Chapter 52: The Advancement Exam Fate Academy stood tall with its grand architecture, a prestigious institution known for shaping the destinies of its students.
The campus was adorned with statues of its illustrious alumni, hinting at the school’s rich history and connection to powerful figures in society.
As Xin and Xiaxia walked on its paved pathways, they were greeted by fellow students bustling about, some deeply engrossed in conversations, while others rushed to their classes with books in hand.
The academy had a formal uniform, but students were allowed to wear whatever they wanted. Xin even saw some students in their pajamas, as if they had just woken up and sleepwalked to school.
However, most students wore branded and stylish clothes, hinting at their affluent backgrounds.
The school’s campus was vast, with lush greenery and well-maintained gardens, providing a serene environment for contemplation and study. Classic-style buildings loomed above them, exuding an air of exclusivity.
As Xin and Xiaxia strolled side by side inside the campus, their presence caught the attention of some other students. Whispers and curious glances followed them as they made their way through the bustling crowd.
Xin noticed Xiaxia’s discomfort, her body language revealing her frustrations while she glared at every student they passed. He remembered that she didn’t want to be associated with him at school.
"It’s okay," he said, ending her tour of the school.
Xiaxia was taken aback by his sudden statement and paused in her tracks. "What?" she asked, clearly surprised by his response.
"You can go now," Xin replied with a straight face. "I’ll find my way to the examination room."
Xiaxia’s brows furrowed in confusion as she opened her mouth to say something but hesitated. She then remembered that Xin seemed to prefer not being associated with her, which made her feel a mix of frustration and hurt.
"Fine then!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her emotions any longer. "Go and get lost on your own! Don’t come crying to me when you can’t find your way!"
With that, Xiaxia turned on her heels and stormed off, each step echoing with her rage.
Xin was left standing there, feeling bewildered by Xiaxia’s outburst. He couldn’t understand why she was angry, as he couldn’t recall saying or doing anything to upset her.
"What’s her problem?" he mumbled, scratching his head in confusion.
Feeling lost without Xiaxia’s guidance, Xin took out the map she had handed him earlier. Fate Academy was an enormous place, impossible to explore fully in just half a day.
"I should have asked Xiaxia which way I should go," he muttered to himself, realizing he had no idea where to head next.
As he looked around, he hoped to find a staff member or a guard who could provide directions or assistance.
Fate Academy was a maze of unfamiliar buildings and pathways, and he didn’t want to risk getting lost and missing his examination.
As Xin stood there, feeling lost and unsure of where to go next, a striking blue classic Rolls Royce pulled up beside him. The window gracefully rolled down, revealing Seraphina sitting inside.
Xin couldn’t believe his eyes; he was surprised to see her there to say the least.
Right . . . she was also studying here. Xin thought. She was a senior and on top of that, she was the daughter of his mother’s boss, so he should show her some respect.
"Hop in," Seraphina said, her gaze fixed on the road ahead as if her offer was nothing out of the ordinary.
For a moment, Xin was speechless. He couldn’t wrap his head around why Seraphina, someone he barely knew, was offering him a ride.
But before he could respond, Seraphina’s intense purple eyes turned to look directly at him.
"I’ll take you to the examination room," she said, her voice calm and assertive.
Xin hesitated, unsure whether he should accept her offer. But then he remembered he had no idea where the examination room was and that Seraphina seemed to know her way around the campus.
What’s more, Xin couldn’t help but feel the burning gazes of other students on him. He noticed some of them even stopped what they were doing just to stare at him and Seraphina with mouths gaping in surprise.
He understood why they would be curious. Seraphina Fey was not only incredibly beautiful but also a renowned heiress. People must have been wondering why she would pick up a an unknown stray from the side of the road.
Xin felt torn between accepting her offer and declining it. On one hand, it would be an insult to refuse her kindness, and he didn’t want to get his mother, who worked for Seraphina’s family, into any trouble.
On the other hand, he knew that if he rode in her luxurious car, he would surely become the subject of gossip and end up in the school newspaper the next day.
After much contemplation, Xin felt the pressure of Seraphina’s presence weighing on him, making him feel like he had no choice.
In the end, he gave in to that pressure, deciding it was better to go along with her than to face the judgmental stares and whispers from his peers.
It wasn’t like he was planning to study at Fate Academy anyway.
𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂 Xin had already made up his mind to deliberately fail his advancement exam so he could focus more on playing Guildbane and earning money in the game.
He was determined to prove to his mother that he could be successful on his own terms.
"Thank you," he finally managed to say, and with a hint of uncertainty, he walked toward the Rolls Royce and opened the door to get in.
The interior of the car was luxurious, with plush leather seats and polished wood accents. It felt like stepping into a different world, a far cry from the bustling campus outside.
As Seraphina drove, Xin couldn’t help but steal glances at her. She seemed focused on the road, her graceful hands confidently guiding the wheel. Her light blue hair cascaded down her back, framing her delicate features and giving her an air of elegance and unapproachability.
Xin couldn’t understand why she was being so helpful, considering they had barely interacted before. He wanted to ask her, to break the silence that had settled between them, but something held him back.
Instead, he decided to focus on the scenery passing by outside the car window.
The campus was vast and picturesque, with towering buildings and manicured gardens. It was clear that Fate Academy was a prestigious institution, but too bad that he wasn’t going to study here, or anywhere for that matter.
"Are you ready for the exam?"
Xin heard Seraphina say, her voice was low, soft, and every words were spoken in confident clarity.
Xin opened his mouth but closed it again. How would he say that he didn’t even studied for it?
"Don’t worry," she added. "The exam isn’t that hard."
". . ." Why was he feeling guilty all of a sudden?
Xin stared outside and said instead, "Even if I passed, I don’t know what to take."
There was silent for a moment before Seraphina’s soft voice rang out again.
"You’re an artist right?"
Xin’s eyes swiftly went to her, surprised written all over his face.
"Your mother talk about it sometimes."
His face went back to being impassive. "It’s nothing. It’s just a hobby."
Xin unconsciously rubbed his left hand. It seemed like a long time since he last held a pencil.
There was a small smile on Seraphina’s lips as she met his gaze. "I for one am looking forward to your art."
". . ." Xin couldn’t utter a word. Something was stuck in his throat. And before he could form his reply, Seraphina stopped in front of a building.
"This is the administrative building. Just enter here and the staff inside will guide you to the examination room," she said.
"Ah . . . thank you." Xin went out of the car like a robot while Seraphina drove away.
Xin didn’t know what happened next, but he found himself sitting inside a room with test papers in front of him.
After staring at it intently for a long five minutes, Xin began to answer the questionnaires –– no one knew what he was thinking at the moment.