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They had gathered here with a specific purpose in mind: to identify and recruit the most promising talents from the academy. This annual tradition had long been a fixture, eagerly anticipated by both students and tower representatives alike. 

However, this year held a distinct departure from the norm, as the towers had decided to extend their selection process to include not just the fourth-year students, as was customary, but also the fledgling first-year students.

Indeed, even the most inexperienced of novices were granted the opportunity to participate in the selection test. In return for their potential, the towers promised unwavering support to the fortunate student who garnered their favor.

To illustrate, if a first-year student was chosen by a tower representative and accepted their offer, they wouldn\'t immediately become a full-fledged member of the tower, as fourth-years typically did. Instead, the towers undertook the responsibility of financing their education, ensuring they had access to the resources and research materials essential for thriving during their tenure at the academy.

Moreover, there existed a binding contract. In due course, these students would be obliged to serve their respective towers for a specific duration, a commitment determined by the terms of their agreement. This arrangement ensured a reciprocal relationship, benefiting both the towers and the promising young magicians they selected.

This newfound inclusivity represented a remarkable chance for students hailing from common backgrounds and even those from modest noble lineages. 

The students of the academy were abuzz with excitement upon hearing such news, their spirits ignited by the prospect of catching the attention of at least one of the prestigious Towers. Eager and determined, they were ready to pour their hearts and souls into their endeavors.

After all, the magic world, a veritable treasury of invaluable knowledge, cast an irresistible spell upon magicians hailing from every corner of the Eastern Continent. It held an almost mythical status, transforming it into the ultimate aspiration for countless budding wizards.

Even setting aside the aspiring magicians, the students of the research department operated on an entirely different plane of motivation. Their drive to be recognized by the towers was fueled by a profound intensity, knowing that the opportunities presented by the magic world were paramount to their dreams.

Yet, the towers\' scrutiny remained far from forgiving, which prompted them to collaborate with the academy on a special arrangement. Under this new protocol, the selection process, determining who would be granted these life-changing opportunities, would be conducted directly by the towers themselves, bypassing the traditional midterm exams. This meticulous approach ensured that only the most exceptional talents would gain access to the magical world\'s treasures, intensifying the competition to unprecedented levels

The heightened interest of the Towers in first-year students could be traced back to a recent event that had gripped the entire empire in its thrilling narrative: a sensational incident at the royal museum. This captivating tale had become the talk of the town, fueling intrigue and anticipation throughout the magical community. However, it was no small feat to secure support from the revered world of Magic, and thus, the selection process had evolved into a meticulously crafted three-step journey.

"The first round of the selection exam, the written test, will now commence," announced Professor Isabella, the vigilant overseer of this pivotal stage. Her authoritative voice resonated through the auditorium, commanding the attention of all present. A hush descended upon the crowd, a palpable tension that hung in the air.

Professor Isabella\'s sharp gaze swept across the sea of students seated in orderly rows, watched closely by numerous professors and assistant instructors who kept a vigilant eye on the proceedings. They were the gatekeepers of this crucial phase, tasked with ensuring fairness and integrity.

And somewhere within this sea of hopefuls, was the one who had captured the imagination of the entire empire over the past month.

"Eren Pendragon,"  one of the representatives noticed him for a brief moment and the attention of all the tower representatives converged on the young man, a mere speck amidst the vast assembly of students.

"He seems weak," murmured one observer.

"Is he, perhaps, in the midst of learning magic?" another speculated aloud.

"His eyes radiate wisdom," noted a perceptive onlooker.

"Is he really the one who fought against the rebels?" someone questioned skeptically.

"The rumors are always exaggerated..." mused another, ever the skeptic.

"The young Pendragon is there, huh!" whispered yet another, and for a fleeting moment, numerous inquisitive eyes fixated on Eren. Each of those gazes carried its own distinct thoughts and judgments. Some regarded him with admiration, while others hesitated to accept the rumors surrounding him. Vice-Master Aurnox, on the other hand, maintained a remarkably impartial stance.

However, despite the scrutiny and speculation swirling around him, Eren remained unfazed. The prying eyes seemed distant, and the chasm in power between him and the observers was too vast for Eren to detect any significant impact. He remained entirely absorbed in his own task, diligently inscribing his answers onto the question paper with a contented smile.

****

Eren sat in his chair, meticulously scrutinizing the questions on the examination paper. With a wry smile, he couldn\'t help but think, "The written exam isn\'t that hard." 

Of course, this was largely due to certain experiences from his past life that gave him an unusual perspective.

"Because I flunked 2nd year so many times in my previous life," he mused silently, a sense of deja vu tugging at him. 

In his past life, he had failed the second year continuously for two years and was finally kicked out of the academy before he could even attempt thrice.

Although he wasn\'t great at studies, he had a minimum amount of intelligence and some of the memories of his past were still lingering in his mind.

The questions in the test were slightly more advanced than what the first-year students were typically taught. However, because Eren had repeated his second year twice, he found the difficulty of the test to be a walk in the park. He confidently filled in the answers, convinced that he was acing the exam.

The written test stretched on for a full two hours, a period of intense concentration and scribbling for the students. When the assistant instructors finally collected the papers, they were whisked away for correction. With the results announcement still pending, those who had passed the written test were allowed to proceed to the next round.

"I really hope I get a passing score," Zephyr muttered as he strolled alongside Eren. The two of them were en route to the cafeteria, eager to fill their empty stomachs, having foregone breakfast due to the stress of the exam.

"You should have at least attempted to read something instead of merely hoping," Eren remarked, seemingly oblivious to Zephyr\'s sulking, to which Zephyr shot back defensively, "I did give it a shot, but I couldn\'t make heads or tails of what was written in the book."

"That\'s what happens when you always doze off in the classroom," Julia chimed in from the front of their group, leading the way.

A small crowd had gathered around Eren, consisting of his friends: Zephyr, Julia, Evan, and Eren\'s teammate, Ezio. They moved as a cohesive unit, with Evan and Julia having naturally formed a partnership. 

But Eren couldn\'t help but wonder why Zephyr was sticking so closely to them.

"You mentioned you already formed a team with someone, right?" Eren inquired, opting for a direct approach since he knew Zephyr wasn\'t one to reveal matters indirectly.

"Hmm..." Zephyr hesitated.

"Who\'s your teammate? Weren\'t you supposed to stick together to discuss strategies or something?" Eren probed further.

"Well, he wasn\'t exactly comfortable around me, so he asked me to \'stay away from him,\'" Zephyr replied with a shrug.

The group exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what to make of Zephyr\'s predicament. "Besides," he continued, puffing out his chest proudly, "Why do I need plans? I can win with my power alone."

Although the bold statement irritated the others, they couldn\'t deny the truth in Zephyr\'s words. After all, he was the top freshman at Freljord Academy.

Nevertheless, one member of their group remained undisturbed by the conversation, his mind engrossed in thoughts of completing his mission as swiftly as possible. It was Ezio, who continued to stride ahead toward the cafeteria, determined to accomplish his mission given by the assassin king.

—***---