6 Chapter 6 - The City of Magic

Skyscrapers! Airplanes! Buildings built by glasses! Even televisions?! Are they for real?! The atmosphere was almost like my past world!

For me who haven't seen this view for 16 years, it feels very nostalgic, I wanted to cry.

This is the City of Carnage… it's not even the center of technology yet the vibes felt like the one I felt in the previous world! I never imagined I'd get this touched just by seeing something I haven't appreciated for 26 years.

We were still inside Shellcy's car as it was the one who brought us to the City. The car which was run by magic crystals that was infused with force magic and movement magic. For sure, those things too were run by a magic crystal. The difference made my heart go *doki*. For a world that follows a medieval era both culture and mentality to be this advanced.

Because of the monopoly of these technologies in certain cities, if you stepped outside the city walls it would be another world. But still… I can't wait to explore the Western Trade City! I wonder if they have cellphones over there… and internet.

"Hime…"

Felix called my attention. Oh, I forgot to mention but I was leaning my whole face towards the window of our car just to observe everything outside. Letting out noises like 'wooaaaaah' and 'aaah' for awhile now.

When I realized this, my face reddened. Shellcy just smiled.

"It's okay hime. I could understand your reaction. After all, Dragonia don't have this kind of technologies."

Even though she said that, I still sat back on my seat. What an embarrassing show I did!

"Hime, you look like a kid."

I gave Felix a glare then fixed myself. Understanding the situation, Shellcy started explaining what we should do, now that we're here.

"We will arrive at the entrance of the academy for a few minutes now. Hime-sama, could I confirm things with you?"

"Ah, sure." I said, dropping the formal speech.

"What's our relationship?"

I answered first, "I am your daughter, a princess who was shunned to the world. That's why nobody knew that Grucia had a princess."

Shellcy nodded and then looked at Felix.

"I am her bodyguard…" Shellcy did not say anything, instead she was still looking at Felix as if his answer doesn't satisfy her. And Felix sensing this, gave a sigh, and then, "A simple Grucian orphan that was saved by the royal family and thus served as hime's guard ever since. Because she registered, it was only natural that I register too."

And just like that, Shellcy happily nodded.

"Good. Then before we arrive I shall tell you what will happen once you enter the Academy entrance." Felix and I focused on what Shellcy's told us.

It seemed that it was not easy to enter the Academy. A student candidate shall pass a certain number of tests first, which was totally dependent on the professors that will host the enlistment/enrolment. It can be anything; from written tests to practical tests to sword fighting to jungle survival…

So, the first thing that Shellcy reminded us was to keep calm always and always think before acting. There had been casualties in the history of the enlistment period of the Magic Academy. Some died, some had been disabled, and some couldn't use magic anymore. The enlistment period was the filtering stage.

But, even so, many still tried to enroll since once you got accepted it means you aren't an ordinary person at all.

Also, during the enlistment period, starts the apprentice selection of some professors. And being an apprentice bounds them to the professors which chose them and to the state… that is, to always serve the protection of the magic academy. To make it simple, you will become a pet of the teachers and a guard of the City of Carnage and the Academy.

"If you want to freely travel, you must never become an apprentice. So, during the enlistment period, no, for the whole duration of your stay in the Academy, always keep a low profile. Okay?"

Felix and I both nodded.

She added some more reminders but all of it were the usual reminders of staying safe, keeping the secret, and so on… So far, those two were the most important advice.

When we arrived, we immediately bid goodbye to each other. Shellcy wished us goodluck and then left.

Now, we're in front of a pretty big closed gate. On the other side were two guards dressed with the same pattern of clothing. A blue military combat – type of uniform – with some strings attached to the left side of their chest to the right. The ones usually seen on those British royal guards in anime.

Apart from us, there were at least a three hundred people outside. So, these are student candidates… It is a pretty large number for a deathly enlistment. Besides, only a portion of humans can manipulate their aura's making them a magician.

Anyway, what's more important is, why are they staring?!

At me?!

All eyes were on us – specifically me.

When I looked at them, they're faces turned tomato red, and they'd look away.

Oy, oy, oy… I know this kind of reaction.

"Woah, you are a knew one, right?" Suddenly a guy approached us. He was wearing simple clothing, like of those village people I saw working on the fields on our way here. On his hip was a sword – an old rusty sword.

Felix immediately stood between us but I pinched his back signaling him to get out of the way.

This guy… he doesn't seem to understand how to stay low profile! If we get involve in a mess here, everybody will know us immediately.

"Yes. You are?" I said. The guy who was frowning because of Felix' action gathered his remaining composure and talked to me.

