A while later, students seem to have attended the ceremony. The room filled with nobles and commoners sitting down in their own seats. As the ceremony started, those who were late were eliminated and could not attend the school. The vice headmaster had gone up on stage, making an announcement.
"Esteemed students who are yet to be enrolled in the academy, I am sure everyone here who had attended early noticed that the test had already begun. I hope to see your achievements in the future and hope to see that most of you pass the tests in the academy. Now, without further ado, the official test starts. I wish you all the best of luck."
Most of the students headed to the testing ground as the vice headmaster announced that the official test had started. However, Wei An felt skeptical and took his time; he sat there for a while, waiting for the crowd to leave.
"Ah, young master Wei An, are you not going to the testing area?"
"I am, Your Highness, but it is quite crowded; a lot of students have gone there, and I assume it will just be an inconvenience."
"You're right, the testing ground only allows 50 participants; I'm afraid the people who went would only be waiting again."
"Mn, anyway, where are you headed, your highness?"
"Ah, I'm going to practice for a while; it's better than waiting for other students to finish their tests."
"I see. I hope your practice goes well, your highness."
"Yes, thank you."
The prince left and made his way to the training grounds, leaving Wei An still sitting in the venue. Wei An waited until everyone in the venue left; as soon as he was alone, he stood up and looked through the venue, looking for clues and hints about the tests.
There's no way that this test would be easy... I don't think it's as simple as going to the test itself. There must be something hidden.
Haa...I could feel people staring. We were being observed since the beginning.
I guess this is why the percentage of participants passing is only 10 percent. I should've been more cautious.
Wei An continued to look for hidden clues in the venue; as he was looking, he saw something in the chandelier on the ceiling. The only problem was that he could not reach it.
Ah, right, I have magic. Hopefully this works; well, even if it doesn't, I guess this is a way to test the fruits of my training.
Wei An closed his eyes and cleared his head, solely concentrating on the mana that was in his body. During his days training in the garden of his home, he had thought that the magic here was similar to that of his original world. He had controlled his mana and magic quite easily.
As he focused, he raised his hand, opening his eyes. He used a gust of wind to gently nudge the item that he saw on the chandelier. The item fell down slowly; it turned out to be a letter landing on Wei An's palm.
Oh? I thought it would be different from training...seems like it's not that difficult after all?
Wei An opened the letter and saw the words contained inside.
-If you have found this letter, congratulations. Release your mana to acquire information.
After reading, Wei An felt skeptical but still released his mana. His eyes widen as the mana he released glowed green and then formed floating letters that united into a riddle in the air.
[In shadows deep, where secrets sleep,
A doorless chamber, its vigil keeps,
Seek the heart, where knowledge blooms,
and find the key that ends all dooms.]
Ah, a riddle. How troublesome.
Wei An composed himself as he stared at the words. He was trying to think of an answer.
A doorless chamber...where knowledge blooms? Ah. The library. How did I not think of it sooner? There must be some kind of passagewaythere.
Wei An made his way to the library; as he arrived, he used a detection spell to find any clues like the letter. Moments after, he found a letter tied to a book. The same message was written on the letter.
-If you have found this letter, congratulations. Release your mana to acquire information.
Wei An did the same thing as he did with the first, releasing his mana in the surroundings. The mana glowed green again, and letters started forming a new riddle.
[In realms of words, where knowledge resides,
A secret passage, waiting to confide,
Seek the tale of a warrior's arts,
The key to the doorway, where everythingstarts.]
Hah. So it really is a secret passage. It must be somewhere then...
The key is where everything starts? I guess it's close to the entrance of the library. "A warrior's arts" must be referring to the sword arts of this world; it seems like there's a book about it here.
Wei An proceeded to go near the entrance of the library; he then looked for any books related to swordsmanship.
Found it.
He then touched the book to see if anything happens; unfortunately, the passage did not open.
Eh? Did I miss something?
Wei An recalled the riddle that was shown and contemplated on how to open the passageway.
In realms of words... Do I need to recite something from the book?
Wei An took the book from the shelf, opening it. He flipped through the pages until he found a sentence glowing green.
Looks like I really do need to recite something. How fascinating.
[A warrior's heart, though scared and torn. Finds a strength in life that is newly born]
Wei An then recited the words from the book. The ground shook weakly, and a low rumble echoed through the library. Slowly, the shelf swung inwards, disappearing into the walls, revealing the passageway. It revealed a dark, long, narrow hall; inside was quite dusty.
Wei An used his magic, making a small ball of light. He then went inside the passage, only to see a dead end. Just then, the ground rumbled again, and the shelf returned to its former position, locking him inside.