Chapter Four – Confusion.

The guard on the left, her auburn hair tied into a tight ponytail, observed as the siblings' expressions took on a subtle tint of bewilderment. 

She held a small, wilted leaf in her right hand, twirling it absentmindedly between her fingers. 

Looking between them and the other guard, she offered a more detailed explanation. "It may seem strange, but a program such as this could be daunting to outsiders. Although the costs can be somewhat reduced with performance, it can still be too much to bear. It's understandable that this, along with outside factors, could make it challenging to enroll." 

Gabe, leaning forward with hope gleaming in his eyes, contemplated for a moment before asking, "How much can the price be reduced with performance? Exemplary performance?" 

Maline, who had been idly fiddling with a rock under her sandal, uncrossed her hands in resignation, asking in tandem, "If there's no one else, will I have classmates?"

The male guard, with short-cropped hair, nodded approvingly at Gabe's question. "Exemplary performance can significantly reduce the cost," he replied with a reassuring tone. 

"Should either of you excel in your studies, demonstrate remarkable talent, or contribute uniquely to the school, you can expect substantial reductions in tuition. The institution values academic excellence and the distinctive contributions of its students."

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, the guard saw that his auburn-haired partner wanted to contribute further before he addressed Maline's question. 

With a warm and encouraging smile, she added, "It is even possible to attend for a further reduced fee. If you were to show talent in a particular region, you could apply solely for that field of education." 

Her brown eyes sparkled with expectation. "Yes, this includes the arts."

The male guard continued on to answer Maline's question. "If you were to continue in the traditional route, you can expect to have many classmates. You would be transferred into classes that are not yet at full occupancy. It is important to note that students who enter the institute through the usual channels have priority over newcomers concerning classes. 

Another thing–applying for only a select number of classes does not excuse you from taking a complete entrance exam. The exam will cover all bases." 

After a moment, Gabe turned to Maline, relieved to see an excited expression on her face. He then faced the guards, about to pose a question when Maline beat him to it. "How long will the institute be open today?" 

The male guard answered in quick succession, "Until sundown. Students can arrive at dawn, and enrollments or entrance exams can take place at any time during the day." 

Maline quickly turned to her brother, her enthusiasm turning into something more akin to agitation. "We should start heading home, what if we have to put down our food before entering? It'll get stale." She quickly reached for the bag of bread, but Gabe pulled it away from her grasp.

"I can go back myself, Maline. This is your chance." 

Seeing as her plan had failed, Maline folded her hands in front of her once more. 

In truth, she was very nervous. Although there was some good news, it all relied on her performance and her choices. The siblings both knew that their financial situation could not allow for an extensive schooling program. Despite her agreement to come, she wasn't entirely prepared to commit.

Sensing his sister's lingering uncertainty, Gabe bent over and whispered words of encouragement in her ear, ensuring the guards couldn't overhear. "Our savings can be replenished over time, but opportunities like this are fleeting. I've checked in advance whether or not the entrance exam requires a fee; it's manageable. We can cover it. This is your moment. Seize it." 

Listening to her brother's words, Maline grew more self-assured and tore her eyes away from the ground. She asked, "How long will the entrance test take?"

"The exam isn't lengthy compared to those given to students, but it is sufficiently involved," the male guard responded. "You can expect to spend a good amount of time on each question, but it shouldn't take until after dusk. We work around the clock in shifts should you need an escort." 

Maline looked over to her brother, silent, but hoping to glean an answer nonetheless. 

"I'll be at home. If you need to, you can ask one of the guards to escort you back. I can't be out here for the duration of your stay," Gabe said in a reassuring tone. 

Maline, her hands unconsciously folding and unfolding, glanced between the guards and the imposing institute before her. "Before I enter, may I know your names?" 

Taken aback for a moment, they soon answered. The woman with auburn hair exclaimed, "Yivenne! My name is Yivenne." 

The short-haired guard answered shortly after, "Theo." It seemed that this wasn't the usual course of conversation with new visitors. 

Maline looked toward the two other guards who stood at the gate, but they seemed disinterested in the conversation as a whole. 

"Well, I'm Maline, and this is my brother, Gabe." 

Gabe nodded as Maline stole a glance at him, prompting him to offer thanks. "You two were very helpful. She'll have you to thank should she succeed." 

Yivenne's eyes softened with a warm smile, appreciative of their gratitude. "It was our pleasure, Maline and Gabe. We're here to assist."

Theo, while less expressive, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, we wish you the best of luck with your endeavors within the institute."

Gabe knew that despite Maline's composed demeanor, she was still apprehensive. He gently squeezed her shoulder, offering silent support. "Thank you once again, both of you." Gabe said, his voice filled with gratitude. 

He turned to his sister, whispering, "Go ahead. Take this opportunity. I'll be waiting for you at home."

