Entrance Exam.

Merrick dropped Nova off at the entrance gate of the examination grounds.

City O was a place carved from hardship. It is gray, rusted, and tired. One can't help but just look at this place as a scene from black and white movie. City O kills thousands of dreams everyday. But some dreams persists the harsh cruel reality.

After a quiet farewell to her grandfather, Nova turned to face the gate. The towering structure loomed overhead, iron bars rusted and worn by time. It was less of an academy entrance and more a relic of forgotten war.

A security guard stood lazily at his post, arms crossed and eyes half-lidded with boredom.

Nova approached him.

"I'm here to take the entrance exam," she said calmly.

The guard blinked, then sneered at the sight of a small girl, barely ten years old, standing before him. "You serious?" he scoffed. "Kids aren't welcome here. Run along."

"I'm here for the exam," she repeated, voice flat and steady.

The guard's impatience flared. "You little brat, if you're lying, I'll beat you into the dirt. Show me your ID!"

Without a word, Nova reached into her coat and handed over her identification.

The guard snatched it, ready to expose her lie, only to stop as he read. His eyes scanned the card again, then again, brow furrowing. After a long moment, he clicked his tongue and handed it back.

"...You actually have it. Fine. Go on in."

Nova took her ID with a nod, then walked past him without another glance. 

She stepped through the gate.

Nova walked silently down a long corridor until she saw a cluster of students standing before a large hall. This must be the examination venue. Without hesitation, she stepped into the shadows of a nearby corner, distancing herself from the chatter and curious glances.

There were fewer people than before. Unlike the chaotic crowd at the fighting test, today's examination hall was much quieter, with only about a hundred participants gathered Nova among them. It seemed those who had failed earlier weren't even given a chance at the entrance exam.

Since the fight test, opinions about her had changed.

They no longer mock her.

They envied her.

But today was different. Physical strength is all of no use here. This was a test of mind, intelligence, comprehension, calculation.

A group of girls from the crowd sauntered toward her. They wore short skirts and tight tops that clung to their frames, clearly styled to draw eyes.

The girl in front stepped closer, tilting her head with a fake smile. "Did you study for today's test?"

Her tone dripped with condescension, but Nova remained still, eyes forward, expression unreadable. She didn't reply.

The girl's smile faltered. "What, cat got your tongue? Think you're too good to talk to people?"

Nova frowned slightly and muttered, "Annoying."

The girl's expression twisted with rage. "You! You dare talk to me like that?!"

Another girl chimed in, smirking, "You're speaking to the daughter of the City Lord. You think you can afford to offend her?"

Another followed up venomously, "A bitch like you should know her place. What makes you think you're special?"

"That's right," one sneered. "If I could be a servant to Miss Aria, I'd be grateful. What a waste of an opportunity on someone like you."

Only then did Nova glance at the girl before her, Aria. So, this was the daughter of the City Lord. Nova studied her briefly.  She appears to be around seventeen. Her skin is fair and eyes big like doll along with her matching clothes. life in the O City is very harsh but to see someone as delicate as her here must be due to her good status. But so what? Her status has nothing to do with how Nova behaves. 

She might be a big missy for others but for her she is nothing. Nova will leave the O City with her grandfather. The O high school is located outside of the O City. It is a prestigious school and naturally can't be here in the slums. There are also people from the upper-class of other cities besides O. If she couldn't even handle this young miss from an unknown lord's house, she might as well just go in O High for being bullied. Uninterested, she looked away.

That silence, that dismissive gesture, infuriated them more than words could.

Around them, the others watched quietly. Some knew the girls were stirring trouble, but no one dared intervene. And a few, those who didn't understand, began to think Nova was the one being arrogant. Of course the power coming from the other person is always counted at arrogancy and even fake. Since Nova's frame isn't par with them she comes off like a child in front of the adults.

It leads people to easily forget the reality she showed few days ago. 

The so called lady of the city lord was so angered that her fist trembled and her face contorted into very bad shape. She could only utter, "You! You!" for few moments.

Nova endured the meaningless chatter until the examination bell rang.

Without a word, she cast a final glance at the group of girls, then turned and walked into the exam hall.

Inside, the air was colder, quieter, sharper. A tall, strict-looking woman stood at the entrance, her presence alone enough to silence any nonsense. She was in charge of frisking the girls. Two male instructors handled the boys, who were more numerous.

Nova and others came in one by one. Inside, Nova took in the layout. Surveillance cameras in every corner. She found her designated seat and sat down, noting the rules posted clearly on the front wall:

> Students are not allowed to change their seats.

> Students must maintain discipline.

> Any fighting must take place outside.

Duration: 2 hours.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

Two hours? Wasn't it supposed to be three?

She sighed a bit internally. Rules could change. Complaining wouldn't help. 

