The Celestars trudged along the Aetherion road, Eldoria's capital rising before them—floating spires of Elyndor Academy piercing the clouds, their rune-lit tips glowing like beacons. The air hummed with mana, mixed with the chatter of merchants, beastfolk, and mages hauling enchanted carts. The brothers' bags bulged with Gladefen herbs, Tofu buzzing excitedly above Iuro's shoulder.
Lui clutched Master Elard's reply, delivered by a rune-winged hawk that morning. "master Elard is happy," he said, folding the parchment. "Says Master Varyn, Elyndor's principal and his old friend, will guide us. Exam's no joke, though."
Rick twirled his blue wand, grinning. "We'll ace it. Celestars don't flop."
Ishi snorted, shadow daggers glinting. "Overconfidence fails faster than ignorance."
Yuuv yawned, bell wand chiming softly. Ding~. "Stars say… it's loud here."
Aetherion's gates opened to a chaotic plaza, Elyndor's entrance exam registration in full swing. Thousands crowded the tables—nobles in silk, elves with crystal wands, draconid hybrids with scaled arms, all equal under the academy's banner: Elyndor: Where All Paths Shine. The exam period stretched until March 3, a month-long gauntlet.
"So many competitors," Iuro said, spinning in awe. "No wonder it's entrance exam is open for so long."
Izumi's gray eyes scanned the crowd. "Humans, beastfolk, even dwarves. Top academy for a reason."
Iuro pointed at a rune-carved archway, its spires floating on mana currents. "That's the exam hall. Look at those lights!"
A noble in gold robes scoffed as they passed. "common strays? You'll crash out by lunch."
Lui's red eyes flared. "Keep talking. We'll be here at sundown."
The exam's first phase was a written test in a vast hall, its ceiling pulsing with astral runes. Desks lined the room, quills scratching furiously. Questions covered mana flow, herb properties, and basic spell theory. Izumi flew through, his spatial knowledge razor-sharp. Iuro scribbled plant answers, Tofu glowing proudly. Ishi tackled shadow tactics with quiet precision.
Rick struggled, muttering over a mana flow question. A black-haired girl with piercing black eyes at the next desk leaned over, tapping his parchment. "Your diagram's backward. Mirror it." Her voice was sharp but kind, her lunar-wand glowing faintly.
Rick blinked, heart skipping. "Uh… thanks." He fixed it, stealing glances. She was poised, her black hair catching the rune-light, and her quick answers screamed brilliance. He was smitten.
"Focus, lover boy," Lui whispered, smirking. Iuro and Rick exchanged grins, catching Rick's starry-eyed look.
Yuuv, half-asleep, scribbled poetic answers that somehow nailed all the questions. His bell chimed softly. Ding~. "Stars… helped," he mumbled.
The proctors called time. The Celestars passed—barely, thanks to Yuuv's dreamy accuracy and Izumi's near-perfect score. Outside, the plaza buzzed with tension as phase two loomed: elemental trials.
"Rick, you good?" Lui asked, eyeing his dazed grin.
Rick nodded, still glancing at the black-haired girl vanishing into the crowd. "Yeah… real good."
The spires glowed brighter, a faint Starwatcher shimmer flickering unnoticed in the distance.