Chapter 12 - Entrance Exam (1)

The sun shone high up in the air.

Shin and Hendrick exited out from a carriage before a large and grandeur estate.

A huge and majestic building stood before them as two other smaller buildings were located besides them.

They were currently standing before a large stage where a large crowd could be seen.

And this crowed seemed to be standing in a noticible group.

Hendrick noticed Shin's gaze before putting his arm by his back and pushing Shin towards a specific group slowly.

"People naturally flock towards their own kind. Look over to the left." Hendrick glanced at the large group of people who were decorated with various jewels and fine clothes. "Those are the merchants and wealthy families. In their world, money is everything."

Shin looked over to see families with huge amounts of luggage. Each family seemed to have anywhere from ten to twenty differnet luggages per child. He, on the other hand, had a single luggage.

Hendrick continued to walk as he spoke. "Don't worry about the luggage, the majority of them have come from far away and wouldn't be able to go back home easily. You'll be able to visit much more oftne since it's the same city."

Shin nodded as he quickly trotted behind the Baron.

"Over there are the families of knights." Hendrick glanced over at a larger group on the righ side and smiled, many of whom noticed his gaze and nodded back at him.

Shin followed the Baron's gaze and noticed a large group of people who seemed to be releasing a kind of noble but oppressive aura.

"Many of them are large families of honorable knights, their children train from young as their sole goal to succeed their parent's heritage and position." Hendrick explained. "They'll be your biggest competitors on the ranks."

Shin noticed the children of the group who were all very well built despite their age, almost comparable to himself.

However, they passed by the knight families as they approached a smaller group near the center of the stage.

"Normally, I would bring you over to the knight families since we are technically one as well now that I have a successor." Hendrick smiled. "However, I am still a Baron and a few old fogeys over here would frown upon such actions."

They approached a smaller group of very nicely dressed people who gave off an imposing aura.

"Ah, Silverwing. Long time no see!" Another man approached him before clasping the old baron's shoulders.

"Good day. Shin, meet Baron Marep. Marep, this is my son." Hendrick gestured at Shin, who had been staring at the lanky man who stood before him. "Shin, these are the noble families. You'll be well acquainted with them very soon."

"Hahaha! You'd been holed up in your little house for almost a decade and now I see why!" Baron Marep laughed out loud. "Mark, come out and greet Baron Silverwing!"

A small boy peeked out from behind Baron Marep and quickly bowed before them before hiding back again.

"Sigh... You seemed to have done a much better job than me in this regard at least." Baron Marep sighed as he gazed at Shin.

"They're still kids, he'll improve as he learns and grows." Hendrick patted Baron Marep's shoulder as he reassured them. "We'll go do a round now, let's talk after the admission ceremony."

"Alright then. Goodbye Shin." Baron Marep waved as Shin and Hendrick walked towards the other groups.

"All nobles are snakes and wolves in human skin. If there's one person you can rely on, however, is the Marep family. They are a similar case to us as they have climbed up from the ground with honor and hard work." Hendrick whispered to Shin. "However, we must keep our face before the other nobles."

They quickly walked to and fro between the various other nobles before making their way before a man and a small girl. The old man seemed to giving off a warm but dangerous aura as his red eyes gazed upon their movements. The small girl seemingly paying no heed.

It was an old and skinny man, even older than Hendrick, with a small but gorgeous girl besides him.

"Baron Silverwing greets Duke Allflame." Hendrick approached the old man before bowing before him as Shin quickly followed suit. "Shin Silverwing greets Duke Allflame".

"Good to meet you Silverwing. And this must be your...Son?" The duke seemed to be confused as he gazed at Shin before letting out a compliment. "...It seems my doll is going to have a hard time in the academy."

Hendrick realized the Duke's compliement before quickly replying. "The Silverwing family thanks Duke for his compliment."

Duke Allflame noticed Shin's curious gaze before smiling. "It seems Hendrick hadn't told you anything?"

Shin shook his head slowly, still confused at Hendrick's extremley courteous manners.

"Shin." Hendrick smiled at "Meet High Archon Allflame. The protector of the empire and the captain of one of the empire's most fiersome mage army. Ignis."

!!?!

A high archon. A mage who have long reached into the territory of a demi-god and was now knocking at the doorsteps of becoming a god.

Shin quickly bowed in fear before the old man as the Duke chuckled.

"Don't worry, this is merely an avatar. Here, meet my grand daugther Shila. She'll also be attending the academy." The duke smiled as he tapped the small girl on the shoulders.

The girl looked at Shin for a moment before turning back. "Hmph..."

...?

"Hahaha, don't worry about it. She's just a little angry because I only brought an avatar. But you see, I'm not currently in the capital and couldn't make it back for my doll's entrance into the academy." The Duke chuckled as he waved his hands. "Go easy her though, I know how strong you are but she's still a girl after all."

"Go easy?" Shila's eyes snapped back at Shin before speaking out in anger. "Him? Going easy on me?"

"..." Shin continued to stand silently in confusion as Hendrick smiled.

"Shila. That boy is already knocking at the doorsteps of a peak initiate, and his blood is... Oops. I should stop here." Duke Allflame quickly stopped himself as Shila's gaze turned from that of anger into shock and confusion.