CHAPTER 32: ENTRANCE FORM

Just as I thought, the brightness of the day dimmed, and I felt a shadow twirl around me.

As if the owner of the shadow had done it on purpose, the now sunny day returned to its normal state.

Then my eyes widened after seeing who owned the aura and what the person had done.

It was Linda, and within a few seconds, she had tied up the guard and the brutish man together in one corner.

Just as amazing as my own aura had been, she was able to control hers to exist within a certain perimeter. Hence, the change of atmosphere earlier won’t have to cause chaos across the town.

Since the storm had calmed, I assured the Auctioneer that she was safe and asked her to leave.

Then, I advanced towards Linda who had just finished tying up the guard and his partner in crime.

"I would have mentioned how lucky you are after getting saved by her," I said. "But will withdraw those words to myself instead. I could have soiled my hands in blood, you know, if she hadn’t arrived on time."

The duo tried to utter some words but ceased at a signal from Linda.

"You want to apologize? I won’t accept that, though, since I never hold grudges," I noted and looked at Linda with the hands that communicated my thoughts.

"Little Lady Muna would be here soon," she said, making me understand how fast she must have traveled from where they were.

At that moment, I heard the familiar voice of my younger sister.

"You also need to learn how to control your anger," Muna complained. "Good thing Linda found you out beforehand."

Then, she added. "Let’s leave to purchase the form immediately."

When she made those utterances, the guard revolted in his state, confusing our minds.

But Linda guessed what he could be revolting about and gave them hope with her speech. "You will be unbound once our business in this town is through. Just hold on a little longer."

"Let’s go, Linda."

I ordered, and in the sight of the guard and brutish man, she dissolved into my shadow.

...

We were able to find the shop of the vendor who dealt with the Academy Test forms. It looked shabby and was made of wood. Just a simple shop that could only provide reception for two or, at most, three customers.

The vendor didn’t care to expand it anyway since the customers ended their businesses most of the time at the counter. And, it was rumored that he only operated whenever the Academy was about to take in new Candidates.

As we approached, I noticed the crystal ball placed at the extreme of the counter desk.

"It’s to inspect the buyers of the form. On our way, some mages who purchased it gossiped that it was used to test one’s worthiness to purchase the form," Muna reported.

I nodded. It shouldn’t be a problem then, I thought.

A few minutes later, we reached the vendor at his shop.

Luckily, we arrived not to meeting much queue, unlike at the gate.

"Entrance form is 1 gold coin for each individual," said the vendor once we got close enough.

We were here to purchase the entrance form for only Muna and me. Linda didn’t need a form to become a Purifier.

All she needed was to depend on my success.

Although I was the only mage of Montana that owned a shadow, it was common knowledge that shadows don’t have a public success-guaranteed participation of their own.

They had to depend on the success of their masters.

If I’m able to get an entrance form into the Academy, then Linda was sure to enter. If I succeed in the tests, Linda would automatically become a Purifier.

And if I don’t... well, that would mean my death. So I don’t think it will be possible while my glory is yet to shine.

"If you have no money, then I cannot allow you to purchase the form," said the vendor. "Get out of the way already! Let people not meet delay."

I sighed and turned to Muna, who took the side bag she wore diagonally across her shoulder, and waited for my instruction.

"I need the entrance form, so I won’t waste my time teaching a vendor polite words to use against his customers," I said, and nodded at Muna to bring out the coins.

The vendor must have underrated a noble like me. Even though nobles weren’t as rich as royalty, we still held a high place when it came to wealth in society.

And here, I’m being underrated for just 1 gold coin?

In Montana, the currency was coins, and they were of three kinds. There was the bronze coin, the silver coin and the gold coin.

You needed a hundred bronze coins to substitute one silver coin, and in the same vein, one hundred silver coins to substitute a gold coin.

Not caring to get into more details, I shook my head and asked the vendor to get two coins already.

However, before Muna could bring out the payment, the vendor stopped us.

"Wait, I will have to test your credibility," the man said, shifting the crystal ball to my front. "Place your two hands over the ball."

The vendor went further to describe the different colors that could be shown depending on my credibility.

"A red glow will mean disqualification, and a green glow is success, and if you get a purple color..." the old vendor said and paused.

"If I get a purple color?" I asked, hoping for a reply or continuation from the old man. "What does color purple mean?"

The old man shook his head and instead asked me to extend my hands over the crystal ball.

Nevertheless, as far as I’m able to get a green glow, I need not worry about the purple one.

It was unlike the one I met at the gate, which meant the visitor was either a disguise or possessed an exhibit.

"Ladies first," I said, and motioned Muna to place her hands.

She did, and the crystal ball shone green.

"Quite a lot of people have purchased this form, I see," Muna muttered as she removed her hands.

After that, she collected a gold coin from the small bag and paid for her form, which was distributed to her.

It was my turn.

I placed my two hands, and the glow from the crystal ball shimmered faintly before it turned purple.

Then, I understood why Muna had made the statement she spoke after the crystal ball shone green on her.

On the ball, figures were written so clear for the closest viewer to see.

[4/4] was written on the purple glowing ball and I didn’t understand what it meant.

This time, anyway, the man decided to explain.

"If the crystal ball glows a purple color, it means you’re one of the four Elements of Montana. And that makes you able to get the forms on a platter," the man explained.

"The figure makes you the last among the four Elements," the old man added.

Interesting.

So, I didn’t have to pay to get an entrance form because I was among the four Elements.

"But..." The old man’s voice cracked. "...you aren’t eligible to get the forms."

As he uttered the words, I followed his hands down to the crystal ball and saw that it had changed its glow to a red color.

"Is it glitching?" I asked, confused.

"This is magic-infused, not a machine. It cannot glitch, and won’t lie," the man cleared me.

"But..."

"Yes. It was just purple color just now. However, I would advise that you settle whatever differences you might have had with a higher authority of your Mage Duchedom," the man advised.

"A higher authority of my Duchedom?" I repeated, looking surprisingly at Muna as the idea wasn’t getting to my head.

Then, from my shadow, Linda clicked, shook her head in realization and produced a clicking sound from her mouth.

’Young Master, I think I have a clue who it might be,’ Linda said.

My eyes widened, and furrowed almost at the same time as I now remembered.

And at the same time, I now understood what those words he had mentioned meant.