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Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Guild Entrance Exam (With Cheating)

Julian stood outside the Elmsmere Guild building again, staring up at the faded blue banner flapping in the wind like it wanted to escape.

Today was the guild exam.

He clutched the handle of his spoon—his so-called focus tool—and tried not to look like he was about to throw up.

"Okay. I got this. I've fought giant rats. I've survived the stew. I'm basically a hero."

[That's one way to lie to yourself. Would you like a motivational speech or a list of ways this could go wrong?]

Julian exhaled. "Neither. Just tell me what kind of exam this is."

[Standardized combat and assessment trial. One-on-one match with illusion beasts. Crowd watches. You're evaluated on combat ability, magical control, and how stylish you look while screaming.]

"Screaming?"

[Optional, but common among rookies.]

He walked through the large wooden doors and into the stone hall. About twenty other hopeful adventurers milled about nervously. Most of them had actual weapons—swords, axes, even a guy with a staff carved from obsidian and lined with glowing runes.

Julian adjusted the spoon strapped to his hip.

"I'm so underprepared it's physically painful."

[You've got me. That counts as cheating.]

"I'll take it."

A tall woman in steel armor clanged into the hall. Her long white braid was tucked into a backplate, and her left eye glowed with a strange magical light. She looked like she could bench-press Julian and the spoon at the same time.

"Listen up, worms!" she bellowed.

Everyone froze.

"I'm Guild Enforcer Jarna. I don't care about your background, your sob story, or how many fireballs you think you can throw. Today is about surviving your first trial. Those who fail go home. Those who pass—welcome to Bronze Rank."

Someone in the back gulped audibly.

Julian raised a hand halfway. "Question. What if someone... say, theoretically... doesn't have any offensive spells?"

Jarna raised an eyebrow. "Then theoretically, they should run fast."

Great.

The exam began in the guild's underground arena—because apparently every fantasy world has one of those. The space was wide, circular, and surrounded by stone seating. Torches flickered along the walls, though Julian noticed they weren't burning—just glowing with controlled magic.

A hooded figure called out names.

"Lira Sunflare!"

A redheaded girl with scorched gloves stepped forward. Her opponent—a shadowy creature with four arms and no face—was conjured from a glowing magic circle in the center.

Julian sat on a bench, watching nervously as fireballs, lightning arcs, and wind blades flew through the air like it was casual Tuesday violence.

"She's amazing," he muttered.

[Her magical index is five times higher than yours. Also, she has gloves. You have a utensil.]

"I'm gonna die."

[Possibly. But you'll die memorably.]

Eventually, the hooded caller reached him.

"Julian Gray!"

He swallowed and stood, spoon clinking against his belt.

Someone in the crowd snorted.

The illusion beast summoned for him resembled a six-legged hyena made of smoke and glowing veins of red light. Its eyes shimmered with hunger—or programming. Or both.

Jarna raised a hand. "Begin!"

Julian instinctively jumped back.

"Okay, okay, what do I do?"

[Try casting Mind Pulse. It's your only spell. Focus and imagine pushing energy out.]

Julian held up the spoon and yelled, "Go away!"

Nothing happened.

[Less yelling. More channeling.]

The beast lunged. Julian dove to the side, landing on his elbow with a painful grunt.

He squeezed his eyes shut, focused, and shouted internally.

*Push! Push something!*

A sudden ripple pulsed from his spoon. A wave of translucent force slammed into the hyena-thing mid-charge, sending it skidding backward like it had just slipped on oil.

"Oh! That was me!"

[Congratulations. You managed a spell without setting yourself on fire.]

The beast circled again. Julian concentrated, this time aiming the pulse directly. He triggered it again—and again. The third pulse struck it right in the head. The illusion creature flickered violently... and vanished.

The crowd clapped, mildly surprised.

Jarna nodded once. "Sloppy. But effective. Bronze Rank: approved."

Julian blinked. "Wait... I passed?"

[Against all odds. Mostly mine.]

He limped back to the bench, half-grinning.

"That was... kind of awesome."

[Just wait until the next rank. They use real monsters.]

His grin faltered.

"Yay."

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