Chapter 39. Entrance Examination
Stepping out of the portal, the world immediately felt... different.
A soft breeze brushed past me, carrying with it the faint scent of dew-covered roses and old parchment, tinged with mana.
Sweet, airy, but invigorating—as if the very wind whispered of long-forgotten spells and the ambitions of countless dreamers. The atmosphere here was dense with magic.
Not oppressive, no—rather, it buzzed gently along my skin, like a lover's soft touch or the thrill of anticipation before battle.
The very air was richer than anywhere I'd ever been, teeming with mana so potent it made my senses sharpen just by breathing it in.
Compared to this, the outside world felt pale and diluted. There was no doubt about it—this place was on an entirely different level.
In front of me stood an enormous gate wrought from ancient, shimmering metal. Its surface was engraved with elegant patterns—runes and sigils pulsing with residual enchantments from an era lost to time.
Beyond the gate loomed the academy itself.
Rose Academy.
A monumental cathedral-like structure constructed from silver marble veined with gold. Spires pierced the sky like lances of divine will, and majestic archways framed in golden crystal reflected the rising sun, casting prismatic patterns across the courtyard.
Towering pillars supported sweeping terraces, each adorned with blooming roses, enchanted vines, and floating glyphs that shifted shape with the rhythm of mana.