Due to the throne-less state of the Zephyra Empire, Maelona had finally decided to initiate the long-delayed competition to determine the rightful heir. There was no room left for hesitation.
The Empire needed a ruler, and fast. So now, both Aria and Kaelen found themselves seated in a completely empty, stone-cold room. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional scratch of quills against parchment. They were undergoing one of the most gruelling written tests imaginable.
The questions weren't simple... No, they covered the Empire's complex history, tangled geopolitics, intricate economic theories, and a flood of competitive, logical challenges meant to push their intellect and problem-solving skills to the absolute brink.
There was no mercy in those exam sheets. No breaks, no second chances. Just... relentless questions. They had to answer every single one.
And it wasn't just for an hour or two.
