April 13th Sanctuary city.
This was the most bustling day the city has and would experience this year. That's because the mage academies entrance exams had been set to take place today and the one and only Alpha academy would be the venue hosting the entrance exams as usual.
Drake and the youngsters from the Obsidian Palace arrived through the destination portal at Sanctuary city, their blood boiled and the excitement was visible on their faces as they looked around the grand city as Anna led them into the vehicle that took them to the academy.
Drake also looked around and even he couldn't help but be excited at the bustling sights an he clenched his fists as he thought, 'Sanctuary city Alpha academy, are you ready to hear my name?'
…
Anna dropped the four of them at the front gates of the academy and giving a gentle nod she said "Alright this is as far as I go. Now I have to get back to work, so the four of you do your best. Drake, we've already talked about this before so no pressure good luck in there."
Drake nodded reassuring her. He had to admit even though she had her own reasons, It was really nice having someone concerned about your well being taking you to school, it had been a very long time since he had felt this kind of care and he had forgotten what it felt like.
After saying a few more encouraging words to her kids she left.
Once she was gone Drake led Sylvia and the twins into the academy's gates only exam takers were allowed through the gates and the team of students in their smart uniforms stood at the gates helping to coordinate things.
…
Outside the academy's gates was a large mob consisting of thousands of candidates here to take the entrance exams, along with their parents, guardians and family or clan elders that had come with them to encourage them.
"Alright kiddo you've prepared for this, just go in there and give it your all."
"Don't worry grandpa, I got this!"
"Good! good!"
"Sweetie, don't pressure yourself too much okay."
"Yes mom."
"Son you have to ace this test you hear me. I expect nothing less than a hundred percent from you."
"Yes sir!"
"Good luck!"
As Drake and the others headed through the gates, the sounds of other encouraging elders came from all around and he smiled inwardly. Every body had their own dreams, they probably wanted to perform very well so the could attract the attention of good sponsors. Maybe he would have been doing the same under different conditions.
Vroom! Vroom!
Just then he heard the sound of cars approaching, and turned following the origin with his eyes. Soon a silver Rolls Royce surrounded by a convoy of armored SUV's pulled in coming to a stop not too far from the gates and three people two middle aged a bald man and an elegant woman and one young man, all dressed in suits got out of the vehicle.
"The Baldie on the left is Chief Ross, Sanctuary city's Chief of security together with his wife Rachael and that should be their son Desmond with them."
"Who's the other guy?"
"It's probably a mage from the security team."
Suddenly, the car they had just walked out of started to reshape and rearrange into a standing three meter tall humanoid form. It stood powerful and imposing with beautiful and robust streamlined body, the silvery metallic sheen was so beautiful it just made you fall in love with it.
They walked towards the gates side by side, but before they could go in, another commotion started which drew their attention. It was the arrival of a black and gold Bugatti Veyron. A beautiful young lady with glistening fair skin and flowing blonde hair stepped out of the passenger seat and it also transformed into a robotic humanoid form, though this one was much more slender and elegant than the one transformed from the Rolls Royce.
It removed its helmet showing the face of a beautiful woman with a cold sharp stare that could cut a man's heart in two as she walked close behind the young lady.
The two groups exchanged some pleasantries and walked through the gates, with no one barring their entry.
Discussions instantly broke out about the young lady's origins.
"That's a War frame! I heard those are extremely expensive costing several billion units."
"Earlier it was a jet that had transformed, now it's these two cars. The rich really know how to spend their money."
"Sigh, To think I could get to see not just one but three of those up close in my life. I'm satisfied."
"What I wouldn't give to own a War frame myself one day."
"Just you? It's not like I want to look down on you, but I really do look down on you.
"Sorry to spoil your dreams man but wake up, reality is full of disappointment."
Drake and his companions also watched with fervent looks in their eyes, and Drake silently promised himself. 'War Frame! I am definitely getting myself one of those.'
With this thought in his mind they walked past the gates. As they did Drake noticed a number appear above each of them for a second before disappearing.
He had also noticed something like that appearing above all the other people that looked like they were also here for the exams, though nothing showed for the Chief of security and his wife and the mage guards in the War frames.
After asking what it was about the twins explained that it was only just their battle power that was scanned and projected by the academy's gates.
He noticed he had a value of #680 appear above him while the twins each had #1500 appearing above them. Though he did not manage to see Sylvia's, he thought it should be a high figure.
…
Not long after Drake arrived at his designated exam hall, an old man walked in and stood in front of the classroom which was more like a lecture theatre.
He introduced himself as Doctor Greene. He was the examiner that would be presiding over this year's exams he gave a little welcoming speech then went on to explain the details about the exams.
There would be four rounds for this exam carrying a total of 400 questions for #400 marks. And they only had 4 hours to do it all.
These marks could be exchanged for Mage points. This was the currency on all academy grounds, as for how valuable Mage points were they would find out later.
Though a large number of the exam takers had no idea what mage points were for they could see that some of them did and they knew that they were definitely very useful considering the glints in these candidates' eyes. Drake's gaze also sharpened when he heard that the marks from this exam could be exchanged for something useful.
He had been wondering why everybody had been treating this exam that was considered only a formality so seriously all this time. However, now that he realized that the marks had some kind of use, he decided he would give this exam his all and try to get as many marks as possible.
They were only given one instruction, 'You are mages, write like a mage!'
Drake didn't understand what that meant, but he took it as the old man merely warning that they should better not be slacking off.
After giving that simple instruction he walked out, leaving only the exam takers in the hall. But just because he had left didn't mean they dared to be careless as they dove head first into the exam.
They knew they were definitely being monitored, and even though they didn't know how they were still cautious.
Round 1 Science!
This comprised of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, the three branches of science. They would take up #150 questions of the exam.
Drake quickly scanned through the questions in front of him until he reached the final few problems at the end just to familiarize himself with what kind of questions from what topics he would be up against. "They don't look that difficult. Luckily since I became a mage my mind is sharper so I can clearly remember everything I've seen once before, this will be easy. Well let's start mining."
Drake immediately buried his head and started writing. Neither the twins nor Sylvia were in the same hall with him so he didn't bother raising his head once he started.
…
After Science was Round 2: Liberal arts #100 Questions!
This comprised of everything from language to history, politics and even geography. Luckily he had read through all this before and with a mage's sharp mind these were no problem.
Round 3: Mathematics another #100 Questions!
Math had always been an important core subject, but after the Black gates appearance and leading to the apocalypse, the birth of sanctuary and the constant battles with the abyss and the magical beasts, math became even more important. With humanity trying to improve martial arts, technology, science and others, the importance of mathematics became even more pronounced.