Snowfall and Exam Preparations

“It’s snowing.”

Freya tilted her hand upwards, extending it out the window. A few icy snowflakes drifted down, landing in her palm. Before she could fully register the winter’s chill, they had already melted on her skin.

She tugged at the wool scarf around her neck with her right hand, then exhaled softly, her breath clouding the air in a white mist.

Behind her, Roland paced back and forth across the room. One hand was tucked into the pocket of his thick wool coat, seeking warmth, while the other held a rough piece of paper containing the entrance exam instructions from Roxy, which he meticulously studied.

Upon hearing Freya’s words, he slipped the notes into his pocket, then turned, following her gaze out the window.

Snowflakes descended from the sky like scattered wisps of fluffy wool.

The street below slowly became enveloped in white, as pedestrians hurried along, their bodies bundled, taking small, quick steps.

“The snow heralds the coming of a new year,” Roland remarked, walking towards the window. Like Freya, he extended his hand outside, savoring the essence of the empire’s winter. “The snowflakes here seem much heavier than those in Green Village.”

“Perhaps it’s because we’re by the sea,” Freya mused. Finding her hand growing too cold outside, she withdrew it, bringing it to her lips and exhaling a few times until a measure of warmth returned.

She then looked up at Roland, stating with a touch of exasperation, “This inn we’re staying in is far more dilapidated than the Moonlight Hotel. If the entrance exam were scheduled any later, just kill me now…”

Though the illusion still surfaced in her mind occasionally, its details were no longer as clear. After spending this time together, Roland had not displayed any of the tyrannical or bloodthirsty tendencies she had witnessed in the vision.

Consequently, Freya had gradually lowered her guard around him. Regrettably, the memories buried deep within her mind remained hazy; no matter how much she racked her brain, she found nothing she could truly recall.

Three months had passed since the Blessing Ceremony. After their period of isolation concluded, they could no longer reside at the Moonlight Hotel for free.

Upon checking their funds, Roland realized the money they had brought was insufficient to continue staying in such a high-end establishment. Moreover, to obtain Rudios’s latest weekly potions, he could not remain in Green Village.

Thus, he had scoured numerous inns along their journey, eventually settling on an exceedingly inexpensive one as their temporary lodging.

[The Backstreet Inn]

Its dilapidated sign alone spoke volumes about its quality. The inn’s proprietor, an elderly man named Hans Christian, had reportedly opened the establishment with his wife in their youth.

However, since his wife’s passing, his mobility issues meant he could barely manage to clean the guest rooms properly. Hiring dedicated cleaning staff, on the other hand, would entirely consume the inn’s profits.

The inn was thus trapped in a vicious cycle, teetering on the brink of collapse.

On their first day of入住, Roland spent an entire day just clearing the piles of rubbish and cobwebs that filled the room, barely making it habitable.

Conveniently, the owner had also agreed to let Roland offset some of their lodging fees by performing cleaning duties.

Consequently, Roland frequently took on this part-time job of cleaning other guest rooms.

“Just bear with it a little longer. We didn’t bring much money, only enough for a place like this,” Roland said, withdrawing his hand as well. He glanced at Freya, then turned to retrieve a warming stone from the bed.

After infusing it with his mana to activate its heat, he placed it into her hand. “The entrance exam is in two days. How are your preparations coming along?”

As Freya held the warm stone, feeling its spring-like heat spread through her palm, a blush crept onto her face.

‘Honestly, he’s so good to me, yet why does he always… when the potion takes effect?’

“It’s going,” Freya replied, rubbing the warming stone between her hands, her delicate skin gliding over its rough surface. “What about you?”

Roland pulled the rough paper from his pocket, pursed his lips, and began, “I’ve noted down all the steps for the entrance exam, along with the important details. Let me go over them with you now.”

“The first round is the Mana Level Test. This test not only assesses the examinee’s mana capacity but also their mana intensity. If, under a certain mana suppression, the examinee cannot maintain their composure and allow their mana fluctuations to stabilize to a specific degree, they will fail.