The two guards had been observing, although disinterested. By the time the siblings finished their exchange, they were already on the way to opening the gate. It was made of solid wood, standing tall yet secured to the stone walls via robust metal hinges that allowed for ease of use. The bottom of the gate did not touch the floor. 

As Maline walked inside, she was greeted by a vast stretch of buildings, their grandeur not at all fitting their surroundings, bolstered by well-kept foliage that lined the sides of the smooth-stone stone paths. 

Yivenne appeared by her side as she walked in. "I will be escorting you to the reception area."

Maline was immediately struck by the stark contrast between the institute and the surrounding slums. The grandeur of the institution was evident, with its tall buildings crafted from marble and stone, each adorned with intricate designs on every facade. She noticed that the maintained stretch of foliage and well-kept yards did not only surround the stone pathways but lined the stretch of gate that enclosed the space.

Yivenne, her auburn ponytail swaying as they walked, began a casual conversation with Maline. "It's easy to feel a bit overwhelmed, especially on your first visit."

Maline nodded, her gaze darting between the lush surroundings and the imposing institute buildings. "I have to admit, it's more grand than I imagined."

Yivenne smiled kindly. "That's perfectly normal. Just remember, it's not the size of the institution that matters but what you make of your time here. Now, about your entrance exam," she continued, shifting the conversation to Maline's upcoming test. 

"There's no strict time limit, but it's advisable to complete it within a reasonable time frame. Rushing through won't do you any favors, but neither will spending an eternity on it."

Maline appreciated the advice and tried to shake off some of her nerves. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Yivenne."

As they approached the entrance to the institute, Maline carefully ascended the stairs. They were oddly spaced in a way that she was not used to, making her cautious. Yivenne reached out to open the wooden doors, revealing the foyer beyond. The grandeur of the institute extended indoors, with polished marble floors and elegant chandeliers. 

Maline watched as Yivenne pointed toward a door on the left just a ways from the entrance. "Over there is the testing room. You can get yourself situated, I'll alert one of the professors. It might take a while, as this isn't a common occurrence." 

She looked over at the testing door and back at Maline. "Good luck." Yivenne then began pacing toward the end of the corridor and turned a corner.

Somewhat stranded, Maline remembered what Yivenne said and headed to the door of the exam room, her steps echoing in a way that unnerved her. 

Upon entering, she was greeted by a wider space than she had imagined. There were desks numbering easily in the hundreds all facing opposite of her. The room was a bit dimly lit, but not enough to obscure any details. She chose the first seat available to her.

Moments later, echoing footsteps drew her attention to the door. It opened with a soft click, revealing a man dressed in a knee-length burgundy tailcoat paired with a black vest. 

His pants were tight-fit and khaki in color, the hem cut just above his brown steel-toed loafers. In his left hand, he held a wooden clipboard, his gaze flitting between it and the young lady before him. 

His eyes, a deep shade of brown, matched well with his attire. His short, impeccably combed-back hair was a rich black, a few gray strands hidden amongst the rest. 

With a deft motion, he closed the door behind him and turned his attention back to Maline.

  "Welcome," The man paused slightly, assessing Maline's attire with a pause before continuing, 

"I understand you have an interest in enrolling in our institute." 

Maline did not know how to respond, and the room fell conspicuously silent for a few moments. 

The man's gaze, unwavering, stabilized on her eyes before continuing, "My name is Emil. Professor Emil. I'm here to administer your exam." 

He pronounced his name with a subtle accent that Maline was not familiar with. 

As he spoke, he unclipped a paper from his clipboard and walked toward Maline's desk. "I won't attribute the lack of students in this room to the day of the week–yours is an unusual situation." 

Laying the paper on her desk, he stood up straight and inquired, tilting his head slightly, "I don't remember asking for your name. What would you like to be referred to as?" 

Already analyzing the paper, Maline turned toward the professor. "My name is Maline. May I ask how I would get started on this paper?" The page was chock full of questions and drawings with potential answers placed next to small boxes. 

The professor appeared to be rummaging in his memory for an answer. "Oh, right." He said in revelation, "Apologies, under each desk is a compartment with the necessary items. All of the questions require only deduction. Fill in whichever box you think is correct." 

Maline looked underneath her desk and saw a small compartment. It held two things, a black jar with a lid on it, and a tubular item with a tapered tip. 

Placing the two items onto her desk, she recognized one as an ink jar, and the other, although unusual to her, had to be some sort of pen. 

She started on unscrewing the lid of the jar, but it was more difficult than she thought. When she got it to open, small amounts of black flakes fell onto the table from both the lid and jar. 

"The items are quite old and the pen looks to be outdated." the professor said as he moved in to assist her, pointing to multiple points on the pen and giving instructions. 

"This is called a suction pen. Located here is a small vine, which you pull while the pen is immersed in ink to store it inside of the pen itself. In order to keep the ink inside, you must press onto the body of the pen or lay it on its side. 

