"Malrik. Malrik. Malrik!"
Malrik's eyes snapped open. He slowly rose up from his bed and rubbed his eyes. Yawning, his eyes met Jill's gaze. Malrik blinked, Jill blinked…
"Aaaah!!" Malrik screamed, falling out of his bed. Jill quickly raised her hands in defence, eyes shifting to the door and back in fear someone would come. Malrik stood up from the floor and pointed at the woman on the other side of the bed. "Wha-what are you doing in my room!?"
"Uuh, please forgive me. Your sister requested I wake you up so you're not late for your entrance exam."
"Oh…" Malrik blinked. 'I almost forgot. Today is the day we take the exam to enter the academy.' Malrik smiled to himself before he suddenly realised something. 'Wait? Why didn't Sarah just wake me up herself?'
Malrik's head quickly snapped to his clock. The time was 8:25. "Wait! When does the entrance exam start?"
Jill looked down and gave a nervous cough. Her eyes were desperately looking anywhere but at the boy. "Well… the entrance exam started 25 minutes ago. You only have 45 minutes to get there and take it."
"…" Malrik stared at Jill for a few seconds in disbelief, the words slowly registering. His eyes suddenly widened. "What!!"
— 10 Minutes Later —
Malrik dashed out of the guild, running for his life, with a piece of toast in his mouth.
"Damn it. When I see Sarah, I swear I am going to give her a piece of my mind." He ran down the streets with dangerous thoughts entering his mind. 'If I miss this, I don't get in. And if I don't get in…' Malrik shook the thought away and bolted to the nearest taxi.
Luckily for him, there was a car waiting to drop someone off. Malrik rapidly knocked on the window three times, waiting for the driver to roll it down.
"What!" snapped the driver. Malrik frowned at the rudeness but decided to ignore it.
"How long is it to drive to Evergrove Academy?" he asked.
"However long I want." Malrik sighed. He dug out his credit card, given to him by his father, and showed it to the driver, who widened his eyes.
"Can you get me there in 10 minutes for 100 RagenDollars?" The driver could barely speak, staring at the card in shock.
"You-you have a credit—"
"Is it a yes, or do I have to look for another driver?" snapped Malrik impatiently. The driver quickly nodded his head, opening the door for him.
"Yes, yes, please, come in. Ten minutes? I'll get you there in seven." Malrik smiled and entered the cab. He chuckled inwardly as the man started driving, disregarding stop signs and everything. 'Dad wasn't kidding when he said people with credit cards are basically royalty.'
They reached the school in five minutes. Malrik's sweat dropped. 'Isn't the school, like, on the other side of the city? It's a big city…'
The man bowed his head, stretching out his card machine, hand shaking. Malrik paid and left the man staring in awe at the machine, like it was the first time he had ever used it…
"Wow!" Malrik exclaimed as he gazed in awe at the school in front of him. 'So, this is the Evergrove Academy.' In front of him stood a large building that resembled a royal castle for gods. Peeking inside, his eyes met the palace-looking school. There were towers connected, rising high into the bright blue sky. Green glass windows glimmered like emeralds, topping each spire. Wide stone bridges curved between their towers, their railings decorated with elegant gold designs. A round gladiator-style dome surrounded the school; its white and green gates open for new students to arrive.
Distracted by the looming spires of his future school, Malrik almost didn't notice the sleek black limo gliding to a stop by the gate. The door opened with a soft click, and a warm, confident voice cut through his thoughts.
"Excuse me?"
He turned, meeting the gaze of a striking young girl his age, with smooth skin and sharp, assessing eyes. A small escort of ninja-looking guards stood behind her, their polished armour catching the morning light.
Malrik's brow rose. "That's your ride?" He nodded towards the limo, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
Her eyebrow arched. "Indeed. And you are?"
"Malrik," he said simply. "I can't say I've ever seen a vehicle like yours before. I've read that only royals and big names tend to travel like that."
A faint smile played on her lips. "I suppose it's something like that. I take it you're here for the entrance exams?"
The words hit him like a slap. He flicked a glance at the clock—8:45.
"Great," he muttered. "Fifteen minutes to get in, get registered, and—"
She interrupted, tone calm. "Registration ends at nine. The exams run until everyone who's signed up has had their turn."
Malrik froze, then exhaled through his nose. "...So, you're telling me I nearly sprinted here like my life depended on it for no reason?"
The guards shifted uncomfortably at his casual tone towards her, but she only smiled, as if weighing him up.
Malrik took a moment to calm himself down and look at the woman in front of him. The girl wore a turquoise blue blouse with an intricate, elaborate design running down the front. It had long puffed sleeves with ruffled cuffs and the shoulders cut out. Over the blouse, she wore a dark brown, high-waisted corset with multiple ornate straps and buckles. She also had on dark brown shorts with embroidery at the hem, trimmed with light fabric at the end. Finally, she wore dark brown high-heeled boots. What was interesting, though, was her choice of weapons. Behind her was a large sword and a golden shield strapped to her back, and on her left leg were a bow and arrows set.
"Wow, someone came prepared," mumbled Malrik as he glanced at his one trusty black sword strapped to his left waist.
The girl caressed her short brown hair. "Hey, uh, do you think my husband would like my hair? I just got it cut today."
"… wait, did you say husband?"
— Inside the Academy —
Sarah stood inside a tightly packed room, staring at the hundreds of 16-year-olds in the room with her. She shifted uncomfortably. She wasn't used to being surrounded by people her age, and it was starting to show. 'Maybe leaving Malrik behind wasn't such a good idea.'
