The roads leading to the Aspirant Entry Test registration venue were overflowing with people.

Carriages lined the streets for hundreds of meters, their wheels clogging the stone roads while merchants shouted from makeshift stalls erected overnight to profit from the crowds.

Banners of countless cities fluttered in the wind, mixed among the flags of distant kingdoms.

Bentram Kingdom was the only nation with no official enemy state, which made other kingdoms seek technological knowledge here.

The registration had become far more than a simple examination.

It was an event, a gathering of future elites.

Among the masses were ambitious youths from every corner of the continent. Some wore expensive robes embroidered with family crests and sigils. The strongest talents of neighboring powers had arrived as well.

Delegations from the mighty Krynova Kingdom could be seen moving through the crowd, escorted by armored guards.

Not far away stood the proud representatives of the Drevlorn Dynasty, their luxurious attire drawing almost as much attention as their arrogant expressions.

Yet despite the presence of foreign nobles and prodigies...

The crowd’s attention suddenly shifted.

A black carriage rolled through the packed streets and came to a halt before the registration grounds.

The carriage door opened and, in the next moment, a giant stepped out. Thane Ironforge.

He towered above nearly everyone present. His broad shoulders seemed capable of blocking an entire doorway, and his physique resembled that of a veteran warrior rather than a teenager.

He was bigger than everyone his age. The blood of Ironforge was truly unique.

Even standing still, he radiated an intimidating presence that made weaker aspirants instinctively move aside.

Whispers immediately spread through the crowd.

"How old is he?"

"That’s an aspirant?"

"That monster is a teenager?"

Before the murmurs could settle, a second figure emerged. Maximilian Goldcaster.

Unlike Thane’s overwhelming size, Max attracted attention for entirely different reasons.

His handsome features, confident posture, and effortless charm immediately caught countless eyes. His dark hair moved lightly in the breeze while his calm gaze swept over the venue.

Several young women openly stared. Others nudged their friends while whispering among themselves.

"He looks like a prince."

"Which noble family is he from?"

"I’ve never seen him before."

Standing side by side, the two teenagers couldn’t have been more different.

One looked like a fortress given human form.

The other looked like a noble hero from a bard’s tale.

Together, they became the center of attention before they had even taken ten steps.

Unconcerned, or perhaps simply unaware of the countless eyes following them, Thane and Max began walking toward the registration hall.

Around them, the noise of the bustling venue resumed.

But now, every conversation seemed to include the same question. Who were those two?

Thane and Max finally pushed their way through the sea of aspiring candidates and entered the massive registration hall.

The interior was just as crowded.

Hundreds of youths stood in long queues while officials hurried from desk to desk.

The constant noise of conversations, arguments, and excited chatter filled the enormous chamber.

Max was about to say something when he noticed Thane suddenly stop walking.

The giant teenager had frozen, his face had gone pale.

Max blinked. "What’s wrong?"

Thane didn’t answer. His eyes were locked on something ahead. Or rather... someone.

Standing beside one of the registration pillars was a tall woman with folded arms. She was somehow taller than Thane himself, her athletic build making her look more like a battlefield commander than a lady. A single black line ran elegantly across her face.

And she was staring directly at him with a smile. The kind of smile predators had before dinner.

Thane visibly trembled. "No..."

Max frowned. "You know her?"

Thane swallowed. "Run."

"What?"

"RUN!"

Before Max could react, the woman started walking toward them.

Every step felt like a countdown to execution. "Little brother."

Thane flinched as if struck by lightning. "Hey, sister..."

"Oh, so this is Eudora Ironforge," Max said to himself.

The woman stopped before him and looked him up and down. "Huh."

Her eyes narrowed. "You’ve gotten bigger."

A brief pause followed, then she nodded. "Still ugly though."

Max almost choked.

Thane looked devastated. "I am not ugly!"

"You absolutely are."

"I am handsome!"

"You look like a castle wall learned how to walk."

Several nearby candidates began listening. The sister continued mercilessly. "Father heard you got into a fight."

Thane immediately pointed at himself. "It wasn’t my fault!"

"Of course it wasn’t."

His eyes brightened. Then she continued. "You never have enough intelligence to start one."

Max snorted.

Thane looked like he had been stabbed. The sister turned to Maximilian. "And you must be Max."

Max nodded politely. "A pleasure to meet you."

She shook her head. "My condolences."

"What?"

"Being friends with him."

Max burst out laughing.

Thane looked ready to cry. "Why are you here?!"

The woman grinned. "Father sent me."

Thane groaned. "Why?"

"To check on you." She leaned closer. "And to make sure you’re still alive."

"I was never in danger!" he retorted.

"Thane." She said.

"What?"

"You once got lost in our own house."

The crowd nearby started laughing.

"It was a large house!"

"You got lost between your bedroom and the kitchen."

"It was dark!"

"It was noon."

Max doubled over.

Even some registration officials were struggling not to laugh.

Thane pointed accusingly. "You used to beat me!"

"Used to?" She cracked her knuckles. "I can continue if you’ve forgotten."

The giant immediately took three steps backward. The crowd stared in disbelief.

The enormous mountain of a boy who looked capable of wrestling bears was retreating from a single woman.

His sister smirked. "There he is."

"There who is?" Thane asked as he looked around.

"My little brother," she said.

Thane sighed heavily.

Meanwhile, Max realized something fascinating.

The entire kingdom might fear Thane one day, but Thane would always fear his sister.

"So, you are going to join an academy," she asked.

"Yes, me and Max," he replied.

"Which one? Do you even know what an academy is?" Eudora teased again.

Thane cried inwardly. "Why did you send her, pops?"