Two days until the entrance exam.
Wei Chen spent the morning in the common area, observing other applicants. Not obviously — he sat near a window with a book borrowed from the small applicant library, appearing to read while actually studying the social dynamics.
Twenty-three applicants. Roughly three groups had formed.
The first group centered around Ming Yue, the advanced-level mage. Five applicants clustered near her — all older, all from wealthier families based on clothing quality. They treated her with deference that bordered on sycophantic. Ming Yue accepted it as her due, speaking to them like a noble addressing servants.
"The entrance exam shouldn't be difficult for those with proper training," Ming Yue was saying. "Most failures come from applicants with inflated confidence and inadequate preparation. Street mages who think raw talent compensates for lack of formal instruction."
Her gaze flicked toward Chen Ling — the fourteen-year-old with scarred hands who'd admitted to beginner-level magic. Chen Ling noticed but didn't react, continuing his conversation with two other applicants nearby.
The second group formed around Han Tao. Moderate-sized, maybe seven applicants. More balanced in composition — mixed ages, mixed backgrounds. They talked strategy and shared information about what previous entrance exams had involved.
"My cousin took the exam three years ago," one boy was saying. "Failed the survival trial. Said they dropped him in wilderness with no supplies and a pack of shadow wolves hunting him. Lasted two days before he triggered the emergency beacon."
"Shadow wolves?" another applicant asked nervously.
"Magical beasts. Hunt in packs, can phase through darkness, nearly impossible to track." Han Tao's voice was calm. "But they're predictable if you understand their behavior. Avoid shadows, stay in open areas, don't run. Running triggers predator instinct."
The third group was barely a group — scattered individuals who didn't fit the other two. Chen Ling. A quiet girl named Liu Mei. An older boy who kept to himself. Wei Chen technically fell into this category, though he'd been spending time near Han Tao's group without fully joining.
Wei Chen closed his book and stood, stretching. He'd learned what he needed from observation. Ming Yue's group would likely compete against each other as much as against other applicants — too much ego, too much jockeying for status. Han Tao's group was more functional but still showed hierarchy and social friction.
The scattered individuals were wildcards. Harder to predict. Potentially more dangerous because desperation made people creative.
Wei Chen left the common area and explored the parts of the Sanctuary grounds accessible to applicants. The basic courtyard was open, though magic use was prohibited. The common hall served meals on schedule. Everything else — training facilities, technique library, instructor quarters — was restricted.
He found himself at the terrace Master Zhao had shown him yesterday. The view of the capital spread below, vast and overwhelming. Four hundred thousand people. Thousands of mages.
The scale should have been intimidating. Instead, Wei Chen felt energized. This was where real power existed. Where opportunities waited. Where he could become something more than a feared child in a small town.
"Impressive view."
Wei Chen turned. Chen Ling stood a few paces away, hands in pockets, expression neutral.
"It is," Wei Chen agreed.
Chen Ling moved to the terrace edge, looking out over the city. "You're the nine-year-old everyone talks about. The one Master Zhao gave a tour to."
"Word travels fast."
"Always does in enclosed spaces." Chen Ling glanced at Wei Chen. "They say you have seventy-eight percent sub-magic mastery. Intermediate level at nine years old. That's exceptional."
"So I'm told."
"I'm beginner level. Sixty-two percent mastery. Fourteen years old." Chen Ling's tone was matter-of-fact, no shame or defensiveness. "By conventional standards, I shouldn't be here. My magic is weak. My family has no connections. I barely scraped together application fees."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because weak magic doesn't mean incapable." Chen Ling held up his scarred hands. "I've spent six years training hand-to-hand combat, weapon skills, and practical applications of limited magic. I can't create impressive shadow constructs like you probably can. But I can coat a blade with shadow enhancement, move through darkness without sound, and kill efficiently with minimal magical expenditure."
Wei Chen studied him with new appreciation. "You're a skill specialist."
"Exactly. The Sanctuary doesn't just want powerful mages. It wants competent operators. Sometimes competence matters more than raw power." Chen Ling looked back at the city. "Ming Yue will probably pass the combat assessment easily. Her advanced magic gives her overwhelming advantage. But the survival trial and psychological evaluation? Those test more than magical strength."
"You think she'll fail?"
"I think she's never been desperate. Never had to survive with nothing. Never faced real consequences for failure." Chen Ling smiled slightly. "People like us — we've been desperate. We know what it means to have nothing and still push forward. That's different from being talented and comfortable."
Wei Chen found himself liking Chen Ling. The older boy reminded him of himself in some ways — pragmatic, aware of limitations, willing to leverage unconventional advantages.
"The exam is in two days," Chen Ling continued. "After that, we're either competing as fellow students or you'll never see me again. So I'll say this now — if we both pass, I'd rather have you as ally than enemy."
"Why?"
"Because you're smart enough to recognize that alliances matter. And young enough that you haven't developed the arrogance older mages acquire." Chen Ling extended his hand. "What do you say? Mutual support during training if we both survive the entrance exam?"
Wei Chen considered. Alliances were useful but also potential liabilities. But Chen Ling seemed genuine, competent, and realistic about his capabilities. Those were valuable traits.
He shook Chen Ling's hand. "Agreed. But if you betray that alliance, I won't hesitate to end it permanently."
"Fair. Same applies in reverse." Chen Ling's smile widened. "See? You understand pragmatism. You'll do well here."
Lunch was quieter than breakfast. Most applicants ate quickly and dispersed, either to rest or to occupy themselves with mental preparation.
