The moment I tore the exam paper to shreds, Sophie's eyes widened in surprise. Soon, however, her expression softened, and she pressed her hands together in relief.
"Ah, what a relief! So you knew."
"I knew?"
"You seemed to have come from far away, so I was worried you wouldn't understand. I'm sorry, you see, but this is the custom."
At a loss as to what she meant, I watched as Sophie picked up the scraps I had cast aside. Bringing the torn edges together, the pieces seamlessly reattached as if nothing had ever happened.
"I don't know the reason for it, but unless you tear it up like that, I cannot hand over your exam voucher. All the examinees from Ulm know this, of course."
"Um... I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh? You didn't know?"
"Sister, may I borrow that paper once more?"
"Yes, of course."
Looking puzzled, Sophie handed the paper back to me. Taking it, I traced the blank space beneath the sentence that read, "Name the author of Principles of Magic."
"Please take a close look. There is text hidden here as well."
"What? No, it can't be..."
Adjusting her reading glasses, Sophie leaned in close to the paper. Right before her eyes, new letters surfaced, gradually forming words.
Ignore the question above, declare your forfeiture of eligibility, and tear this exam paper to pieces.
"My goodness, it's true...!"
"It was embedded with a much higher grade of magic than the question itself. It was such an unnatural blank space that I figured something was off."
"I had no idea such a trick was in place. You have incredible eyes, don't you?"
The fact that she didn't know meant Sophie—or rather, the church—was merely entrusted with administering the exam. They likely just received the question sheets exquisitely prepared by the court mages and used them to screen applicants.
"Could it be that examinees from outside Ulm...?"
"If they've heard rumors from the city, they might manage, but some have no idea."
"...In other words, unless you live in Ulm, even applying is an uphill battle."
"That's right. I think it's unreasonable, and I'd love nothing more than to turn a blind eye, but... it would cost me my head."
Sophie wore an apologetic expression. If you weren't born in Ulm, you couldn't even take the mage examination. Stunned by this revelation, I was left completely speechless.
If I hadn't been asked to read the notice from the imperial court. If my parents hadn't encouraged me to head for the capital. If the guards had barred me from entering Ulm. If—I hadn't seen through this unfair magic trick.
It wasn't that I was desperate to pass the exam. I just had no idea such a vast divide existed purely based on where one was born. If I hadn't come to the royal capital, I probably never would have realized it.
While I stood there dazed, Sophie returned to the counter. After smoothly gliding her pen across a large sheet of paper, she began cutting it with a bladed tool.
"Um, what is that?"
"It's your exam voucher. I'm cutting it in a wave pattern."
Looking closely, the exact same information—name, place of origin, and other details—was written on both the upper and lower halves. I see; they separate them and match the jagged cut at the exam venue. An irregular cut actually made forgery far more difficult.
"Now then, lastly, I need you to take an oath."
"An oath?"
"Since the exam is held at the church, we cannot permit anyone to tempt the Lord."
Sophie prompted me to stand. In short, she wanted me to swear before God that I wouldn't cheat during the test. Swearing to God over a magic exam felt a bit strange, but... I supposed this was part of the custom, too.
"Very well, I will take the oath."
I rose from the chair and stood straight before Sophie.
"I, Keegan Bauer, swear to God that I will commit no dishonest acts."
"Yes, very good. Well then, I shall see you on the day of the exam."
Her eyes crinkling warmly, Sophie handed me the voucher with both hands. Treating a country bumpkin like me as an equal proved that clergy truly were philanthropists at heart.
"Thank you very much. I deeply appreciate it."
"How do you plan to spend your time until exam day?"
"I think I'll look around the city. I might never get the chance to visit Ulm again, after all."
"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure. I have a feeling you and I will have a long acquaintance."
I had never been a devout believer, nor had I ever put stock in prophecies and the like. Yet, Sister Sophie's words left a strangely deep impression on me.
"And one piece of advice. The royal capital isn't filled with good people."
"Right."
"Your heart is remarkably clear. However, through glass that doesn't bend light, one cannot see anything at all."
Sophie gave a quiet chuckle and lowered her reading glasses with a finger. Being a nun in the capital, it seemed she was even well-versed in optics.
"Thank you very much. Well, I'll take my leave."
"Do your best. I will pray for your success."
When I stepped out of the office, darkness had already fallen over the city. But the streetlamps lining the avenue shone brilliantly, resembling a breathtaking starry sky.
"...It's beautiful."
Far more than a sky full of stars out in the countryside, the night in Ulm felt utterly magical.
If only I could live in this city forever.
Cracking a self-deprecating smile at such an impossible dream, I left the church behind.