The test

The young women pointed at one of the dorms, after he symbolically destroyed the stone plate. There was only one chance to be accepted, faltiure was never an option.

Vincent made his way over, after he said a quick thank to the guard that brought him here.

Dorm three looked exactly like its other nineteen counterparts. There was a single entrance with pillars lined at the side.

Next to it, symmetrical windows were build into the round building. Each having the exact same look and distance to each other. They were all barred with wood, it was more than strange.

At the door stood a single instructor, similar in clothing to the one on stage, he even had a similar mana rank. The entrance exam was a lot of effort.

"Please give me that dagger on your waist, no weapons are allowed."

With a single glance he found the hidden weapon. Vincent shrugged his shoulder and gave it away, as long as he had his rings he was deadly enough.

"The list says, you are in possesion of a metal element spell, as well as a spell of unspecified attribute?" He furrowed his brows slightly, it was less than normal.

Vincent nodded, not bothering to explain.

Even if he looked foreign, they did not even ask him if he could read and write Latin, it was simply expected. The Empire made sure all talents received a proper tutor, jet the most important thing, the spell was only given once at the academy,

Naturally no one said anything if you chose to take a spell from your family instead.

It was one of the reasons many of poor upbringing attempted the test, even if they thought they would fail against the elite. The roman academy of war had a grate library, bigger only dwarfed by the one in Alexandria.

"The rooms do not belong to anyone, it is up to you how you divide them with your room-mates."

As soon as he step into the building the thick wooden door behind him was closed.

The dome provided sparse light through the openings at the ceilings. Drawn upon it were heroes and philosophers.

A single large stone table was in the middle, thirty chairs surrounding it. They were ancient and well worn.

The floor was inlaid with mosaics.

Vincent walked towards the room, his vision partially blocked by the narrow tunnel.

Chatter filled the air, as sixteen other young men discussed with loud voices. He wanted to greet them, jet he suddenly felt something at the back of his head.

He stood still, weary. Powerful eyes rested upon him but he did not see a single hidden spectator. It could not have been the other students. They were to weak, for the gaze was mighty and ancient.

Muscles tensed he scanned every possible hideout.

Aside from the table, there were thirty doors, spread evenly on the round wall. They were solid, impossible to see through.

A large stone stele stood on one end of the room, a pile of neatly arranged oil lamps on the other, he counted nineteen.

At one end a well was build into the wall. A small basin was placed beneath.

Not a single soul.

'WHERE, dammit.'

In the range of his domain he could also find nothing, asides from a few small animals.

A few seats were scattered across the dome, forming niches where one could discuss, Nothing again. He wanted to rush towards the rooms next, but he was stopped by a familiar vice.

"Hey, what are you staring all around the room. You are missing those idiot's discussions about their place to stay."

The comment earned the red haired girl a few stares, but no one said anything. A few already had a black eye.

Vincent spread his arm wide, announcing with a slightly raised voice.

"Great, it is damn good to see you again Typh. All those unfamiliar stares flustered me a bit."

Still the mysterious observer did not show himself.

'Let us think of it from a different angle, there is no way the Academy will tolerate any intruder. Maybe they spectate us for the test.'

Her mouth curled up slightly, jet she said nothing. She had observed his antics for half a year.

"I already chose our rooms" She pointed at two rooms next to each other."Let us work together."

She held out her hand, Vincent signed the deal with a handshake.

"Everything you need to know, is that we are expected to learn one spell in the next twenty days. Otherwise we fail. We get food and water in the morning. "

He thanked her for the short and precise explanation, he would share his thoughts later.

Quietly they sat themselves next to the others. Some looked bored, some exited.

"What are we even discussing. The stale clearly states, what we need to do. I already have my spell so good luck for all lowlife."

The Roman youth in expensive toga, walked into a room he randomly chose. He tried kicking the door open jet failed miserable.

A sight could be heard from a well fed boy with Spanish accent.

"The instructor said that our family does not matter. It would be strange if he contradicted his words so soon. Maybe the more experienced ones should help those who have jet to learn their spell."

He received a number of nods, mostly from the malnourished and poor. A few other immediately began arguing.

"That was obviously just a lie, my father told me that all senators are at least two faced."

At the beginning those of common background only observed passively, intimidated by the situation.

"You have no idea. My tutor was a senior from the academy, and a once commoner as well. Now he is an official of the state. He told me that anyone could pass."

One at a time however the hot headed youths joined the discussion. It turned into a slug fest. Ten boys and girls loudly hurling insults at each other.

"It has turned stale, especially the insults have grown worse and worse."

Some kids were even holding their hands like mirrors.

"Definitely. It is no longer entertaining." Typh walked towards her room with decisive steps, Vincent followed her, sundering with a smile on his face.