"It must be your imagination."
"Is it… but I swear I've encountered someone with the same vibe…" The freckled boy squinted, intensely trying to pin an identity to the figure.
Just as Edris was about to steer his attention to cut his train of thought, the boy's head shot up, his eyes wide in epiphany.
"I remember!" He stepped back. "The auditorium. Your unrequited love shares the same vibe!"
Edris's heart dropped. But before he could refute the statement, the freckled boy took another step back.
"I should have known—siblings!"
Words of denial choked halfway up his throat, and Edris blinked twice.
"…Oh?"
"Hey, you didn't tell me that your unrequited love had a brother also in MW." The boy turned to him, wiggling his eyebrows. "You should try to get chummy with him, get him to be a wingman!"
Saved.
Edris put up a gentle smile. "Of course."
He admired the boy's logical creativity.
"Master, there's twenty minutes before the first class." Celio looked at him with teary eyes, more docile now he'd been hit with the affinity drop firsthand. "What should I do?"
Ives turned to him, also awaiting an answer. After catching on to the aftermaths of acting out of role, the seven-year-old avoided speaking as a whole. After all, the more you say, the more mistake you are prone to make.
"We go with the original plan," Edris said. "You all head to class without me."
"Tch, skipping again? Do you know how much one class costs at MW? But again, that's just like you." The freckled boy grabbed onto his shoulder, giving it a firm pat. "You go pursue your romantic future. Leave the notetaking to me."
Edris gazed at the boy, taking in his grin. Naive, obliging people like him were the easiest to take advantage of. If the boy was a player in this Labyrinth, chances were that he wouldn't last long.
But of course, since he was the one taking advantage, Edris didn't complain and gladly took on his offer.
After parting with the group, Edris turned to the rest of the campus. Walking along the sidewalk, he noticed some students running late to class while others were just as leisurely as himself, either players with a similar persona or natives who'd decided to skip.
On the side of the main campus street stood a giant billboard, spanning almost double the length and width of Edris's height.
A billboard that wasn't there yesterday.
The billboard flickered inconsistently, emitting a dim purple glow that was prominent even under the sunlight.
Edris creased his eyebrows. He approached the stand. The entire screen was empty, except for the heading on the very top:
TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
RANKING TEST
A test?
What test?
His eyes trailed down the board, and at the bottom was another line of words, stating the date and time of the so-called test. The words were plastered in extra small font, as if whoever made this had concealed it on purpose.
The date was today, the first day of school. And as for the time…
Edris narrowed his eyes.
9:30 AM.
"Hold on."
He blinked, then turned toward the direction of the academic building. His classroom was on the third floor.
"I guess it's right now?"
***
Celio sat in his chair, head empty and confused, staring at the paper package in front of him.
The moment each student entered the classroom, they were instructed to take a test package and find the seat assigned to their name. Celio sat in the front row, while Ives was more toward the back.
As the two separated, he gave the seven-year-old a concerned gaze, to which the latter responded with a nod of reassurance.
Two people stood on either end of the lecture stage, one dressed in all blue and the other yellow.
They were the "professors" introduced during yesterday's ceremony. Professor Sky and Professor Aureolin, respectively—as shown by the bright displays behind them.
On the screen between the two professors was a countdown clock, exhibiting large, glowing numbers.
[ 60:00 ]
"Tests are at the front, writing utensils beside it. Test starts 9:30 AM sharp." With legs stacked on the table, Sky lounged back on his armchair as he held up a mirror, dismissive of all around him.
Celio blinked.
Was he admiring his own face?
Although it was the first day of classes, none of the students actually received a schedule and were all gathered in this enormous lecture hall. It was close to the size of the auditorium, except only two-thirds of the space was filled, compared to the full house from yesterday.
"Good morning, Professor Aureolin, Professor Sky."
Alton strolled into the lecture hall, leading a group of students behind him. Celio gauged their numbers, and concluded them to be around twenty. Those were likely all the players who'd decided to stay after the man's speech from yesterday.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"Good morning, student! Did you sleep well?" Aureolin sang, looking bubbly as she gestured them to the centre stage.
"Just take a test package at the front and find your seats." Aureolin crossed her arms, her fedora upturning as she stared at the group. "Don't open the test until we tell you so!"
Alton smiled. "Of course."
Under the cautious gaze of other players, the group strolled up the stairs, taking up two rows at the top of the auditorium.
A frown climbed onto his face as Celio scouted his surroundings.
The native students aside, the players ranged in various ages and occupations. Scholars were a minority, and the majority of the players looked just as, if not more, dumbfounded than himself upon hearing this impromptu test.
Celio eyed the close-to-forty-year-old hunter, Ekaush, who stared blankly at the package in front of him.
Poor guy, Celio thought.
He had graduated from the academy just over a year ago, so at least he'd retained some of the knowledge. But for players like Ekaush, who weren't familiar with scholarly material in the first place…
"The test will soon begin." Aureolin knocked on the table counter, getting their attention. "You have an hour to complete this, and your performance will determine your initial rankings at the academy.
"Cheating is a big no-no! This includes anything related to conversing with others, looking around, sharing answers, and stealing answers. Sky and I will be strolling around to ensure absolute fairness, so don't try anything funny!"
Sky clasped the mirror close, releasing a clear echo throughout the room. A glint flashed across his eyes.
"Don't say we didn't warn you."