"Ahaha. I'm Jelal Lodan. Ahh, I just saw unfamiliar faces so I had the urge to talk to you. No, well, there are a lot of newbies here but you were the most eye-catching one. Your silvery blue hair, your clothes and equipment, and… your beauty. It all stood out!"

"Ah? Aha-ha-ha-ha…"

I looked around and found out it was true. Most of the candidates wore simple clothing… while others seemed to wear expensive ones but was covered in robes… like they do not want others to know what equipment they have…

Well, I for one, am not wearing a robe because I don't have anything to hide… Or at least I thought.

Wearing a blue sailor-styled upper garment with white outlines sewn in silk imbued with protection magic, and a skirt with the same uniform… And everything was of high quality! Of course I'd stand out!

That Shellcy! I thought she doesn't want us to stand out but look what she made me wear?! That idiot.

And my beauty… well, I don't have anything else to say about it. Aside from the fact that I am pretty proud of my own beauty, no matter how I mess my hair, my face… I've said this, but no matter how I look, I'll always be beautiful.

If levels of beauty do exist, I'd say my own beauty is on level 9999.

"Jelal!" A boy walked out from the crown. He was a redhead, and he was wearing a high quality clothing beneath his robes. I couldn't see the color very well but it was definitely high quality since I could sense some magic and – wait, is that a skirt?!

I looked again to the person in question while he, no, she headbutted the guy who called himself Jelal.

"I told you not to wander off alone yet you still did! You big fat idiot!"

"Hey, easy Fenrir. And I'm not fat. Is your eye sight that bad?"

The girl, fuming mad, hit the guy again and then they continued to bicker. It took a couple of minutes for them to remember that we were in their front.

When they remembered our existence, the girl apologized herself as Fenrir Holland. A daughter of a noble outside the cities. And while she and Jelal were childhood friends, he's actually her bodyguard.

Which amazed me, seriously. To meet someone with the same background as I and Felix.

"Really? You're a noble's daughter too? And that guy over there is also your bodyguard? Oh my god, I can't believe this! I get to meet a lady that is very similar of me!"

Fenrir exclaimed when I told her that we had the same circumstances.

"Well, except that you're not as pretty as her. Her looks are definitely goddess-class, while yours is just on the level of a duke."

Fenrir glared at her childhood friend and attempted to refute but I interjected. It would be a pain if they started to argue again. Felix on my side was still quiet without saying a word. Geez, this idiot. We're childhood friends so we should act something like Fenrir and Jelal too.

"Anyway, how'd you know that we are new candidates?" I asked.

The both of them look at each other, and then looked at us again. Jelal was scratching his head while Fenrir took the trouble on answering my question.

"Jelal here had tried the enlistment exam for two years now, and he continued to fail. That must be why he can tell that the two of you are newbies. I'm also a newbie. I applied because I'm worried over this idiot over here. You see, if he won't pass this enlistment, he will be fired from being my bodyguard. Isn't that mean? Not minding his idiocy, he is still my friend. You understand me, right… uhm…"

Oh right! I forgot to introduce myself.

"Hell. Hell Ha—Freia." Thank goodness, I was able to stop myself from saying my real name. "And this is Felix, Felix Nox. Don't mind him. He simply doesn't like to talk a lot. Nice to meet you, Fenrir." I curtsied a bit so that the only one who can see it was the two facing us.

"Umu. Nice to meet you, Hell." She curtsied as well. "But your name doesn't suit you, ne?"

I laughed a little. "That's what I thought so, at first. Hell was associated with fire after all… But I have blue hair! I don't really know what went on my mother's mind when she named me."

"Right ~ haha. It's weird. But speaking of hair, your hair shines as if their magic in it! Tell me, did you imbue magic onto your hair?"

And so, with continued talking like this. I thought I'd get bored talking about girly things, but I seem to enjoy the company of Fenrir. Of course, becoming a girl is the main reason but I don't believe I'd just chat with just anyone like that. Maybe because she was my first human friend that I'd gotten rather fond with her.

We chit-chatted leaving the boys with themselves while Jelal did all the talking and Felix with no reaction nor expression at all.

'Ganbare, Jelal!' was all I could think.

---

When the gates opened all of us stood in front. Fenrir and Jelal left first since they have another two people who'll take the exam with them.

"You enjoyed yourself, hime?" Felix asked me. We were still not allowed to cross the gate even though it was already opened. We still need to wait for the proctor, it seems.

"Yeah, kind of. Fenrir was interesting in a sense. How about you? Enjoyed listening to Jelal?" I said mockingly while emphasizing the word 'listening'.

Felix looked away.

"I… had thought that humans are trash. But I guess there are some exceptions."

