Entrance Exam

I traveled with Velker on the two carriages they have. One for the merchant with the goods and one for him and his sister and friend. Velker explained that his sister was breaking through. Confused by his words I asked what was breaking through. He explained to me the levels of humans on Aelvaard. He thought that no one taught me about it so he started to explain it. Different from other races, humans with the gift to evolve discovered the power lying on one's self. It was then called an ability. If elves were born talented with Elementals, then human was born with abilities which were dormant. The abilities then divided into two types. The Evolving type and the Stagnant type. The Evolving type has the ability to evolve to a powerful ability through practice and use, while the Stagnant type was limited, never growing strong through practice and use.

"The Evolving type then graded by a type of mana stone which then used to grade one's ability power. It was rated SSS, SS, S, AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CC, C, DD, D, EE, E, and F. F was the lowest while SSS was the highest." The difference through each level was a lot. Velker then explained that A and up were strong that could wipe out a whole country of B. Every city and town was given one mana stone that could grade them. He was currently on EE, while his sister was E. He also explained that to successfully break through, one has to go through a test on his or her own plane.

I was reminded of the white space. Then we continued to exchange information or should I say he continued to give me an information regarding the levels. He didn't say anything about his friend that made me curious. He would say a lot about his sister and him but never his friend. We soon reached the border. The border was huge. It was well protected by guards stationed at the gate. It was like a fort. We soon left Organia. Velker told me that the New Folk Town which we were heading was the center of trade and also the symbol of alliance of the three country.

"What is your relationship with Time Witch?" Velker finally asked the question with excited eyes, his full attention was on me. The merchant with us also looked at me.

"She is my master. She saved me and have a liking to me so she took me as a disciple." I said half lying and half telling the truth. She did save me and also took a liking to me but it was not liking me at first but she needed me.

"Ohh! We should be friends from now on. Yes! We'll be friends." Velker nodded eagerly. He looked like an idiot, the composed Velker was long gone when he mentioned Elina. He was really a die hard fan. I smiled and thanked him. He would be my very first friend. Unwillingly, I accepted my fate. He continued to ask me about Elina and so on. I only answered some and stayed silent on the other.

Soon, we arrived at the New Folk Town. I thanked Velker and promised that I would never forget him to mention to Elina. New Folk Town, there were a lot of people on the streets. There were also a lot of street vendors, selling their items happily. It was a peaceful town. I asked people where the academy was. They told me that the Academy was at the center. The town wasn't big nor small. There were lot of vendors on a nearby gate but when you started to walk for half a kilometer it was soon deserted. There were only buildings that looked like an inn. There were barely people that could be seen. They all wore uniforms, green, red, blue, black and white. I proceeded to walk further down the main street. I was soon greeted by a fountain at the center of the street. The fountain was at the middle of the road. It's as if I was already at the Academy.

"Welcome to the Academy." Elina said on the other side of the fountain. I walked to her and looked at her beckoning for her to continue. "The buildings you saw earlier would be the place where you would sleep. People who was not qualified to enter would never find the academy. You only walked half kilometer but if other who was not qualified would soon see the road leaving the town. So congratulations on passing the Entrance Exam." I was dumbstruck. It was a kind of entrance exam that seemed pointless. But in fact, it was not. "Only ability user recognized by the Ability Measuring Stone could enter the Academy. It was a cheap exam for an entrance exam but it was really done meticulously."

I could tell that the Academy was safe. I never doubted the vendors on the street so it never occurred to me that the exam was already beginning.

"Linnie would be the one to welcome you but she was not yet fully recovered so I would be the one to guide you. I was once a teacher here, you know."

Elina explained to me that tomorrow there would be a test where we would be measured what rank we would get. The Academy also served as the Order's HQ. If Linnie was the Grandmaster of the Academy then there were 4 Leaders of Order. One for each country and the other was the neutral party.

"You wouldn't find the HQ unless you were contracted to them. Also Ordee cannot enter the Academy as long as they don't have the permission of the Grandmaster. But due to the absence of Grandmaster the Vice let me in. So you don't have to worry. The Academy is the safest place in the continent. It is part of the tower's power. You'll understand tomorrow."

Elina continued to show me the place. There were no classes for now because it was vacation time. The students could go home or stay. Elina assured me that no one could enter the Academy even if they have the same ability as I have. The ability to change appearance. The explanation was complex but it was the tower's power to recognize someone. It was then made into a protective layer to the Academy and the HQ. Elina also said that Hanz was the key to alter the tower. He made the tower protect the Academy and the HQ. If Linnie was the founder of the Academy then Hanz was one of the living founder of the HQ. The day ended and Elina showed me to a guest house. There were a lot of people. Someone was on the desk who gave the room number. I took mine and bid good night to Elina. She didn't need sleep so I proceeded to my room. I lied on the bed and closed my eyes. A new day would start tomorrow. I better be prepared and rested.

"At last, I'm finally awake."