It was a colosseum!
The moderator, whoever he was, was standing at the center of the large stage, while everyone else watched from their seat roundabout the arena.
"A total of five thousand three hundred and fifty students obtained a form for this exam. A huge number of you are here to be admitted into this prestigious institute. However, you must understand... that of so many people gathered here, not more than a hundred will ever see the inner walls of the main Academy."
This was met by a shocking response from the audience. We were never told this, not even in the texts and prospectus given out by the Academy.
However, if one was really observant, this much was to be expected. As the best of the best, clearly, Ainzlark Academy would only aim for the most talented and powerful. Still, one thing caught my attention.
The moderator mentioned over five thousand people registering for the exam. However, from the calculations I made of the seats and their arrangements, there should only be a total of four thousand gathered here at the maximum.
'Hmmn... maybe there are other batches...' I reasoned.
If that was the case, then why didn't they split the crowd more evenly? Four thousand people participating in the first batch and a thousand plus in the second... that seemed uneven.
Perhaps there was a special way they used to split the batches that I wasn't aware of. Well, this was Ainzlark Academy, I couldn't exactly expect something normal.
"Now then, I should inform you of the requirements for this exam. Of course, there are three major stages you need to pass before you can be admitted."
Another outcry of surprise filled the air as thousands of students expressed surprise. Even I was a little surprised by this.
'I only know of two tests...' My thoughts trailed.
"In the past years, we implemented two stages to pass. The written tests and the magic proficiency tests. However, after a slight educational reform within the Academy, from this point on, a new test will be given which will determine not only your admission into the Academy, but also your status once you've become a student."
My eyes bulged as I listened. This was new, but not entirely unreasonable. I had already expected some discrepancies, so it wasn't too much...
"The third test will be the Mana Core Grade Proficiency test!"
My jaw instantly dripped and the heart that was calm moments ago nearly jumped out of my chest.
'WHATTTT?!!"
Of everything the Academy would pull, I wasn't expecting this!
"Remember this aspiring students, there is no such thing as equality in this world, especially when it comes to magic."
As I heard the moderator, while he didn't directly say it, I understood what he meant. The third test was the most important since it would determine one's status in the Academy. Plus, with the talk of inequality, I would be foolish to expect any leniency in this test.
I had come into this place with absolute confidence. However, what remained were merely shards of the guarantee within my heart.
After all... I possessed a pure White Mana Core Grade, and in a test that tested one's proficiency based on that decisive factor, it could only mean one thing for someone like me.
'I'm screwed!'
"Now then, without further ado, we'll begin the first phase of the test." The moderator beamed, not even giving me enough time to sort through my thoughts.
The man snapped his fingers, creating a loud clicking sound. I winced a little reacting to the sudden noise, however, my eyes suddenly caught something in front of me.
"This is... a piece of paper...?" I muttered, looking at the clear white sheet in front of me.
"You should all have received pieces of paper, one page each, correct?" The mod announced.
My eyes darted across the room, beside me, beneath, across the other side, and true to his words, everyone had indeed received the same piece of floating paper like me.
'With the snap of a finger... impressive...' My thoughts trailed.
Or so it would seem. However, it was a simple trick once you figured it out. To think the Academy resorted to such petty methods to impress students.
"You are to pick up the paper before you. Written on it is a simple question. The paper is enchanted and responds to mana. You don't need a pen to write. Use your fingers and answer the questions written on the paper before you."
Everyone mechanically obeyed his instructions, picking up the paper to read the questions. Sure enough, his words were true.
"I would desist from engaging in any form of malpractice since this place is being monitored entirely. Also, the questions assigned for every examinee are different and the time allocated for this stage is five minutes!"
The bewildered students expressed their displeasure concerning the sudden rush of information. However, the moderator wasn't even going to give anyone room to breathe.
"Your time starts now!"
Everyone instantly buried their faces in the paper allocated to them and answered the questions in the way they knew best.
I paused for a moment to analyze all that had occurred. If Ainzlark Academy had taught me anything, it would that I was never to expect anything simple or straightforward from them. This written test was no different.
'The flow of mana within the body is something any magic-user can sense. However, controlling that flow from one's mana core is a different story entirely. To do that, you need to be focused and calm...' I reasoned.
The reason why no pen was provided was to test our apt use of mana in answering the questions given. The questions weren't all that difficult for anyone who studied well.
That meant the true test was the ability to keep one's cool while focusing on mana usage in correctly answering the question while being under the pressure of time.
'It all adds up. When you think of it that way... the first stage becomes very easy to overcome!' I grinned.
Five minutes? Ha! How laughable.
"I won't even need one."