Holding it upright without doing so could cause spillage. These pens were selected for this test as there is no writing involved, only filling in boxes. Writing with these pens would prove clumsy and inefficient." 

He stepped back once again afterward, Maline thanking him for his help. After she took another gander at the paper and its underside, she announced that she was ready. The professor walked over to a nearby wall and took post. 

He began to studiously refer to his clipboard. He did not declare the beginning of testing, so Maline could only assume that she was clear to begin.

Surprisingly, most of the questions did not stump her, and she was able to find answers that either made more sense than the others or that she could confirm were correct. Questions covering Linguistics sometimes involved words that she was unfamiliar with, but she cross-referenced them with words that she did know, using their similarities and place in sentence structure to her advantage. 

She did not consider herself talented in the area of Mathematics, so she could only try her best on those questions. 

Constant flipping of the page was heard as she continually skipped questions that she did not understand, going back to them when she completed what she wanted to on the other side. 

Heaving a sigh of relief, she placed the pen above the jar of ink and pulled the vine, releasing the ink into the jar. The stream of ink mesmerized her, strangely reflecting the lights of the room in a whimsical manner.

Seeing this, the professor asked, "Finished?" Nodding in the affirmative, Maline placed her materials back into the compartment and walked over to give them to the professor. 

The professor took them, saying, "Good job, young lady. The results will be available by tomorrow." Looking over the paper as he placed it into his clipboard, he continued, "Do you have any other needs, or are you ready to leave?" 

Maline didn't think that there was much else to do aside from a tour, which seemed a bit pretentious to ask for. "I think I'm ready to go. Thank you, Professor Emil." 

Nodding politely, the professor then walked over to the door and opened it for her to walk through. "In my initial perusal, it looked like you did well." 

Offering a slight smile, he bade her farewell, closing the door. Perhaps he still had some cleaning up to do. 

Outside of the room, there were torches lit on each wall of the corridor which she did not notice upon coming in. She began walking toward the entrance and opened the door. 

The sky did not greet her with a ray of sunshine, but a dark curtain. It seemed she had taken a bit longer than she thought she would. 

The path to the gate was a straight one, and Maline decided to take in the view of the greenery. 

It almost completely blended into the sky the farther it stretched on, the color of foliage only showing in the closest of leaves. 

As she reached the gate, she was surprised to see that it was slightly open. The left door creaked outwards. Feeling a hint of unease, she opened it a sliver more and peeked her head out of the gate. There was no one on duty. 

Confused, she stepped through the gate, relieved to see people, although sparse, walking to and fro. She continued walking until she realized that she hadn't closed the gate. 

Looking behind her shoulder, she reached out toward the gate with her left hand, catching a fleeting glimpse of the inside during her motion. Inside, it seemed that the curtain of sky had descended, enveloping the institute, much like it had melded with the foliage. 

Though, the color was deeper–darker. 

She observed as it seemingly advanced, faster than dusk could become night, faster than mere shadows could cover ground. 

This was not an illusion of lighting. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she felt her gut creak in sickening dread. She hurriedly closed the gate but found no locking mechanism in sight.

Turning around, she decided that she would run and find shelter, but the scene in front of her shook her to her core. In front of her, the passers-by stood stark in their place. They had not moved since she turned around. Their eyes glistened with refracting, dreary colors, all staring into her own. 

"Oh, god…" Her throat constricted, and her eyes began to water. Overwhelmed with a feeling of eerie familiarity and impending doom, she felt her body begin to quiver uncontrollably. This scene was more definitive than the last. Her mind raced with options, where could she go? 

'Was what she saw–was it really an illusion?'

  'Is the institute safe?' 

Vague thoughts whirled within her mind. Although the people in front of her were not moving, they invoked a peril more so than the institute. 

Her body decided for her. Her instincts led her to push her way forcefully into the gate, shoving the doors open with her shoulder. She closed her eyes as she lost footing, blind to the scene in front of her. She felt herself drop. 

The scene of those people's eyes faded into the back of her mind, as did her sense of self. Succumbing to a profound emptiness, her senses began to wander away, leaving only numbness behind.

...

Slowly, her vision cleared. 

Inside of her head was a ceaseless buzzing, cutting off and on as she began to recognize her surroundings. 

She was sitting at a desk, and the buzzing seemed to be coming from a place near her. It cleared gradually into a vexing ringing, and she could discern a few words. 

"...interest in enrolling in our institute." 

The words were familiar to her, but she continued staring forward intently until her vision completely cleared. 

A man in a burgundy tailcoat and khaki pants stood at the door with a clipboard in hand. His expression was unusual, as the young lady in front of him was staring deeply into his eyes for a prolonged period of time. "... Are you alright?" 

Maline still seemed listless, until she eventually moved. She reached her hand under her desk in search of something, and there it was–a compartment.