I smiled with his response though I honestly did not expect it. I definitely thought he'd get irritated by Jelal. Seems like I was wrong.

A moment after a large bulky man with lots of muscles arrived. He was wearing a black tight shirt, and dark green long pants, and combat boots. His head was clean shaved, and he had a grumpy gorilla-like face.

The candidates around me started groaning at the appearance of this man.

"Why are they acting like this?" I whispered a question.

"Quit groaning, you little morons!"

"Eh?" I reacted, dumbstruck.

"As most of you know, I am Bullard Brazo, and on this enlistment period, I will be the chief of staff and the main proctor of the exam!" He said. The candidates started murmuring loudly, some even bent down while shivering.

"Excuse me, but could you tell me what's with this reaction?" Felix politely asked the guy beside him. My mouth fell open. Wait! Since when did Felix became polite to other people?! And with a human?!

"U-uh. You must be new since you don't know about that Bullard Brazo." Said the guy while trembling, "That guy was the one who supervised the enlistment here years ago where most candidates died, you know!"

Died?

Felix thanked the guy and then turned to me.

"Died? An enlistment that candidates died? So Shellcy wasn't lying about dying during enlistment?" I muttered.

"What should we do, hime? Should we kill him first?"

My eyes squinted.

"Do you know what would happen if you do that?! You can't kill a professor! I want to live peacefully, you idiot!" I said, but I did consider his suggestion. But if it really did happen, to be able to proctor for another enlistment exam again, isn't this school too lenient for professors like this?

Wait, wait… We still don't know the full story. What the hell happened three years ago?

"After another minute, you will step inside the Academy, and you should know that there's no turning back after. Once you enter, you will have to participate in the enlistment exam. However, I am not in the position to tell you what kind of exam we will administer for this period. You got a minute to decide whether to continue or not."

He said.

A lot of the candidates murmured within themselves. There were also some who chose to withdraw. However, despite Brazo's reputation and his warning, most of the candidates stayed. After all, the prestige for someone who will pass the enlistment exam and successfully enroll is pretty high. A lot of people look up to the magicians, even envy them because of their talents.

We entered when the guards signaled that we may enter. After a couple of minutes walking, the main building for the Magic Academy stood mightily in front of us. A sky scraper with height approximately 3,500 meters and a ground area circumference of 100,000 square meters.

Standing before the building were four people, joined by Bullard Brazo after.

"Candidates! We welcome you to the Magic Academy! However, you still have to pass the enlistment exam before you actually be admitted as an Acadmey student. Thus, the five us, will be the proctors for this enlistment exam! I am Hertrude Opal, it's nice meeting you all."

The one who spoke that introduction was a blonde guy dressed in a white tuxedo. He even curtsied after the introduction, and when he recovered he winked on the crowd. I could see stars and rose petals in the background. The girls started shouting over him.

I am confident that my face showed my disgust. I hate ikemens like this. Bakuhatsu!

The next person introduces herself. A woman wearing a white overcoat with only a tube inside covering only her breasts. She had short and very curly hair. And while smoking, she said:

"Yo, I'm Helena Grass."

What a short introduction compared to that ikemen.

"Hello, everyone! I am Frazen Tiara. It's nice meeting you all! Do your best on this period's enlistment exam okay~ I will be supporting you in the background!" A girl , with height of an elementary student, said happily while gesturing an embrace. She had a long curly auburn hair and she was wearing a pink dress like of those of children.

"A child?! Seriously?" Some of us murmured.

"Hey, who called me a kid?" Suddenly that joyful voice turned to a deadly one. "You ain't talking 'bout me, ayt?!"

Everyone shuddered when the girl changed her tone. Nobody would probably dare call her a kid anymore. If someone does, that person would probably be the most idiotic person in the whole Magic Academy. Her aura was so pressuring, I even acknowledged it. For me who had a vast reserve of aura and who sometimes intentionally emits aura to scare children away: my aura paled from hers.

"Well, well. Let's all calm down, okay?" Said a woman with dark red hair tied in a ponytail. She was wearing a full set of armor and was holding a 2-meter metal spear. "By the way, I am Cleia McLevan. I am the head of the City Guards. Good luck!"

And lastly, it was Bullard Brazo.

Since they were all done introducing themselves; they've started the orientation. There are three types of exam this time. The preliminary round, the intermediate round, and the final round. However, they never mentioned what we will do during those rounds. They just explained that once you are eliminated, you still have a chance for a rerun but if you got eliminated twice, then you are considered out.

Understanding that, we nodded our heads.

"Are you ready?!" Asked Cleia.

The candidates roared. I also did. Felix remained silent, though.

"Then, let us start the preliminaries."