Right after our "break", we were ordered to follow the instructors again.

Everyone emerged from the cafeteria filled, one way or another.

As we made our line, I spotted several students, mainly the ones who stuffed their tray full of food earlier, with slightly bloated bellies under their uniforms. It was subtle, subtle enough that only my eyes could catch it, but it was there nonetheless. I also heard stifled burps and yawns from around the group, again, quiet enough that only my ears could catch them. In relation to that, several of the students were visibly more sluggish than before.

We weren't told yet where we were going, but I believed it was safe to assume we were heading for the practical exam site, which was definitely not in the academy.

And whaddya know, I was right. We approached the wide open western gates of the academy, the two knights standing outside attending it standing by the side, allowing us through.

"Why are we heading outside?"

"I thought we were heading back to the assembly hall."

Their murmurs reached my ears. I wasn't as surprised them as I already predicted this.

"Will the exam take place somewhere else?" a question popped up behind me.

Marching closely behind me was the guy who joined me in the cafeteria.

"I believe so," I answered.

We took a turn north and started walking down the road. The snow beneath us was light, and the sun actually felt warm for once.

The road ahead had been cleared of carriages, leaving only the sound of boots striking stone. Citizens paused in their routines to watch us file past, curiosity flickering in their eyes. The instructors marched at the head and tail of the group, keeping us boxed in like cargo.

I wondered where we would have our practical exam? Maybe they had a special facility for training? Or maybe a private dojo?

The northern gate of the capital city loomed closer and closer. I expected we'd stop or make a turn soon... but we didn't.

Instead, the instructors led us straight into the gate, which was also cleared of any visitors or carriages.

I pieced things quite quickly...

We're heading out of town?!

—

We stood before a vast forest just beyond the northern gate, the trees stretching high, the leaves rustling a cacophony of melodies. A camp had been erected at its edge, with rows of tables decorated with a buffet, neat chairs that were both comfortable and elegant, tents trimmed in academy colors, and several flag poles proudly displaying both Setus's flag and the Academy's banner.

Despite the rustic setting, it felt more like a garden or a tea party than an exam site.

Crowds of guests filled the place, most of them parents of the gilded track judging by their clothes. They lounged under the shade of wide tents, sipping chilled drinks, their parasols tilting against the sunlight as if even the forest dared not touch them. Laughter and murmurs floated above the camp like a cloud of perfume.

So this was the spectator's booth.

My gaze swept the rows of tents until I found the ones that mattered. There he was, Father sat in a cushioned chair, a small plate of food resting silently on the tiny desk beside him, with Leila standing dutifully at his back.

I wanted to call out to them, but I was still in line. Thankfully, I didn't have to do so. Our group made our way into the camp, and the attention of the guests was caught instantly.

"Halt!!!" one instructor yelled.

Our long march finally stopped in the middle of the camp, surrounded by the seats and tables encircling us.

As the instructors dispersed, we all stood still. Talks from the guests immediately filled the air.

"They're finally here..."

"Were the written exams always this long?"

"Oh, that young lady on the front there is my daughter. Isn't she beautiful?"

I was only half-listening, not like I could help it, until a familiar voice reached my ears.

"Oh, Carine's there! Do you see her, Leila?!"

"Yes, I do, My Lord."

"Oh, I can even see Feyt from here! Can you see him, Leila?"

"Yes, I can, My Lord."

Father seemed... a bit excited.

I glanced slightly in their direction, and immediately Father's expression beamed. He gave a proud, encouraging nod my way. Behind him, Leila followed suit, offering a nod with a small smile my way.

A warmth spread in my chest. I was glad to see them happy for me. Now I needed only to make them proud.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the stage before us. Another instructor had ascended the steps and was now standing before us all.

That medium-length brown hair styled in a neat, militaristic style.

That sharp and cold stare that pierced the air.

It was none other than that instructor at the assembly hall's intersection! You know? The one who chewed me a few minutes into the academy?

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"Attention!"

The murmurs from both the examinees and guests died down instantly, replaced with the rustling of leaves and the whistling of wind. When the atmosphere was deemed quiet enough, the instructor finally spoke up.

"I am Instructor Cornellia Vur Lissenkeid," she said, placing both her hands behind her back. Legs spread wide as she eyed down all of us.

A few of the gilded track examinees straightened; meanwhile, everyone in the standardized track did.

Lissenkeid...

The Marquess family of the northern sea. Their fleet was legendary, with ships that could weather a dragon's wrath and still sail proudly. Not to mention their port town, Lyshen, is one of Setus's biggest producers of seafood.

Professor Karvin once said in one of his lectures that the Lissenkeid family was on the verge of ascending to dukedom for their contributions to Setus's naval might.

Of course, someone from that bloodline would end up here, being an instructor no less.

"Most of you seemed pleased with your performance in the written exam. But understand this—" She raised her chin and her eyes narrowed, sharp enough to cut through air, "—it does not matter how well you memorized theory or how many books you swallowed whole. If you cannot perform in the field, you are nothing but worthless."

The silence thickened. Somewhere in the crowd of nobles, I heard several gasps and exhales.

"The practical exam is what decides your worth. You may recite history, you may calculate formations, you may speak like a polished little courtier… but if you collapse the moment you're asked to lift a blade or run a mile, you have no place here. Not in this academy, and not in Setus's future."

Her stare locked briefly on me—or maybe it only felt that way. My spine straightened, and my hair stood on end all the same.

She continued, her tone still cold and merciless.

"You will all be tested. Some of you will succeed. Some will fail. And some of you—" Her eyes flicked over the line of gilded track examinees, "—will embarrass yourselves before the very parents who brought you here."

