Morning arrived over Aetherial Institute.
Golden sunlight descended from the heavens and illuminated the ancient island.
Mist drifted between towering mountains.
Countless magical formations rotated high above the academy grounds.
The floating bridges connecting various districts glowed faintly.
Ancient bells echoed across the island.
Their sound was deep.
Heavy.
Ancient.
As though announcing the beginning of something important.
Because it was.
Today marked the beginning of the entrance examinations.
The day when dreams would either rise toward the heavens—
Or shatter upon reality.
Thousands of applicants had gathered throughout the academy grounds.
Nobles.
Commoners.
Merchants.
Military cadets.
Independent adventurers.
Scholars.
Mages.
Swordsmen.
Every one of them possessed talent.
Every one of them had survived difficult journeys.
Yet Aetherial Institute did not care.
The academy only cared about results.
And results would be determined today.
The Registration District had transformed overnight.
Massive magical boards floated in the air.
Thousands of names continuously shifted across them.
Numbers appeared beside each name.
Examination groups.
Schedules.
Testing locations.
Instructor assignments.
The organization was flawless.
Every applicant received a crystal badge after registration.
The badge displayed their identification number.
Kel stood among a crowd of applicants.
His badge displayed:
Applicant Number: 7438
The crystal glowed softly against his dark travel clothes.
Nearby.
Students hurried through pathways.
Some looked excited.
Others nervous.
Several appeared ready to collapse from anxiety.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly observed the surroundings.
Inside his mind.
Seiren spoke.
"Everyone looks terrified."
"They should be."
"You are not nervous?"
"No."
The Guardian laughed.
"Of course not."
Kel ignored her.
The truth was simple.
Compared to giant sea monsters.
Ancient curses.
Political conspiracies.
Assassins.
And frontier warfare—
An entrance examination felt rather peaceful.
Elsewhere.
Seraphina stared at her crystal badge.
The silver-haired mermaid looked completely lost.
Unlike everyone else.
She barely understood what an examination actually was.
The female applicants she met during the voyage surrounded her.
Helping her understand the process.
The dark-haired girl pointed toward the floating boards.
"You see those numbers?"
Seraphina nodded.
"Those are your examination groups."
The blonde girl added:
"Different tests happen simultaneously."
Another girl nodded.
"Some are practical."
"Some are written."
"Some evaluate talent."
"Some evaluate mentality."
The more they explained—
The more confused Seraphina became.
Eventually.
The girls gave up.
The dark-haired girl patted her shoulder.
"Just do your best."
Seraphina nodded seriously.
The answer sounded simple enough.
Far above.
Within one of the academy's ancient towers.
Senior instructors had gathered.
Large magical screens floated throughout the chamber.
Every applicant's information appeared upon them.
The room itself resembled a war room.
Not an educational facility.
Several instructors studied reports.
Others reviewed recommendations.
Some debated evaluation criteria.
At the center sat three senior instructors.
Individuals who possessed enough authority to influence admissions directly.
One old man adjusted his glasses.
Another sipped tea.
A female instructor reviewed documents calmly.
The old man suddenly spoke.
"Interesting."
The female instructor glanced toward him.
"What now?"
The old man pointed toward a screen.
"Aedon Flinth."
The name appeared.
Immediately.
Several instructors became interested.
The recommendation attached beneath the file remained visible.
Nameless.
The room fell quiet.
One instructor frowned.
"Direct recommendation?"
Another nodded.
"Verified."
The female instructor looked thoughtful.
"An explorer."
The old man smiled.
"Apparently."
Then he opened additional reports.
Information from administrative staff.
Information from ship personnel.
Information regarding the giant sea monster incident.
The room became quieter.
One instructor slowly placed down his teacup.
"Wait."
Another leaned forward.
"That applicant?"
The old man nodded.
The female instructor raised an eyebrow.
"He fought the sea predator?"
"Apparently."
"He used Divine Spoon Art?"
"Apparently."
Silence.
The old man suddenly laughed.
