31 – Gateway
Oslobia, Pravsen, Berleyu.
Although the three federal countries, each with their own way, have melted evenly, the hierarchy between them was not so equal.
Berleyu, responsible for primary industries such as livestock farming and with the lowest population density, proved that the name of the country, Pravbia, was true.
In the case of Oslobia, where various industries flourish, although they led the war against the Empire to victory, it was difficult for them to dominate the axis of the federation with just one military achievement.
The birthplace of magic.
A geographical characteristic, an international political situation, and a symbol of power, Pravsen only needed a short and concise title to stand at the center of the federation.
At the center of that title is the city of Pravsen.
In the city of Pravsen, there is the Pravsen Federation Magic University.
There are many magical educational institutions within the federation.
If you simply want to learn magic, there is no need to stubbornly insist on attending the Pravsen Federation Magic University.
However, the founder of the Pravsen Federation Magic University was the father of magic, Jean-Pierre Oshlime.
It was only natural that the level of the students who gathered to become Oshlime’s direct disciples was far higher than that of other universities.
The Pravsen Federation Magic University is a kind of holy land.
It is the pride of the federation and the sanctuary of magicians.
As if to prove this, there was one gateway in the Pravsen Federation Magic University.
The so-called Gate of Knowledge.
The gate was nothing more than two giant granite pillars.
On the left pillar, there was an inscription that read, “Those who wish to learn, enter here.”
On the right pillar, there was an inscription that read, “Those who have no intention to learn, do not approach.”
Except for the inscription that Oshurimega personally carved with a chisel and hammer, the pillars were just plain stones.
The door of knowledge, standing twenty feet tall, was a magnificent symbol in itself.
In terms of functionality, it was like a fortress gate.
The door of knowledge had never allowed the entry of an imperial personage even once since the war.
*
“It’s raining since morning. Take an umbrella with you.”
Susan advised.
I stood by the living room window and looked up at the cloudy sky.
The rain was drizzling down.
In Prussia, in the central federation, where the dry climate was prominent, it was a ‘imperial’ weather that hadn’t been seen in a long time.
As I was gazing out the window endlessly, Susan seemed to interpret it as a bad omen and let out a worried sigh.
“How’s your health?”
“I think it’s good enough.”
“Did you sleep well?”
I nodded, but Susan’s expression was still gloomy.
“Really… The timing is so subtle. Even if the weather is mild, every year around this time, the temperature drops suddenly, and now it’s raining on top of that.”
Susan was worried that I might fail the exam because of the rain.
November 1st. The day of the entrance exam for the Federation Magic University.
Susan, being one of the few people who knew the determination I had put into my studies over the past two months, seemed even more profound in her understanding.
I could confidently say that.
I felt my heart flutter with excitement.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Hmm?”
The reason I had been staring out the window endlessly was simply because the scenery of the Empire came to mind.
The rain was not ominous. It was rather auspicious.
Who am I? I am the person who, while enduring the rain under my feet, would happily take out my spellbook and practice magic whenever it rained.
I summed it up in one word.
“When it rains, I am able to concentrate the best.”
“hehehe… I see. So you have enough confidence to apply to the Federal Magic University.”
Susan, with a light smile, came closer to me and handed me an umbrella.
“Stay strong!”
It was still early in the morning.
It was a time that would be more appropriate to call it dawn, and even the sunlight was hidden behind the dark clouds.
The twins must have fallen into a deep sleep in their dreamland, and Lena, who had been focusing on stabilizing the Eastern Federation for the past month, must have fallen deeply asleep due to fatigue.
From Noble mtl dot com
Still, isn’t it a great happiness to have someone to see me off, even if it’s just one person?
“I’ll be back.”
I said that as I opened the front door.
Clatter!
A noisy sound erupted from the stairs, followed by the sudden appearance of a shadowy figure.
It was mischievous twins Ellie.
And in their hands, they dragged Sally and Lena as if they were being pulled along.
“Brother! Do well on your exam!”
Ellie greeted me vigorously, waving both hands around.
Sally, still half-asleep, barely opened her eyes and only lightly shook her hand.
I shook their hands in return and responded.
And then…
Lena, who was standing there haphazardly with a blanket draped like a cape, woke up as soon as our eyes met. Her appearance, disheveled like that, seemed unfamiliar.
Just as I was thinking that, Lena seemed to have a similar thought. Her complexion instantly turned pale.
“…….”
“…….”
An awkward silence lasted for about three seconds.
I was the first to shake hands.
“I’ll be back.”
“Oh. Yeah.”
Her already large eyes widened even more.
Lena raised her head, showing a slightly sullen expression, and shook my hand.
“….I’m back. Yu, Yu Jin.”
I naturally smiled.
I closed the door and opened the umbrella.
