Entrance Exam (3): Talisman's Overwhelming Display
Not long after, the proctor finally entered. He flinched in surprise upon spotting me, clearly recognizing my face.
'My face is more well-known than I thought?' Or maybe someone had tipped him off that I was joining the academy.
"Ahem. Then, we shall now begin the entrance exam. First stage."
At the proctor's command, the academy slaves sprang into action. I swear I'll never become a grad student, I thought pityingly as I watched them. That's when my name was called.
"Number 4, Kanahan! Line up with number 1!"
Thud, thud. Magic Division. Magic, shamanism, spirits... just think of it as ranged attackers for simplicity. So what's the difference between Assault Division and Magic Division? Not much. You just join whichever suits you. Assault Division keeps up sustained attacks, while Magic Division hits with one big shot. Especially in Magic Division, you must be able to handle magic, spirits, shamanism—ranged attacks, basically. Assault Division can take warriors too.
Vanguard and Assault? It's just whether you wanna tank or deal damage. That's the only difference. It's not about your job; it's about what role you excel at.
"Urk, he's huge."
Magic Division naturally had way more mages than spirit users. Few are born with spirit affinity, and even fewer can contract one—spirits are finicky like that. Shamans? Don't get me started. And they hardly see sunlight, so their skin's all pasty like tofu. Tofu.
"Tch. A guy needs to get out and move his body. How do you even live without vitamin D?"
"...Shut up and measure the mana."
The mage line was insanely long, but ours only had ten applicants to start with. I was fourth. Among them.
"This... is this okay?"
"...You go last."
The examiner, convinced the device would shatter, glanced at the proctor. The proctor nodded knowingly, and I was bumped to the back. In the end, I waited behind that shaman kid who'd passed out earlier, right up to the final turn.
And finally.
Crack... craaack...
"Measurement impossible. You're done."
"Sweet!"
Of course there'd be no mana gauge that could handle my power. I shattered the crystal orb and headed back to my spot. The nobles whispered, but whatever—ignorant fools.
"Next! Stage two. Check the brackets!"
Matchups are pure luck. Tournament style—win and advance. After a short breather to recover, the duels kicked off.
"I-I forfeit!"
"Aw... spineless punk."
"I-I for..."
"Eek! Forfeit! Forfeit!"
"I forfeit!"
All my opponents forfeited. And considering the average incoming student was a 3rd-circle mage, even Serdian Von—who'd hit six circles thanks to me—saw the same.
We were the finalists.
"Hyungnim. Please, teach me one move."
"Sure. Last duel was against a 5th-circle, right?"
"Yes. Thanks to you, hyungnim, I broke through the 6th-circle wall."
"Nice. Then today, we're doing 7th-circle."
Boom...
Boom...
Boom...
'Ah, this is getting me pumped.'
I hadn't planned to go this far, but... seeing Serdian's fiery eyes, all geared up with artifacts and ready for a real fight, I couldn't hold back. One bad habit I picked up in the North: my competitive streak. Back on Earth, I was all "just get by"... but up there, it snuck up on me.
"Huuu... come at me!"
I let him have first strike—feels weird striking first myself. He'd anticipated it; his casting was already done.
"Storing spells in artifacts? That's the stuff!"
"Here I go!"
Serdian's spell hurtled toward me. No idea what it was called—just knew it was magic.
"Cheongbing. Dinner time."
Kaboomboomboomcrash!
Cheongbing burst from beneath me, swallowing the spell whole. Oh, by the way—Cheongbing's not offense-specialized. She's pure defense.
"Ignition Talisman."
What do you learn first as a shaman? Talismans. Chanting spells is hard to aim and fire. So you seal them into talismans right after activation. Think of talismans as spell storage. Anyway, they teach them in order. First up: Ignition Talisman.
But "first" doesn't mean weak or basic. Results vary wildly by user's power and mana—that's the key.
If that kid from earlier used it? Pfft... maybe a will-o-wisp.
Whooshroarrr...
"Wh-what..."
"Serdian."
"...!"
Serdian snapped out of his shock at my voice.
"This is a grand shaman's honest strike. Take it."
The sun. If you stared at the real thing, would it feel like this? Everyone there thought the same—applicants, staff, examiners, proctor. Sure, there was a barrier over the training grounds. But would it hold?
Fwoosh...
"Ready?"
Gulp.
