“I’ll cut straight to the point. Why are two dragons trying to enroll in the Kengir Academy?” the headmaster said, looking us in the eye.

“But I am not… really… a dragon…” I withered as her glare sharpened towards me, impatiently tapping her finger on the table.

“If you’re here to waste my time with lies, Ms. Kiara, then you are more than welcome to take the door out of the academy.”

“There’s no need for that, Headmaster Iltani. We are indeed, as you suspect, dragons.” Durreg interjected, bowing towards her.

“The reason we wish to enroll in your academy is because we are young dragons. We have been sent by Lady Ighir and Kiara’s mother to this academy so that we may learn about the world and improve our skills at combat. Lady Ighir said that an environment rich with peers will aid us in forming friendships and rivalries that will push us to improve, and that is not something the Draconic Isles can provide us with, given that we are the only two juvenile dragons currently alive.”

“Hmm…”

The headmaster leaned back in her chair and put one leg on top of another.

“Why should I accept you in this academy? You haven’t even registered without stirring up trouble in the reception lobby. I could simply refuse you and spare myself any headaches.” She said, looking at Durreg.

He smiled and responded to her.

“That is because the Kengir Academy values talent and skill above all else. Why else would you accept anyone from any race, regardless of any allegiances they may have? Even if said students leave to fight under the banner of another one day, more chose to remain here and serve in your guilds and army-” Durreg said with a confident smile, “-And on top of that, the bonds these graduates of the academy form make them reluctant to turn their blades against you, making the most talented of all nations neutral to you, if not friendly.”

“Not mentioning the prestige of being able to claim your academy trained two dragons, as well as how far we will push our own rivals at the academy to improve. Clearly, there are a lot of benefits to admitting the two of us, no?” Durreg concluded, shrugging as if to rest his case.

“Don’t push your luck, kid. I admit that you made good points. That said, our academy is prestigious enough with or without your enrollment, enough to draw all the talents from the known world to its gates. Most of all, obedience to the rules of the academy is an absolute requirement for all its students. I have no need for troublemakers and loose cannons in these halls.” Headmaster Iltani said, contempt visible in her voice.

Durreg wanted to argue further, but he never had the chance to do so.

“Is this some kind of joke? What the hell is wrong with you?!” I yelled at her.

The headmaster’s eyebrow twitched, and Durreg’s face contorted with horror.

“We have not actually done anything wrong; we just went to wait our turn in your queue, only to be accused of forgery and attacked by other applicants under your watch! And to top it all off, you dare to accuse us of being at fault and giving us lip instead of apologizing! If you dare to tell me that we should have just let them attack us without fighting back, then I am going to test if you apply those expectations to yourself!” I hissed dangerously, brandishing my staff.

Durreg sighed, then turned towards the headmaster.

“While Kiara is being an impulsive idiot, I cannot say I disagree with her. Everything she just said is true, and my principles as a Dragon will not allow others to provoke me without consequence.” He stood next to me, solemnly looking at the headmaster.

Contrary to our expectations, she just smiled.

“Your courage is commendable. Our academy does not take cowards who bend at any sign of pressure, and you two have certainly proven that you won’t allow others to walk all over you. However-” she said, Durreg and I instantly falling to our knees as she stood up, “-know your place. You may be destined for great power as dragons, but you are currently mere hatchlings, and you are in my academy. If you are going to make threats, make sure you can actually carry them out.”

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Urghhh…!” I groaned, my hands keeping me from crashing straight to the floor.

“…Even so, headmaster…” Durreg said, breathing heavily.

“I will not allow anyone to trample over my values…”

Durreg’s hands were on his knees, trying to stand up straight.

“…Not even you or your God-King himself.”

He stared her in the eye, not breaking eye contact with her. She grinned at him.

“As expected of an Earth attributed. You would make a fine addition to our academy. But I am not sure the same can be said fo-” she turned towards me, and her words were stuck in her throat.

On the ground, I was unable to resist the pressure, and yet I stared at her with all the will I can muster; unwilling to show even a sliver of doubt or fear.

“Are you certain you are not fire attributed, girl? That is more fiery indignation than I’ve seen in many fire attributed, although you Atypical attributed can be strange like that.” She chuckled, releasing the pressure that pushed us to the floor.

I stood straight up, grabbing my staff as we stared at her tensely. She simply sat down and took her own seat.

“Settle down, we’ve still got more to discuss.” She said, snapping her fingers.

A teapot and three teacups on plates appeared in front of her.

“Our academy is split into two parts: the House of Aspirants and the Hall of the Elites. The House of Aspirants is where all those who apply to enter our academy are admitted, which has a program comparable in scope to that of other academies,” she said, as the teapot began pouring a brown tea, with a delicious aroma, “and the Hall of the Elites is where those who reach a sufficient level of power can reach for higher learning. It is this part of the academy that grants us our renown, creating heroes and champions for mankind, and the part most applicants hope to enter but fail to reach.”

Two cups of tea floated towards us, as the headmaster took a sip of her own and sighed contentedly.

“Normally, the academy tests individuals to see if they truly deserve to enter its halls with an entrance exam, which is composed of a combat test and a written test. You two will receive a different exam. I will pass you through the combat test of the entrance exam immediately, and instead have you take the exam for the Hall of the Elites. However, you must still pass the written test of the entrance exam.”

“If I may, why do we need to pass the written test if you are already testing us for the Hall of the Elites?” Durreg asked, as I tried not to spit the tea in my mouth.

So bitter! Does this lady live on dirt and stone?!

“That’s because what little I’ve seen from the two of you proved your worthiness to enroll and your combat abilities, not your knowledge. Should you fail the written test, I will not allow you to take any theory courses in the Hall of the Elites until you pass it. Of course, you may take the written exam as many times as you like.” The headmaster put her empty cup down and turned towards us.

“Now, do you have any questions for me?”

“What are the test and the exam going to be about?”

The headmaster leaned forward and rested her chin atop her hands, looking straight at me.

“The written test of the entrance exam tests your general knowledge and your knowledge of combat against both humans and monsters.”

“Urk…” I winced.

“As for the Hall of the Elites’ Exam, you will delve into the second layer of the Unfathomable Abyss and bring back a trophy from at Rank C creature or above with you.”

“Urk…” Durreg winced.

“I am certain that the two of you won’t disappoint me, with that valiant display of resistance you had earlier.”

A strange, dangerous glint showed in the headmaster’s eye to compliment her wide grin as I struggled to look in her general direction.

…Is the headmaster some kind of sadist?

I shivered.

***

“…Listen up, maggots! You have the privilege to attempt to enter the most prestigious halls in the world, even though you don’t deserve it!” A giant, hulking, beast of a man stood ahead of us with an even more domineering voice boomed.

“All you need to do to reach to the bare feet of your betters as juniors of the House of Elites is to come back with a trophy of a Rank C creature from the second layer or a hell below it, not that cockroaches like you can manage it! If you’re eager to prove me wrong, go and get one for yourself or scram! I don’t care how you do it, but one trophy is one admission ticket!” he yelled in front of a man ahead of us, staring him in the eye as he remained as unmoving as a statue.

Durreg raised his eye at the young man, but the examiner carried on.

“If any of you wish to leave, now’s the time! Even if you’re going to leave with your tail between your legs to drink your mother’s milk, you’ll still leave here alive!”

He remained silent for a moment, but no one moved from their spot.

“Seems like our academy did not raise any cowards; but it remains to be seen if it raised morons. Now go! You have two days to come back with a trophy!”

Durreg sighed, then looked towards me.

“Come on, let’s go and get this done.”