Eileen was praying for Nora, hoping she would successfully pass the test and gain admission to a prestigious academy.
She firmly believed that Nora possessed remarkable talent.
After all, on their journey back to Karea Academy, Nora had effortlessly advanced a minor tier, which was proof enough that she was a genius.
Now was the time for Nora to showcase her talent.
In Karea Academy, students were granted resources based on their abilities.
The better one’s talent, the more resources they received—be it learning materials or superior instruction.
Conversely, those with average talent were treated like mere tourists, receiving little attention.
After all, Karea Academy prided itself on cultivating exceptional individuals.
If one wasn’t a genius, they wouldn’t be taken seriously.
Eileen didn’t want Nora to end up in an ordinary academy.
Time ticked by, and Nora’s test results were about to be revealed.
Suddenly, a nearby examiner exclaimed in shock, “Impossible! This has to be a mistake!”
Eileen turned to see the crystal ball used for talent assessment glowing with a brilliant array of colors.
As a student of Karea Academy, Eileen knew exactly what this meant.
The more colors the crystal displayed, the higher the tested talent.
And Nora’s result?
It wasn’t just colorful—the colors kept shifting and changing.
There could only be one explanation: Nora’s talent was extraordinary.
Then, something unprecedented occurred.
The dazzling colors within the crystal ball vanished entirely, plunging it into complete darkness.
“Who broke the testing crystal? Do you have any idea how troublesome it is to repair?” an elderly voice boomed.
A wizened old professor, looking slightly disheveled, stormed into the room with an irritated expression.
“Professor, the crystal ball… it broke on its own,” the examiner replied, clearly distressed.
The professor frowned in confusion. “On its own? Is someone currently undergoing the test?”
“Yes, a student just entered. The crystal ball initially turned colorful, shifting constantly, and then it extinguished itself…” the examiner explained.
The professor’s anger faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression.
He turned to Eileen and asked, “Is the student in question the one you brought in?”
“Yes, Professor,” Eileen responded respectfully.
“Impressive. Once she finishes, bring her to my academy,” the professor instructed, nodding approvingly.
“Yes, Professor.”
Although the testing crystal was now useless, no one could deny Nora’s exceptional talent. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Breaking the crystal during the evaluation?
That was something only someone extraordinary could achieve.
“Tell me more about this new student,” the professor continued, but before he could finish, Nora emerged from the magic array.
The professor’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The mindset test, unlike the talent test, was typically a lengthy process.
Students had to navigate a series of illusions.
Failing to break free from these illusions often led to rejection by the academy, as it was considered a fundamental test of character and resolve.
The academy’s mindset test wasn’t overly harsh; most students passed without issue.
However, Nora’s performance was astonishingly fast—almost incomprehensibly so.
To the professor, it seemed as though Nora had barely stepped into the illusion before escaping it effortlessly.
Such resilience and clarity of mind were rare, especially in someone with immense talent.
This was exactly the kind of genius Karea Academy sought—someone with unparalleled ability and an equally strong heart.
The professor’s gaze on Nora was filled with fiery enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, in Riverside City, Green stood before the academy’s central plaza, smiling at the grand statue of Daniel.
A year ago, no one could have imagined that the once-fragile Crossbridge Academy would rise to its current prominence.
Now, it was one of the most influential forces in Riverside City.
Green had chosen not to travel but to stay at the academy, which he considered his home.
Someone needed to stay behind and care for it, watching over the new students as they grew and waiting for family members who had ventured out to return.
Back in Winterrealm, Nina had just received her badge for the trial, which was about to begin.
Each participant was assigned a unique number and would compete according to their sequence.
Looking at her badge, Nina was surprised to find her number in the 800s.
“Are there really this many participants?” she wondered aloud.
This was just one of the trials at Westwind Pass.
Considering the many cities and strongholds across Winterrealm, she couldn’t imagine how many competitors there were in total.
“How’s it going, Nina?” Sarra asked as she approached.
“I got my number. Sarra, what’s your number?”
“Mine? Thirty-five.”
“What?! Why is your number so low while mine is over 800?” Nina complained, feeling as though the organizers were targeting her.
“It’s not unfair,” Sarra explained. “The participants are sorted by strength. Since your tier is only tier-3, you’ve been placed accordingly. There are over two thousand participants this time.”
Hearing Sarra’s explanation, Nina’s resentment subsided somewhat. She then took out a small box from her storage crystal.
“Sarra, I wanted to thank you for buying all that wine for me last time. I got scolded for it afterward, so I found this for you as compensation,” Nina said, handing over the box.
Sarra was taken aback.
At the gathering, she had spent nearly all her mana stone savings from Dragonscale Bank to buy wine for Nina.
It had been a significant financial hit, but Sarra had reluctantly gone through with it, unwilling to go back on her word.
“Thank you,” Sarra said, accepting the box.
“Don’t open it here. Too many eyes around,” Nina cautioned.
Clearly, Nina had learned a lesson from Daniel about discretion.
She had shared her experience with Sif, who had helped her understand the importance of not flaunting wealth in public.
Nina now realized that Daniel’s roundabout way of teaching had been deliberate.
Still, she found it frustrating.
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“Hmph, bad headmaster!” Nina muttered to herself.
Just then, a voice called out, “Number 835! Report to platform three immediately!”
Nina glanced at her badge—it was her turn.
“I’m off, Sarra. Remember, open the box later,” Nina said before hurrying toward the platform.
The arena was specially designed to ensure an equal viewing experience for all spectators.
Stepping onto the platform, Nina felt a surge of nervousness.
She glanced toward the audience and noticed an empty seat in a prominent location—Daniel’s designated spot, reserved for him by Ronan, the overseer.
However, Daniel hadn’t shown up.