Entrance Exams

"Beep boop beep boop…ding! Challenger, Ivan Chaos, has been verified."

After confirming the two's identities, the guard bot was added. "Bzzt, bzzt…please accept this ticket. You'll take your turn when the examiner calls your name…bzzt, bzzt."

Calvin collected the ticket from the guard bot before walking towards the entrance with Ivan in tow.

Upon walking through the shabby looking door with a lazily written "Examination" sign nailed to it, the two were met with blinding lights and loud explosions.

In the center of a giant stage, two senior wizards could be seen exchanging high level spells with each other.

"Lend me your power, O' God of Ice, Boreas…Blizzard!"

"Raging flames in the shape of a divine beast…Fuck your blizzard! Phoenix!"

"Boom!" When the high level ice spell met the high level fire spell, a big explosion occurred. The explosion was so strong that the tremors could be felt from the outside.

"So strong!" Ivan stared at the magic battle with awe.

Calvin however, remained indifferent. "It's just a random battle between two old farts. When you enter the academy, you'll get to see much greater and more exciting fights later on."

"But…but it's still cool, no?" [Ivan]

"I guess?" [Calvin]

"Yep, it's cool!" [Ivan]

After watching the friendly duel between senior wizards for a bit longer, Calvin brought Ivan to the counter at the end of the room. There, Calvin introduced himself to the receptionist before handing over Ivan's credentials.

"With my name as the guarantee, I want to create a Jumper Id for this boy here." [Calvin]

"Understood. And what is his name?" [Receptionist]

"Ivan Chaos, big sister." [Ivan]

"Ivan….Chaos…Is there anything you wish to add?" [Receptionist]

"Nothing for now, no." [Calvin]

"Alright, the boy's Jumper Id will be available after he passes the entrance examinations. You may wait in the main foyer first. When the boy's number is called. Please take him to room 4." [Receptionist]

"Alright. Come on, kid. Let's go take a look around the main foyer." [Calvin]

"Okay, uncle." [Ivan]

Although the main foyer had nothing but a large stage inside, Ivan remained energetic and all smiles as Calvin patiently told him his life in Jumper Academy as well as what to expect when you attend orientation day.

"Ooooh, there's going to be a water fight?"

"Yeah, at the end of day 3. Back then, since a majority of us new students couldn't use water magic, the school teachers supplied us with water guns."

"Your teachers gave you water guns? I want a water gun."

"The water fight between water magic and water guns lasted 5 hours. Not only was it fun, us water gunners even won the battle."

"How did you win?"

"Well, isn't it obvious? The magic users ran out of mana."

"Ehhhhh, that doesn't sound that fun."

"Trust me, kid. It was fun. Because the water battle started out with only 400 water gunners and 500 wizard apprentices. It was because we were outnumbered from the start that we felt incredibly happy when we outlasted the last wizard apprentice in the final moments of the water battle."

"Uh…"

"Oops, I've said too much."

Just then, a voice resounded in Calvin's and Ivan's heads. 'No.69, you may now enter the examination hall.'

"Come on, kid. It's your time to shine." After the voice finished his words, Calvin stood up before bringing Ivan to room 4 as directed by the receptionist just now.

"Uncle, what was that? There was somebody talking in my head…" As they were walking, Ivan got curious and asked.

"That was telepathy."

"Telepathy?"

"A communication spell that connects two or more minds together within a radius of 100 meters. It's an intermediate spell that requires one to have high mana reserves to use."

"Who was that voice then?"

"One of the examiners, I guess."

"Are the examiners strong?"

"Eh, why are you asking me that all of a sudden?"

"I don't know, I just feel curious…"

Although there was a slight change in Ivan's tone, Calvin hadn't noticed.

"This ah? Hm, I'm not sure myself but, I have heard about the qualifications needed to become an examiner. Before one can apply to become an examiner for the academy's entrance exam, one must first be a Grandmaster in any field of magic. Besides that–"

'Oi, can no.69 please hurry up? We examiners don't have all day, you know?'

"Oh shut it, Lucas. Don't make me send you to the Northern Lands with a fireball again." Calvin suddenly retorted coldly.

"Eh?"

'Calvin, is that you?'

"No shit, sherlock. Who else but me would dare to retort you like that?"

"Uncle, are you…okay?"

'True. Only a Sage has the qualifications to argue with another Sage…But seriously though, can you stop letting the boy stand outside? You're going to make me look bad in front of Senior Life & Death.'

In the end, Calvin stopped arguing with the examiner named Lucas since he did have a job of guiding Ivan to room 4.

Soon, they reached a double door made out of stygian iron. The number 4 was etched into the twin doors in golden color.

"Alright kid, this is it. When you're ready, use all of your might to push open these two doors. Even if you feel like you're pushing against an immovable wall, just continue pushing."

"I don't really understand but all I have to do is push, right?"

"Yep, push. Push the doors with all your might, else the doors won't budge."

Standing in front of the twin black doors, Ivan took a deep breath, mustering all of the strength within his body to his two little arms.

Ivan then placed his hands on the cold surface of the doors, chilling him ever so slightly. He counted down from 3 to 2 to 1, before he began to push.