Evening arrived when all the group duels finished. Following the group duels, the headmaster summoned those who had not dueled, requesting they take part in the verbal examination on stage, before the king.

  He asked them one question each. And depending on their answer, they would pass or fail. Each of them received different questions. The initial applicant summoned forth was a lowborn. He bowed down to the king and awaited his question.

  The headmaster crossed his arms and asked, “You have the opportunity to kill the enemy leader, but it risks endangering your men. Would you still do it?”

  The lowborn thought for a moment and asked, “Does my not killing the enemy leader have any dire consequences?”

  The headmaster nodded. “Let’s just say that if he doesn’t die, lots of innocent people will lose their lives.”

  The lowborn straightened and answered. “Then I will take the opportunity. The men who followed me knew the risks; they’ll understand.”

  The headmaster nodded in understanding and said, “It’s honorable, yet unwise.” He took a small breath. “You could have sent your men back and then killed the enemy leader.” His lips curled into a warm smile. “But, you pass.”

  The lowborn gleamed with excitement, thanked the headmaster and walked back.

  After him, most of them passed, and soon it was Mei Zhi’s turn.

  She stood in front of the king but refused to bow. The teachers reprimanded her, but she paid them no mind and awaited her question.

  The headmaster smiled and said, “Since you already won the duel, even if you answer wrong, you may enter the academy.”

  Mei Zhi nodded, and then the headmaster asked, “What is the difference between a knight and a martial master?”

  Mei Zhi’s eyes widened slightly, but she immediately calmed down and looked at the headmaster, who had a slight smirk on his face. The other teachers looked at each other in confusion at the question.

  Does he know? How? Mei Zhi wondered.

  She took a deep breath and replied. “There is nothing except the title.”

  The headmaster nodded and said, “Alright, you pass.” His gaze lingered on her as she walked back and then moved on to the next applicant.

  He questioned them and called out for Ray after that. He walked onto the stage and bowed to the king and greeted the teachers. The king refused to acknowledge him, and the headmaster said, “You pass.”

  Ray blinked and asked, “Pardon?”

  The teachers and other applicants murmured among themselves as the headmaster said, “You already showed me you are smart and cunning. So you pass.”

  Ray took a moment before nodding and bowed before walking back down. After him, the headmaster quickly questioned the remaining applicants. Some faltered in their answers and were dismissed with a regretful shake of the headmaster’s head. Others gave sharp, insightful answers and were welcomed into the fold.

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  Finally, the last applicant bowed and stepped down. The headmaster turned to address the entire assembly, his voice carrying easily in the evening air.

  “The entrance exam is now concluded. Those of you who remain have proven your mettle, whether by blade, by mind, or by both. You are now apprentices of Acacia.” A wave of relieved murmurs and quiet cheers passed through the successful applicants. “However,” his tone hardened slightly, “this is not the end. It is just the beginning. You have now entered a different world. The path ahead is long and fraught with hardships. From this moment, your lives belong to the pursuit of strength, honor, and duty.”

  His eyes swept over the applicants. “The introductory ceremony will be held tomorrow at dawn. For now, follow the men and women in red-white to your respective dormitories. And,” he took a long pause. “Do not doubt yourselves.”

  With a final nod to the king, the headmaster stepped back. The king rose and departed without a word, Robert and his other guards in tow.

  Duke Korax glanced at the headmaster and asked, “What was that question to applicant Vivian?”

  The headmaster replied, “Apprentice Vivian.” He then shrugged. “I had a doubt, and it’s still not cleared. She answered perfectly, and that is why she passed.” The duke nodded and left with Cedric following him, their thoughts still lingering on the dead lowborn and the king’s lie.

  As the royal party left, the formal atmosphere broke. The new apprentices began to chatter, the tension of the day giving way to exhaustion and exhilaration.

  Jon let out a loud sigh of relief. “We made it.”

  Elaira flipped her hair. “Of course we did.” Though relief laced her voice as well.

  Ray and Mei Zhi slowly made their way to the group silently. Ray glanced at her once. That question he asked her… Is she the princess Sun Oh Tian was talking about? Maybe not; she doesn’t have the same dialect.

  He looked up at the sky shaded in orange and purple as the sun dipped below the horizon. Maybe she is, since she didn’t bow down before the king. Only a royal from another kingdom or continent would do that.

  He shrugged and sighed. “Whatever.”

  Jon spotted them and immediately approached Mei Zhi. “You are so strong, Vivian. I couldn’t even see you move. You disappeared and kicked him across the grounds.” He calmed down and rubbed the back of his head. “Do you perhaps want to ha–”

  “Vivian. Fight me,” Elaira interrupted after pushing Jon away, who stumbled to the ground. Mei Zhi took a deep breath. “No. I won’t fight you. You’re weaker than I am.”

  Elaira frowned and clenched her fists. Sera calmed her down by rubbing her back.

  Cassandra interjected. “Everyone must be tired, so let’s not fight.”

  Before Ray could probe further, a familiar voice called out. “Hey! You made it!” Aidan approached with Victor Aetos at his side. “This is Victor.” Pointing at Jon, “The one lying on the ground is Jon. He is dumb and talks a lot.” Pointing at Elaira, he said, “She’s Elaira. She is hotheaded and also dumb, but only sometimes.”

  Elaira glared at him.

  Aidan smiled and continued, “That’s Sera. She is always calm and collected, but still dumb.” Cassandra let out a hearty laugh while Sera frowned. Aidan flinched as he heard her laugh.

  He stumbled over his words. “T-t-that’s Ray. H-he is — well — uh… the s-smartest and strongest among t-them.”

  The group laughed while Cassandra looked around at them, confused.

  Aidan glanced at Cassandra, and suddenly his eyes widened before turning cold. “Our swords broke, and you guys don’t have weapons, right?”

  The group nodded, and Aidan continued, “We can talk to Lysa about that.”

  Ray noticed Aidan’s change in demeanor and looked at Cassandra and sighed as he spotted a ring on her ring finger. He shook his head.

  The group made their way to Lysa, who was talking with some teachers. Cassandra stepped forward and asked, “Um, Miss Lysa, can I have a moment of your time?”

  Lysa turned around and replied with a smile, “Yes.”

  Cassandra then asked, “Aidan and Victor’s weapons broke, and the rest of them don’t have one. So I was wondering where we can get them.”

  Lysa said, “After the introductory ceremony tomorrow, the new applicants can choose their preferred weapons from the academy’s armory.”

  The group nodded and left. The men in red-white led the boys to the boys’ dormitory while the women in red-white led the girls to the girls’ dormitory.