"Are you excited?", Cale asked in a clear voice as he walked to their academy the next morning - with Fengari by his side. Only about 200 students had tried to enrolled in the school and taken the entrance exam, so after two days they were already invited to attend the announcement of the results. Comparatively fast, Cale thought, because he would have to live with this uncertainty for a whole week.

"Yes."

"Don't worry so much, you said yourself that the questions were easy."

"What if I wrote things that don't make sense? What if I didn't pass and they don't accept me? Then I'll have to go to another school, but I like it so much here. The teachers are super friendly and most of the kids are really smart. I don't want to leave here."

"Don't make yourself paranoid, I'm sure you passed. After all, you learned from me."

"How conceited", Fengari commented simply, giving Cale a sober look.

Cale just grinned and followed the crowd into the large building. At this institute, students are taught for five years before they can graduate. They divided the students into two large groups based on their age: lower school and upper school. This division was also visible to the naked eye, as classes for these grades were held in different wings of the building. In addition to small groups and experienced teachers, this school was so popular because it greatly encouraged its students and regularly brought young geniuses to light who could become known throughout the country. Many politicians, civil servants, doctors, but also artists and musicians had attended this school.

"It's not wrong to be a little conceited and proud from time to time, although you should keep it in moderation."

"Human society is far too complicated", Fengari muttered quietly so as not to attract too much attention, but the noise and excitement of the crowd was reason enough for no one to pay any attention to them.

Cale took Fengari's hand so he wouldn't have to search for her among the crowd and slowly made his way forward. Dozens of tall tables had been set up in the institute's large auditorium, offering drinks, while a little further down, a large white cloth attracted the attention of those present. They had positioned a lectern in front of it and set up elegant chairs on the high steps behind it, which were currently still empty. Cale watched as several elegantly dressed men appeared on this platform, carrying dozens of papers in transparent boxes and placing them on a table next to the lectern. They appeared to be the results and certificates of the students who had passed and would be admitted to the school this year. A woman then stepped forward and placed a box on the table, which contained dozens of red ribbons, if Cale recognized them correctly.

"How many students do you think will pass this year?"

"Judging by the chairs up front, probably about half?", Cale guessed.

"Isn't that quite a small number?"

"No, that's pretty normal. The requirements here are quite high because the places are very sought after. They only accept students who have answered more than 75% of the questions correctly."

"May the goddess Parousia be with me", Fengari replied casually and closed her eyes as if she wanted to pray.

"The goddess can't help you now, you've already taken the exam."

"You can always try, right?"

"Stop driving yourself crazy. You're not stupid, and you were able to answer all the questions."

"Absolutely, I, the great Fe... the great Ahri! Nothing can stand in my way!"

"See? Thats what I wanted to hear", Cale said contentedly and stood at a table at the edge of the room that was not yet occupied. Fengari remained calmly beside him, as she had learned to do, and stared at the podium, where an elegantly dressed woman appeared. "Looks like it's about to start."

Cale recognized the woman, even though he had hardly met her in his previous life. She was Ben's mother, who had coincidentally taken over as director in the same year as the attack on Groka happend. It had always been a mystery to Cale how Ben had turned out the way he did, even though he had two extremely high-ranking and educated parents. Perhaps he was like William and rebelled against the teachings as a child. Understandable, if he was supposed to live up to the expectations of these two people. That would probably annoy Cale just as much.

Gloria von Freigoud tapped lightly on her glass to get everyone's attention, and things quickly quieted down. Some guys closed the front door behind the guests and stood there, because nobles weren't allowed to bring their own soldiers into the building. A few years ago, a heated argument between two families had broken out, so since then only family members had been allowed to enter. A fair price to pay for their stupidity, at least in Cale's opinion.

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"Thank you for your attention, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Gloria von Freigoud and on behalf of everyone, I warmly welcome you to our institute...", the woman began her speech, but Cale's attention drifted completely away.

He suddenly noticed Loys von Freigoud appearing at the side of the podium with Ben at his side. Surprised that the two of them were also present, Cale tuned out the female voice and stared at them. The king's right-hand man was personally present at the announcement of the results, which several other people also noticed and found unusual. Cale assumed that he simply wanted to support his wife during her first public appearance in years, but why was Ben also present? He should be in class right now, if Cale wasn't mistaken. He should be in a class above Fengari and, like most people his age, should actually have his nose in a book right now. Had his parents made an exception today?

