Written Test
The city guardian's entry exam would take three days, with one day dedicated to each part of the exam.
The first part, the written test, would take place in the capital of the city, within the castle of the city chief.
Only the participants who passed the written test would qualify for the next part of the entry exam, and those who passed the survival test would advance to the final part, which was the combat test.
Among the judges for this year's entry exam were the city chief himself, the captain of the city guardians, a few representatives sent by the Regent from Royal City, and some senior members of the city guardians.
"Master Vince, eat some peanuts while we're on our way. These will nourish your brain," Fiona offered her pouch of peanuts while they rode in Raine's carriage toward the city chief's castle.
Vince waved two fingers in the air.
"I'm fine. My brain's already been nourished enough by studying."
The cat hissed. "You're too arrogant, Master Vince."
"I'm not being arrogant. I've studied well, and I'm not fond of peanuts. Just eat them all, I know you're always hungry."
Vince leaned back and closed his eyes as the cool wind brushed his face.
Raine wasn't with them. She had left earlier that day to attend to other matters. She had used her carriage, but Patton, the coachman, returned with it after an hour, saying Raine had asked him to fetch Vince.
Vince made sure to have a good breakfast before they left. His stomach couldn't be grumbling during the test, or it would distract him with hunger.
Before long, the carriage arrived at the vast garden of the city chief's castle.
"I can't go in with you, Master Vince, but I'll find somewhere to sneak a peek," said Fiona with a sly smirk.
"I hope you don't cause any trouble."
The cat rolled her eyes.
"Since when have I ever caused trouble for you? Tsk, between us, you're the one who loves making trouble. I hope you do your best. I don't want to get chased out of Lady Raine's manor!" Fiona placed her paw on her forehead, looking disheartened by the idea. "Imagine the horror."
"Don't worry. I'm sure you can make a living for both of us by performing in the theater. You've got decent acting skills, kitty."
"I've always told you not to call me kitty, Master Vince!"
Vince only chuckled and walked toward the entrance of the castle.
There were attendants at the entrance, and after learning that Vince was a participant in the city guardian's entry exam, one of them guided him to the hall where it would be held.
As he entered the large hall, Vince adjusted the collar of his shirt and took a quick look at his clothes, making sure he didn't look foolish.
For the day, Raine had chosen his outfit herself: dark brown trousers and a vested shirt. The vest's intricate details and buttons gave it a neat, refined look. His chestnut hair was tousled, the ends brushing against his eyebrows.
The hall featured a spacious, open area with an elegant marble floor that reflected the glow of the chandeliers above. The ceiling was high, supported by ornate columns adorned with intricate gold detailing.
Tall, arched windows lined the back wall, offering a view of the daytime sky. Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling, decorated with crystal-like ornaments.
The walls were framed by rich drapery in a royal blue shade, accented with more gold embellishments, enhancing the regal and sophisticated ambiance of the space.
The attendant left Vince to choose a seat.
There were already some participants, but many seats were still unoccupied.
Vince chose a seat somewhere in the middle.
Each participant had their own desk and chair, with the desks spaced three seats apart. The hall was so vast that, even with many participants, it wouldn't feel cramped.
"Isn't he the dormant one Lady Raine chose as her mate?"
"Looks like he is."
"Is he still dormant? If he is, he sure has guts... pfft!"
Vince overheard the muttering of some guys near him.
He glared at them but said nothing, while the scums smirked and laughed at him, as if they found him utterly ridiculous.
"Just don't pay them any attention."
Vince turned to the desk next to his, on his right.
The voice was low and a little husky, so he initially thought it was a guy.
But soon he realized the person was a she.
The girl, however, looked nothing like a typical female. She had an extremely short haircut for a woman, and her entire appearance was too masculine for Vince's expectations.
Her hairstyle was short and edgy, with a messy, tousled look, like a pixie cut. It had layers, with some strands falling loosely over her forehead, giving her a slightly rebellious, casual appearance.
Between the strands of hair on her forehead, a small, wooden brown stone peeked through, indicating she was a first-class awakened.
She wore black trousers, boots, and a black tank top with straps that showed off her muscular build and a full-sleeve tattoo on her right arm that extended to the side of her neck. One of her ears had a piercing with a dangling silver sword.
Even while sitting, Vince could tell she was at least 180 cm tall.
Her eyes had a lethal look, as if she'd woken up on the wrong side of the bed and was ready to take out anyone who dared annoy her.
Although she hardly resembled a typical female, Vince was certain she was, based on her chest (though it was relatively smaller than the majority of females he had seen in this world).
"You can't stop people from talking badly about you. That's just how the world works," she added in the same low voice, which still sounded like a man's to Vince.
"I know. I'm not affected at all." Thinking it wouldn't hurt to make a good connection, he added, "By the way, I'm Vince."
"Maximilian. Max, for short."
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A/N: Max's character image is in the auxiliary chapter (just before the prologue).
I hope you guys are sleeping well because I haven't been. Anyway, do give the novel some power stones! (points a gun at you *evil smirk*) Hehe.
More chapters will be posted soon!