Chapter 224

Chapter 224: Chapter 224

The exam hall was solemn, rows of tables and chairs lined up in the large hall. Severe-faced, cloak-draped mages prowled the halls, keeping an eye on the participating applicants.

People occasionally stepped out of the hall through an exit door opposite the entrance, and there was equally a constant influx of people trooping in.

Dulce easily found an empty table and sat down, a scroll and feather pen making an appearance in front of him as soon as he sat. He had been troubled about the contents of the written exams earlier, but now, he was too distracted by the thought of the distant Demons to be nervous.

Although Asael had entered the hall before he did, he couldn’t find the Shadow Demon, but he knew he was still in the hall somewhere.

The contents of the written exam was more familiar than not, and after a short while of focused scribbling, he hurried out of the exit so that he could go around to the intermission room as quickly as possible.

"Halt!" A voice called to him as soon as he exited the hall, "Can you cast spells?" A tall, reedy thin wizard with a booming voice called to him.

"Yes but..." Dulce answered, drawing the attention of the other applicants equally leaving the hall.

The tall wizard looked him over distrustfully, he asked the question of everyone who left the hall, and everyone knew better than to pretend to be what they weren’t.

"Very well, head for that hall." He interrupted before Dulce could speak further. "Your abilities will be tested within its confines."

"Can I have my Demon companions with me while I take the test?" Dulce remembered to ask before attempting to return to the intermission room.

Now the wizard looked outright offended, "Are you sure you’re not just making claims, young man?"

"That wasn’t what he asked," Asael materialized out of thin air, less and less impressed by each haughty mage they encountered.

"I-I... W-Well, I never!" The wizard exclaimed in genuine shock, gaping at the Demon in front of him.

"Yes or no?" Asael asked although he wasn’t going to abide by their rules.

"I suppose you can," He mused, actually giving it proper thought.

"Great," Dulce beamed, "I’ll go inform the others."

The Vampire made his way to the other side of the building after that, Asael walking a step behind him, a dangerous creature dressed in familiar clothes.

"I wonder if I did well enough to pass the written exam," Dulce sighed as they walked, barely noticing the attention they drew.

"The written exams matter little. Spellcasters are so rare that they’re guaranteed a spot in the institution by virtue of their ability alone." Asael said with something akin to derision.

He was young enough to have only seen human magic in decline but there was enough history about their glorious past, so he could clearly seen how low they had fallen.

"Thank you. That is reassuring." Dulce sighed again, not completely convinced.

Asael didn’t say more, preferring to let the events speak for themselves.

Fortunately all three Demons were still sitting peacefully in the spot Dulce had left them in. Ruoxi was still fast asleep and although they were surrounded by curious mages, neither Caedos nor Kath’tan acknowledged them.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting," Dulce said sheepishly, shouldering his way to the front.

Ruoxi pried opened a sleepy eye at the sound of his voice, even though he had been adept at ignoring the curious and disbelieving crowd that had endless questions for them.

"I have no clue how long it will take to get the results of the entrance exams," Dulce was saying as he led to the way to the building he had been directed to earlier.

It was much quieter closer to the building, barely any one walking around. The intermission room was empty so they all directly walked through it into the main hall.

The main hall was even stranger. It was empty compared to the last hall, a floating platform stood at the front of the hall, a trio of mages seated behind a table on it.

"Get up Drummond, we have an applicant," A witch with a lilting voice spoke. Her hair was a fluorescent pink, it had a strange, gentle glow about it.

The wizard that was nudged lifted his head to show tilted glasses and wild graying hair. "Are those bound Demons?" He mumbled, sounding half asleep still.

"The spellcasting test is fairly simple," The third wizard spoke before Drummond could get an answer to his question.

He was seated upright, his mustache neatly trimmed. His blue cloak was properly pinned across his shoulders, his wide brimmed hat properly worn. "Elemental spells are the very basics, you merely have to be capable of executing two of the four foundational components. Fire, water, air, earth."

Now this Dulce had a bit of confidence in, he knew all of the sigils for the elementals, even those outside of the four foundational components. Sigils were an integral part of spellcasting, but writing down the sigils on a medium was to make casting less strenuous on mages.

Magic was properly casted by writing the sigils in the air with magic and then casting. And although Dulce had never attempted it before, he instinctively knew it was something he was capable of.

So he stepped forward alone, his hair was in a low ponytail today, his overcoat neatly buttoned for such an important event. He held out a hand and focused, and for a moment nothing happened.

The journey through the mountain pass had been too rigorous to do little else but focus on the treacherous road, so the color had faded a bit from his skin. It made him appear cold and standoffish, his delicate features razor-sharp.

Silence fell over the hall, everyone watching with bated breaths. Writing materials were provided for all of the applicants, be it pen and paper or chalk but Dulce didn’t know that.

The first character appeared in thin air, a circular sigil forming almost instantly after the first line appeared. It was hued flame-red, a cone of fire shooting out of the sigil in the direction of the examiners.

Dulce’s eyes widened in panic and he hastily dismissed the spell which had gone much farther than he had been expecting.

After the flames dissipated into nothing, a translucent shield similar to the one surrounding the academy could be seen protecting the examiners.

"I apologize, I didn’t expect the spell to have such reach." Dulce bowed contritely.

The uptight examiner had been the one to put up the magical shield, he didn’t put it down even after the spell had been dismissed but his expression was tense.

"Proceed." He said with composure he didn’t feel.

Next to him, the other two examiners had also straightened up, no longer as laid-back as they once were.

Dulce straightened up and with a respectful nod cast another spell. This time, it came easier, and he remembered to aim it away from the floating podium. A large spout of water gushed out of the blue-hued sigil, freezing into a terrifying statue of ice partway.

Dulce hastily dismissed the spell again, he had grown distracted for a moment. His magic felt incredibly malleable, following every slight whim and minor thought.

This time, the witch shot to her feet, her dark eyes blazing fervently. "Simply astronomical! Why don’t you be my student? I’ll treat you well." She offered enthusiastically, leaning over her table so far that Drummond had to hold her back from falling off.

"Where is your comportment, Professor Freya?" The strict wizard said coldly, measuredly rising to his feet. "Naturally, this is a matter that should be taken directly to the Chancellor’s desk."

Freya turned to him with narrowed eyes, "How underhanded. You want to go behind my back and make him your student instead, don’t you, Bertram?"

The wizard’s composed expression didn’t change despite her accusation, "You’re welcome to come along if you wish." He said coolly.

Freya straightened up and adjusted her blue robes, "Of course, I’m coming alone."

"I’ll remain here in the case another prodigy happens to wander in." Drummond said dryly.

All the while they were having this conversation, Dulce made his way back to the others, still as worried as ever. "Do you think the Chancellor will turn me away for mixing up water and ice elemental spells?"

Asael was focused on the trio of examiners as Caedos generously reassured the anxious Vampire. Dulce’s magic had always been the least of his concern, however, there was a chance that the Chancellor of the western magical institution was a powerful enough mage to see that Dulce was actually a Vampire.

Bertram walked up to them with his hands folded behind his back, "As a never-before-seen instance, you will be referred directly to the Chancellor. This is a great honor." He made sure to point out, turning to head for the door. "Come with me."

Freya grinned at Dulce and gestured him forward, walking behind Bertram.

Dulce followed along, his Demons hadn’t been explicitly told to stay behind so he didn’t stop them from coming along as well.