Choice (3)
The first challenge and the first victory.
Having overwhelmingly crushed Lumil, who had placed second, and even pushed his guardian to the brink, Kirian was sure to receive a substantial score.
"But this is only the beginning. The others may yet challenge you."
Lumil had declared he would not challenge any other participants.
All eyes naturally turned to one spot.
Mihaden Kirchheis, who had climbed to third place in the second exam.
The boy was already staring straight at Kirian.
"Mihaden Kirchheis…."
"Will you challenge Kirian…?"
"Of course he will! That boy's as aggressive as they come!"
Kirian gathered his mana, preparing for the second fight.
In truth, the situation was delicate in many ways.
What if Mihaden hadn't simply handed over a token? 'The rankings would have flipped by the slimmest margin.'
So it wasn't strange for him to harbor competitive spirit toward Kirian once more.
But then, something unexpected happened.
"No. I won't challenge Kirian. I challenge Sevia Kirchheis in sixth place."
Mihaden shifted his gaze from Kirian and chose a different opponent.
He even succeeded in forcing the sixth-place child to surrender.
Hierniorn scratched at his feathers with his beak, pretending nonchalance.
"Ahem. An uncharacteristically safe choice. Well, it works in your favor anyway. But don't let your guard down. The next one will surely challenge you."
But even the guardian spirit's prediction missed the mark entirely.
The other children made similar choices.
"I challenge Ronev Kirchheis in sixteenth place."
"I'll challenge Kamas Dimar. Eighteenth place."
Everyone was challenging participants ranked lower than themselves.
They didn't even glance Kirian's way.
In the end, no one stepped up to challenge him.
The third exam concluded just like that.
"…Your overwhelming display broke their spirits. Our strategy hit the mark perfectly."
'Fine, whatever. So how will the scores shake out now?'
"Who knows? There's no precedent for this…."
Even Hierniorn sounded uncertain.
At that moment, Kirian overheard the tomb's spirits murmuring to one another.
They were exchanging glances toward him in an unusually tense atmosphere.
"The point of breaking everyone's will with a single fight…."
"That should count as extra credit, I believe…."
"Agreed…."
Finally, the final scoreboard was announced.
A murmur rippled through the blood kin in the spectator seats.
[1st] Kirian Kirchheis: 394 points
[2nd] Mihaden Kirchheis: 229 points
[3rd] Lorang Hoyd: 211 points
….
Just three exams in total.
Yet Kirian's score far exceeded the perfect 300 points.
Even if they added 100 points to Mihaden's score for second place, it wouldn't catch up.
'Doing the math, that means they gave me 150 points just for this exam?'
What exactly had they awarded, and how much?
He was also curious about Lumil's deductions; the boy, now dropped to 19th, had ended with 132 points after losing to Kirian and refusing to challenge others.
"Dropping from second to that? Impressive in its own way."
But their curiosity had to wait.
The next moment—
"Now, each academy shall nominate three children…."
"And the children shall choose their academies…."
"Choose wisely…."
The finale had begun.
Various academy deans rose from their seats.
Kirian's gaze locked onto one person.
A middle-aged female mage with disheveled gray curly hair, rising with a listless expression.
'Biat Panayul.'
The dean of the Eternalism academy he had chosen.
* * *
'This year, we have to recruit at least one.'
Biat Panayul sighed inwardly as she stood.
Beside her, a gaunt old mage wore a smug grin.
"Heh heh, such unprecedented talent. The deans will all offer him entry now. Though the outcome is decided, of course."
Agerik Kirchheis, head of the Extremeism academy.
A high-ranking 8-star mage who had entered Extremeism and risen to dean as a cousin of family head Rohbark Kirchheis.
He whispered to Biat with feigned kindness.
"Don't waste your nomination on him, Dean Panayul. Eternalism's strapped for cash, isn't it? Sounds like an old busybody meddling. Heh heh heh!"
"…."
Biat bit her lip at the subtle mockery.
Eternalism was like her hometown, the place that had nurtured her unremarkable talent.
'Not a faction you can mock. It was founded by the Allmaster himself to research time magic.'
Yet, as the oldest academy, it was infamous for its outdated doctrines.
Now, even maintaining its legacy was a struggle amid budget shortages.
Its sole pride was inheriting the teachings of Holy Hero Ulfrik, savior of the world.
'Stay calm. Don't get rattled.'
Today, she had to fulfill her role as dean.
Recruit talent to lead Eternalism forward.
At least one.
'Last year, we got shut out in the competition.'
But whom to pick?
Would anyone even accept if nominated?
"…."
Biat scanned the lower ranks on the leaderboard, massaging her temples.
Her eyes caught Kirian's name anew.
'If a kid like that joined Eternalism, it could change everything.'
