For no apparent reason, Rod was reminded of the soul devoured in the Dream Realm, and a chill suddenly surged in his heart.
If possible, Rod wanted to retreat now.
But that was impossible; the temporary inability to recover his memories meant he was always in great, unstable danger.
Moreover, Jinworth Academy was so important that becoming one of its students would also provide some protection.
Not only that, but he could perhaps find answers to the strange text from the Dream Realm within Jinworth Academy.
All things considered, this was indeed his best choice.
Rod’s heart was filled with trepidation, uncertain of what the future held for him.
Before long, the matron stopped in front of a tall wall, where a person in a red robe blocked her way.
This was also the first person Rod saw in the Royal City.
"Yose, the final stage of the Fire Trial is in progress, and no one is allowed near here," the person said.
A broad smile spread across Yose’s face.
"Not even for me, Gao Wen?"
Rod clearly saw the matron slip something into his hand.
But he still shook his head: "Yose, this is a matter of principle. The children inside are our future hopes. Although I trust you, I still can’t let you in."
Yose chuckled and said, "Gao Wen, you’ve misunderstood. I just want you to send this boy in to join the final trial."
"That’s not allowed. It’s against the regulations. The Fire Trial is strictly composed of a preliminary trial, a retest, and the final trial. You can’t skip the first two stages."
"He passed the preliminary and the retest."
"And the trial certificate?"
"Here." Yose wrote a certificate for him on the spot.
"... Do you think I’m an idiot?"
A look of surprise appeared on Yose’s round face: "Aren’t you?"
Gao Wen’s face turned dark instantly. Yose forcefully stuffed her handwritten certificate into his hands, laughing and saying, "Gao Wen, you should understand my capabilities. Bright Light Attribute, Fifth Level Spiritual Energy, the most outstanding among the same period graduates, full marks in all three subjects and twelve exams, one of the thirty-two core medical practitioners of the Cult, and also voted the most beautiful woman on Rose Street. Of course, these little things I don’t mention."
"I just want to tell you that anyone I’ve tested will be accurate. He will be a spark of fire, will burst into brilliant fireworks, will illuminate our future as we move forward, together."
Gao Wen clearly hesitated; finding no new arguments, he could only repeat: "But it’s against the regulations."
Yose then stuffed a large handful of shiny objects into his hand: "Does this comply?"
Gao Wen’s expression turned serious: "No, I am fair and incorruptible, my integrity is very high."
Yose spat out, stuffing yet another hand full.
"But I can’t just watch a spark that was about to ignite be extinguished. Leave this to me."
"Don’t dawdle now. Time’s almost up. Hurry and send him in. Once the Fire Holy Grail is extinguished, relighting it will have to wait until next year."
Gao Wen immediately scooped up Rod and tucked him under his side, turning to run towards the corridor beneath the high wall.
Behind him, Yose called out, "Kid, make sure to visit Yose Medical when you have time, I’ll take care of you."
Rod had no time to reply before darkness enveloped his view, and he was already inside the corridor.
The corridor was very narrow and steep, but Gao Wen moved as if on flat ground, swiftly exiting the corridor with him.
A bright light burst forth, and it took Rod several seconds to adjust to it.
It was a very large, very bright square.
On the square stood many youths around his age, boys and girls, all neatly arranged in square formations.
Straight ahead stood an imposing palace-like building, rugged in style without detailed decorations or intricate carvings, each component ten times the size of a normal building’s, very grand.
Around were many adults also dressed in red robes, one of whom, bearing a crown insignia, approached him.
"Gao Wen, who is this? Why aren’t you at your post?" he asked.
Gao Wen bowed slightly.
"Your Excellency Priest, this child was delayed, and I’m escorting him in," he explained.
The Priest, a tall, lean, and grim-looking man, immediately fixated his eagle-like gaze on Rod’s face, asking coldly, "Who assessed him? Where’s the trial certificate?"
"Yose Tieji from Rose Street."
Gao Wen handed over the handwritten trial certificate.
The Priest glanced at it and dismissed it with a wave: "Place him in the first column." He turned and walked away.
Gao Wen led Rod to the frontmost column and then left.
A slight commotion arose in the ranks as the young men and women curiously turned their gaze toward the newcomer.
Rod smiled at them amiably, eliciting a chorus of gasps.
Although no one spoke, Rod could see from their sparkling eyes that they were filled with amazement, envy, admiration, and jealousy—but no hatred or indifference, just the natural emotions of normal youths.
This seemed ordinary, yet it was extraordinary.
Just as children in war-torn areas’ first reaction to the sound of firecrackers is to hide under a table, while those in peaceful areas run to join the excitement.
The environment’s impact on people, especially children, is tremendous.
And for these youths to grow up as normal individuals in a Kingdom that faces constant external threats and hardly ever sees daylight, is in itself an incredible miracle.