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“Yes, I am.” I replied confidently to Earl Beaufort.

After taking a few more moments to scrutinize me, he shoots me with a question, “What is 34x3?”

It took me a second to register his question and another 2 for me to reply, “102”

After that first question, the rest of his test questions did not catch me off guard, he quizzes me on basic arithmetic, fractions, and some math problem-solving, basically child’s play. To test my language skills, he plucked a book from a nearby shelf, flipped through it for a bit, and asked me to read out loud.

After narrating the page that seemed to be from a historical book about some lost kingdom, I was asked to explain what I understood of what I read from that 1 page. I explained what I could and readily admitted that there were some words I had not seen before and had no context to assume what they might mean.

The Earl took back the book and next started narrating to me scenarios, after which, he asked what was to be done in said scenarios and their proper procedure. I could only guess this was a test of my knowledge of etiquette and responded accordingly until the point that I did not know what to do and replied as such.

After my 3rd scenario of not knowing what the correct answer was, Earl Beaufort took a seat as I stood before him, “Hmm… from what I have seen so far, lower education would indeed be a waste of your time.”

Fuck Yeah! I don’t need to waste time with a bunch of dumb kids!

“The only thing left is basic combat training, it is not exactly a compulsory subject, but it will significantly impact your grades. In the case that you take the final exam, you can opt to be tested on your martial capabilities, and magic if you have any.” Earl Beaufort said as he gave Dad a questioning look.

Dad just nodded, and said, “In those areas, you will not find my son wanting.” he said with his chest puffed out, “Luke has already mastered the basic sword forms, can cast 2nd circle magic,” he then leaned in closer and said with a lower voice “and is aura capable.”

At the last part, the Earl’s eyes widened and the butler beside him choked, “Truly? He is only 8.”

Dad nodded and lied through his teeth, “Yes, Luke first used aura 3 months ago, I have been training him to use it properly ever since.”

The only thing the Earl said was, “Show me.”

As agreed with Dad, I limited myself to 2nd circle magic with chants and gestures. After going through the motions, with the chants and gestures, I touched the teacup in front of me. Within seconds, the tea in the cup went from having steam wafting from its surface to becoming tea-flavored ice with condensation vapors falling away from the cup.

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Next, I activated my aura without stamina manipulation. My body ignited with translucent flames wafting from my body. I fished out a copper coin from my pocket and folded it with just my index finger and thumb, after which I deactivated my aura and placed the folded coin on the table next to the frozen tea.

When I looked back up, the Earl and his butler were just staring at me, and soon the Earl had such a wide smile on his face that his glorious beard could not hide. He started giggling, which soon grew to outright boisterous guffaws.

When the Earl got it all out of his system and got himself under control, he said, “Ha. if this is what you can do now, you will have no problem with your higher education. I will gladly give you my recommendation. I would also give you one of my granddaughters if you would have her!”

Hearing the last part, I could feel my blood stop. Am I getting engaged already? I looked to Dad to find a way out but he looked equally panicked. “It… Your offer honors us greatly, Earl Beaufort, but I will need to discuss this with my wife an-”

“What, my granddaughter not good enough for you!?” Earl Beaufort bellowed.

Dad immediately shot up from his seat and gave the Earl a full 90° bow, “Nothing of the sort, Earl Beaufort, I jus-”

“Buhahaha… Calm down, I’m just playing, but seriously, consider it. Other than that, I think it is safe to say you should have no issue passing the final exam for lower education.” Earl Beaufort then turned to his butler, “Please inform the Royal invigilator that I recommended Luke Ironcrest to take the final exam for lower education.”

After the butler left to do as ordered, we settled into more casual small talk until the Earl brought the meeting to a close, “The Royal Invigilator will most likely meet you tomorrow, but it has been a long journey to get here, please take your time to rest, someone will show you to your accommodations.”

As we were being led away by a maid, Earl Beaufort called out, “Oh, almost forgot, in 4 days there will be a banquet held for all of the nobles and passed scholars to mingle before all those being enrolled go off to the Royal Academy.”

I later learned that in those 4 days of waiting for the banquet, all the would-be scholars that were sent from my and other nobles’ territories would be taking part in tests by the Royal Invigilator to earn a scholarship spot.

***

The next day we were invited to breakfast with the Earl. At the table beside the Earl, was a kind-looking and somewhat chubby middle-aged woman whom I knew from the portraits hung along the corridor as, Lady Margaret Beaufort, the Earl’s wife. The other person at the dining table was a middle-aged bespectacled man with greying sideburns.

When the Earl saw us, we greeted the Earl and his wife, and then the earl introduced us to the middle-aged man at the table, “May I introduce you to the Royal Academy’s Royal Invigilator, Albert Cox, he will be facilitating Luke’s exam.” Albert gave a short bow from his seat, “But all that is for after breakfast and maybe a spot of tea.”

Without saying anything, the butler signaled the staff, and breakfast was served.

After breakfast, as we were sipping tea, the subject of my exam was brought up, “So when would young Luke be tested?” Earl Beaufort asked Albert.

Albert put down his tea, dabbed his mouth, and replied while looking at me, “We can start anytime before we leave for the Royal Academy.”

Well, might as well get it over and done with, “How about after tea?”