"Either this applicant is impressive."
A pause.
"Or the reports are drunk."
Several instructors chuckled.
Yet nobody dismissed the possibility.
A recommendation from Nameless alone warranted attention.
Not far away.
Another group of instructors reviewed special cases.
One file repeatedly appeared.
Seraphina.
Mermaid.
Unknown age.
Unknown background.
Unknown education.
Exceptional mimicry talent.
One instructor rubbed his forehead.
"How is this even possible?"
Another shook his head.
"I don't know."
The first instructor pointed toward witness reports.
"Perfectly copied sword techniques."
Another report.
"Perfectly copied magical structures."
Another.
"Perfectly copied aura circulation."
The room became silent.
One instructor finally spoke.
"Monster."
Everyone nodded.
Because that description felt accurate.
Very accurate.
Meanwhile.
Academy bells rang again.
Their sound echoed throughout the island.
Immediately.
The floating boards changed.
Bright golden letters appeared.
FIRST EXAMINATION BEGINS
The atmosphere exploded.
Thousands of students immediately rushed toward assigned locations.
Nervous conversations filled the air.
Determination filled countless eyes.
Dreams and ambitions surged.
This was it.
The beginning.
Kel glanced toward his crystal badge.
A location appeared.
Field Seven
Evaluation Type: Foundational Assessment
Supervisor: Senior Instructor Varian Holt
The name meant nothing to him.
Yet nearby students reacted instantly.
One applicant paled.
Another looked terrified.
A third whispered.
"No way."
His friend immediately nodded.
"We're finished."
Kel looked toward them.
"What happened?"
The two students stared.
Then one answered.
"Senior Instructor Varian."
The student swallowed.
"He is famous."
"For?"
The student looked as though he had seen a ghost.
"He never lowers standards."
The second student added.
"People say he once failed an entire examination group."
Kel nodded.
Reasonable.
Then began walking toward Field Seven.
The students watched him leave.
One whispered.
"Is he not worried?"
The other shook his head.
"I think something is wrong with him."
Reasonable conclusion.
Across the academy.
Seraphina received her own assignment.
A special evaluation group.
Naturally.
The academy had no intention of placing her within ordinary examinations.
Not after reading those reports.
Several instructors personally awaited her arrival.
The silver-haired mermaid looked nervous.
For the first time.
Actually nervous.
The girls accompanying her noticed immediately.
The dark-haired girl smiled.
"You'll be fine."
The blonde nodded.
"Just copy whatever they do."
Several girls laughed.
Seraphina smiled slightly.
The joke actually helped.
A little.
The academy grounds became increasingly active.
Training fields filled with applicants.
Magic arenas activated.
Testing halls opened.
Ancient examination formations awakened after years of dormancy.
Instructors moved through the island like generals preparing for war.
Because in many ways—
This was war.
A war of talent.
A war of potential.
A war of futures.
High above.
The senior instructors continued observing magical screens.
Thousands of applicants appeared simultaneously.
Some looked confident.
Some terrified.
Some arrogant.
Some desperate.
And among them—
One silver-haired explorer calmly walked toward Field Seven.
A simple spear strapped across his back.
A sword hanging at his waist.
No anxiety.
No nervousness.
No excitement.
Only calm observation.
Inside his mind.
Seiren spoke.
"Your academy life officially begins today."
"Not yet."
"What do you mean?"
Kel's gaze lifted toward the examination grounds.
Toward the instructors.
Toward the applicants.
Toward the challenges ahead.
Then he answered.
"The examination begins today."
A pause.
"The academy life begins after I pass."
The Guardian laughed.
Because that sounded exactly like Kel.
Ahead of him.
Field Seven came into view.
Dozens of applicants had already gathered.
And standing at the center—
A tall instructor with iron-gray hair and cold eyes waited silently.
Senior Instructor Varian Holt.
The first examiner.
The first obstacle.
The first step toward Aetherial Institute.
And for the first time since arriving—
The true test was about to begin.