Examinees must enter the academy’s Test Pathway, and only those who meet the test’s standards can traverse it. Incidentally, the academy’s requirements are: for those under 25, a mana level of 20; for those between 25 and 30, a mana level of 30.”

“Hmm,” Freya nodded, then a thought struck her. “But I don’t remember how old I am…”

“It’s fine, the academy’s testing instructors will determine your age through mana bone assessment…”

Roland’s voice trailed off, becoming uncertain. ‘Can demons also have their age determined by bone age?’

‘Perhaps I should try it on myself first.’

He first channeled his mana into his own body, confirming a bone age of approximately 18 years. Only then did he place his hand on Freya’s.

‘Fortunately, I can detect this fellow’s bone age, but…’

‘Bone age 14?’

His gaze fell upon the area below Freya’s neck, his expression grave.

‘Fourteen, my ass?!’

“What are you staring at?” Freya demanded, noticing Roland’s peculiar gaze. She covered her chest with both hands, a look of indignant embarrassment on her face. “Am I qualified or not?!”

“Qualified,” Roland confirmed, retracting his somewhat greedy gaze and awkwardly rubbing his head. “Next is the Talent Test. Examinees must enter a crossroads, where five paths branch off, each symbolizing a different talent direction.

If a talent is sufficient, that path will open to the examinee. If no talent is present, the seal at the crossroads will simply teleport the examinee back.”

“Understood.”

“The third round is the State of Mind Test. After traversing the branching path from the previous test, you will enter a large plaza. This plaza, known as [Illusions], is a massive magic array.

Upon entering the array, a brutal illusion of the Demon Realm War will manifest. Examinees must navigate through this plaza to reach the destination ahead to pass this third test.”

“Why is it called the State of Mind Test, then?”

“Because it will feature numerous demonic monsters and brutal enemies. Constantly witnessing death and slaughter within can easily cause young individuals to suffer mental collapse.”

“Alright, and the last one?”

Roland read out the final lines from the rough paper: “After exiting the plaza, you will arrive at a massive lake called [Dragon’s Roost Pond]. Legend has it that the founder of the beast-type demons, Lilithran Jade, sealed a demon beast at its bottom.

Examinees are to take a small elderwood wand, issued by the examiner at the lakeside, and cast the simplest first-tier, non-elemental spell, [Magic Star Shot], at the lake’s surface. The wand will then display a corresponding attack power value.

After completing this, register with a nearby examiner. Once registered, you may depart. All statistical work will take approximately one week, and if you meet the admission standard of being among the top 300, the academy will send you a letter via a beast messenger.”

“That sounds… quite interesting,” Freya remarked, showing a keen interest. “Although I can’t recall much about you lately, I do remember a great deal about magic and mana usage techniques. I seem to be able to…”

She ignited a spark of mana at her fingertip, and a torrent of black flames abruptly burst forth.

The intensity, temperature, and color of these flames were extraordinary. Simply standing before them, Roland’s body involuntarily recoiled.

“Very powerful,” Roland managed, swallowing hard, as if stating an obvious truth. “It seems you are exceptionally gifted.”

Freya casually dispersed the mana, then cast a quick glance at Roland, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

“It’s time…”

Her voice was soft, yet Roland heard it clearly, as she had uttered those words countless times before.

Roland nodded, walking to the wooden cabinet where the potions were stored, and retrieved the tube of white liquid.

Freya slowly parted her lips, extending her pink, moist tongue.

A few drops of the milky white fluid landed on her tongue. She then retracted it, slowly swallowing the potion.

Watching Freya slowly use her mana to counteract the internal heat, Roland stroked his chin, lost in thought.

‘What if, once we’re at the academy, she can’t hold back during a class and comes looking for me?’

‘That would be quite troublesome, yet also rather exciting…’

“Heh, never mind. No point thinking about it too much right now.”

Roland’s gaze drifted out the window, where white snow blanketed everything. In the sky, only a few solitary birds soared, carrying his boundless thoughts.