Chapter 23: The Battle of Dominion[1]
DING~ DING~
The bell rang as the written exam came to an end. The answer sheets vanished on the spot.
Some students slumped back in their chairs with their shoulders sagging with relief or regret. While others stared at the blank ceiling as if they had fought with death itself for the past two hours.
Freya sighed while pulling her hair back into a rough ponytail. "I hope the next test is easier. I’d rather get punched in the face than make another decision like that."
"Don’t tempt fate," I murmured to myself when I heard her words.
Because fate, which I had learned about, had a twisted sense of humor.
We exited the hall in a slow stream of silence. The crowd moved as if they were all leaving a funeral.
Outside, the stone courtyard was already starting to fill. The academy staff had begun setting up the next phase.
I caught Freya’s muttered complaints drifting off as she joined a group of other exhausted candidates, but I didn’t follow her. My eyes were elsewhere else — on the far side of the courtyard.
And standing just right there, framed by the glare of the midday sun, was the only person who didn’t look like he had been dragged through hell and back by that exam.
Redmane Varian.