The air in the room shifted, and Celio sensed an abrupt pressure coming from the lecture stage.
Aureolin grinned.
"Now then, we wish you the best of luck~!"
The clock struck 9:30 AM, and the test officially began.
Celio flipped open his test package, ready to draw out the knowledge from his academic years.
When his eyes landed on the first question, however, the beast tamer froze.
And so did all the others in the room.
"What the hell is all this?" One of the players said in disbelief, echoing the sentiments of all players alike.
RANKING TEST
Name: _______________
Q1: What is Weisha's favourite fruit to eat for breakfast?
1. Apples
2. Bananas
3. Kiwis
4. Limberries
For the longest time, the only audible sound in the lecture hall was the ticking of the countdown clock.
Although the players couldn't glance around in fear of being deemed as "cheating," at this very moment, they were bound by a sense of shared incredulity.
Who in the world is Weisha?
Celio blinked. He read the question repeatedly, growing more flabbergasted by the second. A minute ago, he was offering his condolences to those without academic experience, but now, he had joined them on the confusion train.
He flipped through the package, only to realise that the rest of the questions were in a similar manner.
Weisha's favourite shade of blue, Weisha's favourite time of day, Weisha's go-to drink…
Again—who's Weisha?
The two professors surveyed the lecture hall, without a care about the players' current bafflement. The clock continued its countdown, and before Celio knew it, he'd spent five minutes staring at the questions.
Celio shook himself out of his trance.
This wasn't the time to be overwhelmed.
Although he didn't have a single clue about these questions, it was likely the same case for other students as well. All the players, at least.
In other words, they were still on similar starting lines.
Celio gripped his pen, staring intently at the paper. Without knowing anything about this "Weisha" person, his only option would be to take a guess and hope for the best.
The Archivist had once said this:
When in doubt, pick the third!
Celio lifted his pen and marked down his answer. With luck as basically the deciding factor in this test, there was no point in wasting time deliberating the options. The beast tamer planned to finish the test quickly, and then head out to find his Master.
Fortunately, all the questions were multiple choice, so Celio got through the package relativity quickly. With an exhale, he skimmed the package to ensure all the questions were answered, then stood up from his seat.
"I'm done," he said.
"You're the first!" Aureolin strolled over with a grin. "As expected from our top incoming student."
Celio blinked.
She knew who he was?
"You can drop the test package on the table at the front." Sky gestured with a lazy wave. "There's still some time left, so you can leave early if you wish. The exit's right there."
Nodding slowly, the beast tamer made his way to the front of the room and did as he was told. He snuck a glance at the wave of students, and found Ives still working away at the papers, a calm expression on her face.
From the looks of it, the seven-year-old seemed to also have a plan in mind.
Celio withdrew his gaze and headed to the door. Just as he was about to exit, a cry erupted from the back of the room.
Celio spun around, and his pupils constricted at the sight.
A student was knocked out of his chair as his test package scattered all over the floor. The next moment, a hand had clutched onto his neck, lifting the student off his feet and raised into the air.
"Ah." Sky cocked his head to the side. "A cheater."
Celio whirled his head around. The man who’d slouch in his armchair merely seconds ago had appeared at the back of the room in a blink of an eye.
Such speed…
The student snarled and glared, his vocal tract constrained and eyes bloodshot. He was one of the players from Alton's group. An experienced combattant, too, from the looks of his build. Even though the player was much larger than the professor, his attempts to break out of his grasp seemed to have no effect on the latter.
"Did you really think we wouldn't notice your attempts to pass that note, just because our backs were turned?" Aureolin sighed. All traces of her previous cheeriness were gone as the girl leaned forward, taking in the player's horrified expression with a flat look.
"How pathetic."
A clattering sound came from outside, and Celio stepped back reflexively, barely dodging the classroom doors that came bursting open.
Four figures entered the lecture hall, each wearing a black cloak that reached past their feet. The long cloaks made it look like they were floating as the figures went up the stairs, toward the two professors.
Giving a curt nod, Aureolin stepped to the side. Her lips stretched upwards into a crazed smile.
"Take him to [DETENTION]."
The next moment, the student was dragged down the stairs and out the door. Despite his flailing limbs and strained cries, the player was given no room for resistance as he disappeared from their views.
Rotating his wrists, Sky sighed softly as he bent over and collected the dispersed test papers. After reorganising them, he lifted the package and ripped it in half.
"Student Mark's test scores—invalid," he announced with an apathetic tone, dropping the ripped pieces into the trash can.
"Now, now. Quit looking around and don't mind the little intermission. You can all go back to answer your questions." Aureolin skimmed the lecture hall, reverting to her bubbly voice. "You don't want to become a cheater as well, right?"
All heads immediately lowered, not daring to make a sound after witnessing what happened.
The clock was still counting down, and the movement of pens and rustling paper intermixed with its clicks every time a minute passed.
Still dazed, Celio peered in the direction of the player's disappearance.
A thought struck him.
"I have a question." He shakily raised his hand.
"Oh, top student. You're still here?" Aureolin stared at him. "What's your question?"
"If students caught cheating have their test scores invalidated—" Celio gulped. "—then what about those absent in the first place?"
"Ah."
In the silent lecture hall, it felt as though his pounding heart was being broadcasted to the entire student body.
Aureolin tapped her foot, as if his question required some deep contemplation.
The next moment, she glanced at him with curved eyes.
"Take a guess?"