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Book 1, Chapter 1 - Truth and Consequence (1.1/1.3) 

"Ugh. Finally, I'm here."

A youth, looking to be roughly the age of fourteen was standing on the top of a mountain peak, an exhausted expression on his face. One could tell just from the way he moved how tired he was, and the worn out clothes that he was wearing only enforced the image.

He was currently gazing reverently at the red archway gate in front of him. It looked to be a set of ancient, stone doors, tainted slightly red by the passage of time and the weathering of the seasons. Slightly above the door was a slender blue arc, seeming to be made from some type of blue gemstone, and spanning roughly the same length as the sides of the stone doors, one leg each resting neatly on top of each door. It also exuded an ancient, powerful aura that made it seem almost as if it had survived for decades. However, the strange runic symbols engraved all over the doors and arc-way seemed to sport no signs of wear, as if they were recently just placed there.

The youth, never taking his eyes off the splendor of the image in front of him, let out a sigh of admiration while enjoying the scenery around the gate as well. With luscious grasses and trees everywhere, and the chirping birds warbling their unceasing songs just slightly under the clouds, it was truly a magnificent sight to behold.

Soon, voices came from behind the youth, and knocked him out of his stupor.

"Entrance Examination day... I really hope that I get accepted!"

"This is the Magecroft Academy... wow..."

"Just seeing the gate being so grand, I wonder just how magnificent the inside of the academy will look?"

Those voices were from other young boys and girls who were also standing right outside the gateway as well. Taking a quick glance at the sun, the youth with the tired expression instantly widened his eyes, an expression of astonishment on his face.

My trek up this mountain took four hours? It's already 10'o-clock! No wonder why I'm exhausted! Jeez, Why did the academy have to be built on a 100-meter high mountain?!? 

Sighing, the youth redirected his gaze back towards the academy gates, patiently waiting until the gates would open.

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Ding... ding... ding... 

The loud, booming sound of a bell could be heard in the distance. When one looked closer, they would be able to trace its origin to a simple-looking tall mountain that one would just glance over due to its mundane atmosphere. However, on that mountain was the prestigious institute, the Magecroft Academy's 11th Branch. Currently, many people were in a line right outside the giant stone doors blocking the academy from the outside world.

"Ah! The gates are opening! The entrance examination is starting!"

"Hurry! Let's go in!"

Amidst the clamor of the other youths all excitedly rushing through the faintly open stone gates, Synth was currently standing at the back. It must be known that although in the Magecroft Academy, social status did not matter and only the achievements of the pupils would determine their social position, these social boundaries were truly not something to be lightly crossed.

After all, if one offended someone from a very influential or powerful family, they would be subjected to all sorts of detrimental means and would receive the ill-will of the other party.

If per chance, a  commoner happened to offend a noble, even though inter-school duels were not allowed without the consent of both parties and students fighting with each other was not permitted, that did not mean that the commoner's family would also be able to live under this protection.

If that noble told his family about his ire, it was almost guaranteed that his family would not stay quiet and would make a move against the person that had offended their young master.

This was why when the bells began to ring, the commoners stood behind the nobles and watched them go in first. Nobody wanted to accidentally incite the temper of the nobles. If they did so, it would lead to very serious consequences.

Although Synth technically could still use the badge of the Lyos Family to charge in first among the rest of the nobles, with his ragged appearance, he truly did look similar to a commoner. His father had beaten him rather viciously before kicking him out of the household, and his clothes were not in good condition.

Also, the risk versus reward was not worth it. Synth would rather wait in line with the commoners and enter later than charge in with the nobles and risk potentially inciting their fury. Even though Synth truly hated associating with the 'common' people, as he was bred in the height of aristocracy, he could only grit his teeth and endure it. The other reason why he had decided against it was because technically he was not part of the Lyos Family anymore. If his father had already announced that he had disowned his son, then the situation could turn troublesome if he tried to use the Gold Emblem.

Finally, all the nobles were done entering, and soon the commoners began going in as well. One could tell a person's social status rather easily, as the commoners wore rather simple clothing, while the nobles wore clothing that was much more ornate, and the expressions that they carried, as if they looked down on the entire world.

Naturally, being part of the aristocracy for almost all of his life, Synth was no exception to this ironclad rule. Although his tattered clothes made him resemble someone of lowly status, the arrogant and haughty air that he carried still made people shiver in fear when they cast their eyes on him. Some even made a mental note that he was not someone to be taken lightly. However, Synth was completely oblivious to all of this. The only thing that was currently on his mind was the academy.

Soon, everybody that came for the entrance examination was ushered inside, and the splendor of the academy grounds were in full display in front of them. Although the Magecroft Academy was built on a mountain, lush vegetation still grew everywhere, and verdant green trees could be seen surrounding the youths. It was truly a magnificent sight to behold, and it did not let expectations down.

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Walking on the pathway in front of the youths, they soon reached what appeared to be a large courtyard. There was a rather grim-looking man standing on the platform in the middle of the courtyard, and on his right was a crystal ball. Three guards wearing a azure-white uniform were standing at the base of the platform, with their spears in hand, undoubtedly to guard the man next to the crystal ball.

Sweeping his cold gaze over the murmuring students, the man frowned, and gestured for for everyone to be silent. The youths who noticed this immediately grew quiet, and the remaining talking students soon noticed and stopped chatting as well.