A ripple of varying reactions spread like a wave through the crowd.

"The rules of this exam are simple."

I held my breath.

This was it.

Instructor Cornellia turned her back on us and faced the vast, towering wall of trees before us. The forest loomed ahead of her.

"This forest is a site we have used for years to weed out the worthy from the rest. If you are able to walk out of this forest with your chin held high, then you might have a chance of making it in this academy."

This forest... I remembered reading about this forest in the reports from the Royal Library. It was a common training site for both knights and mages. I didn't realize it could also be used as an exam site.

Instructor Cornellia turned to face us once more, still eyeing us down from her platform like we were scum.

"Now, you will be judged based on points. You will gather those points inside this forest by bringing the scattered flags placed inside back to this camp."

Flags?

A flag hunt, then?

"You all will have an hour to gather as many points as you can through these flags. Once the trumpets are sounded, you will be given ten minutes to make it back to the camp. Failure to do so will incur a heavy penalty in points."

Ten minutes?

That seemed like an unreasonably short time to make your way back. From here, the forest looked endless. If you got lost, you might as well kiss your score goodbye unless you had a navigational Talent like [Wind Compass] or [Wilds Strider].

I could probably use my eyes and ears to manage… but still. Should I just play it safe and stick near the edges?

Just as I was thinking about how I should get through the forest and still have time to make it back, the speech from Instructor Cornellia went on.

"The flags come in different colors, each with varying points. White is worth one. Green is worth three. Red is worth five. Yellow is worth ten. The higher the yield, the harder the flag will be to obtain."

Harder?

Does that mean we have to fight for it, and not just search for it?

Instructor Cornelia's voice didn't falter for a moment as she continued. "You are free to work together or fight your way through the forest alone. Your results will determine your standing in this academy far more clearly than the written exam ever could."

The murmurs started again.

"Work together? Who should we team up with?"

"I barely know anyone here."

"It's obvious who we should aim for, right?"

Everyone from both tracks seemed frantic, looking around to quickly gauge anyone worth working with. I counted several eyes landing on me—Carine.

Too bad for them, I already know who I should team up with.

Myselves.

Duh.

But I figured something else about what the instructor said, particularly, what she hadn't said.

There wasn't anything about stealing from others...

The murmurs grew louder each second, as people argued under their breaths. Cornelia silenced all the noise with a cold glance.

"Now that I have your attention, let me continue. Those in the Gilded Track will begin from the western edge of the forest." She turned slightly, her hand slicing the air like a blade, pointing to the back. A lone instructor stood there. "You will follow Instructor Titus to your starting location."

She then shifted her gaze to another instructor. "Those in the Standardized Track will begin from the east. You will follow Instructor Mirska to your starting location."

I froze.

The two tracks had different starting points?

Who was I teaming up with then?! Both of me would be at opposite points of the forest!

My shock wouldn't end there, however, as Instructor Cornellia didn't give me, or anyone else really, time to breathe.

"Additionally," she said, her voice infuriatingly calm yet cold. "To pass, Standardized Track examinees must collect a minimum of fifteen points. Fail to do so, and you will not be granted entry into our Academy."

What?!

Fifteen?!

A loud series of gasps and shock rippled through the Standardized Track crowd, including me.

But before any of us could protest—not like anyone was brave enough to step up, though—she continued her explanation.

"Your destination, once the trumpets are sounded, is here, the southern edge. You will prepare for ten minutes before heading out. Now, prove yourself worthy of calling yourselves Students of the Royal Knights Academy. That is all."

She stepped back.

I was in the middle of shock, everyone was, as the air remained silent for a few moments. Then, the quiet shattered into chaos, as if something had snapped.

Those in the Gilded Track all turned at nearly the same time. Their eyes were wide and expectant. Some had smiles, some had scowls, and they were all directed...

...at me?

A wave of people immediately washed up onto me like a swarm of zombies upon a fresh brain.

"Lady Carine!"

"Over here, Carine, you must allow me!"

"You'll find no better partner than me!"

"Let's work together to crush this test!"

They came at me all at once, a gilded tide in polished uniforms. Smiles sharpened with desperation, eyes gleaming with the hunger of predators who had spotted an easy prize.

I blinked, leaning back as I narrowed my eyes in confusion.

I had expected some to come to me, but... for nearly everyone?

The only thing most of them know should probably be only my rank as an heir of a dukedom. Then I remembered, nearly a third of the people here were students of my family's.

And judging from the murmurs at the Grand Assembly Hall, they were no doubt spreading rumors about me.

"Excuse me, but I—"

"Lady Carine!" One stepped forward, puffing out his chest. "My swordsmanship is unmatched! With me at your side, Lady Carine, we'll collect every flag worth more than ten points."

Another cut in, practically elbowing him aside. "Lady Carine! We've sparred once in your school! It would be an honor to work together with you once more! I'll guarantee we'll finish with the highest score."

"And what else do you have to show for that?" another declared, her voice haughty. "Surely, you have more to offer than just being an acquaintance of Lady Carine. I, for one, am an exceptional spearsman. Together, you will never need to worry about your back."

"A spearsman? What's that going to do with flag hunting?"

"Why you—"

Their voices overlapped, growing louder, until it was all just a cacophony of arguments and begging battering at my ears. Every one of them was desperate, every one of them convinced they were entitled to me.

They didn't wait for my say in this. They didn't even want it. My silence was already being twisted into permission in their heads, as if my will had no meaning.

Ugh, why can't I just team up with myself?

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