Wei Chen ate alone, preferring observation to conversation. He noticed patterns in behavior. Ming Yue's group stayed clustered, reinforcing each other's confidence. Han Tao's group talked strategy and shared nervous energy. The scattered individuals ate quickly and left.
One applicant caught Wei Chen's attention — a girl maybe fifteen, sitting alone at the far end of the hall. She hadn't joined any group. Hadn't spoken to anyone that Wei Chen had seen. She ate mechanically, gaze distant, like her mind was somewhere else entirely.
Zhao Feng — one of Han Tao's friends — noticed Wei Chen's attention. "That's Xu Lan. She arrived yesterday, last applicant to register. Hasn't said a word to anyone since."
"What's her story?"
"No idea. Nobody knows. She just appeared, registered, and vanished to her room." Zhao Feng lowered his voice. "Some people think she's running from something. Others think she's just antisocial. Either way, she's weird."
Wei Chen filed that information away. Xu Lan was either deeply focused or deeply troubled. Either way, she was unpredictable — which made her potentially dangerous during an exam where alliances and betrayals could determine survival.
After lunch, Wei Chen returned to his room. He pulled out parchment and began writing notes — observations about applicants, potential strategies for different exam scenarios, mental frameworks for maintaining composure under stress.
Feng had taught him that preparation was as much mental as physical. "Warriors who visualize victory fight better than those who only train their bodies. See yourself succeeding. Plan for contingencies. Enter combat with a clear mind."
Wei Chen visualized the entrance exam components Master Zhao had mentioned. Combat assessment — straightforward, play to his strengths in adaptive fighting and Shadow Blade technique. Survival trial — use stealth, avoid unnecessary confrontation, reach objectives efficiently. Psychological evaluation — maintain composure, demonstrate pragmatism, show he could be broken temporarily but recover.
The visualization helped. By the time evening approached, Wei Chen felt centered. Anxious but controlled. Ready.
Dinner brought unexpected drama.
Wei Chen arrived at the common hall to find tension thick enough to cut. Ming Yue stood facing Chen Ling, her expression furious. Han Tao and several others watched from nearby tables.
"You have no right to be here," Ming Yue was saying, voice cold. "Beginner-level magic, no family connections, no formal training. You're wasting everyone's time and the Sanctuary's resources."
Chen Ling's expression remained calm. "The Sanctuary accepted my application. That's the only right I need."
"They accepted you out of pity. Or obligation to fill applicant quotas. But you'll fail. You know it. Everyone knows it." Ming Yue stepped closer. "Why don't you save yourself the humiliation and withdraw now?"
"Because I'm not here to meet your standards. I'm here to meet the Sanctuary's standards." Chen Ling's voice stayed level. "And unlike you, I don't assume my success is guaranteed."
Ming Yue's shadow darkened, edges sharpening with barely-controlled magic. "You dare—"
"Enough."
Master Zhao appeared in the doorway, presence cutting through the tension like a blade. Both Ming Yue and Chen Ling froze.
"No magic in common areas. No violence before the exam. I stated these rules clearly." Zhao's gaze settled on Ming Yue. "You were threatening to use magic. Against another applicant. In direct violation of stated rules."
"I wasn't actually going to—"
"Intent doesn't matter. The threat matters." Zhao's tone was ice. "Ming Yue. You're confined to your room until the exam. Meals will be brought to you. If you violate this confinement, you're expelled."
Ming Yue looked stunned. "Master Zhao, I apologize. I didn't mean—"
"Your apology is noted and irrelevant. Confinement begins immediately." Zhao gestured to one of the Outer Disciples standing nearby. "Escort her."
Ming Yue left, face burning with humiliation and rage. Her group of followers looked uncertain, glancing at each other.
Zhao addressed the remaining applicants. "Let me be explicit. The entrance exam tests your capability. But the days before the exam test your discipline. Those who cannot follow simple rules — no magic, no violence, no disruption — will not be given the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. Understood?"
Murmurs of agreement. Everyone understood.
Zhao left. The tension dissipated slowly. Conversations resumed, quieter now.
Wei Chen sat with his meal, processing what had happened. Ming Yue's confinement changed the social dynamics significantly. Her group had lost their center. Some would likely align with Han Tao's group now. Others might become scattered individuals.
More importantly, it demonstrated what Master Zhao valued. Discipline. Rule-following. The ability to control yourself even under provocation.
Chen Ling caught Wei Chen's eye from across the hall and nodded slightly. Acknowledgment. They'd both learned something valuable today.
The Sanctuary didn't tolerate arrogance without competence. Didn't accept power without control. Didn't reward talent that couldn't coexist with discipline.
Good lessons. Valuable lessons.
Wei Chen finished his meal and returned to room twenty-three as evening settled over the Sanctuary grounds.
One day until the entrance exam.
Tomorrow, everything would be tested. Every skill. Every preparation. Every calculated decision over three years of training.
Wei Chen lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, running through mental exercises one more time.
He thought about his parents. About Lian Xiu. About Merchant Liu and Elder Shen and Instructor Feng. About everyone who'd invested in bringing him to this moment.
He couldn't fail them. Wouldn't fail them.
Tomorrow, he'd prove he belonged at Shadow Sanctuary.
Or he'd fail and go home.
But failure wasn't an option Wei Chen allowed himself to seriously consider.
He'd survived three years of isolation. Overcome poverty and limited resources. Trained until his body and magic screamed for mercy.
One entrance exam wouldn't stop him.
Nothing would.