She glanced at the door, hoping he would show on time. She glanced at the clock. 'Jill should have woken him up 40 minutes ago. What's taking him so long?'
"Mrs Aurelion?" A voice rose from behind her. Sarah quickly turned around to see an old man in a grey suit staring at her.
"Yes?" A bright smile quickly appeared on the man's face.
"I knew it. You probably don't know me, but I used to be a teacher of your father and mother." Sarah widened her eyes, recognition finally settling in.
"Mr Derryberry, my father has told me so much about you. You're the head teacher now, right?" The man's smile grew farther, happy to know his students still remembered him.
"Yes, I am. All because of the success of your father and mother. I am glad to know they are doing so well." Mr Derryberry noticed something as he started looking around. "I was told your brother will be coming. Is he here?"
"Oh, ye—he should be here any second now. He had to take care of something first," lied Sarah, avoiding eye contact. "He will be here on time, I promise."
Mr Derryberry was about to respond before a loud mechanical voice rang out across the room. "Sarah Aurelion, please come inside to begin your test. I repeat, Sarah Aurelion, please come inside to begin your test."
Mumbles and whispers filled the room at the mention of Sarah's name. Some recognised her surname and pointed at her. Sarah shifted nervously. "Uuh, wish me luck."
"I am sure you will do great," reassured the head teacher. Sarah entered the white front door to begin her test.
— Outside the Academy —
Outside, Malrik was busy gawking at the girl. "You have a husband?" The girl just chuckled and nodded. She began walking towards the school, Malrik striding right behind her. "Then again, I did read that it's common among royalties. Who are you exactly?"
"My name is Valery Duskveil. While it is true that I am a part of a royal family, I was not born into it," replied Valery, her guards keeping a close eye behind her.
Malrik placed his arms around his head. "Cool, I didn't know anyone could become royalty. How do I apply?" The guards glared at him, and Valery laughed. Malrik raised his arms up in defence. Noticing this, Valery turned to her guards.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to be left alone. Please wait in the car until I am done." The guards were about to argue back, but Valery narrowed her eyes at them. "If you don't mind." She repeated, her voice harsher.
The guards flinched. Deciding to keep their jobs, they walked back to the limo. Malrik watched the scene, impressed. He turned to Valery.
"I guess being royalty is a full-time job." Valery continued walking up the stairs.
"Yes, I suppose it can be. You're not from around here, are you?" Malrik smiled as he looked up to the sky.
"Nah, I came here with my sister. We're going to become great champions someday."
"So, I take it that is your dream?" asked Valery. Malrik looked at her, confused. "To become a champion. That is why you're here? What you're aiming for."
Malrik took a few seconds to respond. "It's more of a promise than a dream, but yeah, that is the reason I am here." Valery nodded and carried on walking up the stairs. "What about you? Was marrying your age—" Valery turned to him, and Malrik quickly raised his hands in defence. "I am not judging, just noticed you sounded pretty happy talking about your husband."
Valery smiled and shook her head. "My husband and I first crossed paths when we were only eight years of age. He found me alone and unconscious within the forest's shadow, as though I had been cast aside. With no memory of who I was, he took me into his care. The Duskveil were far from pleased with such a notion—yet when I pledged myself to him in marriage, to ensure the next heir to the throne, their discontent swiftly transformed into delight."
"So that's your dream, repaying the person who gave your life new meaning." Valery nodded.
"Indeed, it is." She stared off into the distance for a moment as if reliving a memory. Then, with a small breath, she quickly dismissed it. "Come, we shall be late if we don't proceed inside quickly."
— Inside the Academy —
As Sarah prepared herself inside the test arena, outside, an orange-haired boy was staring at her intently. The boy wore a loose-fitting cream-coloured jumper with wide sleeves. The jumper was decorated with orange symbols, looking like paint had been splattered on it. He had multi-layered necklaces and several rings on his fingers. His ears were pierced with round earrings. He had on grey trousers with subtle stitched patterns near the hem.
He glanced at the name, and a big goofy grin appeared on his face.
"I'd ask why you're smiling, but at this point I doubt I want to know," said a voice. The boy turned to the left, and somehow his smile grew wider. A boy in a full buttoned-up suit stood beside him.
"Lu!" he shouted as he practically jumped on Lucien, wrapping his arm around his neck. He quickly pointed towards the screen, ignoring Lucien's growl. "Look! That's one of the people I was telling you about two days ago."
Lucien glanced at the screen, which read 'Sarah Aurelion'.
"I believe I am familiar with that surname. If I am correct, she should be the daughter of Blinking Star, one of the most famous champions in this region. It seems we have a prodigy here, Ellion."
Ellion narrowed his eyes. "Wait! She is the daughter of a champion! How come they didn't tell me?" Lucien rolled his eyes as Ellion practically cried in his arms.
"Not everyone is obligated to inform you about their place of origin—"
"Wait!" Ellion suddenly spoke up. Lucien raised an eyebrow, wondering what had suddenly snapped him out of his breakdown. "Being related to a champion means money, right? … oh no! I should have done a bigger performance two days ago. I could have impressed them hard and cashed in the biggest cheque of my life."
Lucien groaned. 'Ok, that's enough talking to him for now.'
Ellion calmed himself down and realised something. "Wait. Where is the princess? Is she not entering too?"
Lucien shrugged and glanced at the entrance door. "Something about getting her hair done. She should be here any second, though."
"Not surprising. You royals always enter in style," mumbled Ellion. Lucien shushed him and pointed at the screen showing Sarah.
"I think her test is about to start." Everyone's eyes rested on the screen, excited to find out what the daughter of a famous champion was capable of.