"Alright," This time, it was the black-haired woman on the left who initiated the question. "Tell me, why do you want to join this Academy? Being a Royal, you can easily get away with just having the Palace sorcerers or warriors teach you about everything."
"Well, there's your answer," Lucien replied, "Because the Academy doesn't raise royalty. It raises Exalts.
"I am more interested in my getting stronger and slaying spirits, rather than being a puppet of someone."
Everyone nodded as the old gentleman at the far right raised his question, "Mr. Callastre, I noticed you said slaying spirits, rather than saying saving humans. What do you have to say about that?"
Lucien was taken aback, not expecting a question on something he didn't give much thought to, "I reckon that both are interdependent. You cannot save humans if spirits are left alive, wreaking havoc in these lands.
"We neither have the time nor the liberty to be on the defensive anymore."
The old man nodded, scribbling something in his notebook.
The black-haired woman spoke once again, "What do you think is your greatest weakness?"
"My past," The answer came almost immediately. "My past has been holding me back for the longest time, and it still does."
"What do you mean by 'your past'?" She questioned back.
Lucien couldn't just tell them his past as Remiel, and the failures he had, but he still had vague memories of the old Lucien.
"My past failures," He answered. "My failures as a Prince, as an heir of a great kingdom, as a brother, and as a son.
"I have tried changing myself in the last month, but the past of me as a failure still haunts me."
"I see." The woman nodded, scribbling stuff in her notebook just like the others.
"Mr. Callastre," This time, it was the woman in the far light, glasses on her bridge, and she had a scholarly vibe. "Describe the difference in the functioning of spirit energy inside a warrior compared to a sorcerer?"
This was one of the most basic questions that people opting for the combat classes were asked.
"Certainly, madam." Lucien started answering, "A warrior is inherently different from a sorcerer.
"While warriors use the spirit energy to strengthen and improve their bodies, sorcerers are like glass cannons, who can use the spirit energy externally, turning it into spells from their knowledge.
"The reason for this difference is present in one's body, and the positioning of their energy cores.
"Warriors has their energy cores in their hearts, which they use to pump out the energy in every corner of their bodies to strengthen it, whereas Sorcerers has their energy cores in their solar plexus, and that specializes in pumping the energy out in very small number of concentrated stream(s), helping them cast a spell."
Lucien went on to explain the system for quite a while, making sure his answer was as accurate as it could be.
"Bravo!" The lady cheered, "Your answer was quite detailed and accurate. I'd love to ask you more, but this interview is for combat class students only."
She was bummed out, since she liked having intelligent people around.
It wasn't the answer he gave, since it was pretty basic, but how detailed and easy to understand it was.
It was like he was teaching a bunch of students.
The interview went on for a few more rounds of questions, and finally, it was Arthur who asked.
"Lucien Callastre, if you are stripped off your titles, your name, and your status, what would remain of you?" His face was expressionless as always, and his voice was deadpan.
"A warrior." A quick answer. "I would carve my path with my own hands, beating everyone to achieve my goals as a warrior."
Arthur's lips twitched a bit with a faint smile as he closed his notebook in front.
"That'll be all. 5 minutes are up, you can leave."
'5 minutes?' Lucien's pupils shook. 'My explanation on warriors and sorcerers alone was over 5 minutes.'
He thought that he had been inside for over half an hour already.
He began to leave by the other door when his eyes fell on the ginger-haired guy again, his smile unchanged.
There was something very wrong with him.
That was the last thought he had in his mind before he exited the room.
Behind him, whispers resumed between the examiners, talking about Lucien's performance.
Only Arthur was silent, his hand resting on the file in front.
Callastre, L.
…
"Excuse me," Lucien called for a person standing right outside the other gate. "What am I supposed to do now?"
"Greetings, your highness." The man bowed in front of him, but Lucien cut him off.
"I am not a Prince on the Academy grounds, I am a candidate. Treat me like such." He was annoyed by their over-the-top favoritism.
The man was stunned, but quickly composed himself and nodded in affirmation.
"You can leave the academy from the other gate, and please come back later on the 3rd of August at 7 AM sharp. You would get an email on your phone soon, too.
"This entire interview and other procedures would continue non-stop for over 40 hours."
Lucien nodded in understanding. "Thank you for the information."
"It's my duty." The man tried hard not to be overly polite to the Prince.
Lucien walked out of the gate that the man told him to, his steps hurried.
'Well, I guess I still would have my privileges for a day or two.'
Even though he was technologically illiterate, he still knew how to call for somebody, as he dialed his assigned butler to come pick him up until the day he got in.
In his limousine, he was silently staring at the bustling city outside when he pressed a button next to his seat.
His privacy window on the partition opened, and his butler sitting next to the driver spoke, "You called, Your Highness?"
Lucien nodded and ordered, "Until I get into the academy, you will teach me about this mobile phone device."
"..."
"And nobody should hear about this." He spoke and finished with a slight threat, "Am I understood?"
The butler immediately recovered and answered in his professional tone.
"As you wish, Your Highness."