'Of course, that'll never happen.'
All academies coveted Kirian, but Extremeism—home to family head Rohbark—seemed especially aggressive.
Rohbark had likely laid the groundwork himself.
It was natural for such a talented grandson to become his disciple.
Even if not, Kirian would pick a top modern academy with grand mages.
First place always did.
"…Damn."
"Heh heh, chin up, Dean Panayul."
She wanted to slap the sneering Agerik.
As Biat suppressed the urge, the deans began speaking.
"Continuousism nominates Kirian Kirchheis, Lorang Hoyd, and Magnin Kirchheis."
"Explosionism takes Kirian, Mihaden, and Finnor."
"First: Kirian, third: Lorang, sixth: Keravin. These three for Luminism."
"Then for Darkism, Kirian Kirchheis and…."
As expected, every dean wanted Kirian.
Agerik went further.
"Extremeism nominates Kirian Kirchheis. That's it."
"…!"
Nominating only Kirian.
It meant Extremeism's doors opened solely for him; the rest weren't worth a speck.
That was the level of expectation for his talent.
"Eternalism…."
Biat hesitated as her turn came.
Should she name Kirian like the others?
But she didn't deliberate long.
'Agerik's right. No point nominating someone who won't come.'
She swallowed a bitter smile and spoke.
"Eternalism nominates Egon, Baric, and Sisila."
No Kirian.
The top rank suited a thriving modern academy with grand mages, not a withering relic.
She picked three from the bottom for Eternalism's survival.
But then—
"…."
"…?"
Biat flinched under a piercing gaze.
Kirian, standing tall among the children, stared unblinkingly.
His bright blue eyes gleamed with an intensity beyond his years.
As Biat faltered at the inscrutable look—
"Now choose your path…."
"First place… Kirian Kirchheis…."
"Which academy will you entrust your future to…?"
The tomb spirits spoke.
Time for nominated participants to decide.
All eyes focused on Kirian amid the tension.
Only Agerik, Extremeism's dean, looked relaxed.
But in the next instant, his face changed.
"I'll go to the 'Eternalism' academy."
"Good. Of course you'll come to Extremeism… Huh? What did you say?"
Kirian had made an utterly unforeseen choice.
Murmurs spread through the hall.
"Did that kid just say Eternalism?"
"Must've misspoken Extremeism, right?"
Everyone doubted their ears.
It was natural.
Children gave their all in the tomb exams to enter prestigious academies.
Higher-ranked ones offered more support and connections.
The top scorer choosing the top academy was practically an unwritten rule.
"We ask again… Kirian Kirchheis…."
"Is your choice the 'Eternalism' academy…?"
"Yes."
But Kirian didn't waver.
He rejected soaring Extremeism for fading Eternalism.
Like discarding a crown to don shackles.
'Why?'
The hazy spirits tilted their heads amid puzzled stares.
"Kirian Kirchheis…."
"You were not chosen by Eternalism…."
"Joining an unchosen academy is impossible…."
They invoked procedure and principle.
First condition for entry: nomination by the dean.
Only then could one join.
No precedent existed, but even first place required renomination next year if unchosen.
Kirian was no exception.
Yet he stood firm.
"I won't go anywhere but Eternalism."
"…!"
As all deans froze like ice statues—
Biat stood stunned in shock.
'Won't go anywhere but our academy?'
A direct blood kin who dominated first place?
Unbelievable, even hearing it firsthand.
Then, a tap on her shoulder.
A unfamiliar voice whispered in her ear.
"What are you doing? Gonna stand there dumbfounded and lose the top spot?"
Biat snapped to attention, scanning around.
No sign of the speaker.
Realizing her duty a beat late, she thrust up her hand and shouted to the spirits.
"Wait! Just a moment! Eternalism has a statement!"
"Speak…."
"I correct my earlier decision. Eternalism nominates Kirian Kirchheis!"
Kirian had dominated all three exams.
She'd never dreamed of proposing entry to him.
But he chose Eternalism.
No reason to refuse the reversal.
"Your correction is valid…."
"We accept…."
Biat swallowed dryly.
She caught the faint curve of the young boy's lips.
As if to say their intent aligned.
"Kirian Kirchheis has been nominated by Eternalism…."
"We, the souls of books and swords, bear witness to this union…."
"And record it truly in the tomb's history…."
With a sharp flash, Kirian's figure vanished.
To complete entry formalities in Eternalism's exclusive space.
The deans gaped at one another in bewilderment.
"Good grief."
"First place to Eternalism? Is that even allowed?"
"Yeah. First time for everything."
The one most incredulous was, naturally, Biat.
Her head spun as if clubbed from behind.
Glancing around, she wondered.
'Who was that person earlier?'