Moments later,  when everyone had entered, Aria entered the hall, last. Her steps were too loud, her presence too flamboyant. She scanned the room until her eyes found Nova. They were seated far apart, with nearly half the room between them. Aria grinned snidely, lips curling like she'd already won something. Nova raised an eyebrow at her, then rolled her eyes in open boredom.

What is wrong with her? Did I ever beat her in a match? No. I don't even remember her being in my bracket.

Whatever grudge Aria bore, it clearly lived rent-free in her head alone.

The teachers began passing out answer sheets. A moment later, the bell rang again, and the question papers followed.

Nova scanned the questions. Familiar. She remembered doing these, or at least versions of them, during training with her grandfather. Her eyes flickered once to the clock.

Two hours.

Let's not waste time.

With quiet precision, she began.

While others hesitated, flipping pages and chewing their pens, Nova's hand moved fluidly across the paper. No hesitation, no second-guessing. Her mind was sharp and focused.

Less than one and half hour later, she finished.

She double-checked. Clean.

She stood up, silent as a shadow, and walked to the front to submit her papers. The teachers raised their eyebrows. The girl from the slums. Done already?

She exited in silence.

Behind her, the room was frozen.

Mouths parted. Pens hovered midair.

Aria gripped her pen tighter, her face unreadable.

Nova had been the first to leave.

Other teachers scooped together to look at her answer sheet and saw every answer was attempted and they set aside the paper. The lady teacher saw other students looking at them instead of writing their own paper, "What?"

The question was cold almost freezing and straightforward, and candidates finally lowered their head and focused on their own work. 

Soon the bell ranged and without any other words the the invigilator snatched their papers away. It was only then they realized their mistake of not checking the notice properly. However, it is too late regret now. Everyone dejectedly left the hall one by one. 

The outer corridor was empty, and Nova was long gone. 

At home.

Nova just returned when Merrick was waiting for her at the doorstep. He was smiling gently at Nova. She felt warm and happy. Merrick asked as they entered, "How was it?"

Nova flashed a sweet smile and said, "Fine."

Merrick laughed heartily and patted her head with affection, "We will leave tomorrow morning, is there anything you want to take with yourself?"

Nova pursed her lips and asked, "Where are we going to stay there?"

Merrick chuckled at her worried look, "I have a house near O High."

Nova was surprised but couldn't bring herself to smile. If her grandfather were to go with her, wouldn't it put him in dangerous situation? After all, with the atmosphere of fight and unruliness, it wouldn't be guaranteed if he will be targeted or not. 

Thinking about how Aria girl antagonized her without any grudge between them, in O High her grandfather will surely be in danger. 

Nova told Merrick about her event with Aria in detail and added, 'I'm afraid you will be in trouble because of it."

Merrick 's expression remained unchanged. He explained patiently, "You are worrying too much. In O High the information about your guardian will remain confidential. Moreover no one gives their true details."

"You are my granddaughter, I will go wherever you go. Even if we both won't be staying together, we will still be in same city. You can come and find me whenever you miss me."

Nova's worry eased and she happily packed their stuffs. Everything is solved, she is confident to get her scholarship, and it will be enough for both of them. The two of the slept very well and the next day departed. They used an army dark green jeep to travel. After stuffing in all their stuffs, they departed. Nova looked back multiple times and couldn't help but recalled the memories she had here. 

Merrick glanced at her and smiled. "Everything shall be left behind."

Nova nodded and chatted with him.

However just after few minutes of their departure there appeared a group of people standing in front of their door. They looked at the lock on the door and fell into deep contemplation. 

Nova and her grandfather reached their new home at the afternoon time. It was a place of homely feeling with space for a small family. It is situated near the O High School. Nova and Merrick organized their new home and cleaned it thoroughly. On the way here her grandpa told her that this is his own place so there is no need to think about its rent payment. Her grandpa also decided to work at nearby bar at his friend's. He started his work just after the day they finished their work at home. 

Nova also spent her days learning about everything related O High in her time before receiving the notice for admission. This city is completely different from O City. It is described to be the New O City. The two cities bordered with each other has tremendous distance though. New O is situated very far away from the original O city of slums. It must be to protect the new city from unlawful people from O City. 

The O High School is also extremely well off. It is built in a fashion which gives impression of ancient British Castle. It has several of them and has ground vast like grazing land area of plains. Such extravagant School is really the dream school for everyone, even for those aristocrats.  Nova even heard that it has the largest library of the East. It is really a paradise for Nova like students.

However, after hearing and seeing everything, Nova didn't immerse herself in delusion of this paradise. Unless she experienced it herself, she would never believe in anything completely. Moreover, how can such good school provide for nation's top soldiers if it is just good to look and nothing else within? 

Nova believed in herself more than anyone else. So, at the day of her admission, she was still expressionless and cold as she was before. Not a trace of warmth that she shows to her grandpa appeared on her face as she started, the day at O High School's hostel. 

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