With the umbrella in one hand, and a bag containing writing utensils and submission documents in the other. And wearing Mrs. Dieman’s hat on my head.
I walked towards the rain.
*
I admit it. I have no sense of direction.
Because of my memories of wandering through Leman’s alleys, I thought I was good at geography, but after arriving in the federation, I’ve been lost several times.
Counting the number of times I got lost was beyond my capacity.
But now, it’s different.
Two months since settling in Prussia.
Although the whole city is still a mystery, I have a good grasp of the area near Oslo.
So, there was no hesitation in my steps towards the Federal Magic University.
It might actually be harder to get lost.
If it was a government office scattered throughout the city, I wouldn’t know, but the Federal Magic University is located at the ‘center’ of Prussia.
Prussia Train Station, Laphian Square, the vast road leading to the Magic University.
If I just followed that path, I could naturally reach the front gate of the Magic University.
As I moved between the rain-soaked streets, I started to notice pedestrians of my age, one by one.
Passing the square and nearing the Magic University, the number of pedestrians increased even more, reaching the point where the streets were filled with students.
I clicked my tongue.
Is this all exam candidates?
Considering that the Federal Magic University admits around seven hundred new students, the number of applicants seemed to easily exceed that by about sixty-eight times.
Moreover, all the students who applied to the Magic University believed themselves to be part of a group with a chance of being selected.
“….”
I felt a chill in the students’ expressions, and perhaps it wasn’t a misconception.
Maybe I, too, was wearing a similar expression as seen by them.
Continuing to walk, I suddenly began to see the grounds of the Federal Magic University in front of me.
By this point, there was no need to bother finding the way.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of people formed a procession flowing towards the admissions office within the Magic University.
I also joined the procession and headed towards the admissions office.
*
To take the entrance exam, the process of submitting the admission ticket at the admissions office, verifying one’s identity, and confirming the exam venue was necessary.
As this was a somewhat time-consuming task, even at this hour, one and a half hours before the exam started, the admissions office was still crowded with people.
“Exam number 1217. Mr. Torichelli. Confirmed.”
“Exam number 2944. Mr. Sartre. Confirmed.”
Six or so faculty members and students waiting in line in front of them.
Somehow, the scene of immigration inspection came to mind.
While waiting for my turn, feeling a sense of tension.
“….”
Unfailingly, all eyes gathered.
The back of my head felt prickly.
Until I folded my umbrella, no one paid any attention to me. The fact that now, out of the blue, glances were being thrown my way made it so evident that it could induce a bitter laugh, all thanks to my hair.
Still, because I was wearing a hat, the number of people who noticed was limited.
But the sense of unease conveyed was on a different level.
It wasn’t a mere sign of caution or mild aversion.
It was contempt.
Rejection.
Or intense emotions like incomprehension dominated the atmosphere.
Even though I hadn’t surpassed the level of basic knowledge, just stepping into the campus seemed to bring about this situation.
I understand.
Magic is the pride of the Federation, to the extent that casting a magic prohibition order on the Empire was a matter of preserving their dignity against the Empire’s barbaric lineage.
What if it’s the Prussian Federation Magical University, known as the headquarters of magic?
Even if this place, being part of the Federation, might consider me as nothing more than a mixed-blood with Empire parents or grandparents, the situation has reached such an extreme.
If it weren’t for my larger-than-average physique, the sparring with Dorothy, and the disciplined body forged through coal mine labor, it might not have stopped at just glances.
I couldn’t resist the situation.
The source of this immense hatred originated from the tragedy caused by the Empire.
While standing in line with nothing else to do, Cha continued his thoughts, trapped in the chains of inexplicable ethical constraints.
“Next student, please come forward!”
Before I knew it, it was my turn.
I presented my receipt and identification to the faculty member.
The school employee, appearing to be around Dorothy’s age, opened his mouth while clumsily writing my name and stamping the document.
“I’ll need to verify your identity. It’s a simple procedure. Please temporarily remove accessories like hats…”
I did as he instructed.
Only then did the staff member look at my face.
To be precise, he must have seen the gray hair that had been revealed to the world.
In the next moment,
I witnessed more than half of the people at the reception area turning their heads in my direction.
The commotion created by dozens of people suddenly vanished, replaced by an abrupt silence.
The employee, who had swallowed his breath, slowly spoke.
“You’re here to register for the entrance exam, right?”
I was at a loss for words.
Was he not aware of his impolite remark?
But at least the people around seemed to sympathize with him.
Gazes, gazes, gazes.
Sharp and piercing stares flew towards me as if to pierce through.
I’ve been through this before.
In times like these, it’s better to stay composed.
“Those who wish to learn, come this way.”
“…!”
I responded with a composed smile.
“Admission Exam Registration. Please.”
