured for Irwyn to go right ahead.

“I don’t make the rules,” the woman frowned and glared at Irwyn. She even attempted to put a bit of her soul behind that stare to apply pressure, though it was almost insulting how weak the resulting suppression was.

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“I haven’t seen my brother in four years,” Irwyn did not flinch, clearly surprising the woman, “I am sure Ezyx is eagerly waiting to meet me,” as Irwyn said those words it was the woman who slightly recoiled instead. The reaction full of fear and wariness to just Ezyx’s name clearly showed Irwyn what kind of reputation his eldest brother had in the academy.

“Those four are with you?” the woman averted her gaze away from Irwyn and beckoned for them to come in, “Just go in already.”

“Thank you,” Irwyn smiled at the woman who was trying as hard as she could to not appear strange while she desperately attempted to not directly look at him. She did not even try to identify them, just asked for the 5 names to cross off before Irwyn’s group easily entered. The lack of even a grimace from Desir seemed in direct opposition of his previous words about ‘relying on one’s background’, though Irwyn could hardly blame him. That dislike had likely built up during Desir’s years of work for the capital’s auction house when he undoubtedly encountered countless stuck up nobles and men of great influence. Since Irwyn had managed to prove his own ability in the boy’s eyes, Irwyn was no longer perceived as such a person despite taking the exact same actions.

As soon as they took the first step into the building they passed right through a strange membrane and were struck by the almost overwhelming density of mana. The few people who had managed to enter before Irwyn and his entourage were mostly either stumbling around or trying to stand straight with the support of the walls, seemingly drunk on the magical energy engulfing them. Funnily enough, Brite was among them. Irwyn was naturally the quickest to recover, not even stumbling as he took a few steps forward before turning around to wait for his companions. Elizabeth and Desir also managed to quickly shrug off the effects while Alice stumbled for about two seconds before stabilising. Minet was by far the worst off, nearly falling down to the ground as he attempted to keep up despite his stupor. In the end, Desir supported him on their way forward.

“So the young Irwyn von Blackburg has arrived,” a melodic voice sounded from up ahead, revealing a beautiful raven-haired woman in her twenties wearing a perfect, yet fake, smile.

“Rose,” Irwyn had expected her presence so recognising her was not difficult. She was the fiancee of his eldest brother Ezyx. Even though they had only met once, her striking resemblance to Avys made her difficult to forget, “It has been four years and you have grown even prettier.”

“I see you still remember me,” Rosemary kept smiling, beckoning for Irwyn to come closer. However, when Irwyn approached he realised the woman was giving off a certain faint but unfathomable feeling.

“Congratulations on your advancement to the 4th tier,” there was only one thing that the sensation could’ve been. Although it required close proximity and direct line of sight, it was Irwyn’s surefire way to recognise someone in the 4th tier. Considering how close he had to get before noticing it implied that Rose had either just advanced or was already at the peak and very skilled at hiding her presence. The former was almost certainly the correct of the two options based on her level four years prior when they had first met.

“Thank you,” her smile almost broke as she was taken aback, “I see you have been in contact with my lovely Ezyx,” she immediately concluded.

“Speaking of Ezyx,” Irwyn did not grace the half question with an answer, “He should be just up ahead, correct?”

“Yes,” Rose nodded, not dwelling on the previous topic, and pointed towards a close door behind her “He was forbidden by the instructors to ever not be in the same room as the Logos artefact. Since it has already been set up he sent me to bring you over. Though I see you have gathered a couple more companions since we had last met,” Rose said the last sentence as she already turned around, leading the way towards the door. There were a few other people in their twenties or even thirties standing around the entrance hall, undoubtedly all students of the Academy tasked with keeping up the order, though no one dared bare Rose’s way.

“Each of great talent,” Irwyn replied and followed her.

“Confident all of you are going to pass?” Rose chuckled.

“Not confident but certain that we will take half of the top 10 spots,” Irwyn laughed back.

“Those are some big words,” Rose sounded sceptical to say the least, “You are going to compare yourselves with the greatest geniuses of not just the North but the entire world. Moreover, even the Blackburg family cannot influence the grading.”

“Do you take me for Brite,” Irwyn shook his head, “I don’t need the Blackburg family to prove that I don’t have an equal in this generation. Within the Logos artefact, my body is no longer going to be hindered by my internal injuries. I am set on multiplying the current record for the next century,” he said. Any scores were periodically being deleted exactly 100 years after they were set, otherwise, the entire leaderboard would be cluttered by the stupendously high scores set millennia ago by the Ascendants.

“I will look forward to it then,” Rose said just as she arrived before the door and looked at Irwyn’s companions, “The rest should probably wait here until the official initiation.”

“She is right,” Irwyn nodded, “I will go ahead first and speak with my brother. Just enter when the time comes.”

“Then get in quick,” Rose nodded and pushed the door open. From beyond a new tidal wave of mana erupted. It was even far denser than in the previous room which was likely meant to accomplish acclimatization. Without any hesitation, Irwyn rushed in, Rose stepping inside right after him and shutting the door behind them. Suddenly, any noise that had been entering Irwyn’s ears suddenly ceased to exist. Instead, he was welcomed into the utterly tranquil large room, completely separated from the outside world. The insides were almost completely hollow besides a large pedestal bearing a strange dodecahedron shaped gemstone. Around the altar, three figures were quietly standing, their stillness bordering on meditation.

“Ezyx!” Rose did not leave the silence undisturbed as she exclaimed her fiance's name. Despite the lack of any furniture, her voice didn’t echo as she skipped forward like a lovestruck teen.

