the Entrance Exam

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Riven’s POV




The day of the entrance exam came quickly.

Early in the morning, Hazel was ready and walked out of her house with a confident stride.

A few days before the exam, I prepared a potion for Hazel, telling her it could enhance her magical abilities. After drinking it, Hazel felt her magic power had greatly improved, so she went to the exam that day filled with confidence.

As we watched her disappear around the street corner, Maximus turned to me and asked, "Did it really work?"

I smiled mysteriously and replied, "It was just a drop of dew I picked up by chance. As for Hazel's feeling that her magic had become more robust, that was purely psychological. But Hazel's feeling more confident is what matters."

Maximus looked concerned and warned me, "But if she fails the test, our book repair might be delayed again."

I nodded in agreement, but deep down, I knew that Hazel wouldn't fail.

I grinned at him, my eyes dancing with excitement. "I have a plan to help Hazel," I said conspiratorially. "But we have to be discreet."

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of plan?" he asked.

"We're going to use the invisibility spell," I replied. "Then we'll follow Hazel from a distance and make sure she's okay."

He nodded slowly, understanding dawning on his face. "Okay, I'm in," he said. "Let's do this."

Together, we cast the spell and disappeared from view. We trailed behind Hazel, careful to stay far enough away that she wouldn't notice us. She walked down the dimly lit alleyway, her shoulders hunched and her steps hesitant.

As she turned a corner, we saw two shadowy figures step out from a doorway, blocking her path. They looked menacing, their faces obscured by the darkness.

Hazel stopped in her tracks.

One of the figures snickered. "We're not going to hurt you," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "We just want to have a little fun."

I clenched my fists, anger coursing through me.

I could see through that was just a spell.

This was exactly what I had been afraid of. Without hesitation, I stepped forward, ready to intervene.

But Hazel didn't cower or run away. Instead, she stood tall and met the men's gazes head-on. "I don't think so," she said firmly.

They exchanged a quick glance before turning to dust and back into the shadows.

Hazel continued on her way, her head held high.

As we watched her disappear into the night, I felt a sense of pride and admiration wash over me. Hazel may have seemed vulnerable, but she possessed a fierce inner strength that I had underestimated. And I knew that, no matter what challenges lay ahead, she would always find a way to persevere.

***

Hazel’s POV


As I arrived at the exam venue, I noticed that it was already crowded with people. Elisa and her group had been waiting for a while, and she gave me an unfriendly look as I arrived. The student who had been beaten up by Riven also looked at me with anger.

Ignoring their stares, I watched as the crowd began to stir.

Christain and Shawn emerged from the building. Christain's friendly demeanor remained unchanged, and he greeted some of the students he knew.

Shawn, on the other hand, seemed to have gained some new admirers. A group of girls giggled and whispered as they watched him walk by, his confident and easygoing manner catching their attention.

"Shawn, it's so good to see you again!" exclaimed one of the female students, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Shawn smiled at her warmly. "It's good to be back," he replied. "I've missed this place."

Other students clamored for his attention, asking him questions about his travels and what he had been up to since leaving the college. Shawn answered them all with ease, effortlessly charming everyone around him.
As I stood there lost in thought, Shawn suddenly appeared before me. I was surprised to see him since he had left the college and become a traveler, but his presence brought back memories of the days when he was still a student.

"Hey, long time no see," he exclaimed, grinning at me.

I returned his smile, happy to see him again. "Yeah, it's been a while," I replied. "What brings you back?"

Shawn's expression turned more serious as he leaned in closer. "I heard about what happened to your teacher," he said quietly. "I wanted to know if you had any more information."

I felt a pang of discomfort at the mention of the incident. It had been a difficult time for everyone at the college, and the mystery surrounding what had happened had left us all on edge.

"I don't really know much," I admitted, shrugging my shoulders. "Just that she disappeared and nobody knows where they went."

Shawn's eyes narrowed slightly as he listened to me. "That's strange," he murmured.

Before I could respond, Shawn reached out and patted me on the back. "But listen," he said with a smile. "We can worry about that later. Right now, we've got an exam to pass!"

I was taken aback by his sudden interest but soon realized that it was because of his connection to my teacher. Nevertheless, it felt good to have his support.

As the exam personnel arrived, the square quickly filled with students waiting for the exam to begin. The dean and three professors arrived casually, taking their time to reach the front of the group.

Christain stepped forward and began to speak. "Welcome, everyone," he said, his voice carrying across the crowd. "Today's exam is one of the most important you'll take during your time here at the college."

He went on to explain the rules, detailing how each student must pass through the magical realm within a specific time frame. The realm was designed specifically for the exam, filled with dangerous magic stone forests that required careful navigation to avoid being lost or injured.

"We have put together an experience that will test both your magical abilities and your mental fortitude," Christain continued. "But with skill and determination, I know that each and every one of you can succeed."

As the sun began to set, the sky erupted in a dazzling display of fireworks, signaling the start of the exam. With a wave of his wand, the dean opened the portal, revealing an otherworldly landscape filled with twisting pathways and glowing stones.

Without hesitation, we began to enter the magical realm. The air crackled with magic as we passed through the portal, and my heart raced with excitement and fear. This was it—the moment that would determine our future. But I pushed aside my doubts and focused on the task at hand. With each step, I felt more confident, and more determined to succeed.