"Bring it!"
He'd already fired one spell at me unharmed. This one? No clue how he'd fare. He'd live, but it'd hurt. That's how much heart I poured into it.
"Hup...!"
I channeled mana, hurling a massive superheated fireball at Serdian. Fire counters with water or ice. He dual-cast both instantly.
Dual? Nah—triple-cast. And since I gave him prep time, he was juggling six spells at once.
Damn. Genius mage for real.
"Hup... urk... grraaaaaah!"
He threw up water/ice barriers, then rushed a 6th-circle Absolute Shield. It shattered in seconds. The inferno slammed him dead-on.
"...! Von cadet!"
Serdian took a direct hit. The flames should've died on contact—but they raged on. The proctor rushed in, dismantling the crumbling barrier.
"...Huh?"
But what he found was Serdian, unscathed, sprawled out staring at the sky.
"Kuh... kuhehe... kuhahahahahahahaha!"
"V-Von cadet...?"
Mad with glee, Serdian burst into laughter. Everyone froze at the unhinged cackle from his usual icy face.
"Haa... I learned something today, hyungnim."
"Good. Can't have my little bro getting hurt."
He'd seen it—the talisman that appeared before impact. Guardian Talisman. Nullifies anything 7th-circle or below, blocks even 8th. How much did the emperor pay for one last time? Can't remember. Got some cursed items too.
In the end, Magic Division chief: me. Runner-up: Serdian Von. Undisputed.
"Phew... thank you. Gotta hit the training room for meditation."
"Do it outside. Got it?"
"Yes, hyungnim. Take care!"
Serdian vanished with another 90-degree bow.
"Now, Luca... already done, huh."
Outside, Luca sat fuming, crushing a rock to dust. Clearly lost to Radian, got healed too. Written test's later, so they must've clashed quick.
"Hey, Luca! Chief spot? I got it."
"You... ugh! Stupid Kanahan! I hate you! Die!"
"Whoa."
Normally I'd take it, but that was a serious punch—even I'd crack ribs. I dodged and asked,
"Who'd you lose to?"
"...Radian. Draken duke's heir. Expert Advanced."
"Damn, close one. Same level."
"You... yoooou idiot!"
I dodged her swing. Luca and Radian were peers—5th Hierarchy equals Expert Advanced. 6th matches Swordmaster. But why'd I think she'd lose? Not talent—Radian's got more, sure. Luca's got insane experience against people and monsters.
But Radian's fated to take chief. Like asking a shaman if your kid passes the exam, and she says "definitely." That kinda fate.
"C'mon, let's go. Meat?"
"Hmph! Fine, but you're paying big."
I soothed her and headed to Assault Division. Difference from Magic? Preference: close/mid vs pure range.
Estellia used spirit magic, but it wasn't her main. Her real deal: wrapping her body in spirit power.
"Oh, finals going on. Nice timing."
Estellia's foe: Dierban Silver. The guy who'd brawled with Radian Draken at the academy gates earlier.
"Urk... I admit defeat."
Dierban loosed arrows leisurely. She barely blocked, took a fatal hit, and dropped to one knee. Her trembling fists screamed frustration—not bloodlust, just losing the chief title stung.
I stepped in front of her as she walked off post-healing, face sour.
"Wah!"
"Kyaa! K-Kanahan! Wh-what are you doing here?!"
(Note: Estellia's the "Ice Rose" in high society. Red hair, red eyes—haughty, thorny rose vibes. So her screaming in front of cadets? She flushed but reined it in quick.)
Pfft.
"This is public...!"
"Too tiring. C'mon."
"W-wait... eek!"
No lectures. I scooped her up one-armed and bolted the exam grounds.
"P-put me down... I can walk... please...!"
My favorite: teasing. Estellia's face beet-red, eyes tearing up.
'Ah... perfect.'
But hate's risky, so I set her down.
"Hiiing... you're mean..."
She likes me too much to rage— just patted my chest lightly.
'Ah... heaven.'
This is why we live. Pat-pat.
"Sorry. Got carried away. Mad?"
"..."
She shook her head. No one around, so she quietly leaned into my touch. This girl's adorable.
"Ugh! What're you two doing?!"
Luca, who'd been waiting, stormed up. I scooped her too and plopped her beside Estellia.
"I'll do you both. Here."
Pat-pat.
"Huu..."
"..."
This... is nice.