The morning table in Gorion's wooden house was filled with warm flatbread, smoked cheese, and steaming mountain mushroom soup. Sylveras devoured a chunk of bread with ease, while Elara kept checking her bag over and over, as if afraid she had forgotten something.
"Relax, Elara," Gorion said with a long sigh. "I'm certain you'll pass that exam."
Elara froze for a second, then smiled faintly. She sat down, though her fingers still trembled as she gripped her spoon.
Gorion opened an old drawer and pulled out two heavy leather pouches. The clinking of coins filled the room as he set them on the table.
"This is for your stay in Caelora," he said. "Each of you will carry ten thousand Gurtz. If you're careful, it should last a month."
Sylveras nearly choked on his bread. "Ten thousand?! Are you serious?!"He snatched his pouch, weighing it with sparkling eyes. "I could eat roasted meat every day, buy new boots, and—"
"And go broke in three days," Gorion cut him flatly. "Remember, Caelora is no village. Prices there are outrageous. In Kozto, one Gurtz buys a large flatbread. In Caelora? Ten Gurtz for a single bite."
Sylveras froze mid-chew, horrified. "Ten… for a bite?"Elara covered her mouth, stifling a laugh, while Sylveras looked as if the world had collapsed before him.
"You're doing this on purpose," he muttered. "Training us to live like monks."
Gorion smirked. "Think of it that way. Ardan used to give away his money freely to villagers. That's why you never held much coin, Sylveras. I'd rather see you wiser than your old mentor."
Elara chuckled softly. "Ardan was too generous."Sylveras shrugged. "If it made people happy, why not?"
"Because the world isn't that simple," Gorion replied. He then produced a scroll sealed in blue wax. "This—far more valuable than the Gurtz I gave you. A Teleportation Scroll."
Elara tilted her head. "But you can teleport yourself, can't you?"
"I can," Gorion nodded. "But if I bring you both straight into the city, we'd break protocol. All exam candidates must arrive through the main gate and report to the guards. This scroll is already tuned to the coordinates of Caelora's checkpoint. Once activated, it will drop you right in front of them."
Sylveras frowned. "So this is just… formality?"
"Formality and safety," Gorion corrected. "If you appear in the city without passing the gate, you'd be treated as intruders. With this, you'll enter the proper way."
Sylveras sighed. "Alright then… how much does it cost?"
"Ten thousand Gurtz. Single-use."
Sylveras almost dropped his spoon. "Ten thousand?! That's a month of living expenses!"
"Which is why you won't waste it," Gorion said lightly, patting their shoulders. "I'll meet you again in the capital. Until then, follow the rules. Until we meet in Caelora."
Elara accepted the scroll carefully, as if holding a fragile gem. "Alright. Then let's go."
Both stood on the unfurled scroll. Blue light flared, the air swirled, and in an instant Gorion's humble home vanished.
The light faded. They now stood on a grand magic circle before Caelora's gates. White walls towered high, decorated with statues of gods and seven golden stars.
A guard stepped forward. "State your purpose."
Elara hurriedly produced her sealed parchment. "I am Elara. Candidate for the Sage exam."
The seal glowed softly. The guard nodded respectfully. "Proceed. Re-registration is at the Hall of Seals. Follow the crystal road."
They entered the city. Crystal-paved streets gleamed, and markets brimmed with magical goods—each price tag enough to make Sylveras pale just by reading.
"A piece of dry bread… twenty Gurtz?!" Sylveras gasped, nearly fainting. Elara giggled, pulling him along.
Inside the Hall of Seals, hundreds of candidates lined up. Clerks recorded names, marking glowing symbols on each wrist. Elara stepped forward, handing over her invitation.
The clerk tapped her wrist with a glowing rune. "Elara. Official candidate."
She barely had time to breathe when a booming voice interrupted:
"So this is one of the candidates for the Sage exam? Hah!"
A broad-shouldered young man strode forward, his robe adorned with the crest of a minor kingdom under Urtz. By the way others lowered their heads, it was clear—he was a young prince.
His gaze swept Elara, then fixed on Sylveras.
"This skinny man is supposed to be my rival?" he sneered.
Sylveras straightened. "No. I'm only here to accompany her." He patted Elara's shoulder.
The prince's jaw dropped, then… he burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! So you mean, this woman? You'd be better off serving as a maid in my palace than standing here. Those delicate hands of yours are made to pour wine, not wield a staff."
Elara stiffened, but held her ground. Sylveras stepped forward, anger flashing in his eyes—only for Elara to grab his arm.
"Syl, don't. It's alright. Don't do anything foolish here."
The prince smirked, satisfied. "Hahaha! Cowards! You don't even defend your own honor."
Sylveras clenched his fists, but Elara tugged him away from the hall. The prince's laughter echoed behind them.
Outside, the towering crystal spires of Caelora glowed in the setting sun. Shadows stretched long across the streets. The exam had truly begun.