“Rose,” the only familiar face out of the three did not hesitate to answer his lover as he also stepped forward. Ezyx has changed a bit since Irwyn had seen him. His well-kept raven black hair and brown eyes remained, however, his chiselled chin was also newly bearing sideburns, a short goatee and moustache. Although his appearance changed to make him look a bit older it suited him more than being clean shaved, “And Irwyn,” Ezyx looked down at his youngest brother as he got closer, “It has been four years but you have progressed splendidly.”

“So have you,” Irwyn smiled back at him. Ezyx’s aura was far subtler than it had been four years before implying that he was nearing the top of the 4th tier.

“I need to talk privately about something,” Ezyx smiled and turned towards the last two people in the room who were clearly around the middle of the fourth tier, “I am going to have a chat with my brother but I will still be able to hear and see what is going on outside in case something happens,” he said and after a voiceless nod from the other two he brought Irwyn to the side of the room where he conjured a black dome around them. What Ezyx had done was separate them from the rest of the world by conjuring a thick layer of pure void mana around them. Usually, such a technique could be considered a magecraft barrier, however, it also had the side effect of blocking all sound and sight from everyone except skilled void mages.

“Sit down,” Ezyx gestured, evoking additional table and two chairs through similar technique. In the fourth tier Ezyx was powerful enough to solidify his mana and restain it from causing any unintentional damage so Irwyn took his seat without hesitation, “Unfortunately I haven’t brought any refreshments,” Ezyx jokingly added as he put his hands on the empty table.

“I do just happen to have something on hand,” Irwyn smiled as he reached into the spacial ring on his finger and pulled out two glasses of water. He had originally obtained the ring from an ancient cache at the Imperial capital four years prior, however, he had avoided using it whenever possible, going as far as getting Minet his own spacial ring and putting a second set of everything they might need inside it. The fact that he had been intentionally wearing an exact copy of the ring's appearance since he was young helped to hide the fact it was not just a common decoration.

“Interesting,” Ezyx’s gaze sharpened, “I had expected that you would have obtained a spacial ring but never have I heard of one that could activate within this dome.”

“There are things we each wish to keep from our parents,” Irwyn smiled. He had after all intended for Ezyx to notice, “That is the reason why we are having this conversation in the first place, isn’t it?”

“Wit of Avys and talent of Ezax, just like me,” Ezyx smiled back, “The two of us are truly different mostly by age.”

“If you truly believed that you would not have bothered with this,” Irwyn shook his head, “Your superior wit makes you all the more predictable. I know what you desire, therefore I can predict what course of action you are going to chose.”

“Enlighten me then,” Ezyx shrugged.

“Your very existence puts Avys at an awkward position,” Irwyn elaborated, “Her love is exclusive to Ezax, however, since Ezax loves you as much as he does, some of Avys' affection is carried over to you. Yet you are far too talented and ambitious. Inevitably you are not going to wait until Ezax dies naturally centuries from now in order to succeed him. Thus Avys’ predicament of knowing you are going to destroy everything she loves, yet unable to preemptively destroy you. Her only hope used to be that you would fail to awaken.”

“Until a wild card appeared in the game,” Ezyx nodded, “Someone talented enough to feasibly catch up with me and close enough to get involved, forcing me to either risk awakening unprepared or risk being stopped should she wrap that person around her finger. So, let's cut to the chase. Whose side are you on?”

“Neither,” Irwyn shook his head, “If I join your side and you fail to awaken, I would distinctly lack the mercy Avys granted you. On the other hand, if I were to help Avys you would have no choice but to discreetly remove me. So there is really only a single option,” Irwyn then placed his hand onto his chest, clutching it and manifesting his magic, “I put myself under a geas with Logos itself as my witness: To not get involved in the succession of house Blackburg which I am part of unless either side forces me to act against them or I believe my life is at a risk as a direct consequence,” Irwyn said and magic shifted around strangely, forming his vow in a way even Ezyx could clearly feel. What Ezyx did not realise was how that newly created promise latched onto a far more powerful oath already in place since times immemorial and began to rapidly dissolve. A gift which had protected Irwyn for countless millennia yet also a curse which had wounded him more than anything else.

“Even with a loophole that should either side put you in danger you can go to the other for aid,” Ezyx nodded, “But those terms I satisfactory. All I have to do is make sure you never land within Avys’ reach before I awaken. It should be about time, the examination is going to begin soon. I look forward to seeing how you score,” with those last words Ezyx allowed Irwyn to put the two untouched glasses back into his ring and dismissed his magic.

“Good timing,” Rose smiled at Ezyx, “We are about ready to begin.”

“Then let them in,” he grinned back at her and beckoned towards the door. Rosemary walked over and pulled it open, this time not closing it. Mana quickly poured into the other room, nearly knocking over some of the people who had barely managed to recover from the already high density there.

“Enter, the time is here,” she shouted across the room, pushing a significant amount of mana into her voice, “Prove that you are qualified to join the Academy,” quickly the participants poured inside under the close watch of the students surrounding them.

“Sit down,” when everyone entered Rose began the basic explanation, probably chosen for the task because she appeared to be the most amicable of the 4th tiers, “Soon enough you are going to be dragged into a separate realm, similar to the one where you had undertaken your advancement trials. The main difference between the two is that this artefact merely simulates your body rather than dragging you inside physically, therefore there is no actual risk to your life nor will any injuries carry over. Inside, each of you is going to be separated before your examination begins. First, there is going to be the test of wisdom. After that, you are going to chose either trial of combat, creation or salvation; or a combination of up to all of them. You will gain linearly more score for each stage you advance in those compared to the previous as to balance those with multiple skills against those with a single focus. That is all you need to know, the rest is for you to figure out. Now brace yourselves.”

As those final words sounded Irwyn felt something pull at his consciousness. Of course, he could resist, just like those 4th tiers in the room but he instead opted to succumb. Soon enough his mind was pulled inside that dodecahedron standing atop the altar.