"Without further delay, we will now announce the results of the exams."

The elegantly dressed duchess with her hair pinned up took a step back and reached for the cloth that hung loosely over the shield. Every year, they used this to present the results of the entrance exams as well as the final exam grades to the masses. It was the first time Cale had the opportunity to witness this moment.

With a jerk, Duchess of Freigoud pulled down the light sheet and presented the names of those who had passed the exam with over 75%. For a moment, Cale was confused by how the names were sorted, as they did not correspond to the alphabet. Searching, he let his gaze wander over the list of 83 names when Fengari suddenly reached for his coat.

"I'm first", she stammered with a horrified expression, and Cale's eyes immediately wandered to the number 1. Indeed, Ahri Adenia stood next to that number, and Cale stared at the lettering in disbelief, as if he had misread it. A few moments later, he looked down at Fengari, who returned his gaze without saying a word. When the first cheers broke out, the two of them couldn't help but show their happiness.

"By the gods!" she cried simultaneously, and Cale took her delicate form in both arms and threw her euphorically into the air.

"You passed!"

"Not only did I pass, I blew them all away with my knowledge", Fengari shouted back at him, throwing her hands in the air with the biggest grin Cale had ever seen on her face.

"That's incredible! Just incredible! First place! You're in first place! And you were afraid you didn't pass!"

In response, he received a loud laugh before catching Fengari as she threw her arms around his neck. Speechless, they stared at the ranking list that was presented to them. Ahris name was in the middle above 9 other names, which were outlined by a small frame. They presented the children who had completed the exams as the top 10, and the dragon was one of them.

"Wait till I tell my siblings about this...", Fengari said quietly, while Cale took his eyes off the list and looked around the room.

Dozens of families were also cheering, some remained completely calm, and others shouted in exhaustion that the list must be a mistake. Even some children were crying, but Cale paid no further attention to them. He knew Fengari would pass, but with such a result? Of course, she couldn't be compared to a real 6-year-old girl, but Cale had actually expected her to be unable to answer some questions. Had she perhaps cheated a little because she was afraid of failing? Not that Cale would hold it against her - he would understand. He wanted to be accepted as a soldier just as badly, because his entire future depended on it.

After a few minutes, most people began to calm down and the director started calling out the names of the children who had been accepted, starting from the bottom of the list. One by one, they went up to the tall woman and received their certificates and red ribbons before taking their seats behind them. While the woman patiently congratulated each child, Cale put his supposed daughter back on the floor and smoothed her clothes. Fengari, on the other hand, danced excitedly with her feet on the floor.

"I think I'll bake you a nice cake today", he announced his plan, causing Fengari to look up at him.

"Really?"

"Yes, you deserve it. Good job."

With a broad grin on her face, Ahri stood in front of them until they had finally reached the names of all the children and arrived at the best ones.

"Ahri Adenia", the principal announced proudly, and with calm, elegant steps, the blonde-haired girl began to move. The further she went, the more eyes were fixed on her, making both the dragon and Cale very nervous. She walked silently up the steps and stood tensely in front of the brown-haired woman. "Our best this year, congratulations, Ahri. Your parents can be proud of you."

"Thank you very much", replied the dragon politely, taking her results before Duchess von Freigoud tucked them into the girl's hair and gave her a smile. Fengari bowed to the lady like everyone else and walked to the last empty seat.

"A big round of applause, please", announced the lady and began clapping her hands, prompting the crowd to follow suit. Even the families who had not been able to send their children to the most prestigious school in the country this year showed their respect. They would all remember the names and follow the progress of these young students in the coming years. However, the main focus of attention was on the blonde-haired girl whose family no one knew.

Cale could feel dozens of people casting interested glances at him, most of which he ignored. All except one. The gaze of the duke himself, Loys of Freigoud.

Loys stood silently on the sidelines the entire time, watching the proceedings until the names were announced. When he read the name Ahri Adenia, Loy couldn't hide his surprise. His eyes immediately wandered to Cale, who had thrown his daughter into the air with a broad grin, celebrating her success.

<"Caleb">, Fengari said in his mind.

<"Yes?">

<"I got 100%.">

<"You answered all the questions correctly?"> Cale asked in amazement, unintentionally pausing in his movement. Fengari's gaze met his, almost as if they were both thinking the same thing.

They wondered if 100% would attract too much attention.

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