Chapter Thirty-Two: Exams

Time passed as Ash, Rosalia, and the others spent time in Ivalia. Nick and Will soon returned from their time in a local dungeon.

“Light! It’s good to see you, Ash!” Nick clasped his arm.

Will flashed a grin, winking at him.

“I hear someone is making a name for himself! It’s all over town; the Silverblood heir knocked on his ass! Did you really win with a wooden practice blade while he had the genuine article?”

Ash rubbed the back of his neck, shrugging. Will laughed,

“I wish I’d been there! That guy is a real prick.”

Nick nodded,

“Shadow, take that goat fucker.”

“Whose this?”

Will asked, nodding at Lilith.

The dragon girl glared, her tiny form straightening as green eyes flashed.

Will held up two hands in mock surrender,

“Whoa! She’s a fierce one, isn’t she? Careful, I don’t want you to get short with me!”

Lilith sent Ash images of green fire turning Will’s forms to ashes.

“This is Amalia’s little sister. I’ll be looking after her while here at school.”

“Yeah, about that, shouldn’t Amalia be doing that?” Rosalia interjected.

“Apparently, I owe her. Or so I’m told. You know there’s no arguing with Amalia.”

The group nodded.

“You’ll need to watch your back, Ash. I hope you know that.”

Ash sighed,

“Guess he would hold a grudge. There’s no chance this ends up being resolved peacefully, is there?”

Will clasped him on the shoulder,

“Can I have your stuff after they bury you?”

Ash scowled.

________________

Ash learned a lot about Ivalia as they waited for exams. It was, most obviously, an adventurer town, mostly because the surrounding forests and mountains contained many opportunities. The guild posted many contracts, and students from Wyrmhaven were always making trips away from town.

Wyrmhaven also owned a couple of dungeons under the school as the mountains descended deep underground. It was also a trade hub, as monster parts, among other ingredients, and scripted items flowed from the town through caravans to the rest of Aleria.

Noble, merchants, the rich, and even a few other families sent their kids to the school, and as a result, there was an influx of youth being dropped off around entrance exam time.

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On the day before the exam, Ash asked the others about dungeons. Amalia had gone early to school, of course, not explaining anything.

“Dungeons are…well, they’re alive,” Rosalia stated, working her mouth as she thought of how to explain it.

Ash frowned, and Rosalia held up a palm,

“I’m not a teacher, okay? It’s something to do with a core or something like that, I think?”

“Light, but you’re going to fail all your fucking classes,” Nick grumbled. He turned to Ash.

“We don’t know everything, so don’t go expectin’ me to be a light fucked expert. Dungeons are erected from a dungeon core. Cores are a huge topic of study because no one knows how they can produce monsters, traps, puzzles, and the like, but they do. There’s more to it, but I didn’t understand everything I was told, and it wasn’t the best environment for teachin’, yeah? But yes, dungeons are, in a sense, alive.”

Ash had so many questions, but Nick’s side eye told him that if he asked, he would get an earful in return.

Ash also noted that tuition wasn’t cheap. A gold piece a year was a steep price, equivalent to five silver pieces per semester. Amalia would pay for their first semester, but then they were on their own.

He found himself wondering what his goals were. He wanted to get to bronze rank. However you achieved that, and then he wanted to hunt down the people who had killed his family, burning down their homes.

But he felt like he would need more power than just bronze rank. That was the first rank, and he doubted the stranger who killed his uncle was that weak. With this in mind, he decided to reach bronze rank first and then hear out Amalia. Once he knew more, he could make a decision.

He also had Lilith. His dragon companion quickly became the one he cared about most in the world. He loved her, had since he first laid eyes on her. Not in a creepy way, he cringed to think about it, but in a best friend, sisterly way.

Anything he did, he would talk to her about first. They were in this together.

The first thing was to pass this exam. Followed by finding a way to make money.

The day had finally come.

____________

Wyrmhaven Academy for Adventurers was awe-inspiring. It looked precisely like what Amalia had described in the story of Sylvestrus Caledon. There was a realism, a depth to it that the story couldn’t convey. The massive bone dragon head that loomed over the school would come to life any moment. Ash was certain of that.

It stayed dead.

Its wings enfolded the building built from the rest of its body. Sunlight bathed it in radiance, giving the whole place a mythical aura that inspired awe and adventure.

People crowded the entrance, and it was some time before he could get into the room.

Inside was huge, to say the least. A massive entry hall with hanging chandeliers and scripts lining the floors and walls emitted faint light of all colors. There was a reception desk, and large paintings hung on some of the walls.

A woman with midnight blue hair wearing expensive, slick attire floated in the air above everyone. Her skin was burnished caramel, her eyes dark, and an air of authority hung around her as she surveyed everyone.

After some time, she spoke, her voice carrying to all present, reverberating with elar.

“Welcome, applicants, to Wyrmhaven Academy. I am headmistress Zevia Al’Raith.”

She swept her gaze around the assembly.

“Entrance to the academy is conditional on passing the exam. What is it, you might be asking yourself? It is quite simple. The exam is three. You must hunt a monster. Any monster will do, but pass or fail will be at the discretion of our examiners. They are members of our faculty. I do not recommend you hunt for something easy. Challenge yourself. You may not hunt in groups. You must undertake the hunt alone. Anyone who fails the hunt will fail the exam then and there. Next, there will be individual duels for those of you who pass the hunt. You will receive grades based on your performance, and finally, there will be a test of potential. You can fail the duel portion, but should you pass the test of potential, you will be accepted to Wyrmhaven. Your time for the hunt begins…now. Good luck.”

She turned, floated down to nearby steps, and strode away, boots clacking as she disappeared up the stairs.

Ash blinked.

That was it. There was very little information, but maybe that was the point. Wyrmhaven didn’t want people who had no foundational knowledge. His expression soured. It was slightly unfair because how could one be expected to hunt monsters if you didn’t know how?

But he did know how. He had that foundational knowledge.

Thanks to Amalia.

He hated to admit that, as the storyteller had been a massive source of frustration. Yet without her, he would have never lived to get to this point. Nor would he have a prayer in passing this exam.

He sighed.

Wyrmhaven Adventurer Academy’s entrance exam had begun. Time to get to it.