Seeing that everyone was now quiet, the man nodded to the guards. All three of the guards stepped in front of the crowd of students in unison, and one of them came up to the very front.

Clearing his throat, he announced, "Listen up. Today is entrance examination day, as many of you are aware of, for the Magecroft Academy's 11th Branch. In order to properly assess your talents and affinities, we need you to undergo an examination. When it is your turn, walk up to the crystal ball and place one hand on it. That will tell us what your latent talent is and what your magical affinities are. If you don't meet a certain standard, you will be asked to leave."

"Also, if one's potential is considered great by one of our teachers, the four-star Natural Invoker that you currently see standing on the platform, it is possible to get a scholarship, and be exempt from having to pay tuition. Otherwise, tuition for a year is one Bryu."

One year? One Bryu? That's crazy expensive! Can commoners even afford this exorbitant price? My estimate was off, but in a good way. With the money Father gave me, it can actually last for ten years!

Just as Synth was feeling shocked by the price of the tuition for one year, the cold, somber voice of the guard pulled him back from his inner thoughts.

"Starting now, everyone line up in a single file line to be examined."

The nobles began rushing towards the front, and the commoners silently waited for their turn. Although the guard had not said it, the words "Keep in mind the social hierarchy" still was an unsaid law. Naturally, everybody understood this message and got into proper order.

Synth was somewhere close to the very back of the line, silently observing the people that were going up. The first youth that went up to the stone ball was tall and handsome, while wearing an immaculate white blazer faintly adorned on the sides with gold. Where the breast pocket should be, instead was a symbol of a snake devouring a cloud. From this, one could instantly tell what sort of family he came from.

The Devouring Heaven Sect. Although this sect was not as powerful as an aristocratic family, it still had quite a bit of influence. After all, a grand noble had founded the Sect. In the city of Verudai, not many people had the courage nor power to go against a grand noble! They were only ranked under the aristocracy, and nobles of lower status did not dare to provoke the disciples of the Sect.

However, the reason why the Sect was founded was because the grand noble had an argument with one of his rivals, about which person was stronger and could lead a more powerful group of people. In a sense, it was almost as if that person was trying to raise his own personal army for a rebellion, which caused the officials and magistrates of the city to keep a close tab on them, and the other group that his rival had formed, the Conquering Earth Sect.

Although it was in the 'gray-zone' of the law, the Sect was an existence that not many people dared provoke. Judging from his attire, the youth should be a child between two inner branch members of the Sect, and enjoyed a high position due to the strength of his parents.

Walking up confidently towards the crystal ball, the youth reached out a hand and placed it on top of the crystal. The crystal seemed to faze out for a second, before returning to its normal calm. On the outside, not much had changed regarding the crystal's properties.

The man referred to by the guards as a institute teacher, turned towards his right side and looked disapprovingly at the crystal ball. Placing his hand in the air, he boldly announced the results of the youth's examination.

"Age - 15! Innate Talent Stage - Null! Affinities - None! Not qualified to become an Invoker!"

Hearing this, the youth immediately got on his knees and begged, "Please, won't you reconsider this? This junior, Quinn Marks, is after all, part of the Devouring Heaven Sect, and is high-ranked within the Sect! If you bend the rules a bit and let me in, I would be eternally grateful to Senior."

The man frowned, and pushed the youth aside. He was currently displaying an indignant expression, and replied angrily, "What do you take me for? Someone who will succumb to threats and bribes? Boy, do you know where you currently are at? This is the Magecroft Academy, one of the prestigious institutes that nurture the highest-quality Invokers! You think that just for you, I would bend the rules like this? Get out of my sight."

Quinn once again desperately pleaded, "Senior, please. Just let me pass. I'm willing to pay double the tuition price! Even triple! I can also guarantee that Senior will also earn the gratitude of the Devouring Heaven Sect!"

The instructor grew even more enraged upon hearing these shameless words coming out from the youth's mouth. Waving his hand once again in a dismissive gesture, he almost shouted in a voice hoarse from rage, "With your talent, you are still able to apply to the Vanguard Academy that trains Chevaliers. If one more word comes from you, I will personally make sure that you lose this chance as well. Now, step down."

Quinn's face instantly changed color, and quickly backed down. What the instructor had said was true. Even though he was not qualified to become an Invoker, since he still could Channel Energy, he still had a future as a Chevalier. Naturally, he would not want to lose this chance as well, and he dejectedly left the platform.

The other youths all watching this display were all dumbfounded. Just what type of backing did that person have? He was the child of two inner branch members of the Devouring Heaven Sect, yet he had such a timid expression when pleading to the instructor. Just how powerful was the Magecroft Academy exactly, to not fear the wrath of a grand noble?

Ignoring the stunned gazes from the youths, the instructor once again turned around to look at the mass of children standing before him, and announced with a loud, booming voice, "Listen up. No matter your background, from commoner to aristocrat, if your talent is not good enough, you WILL NOT be accepted into the academy!"

Synth's forehead began to brim with sweat. He at first, had thought about bribing his way into enrollment if things did not turn out so well. However, the words that the elder had said and his fearless display of telling a member of the Devouring Heaven Sect to leave made all notions of this idea exit his mind.

Wiping his brow and resuming his position in the long line of other hopeful youths, Synth began to contemplate his options. After a long time of thinking, there were only two words that he could say about this entrance examination. 'Truly brutal'!