The headmistress Ooba was often said to be a very strict and harsh woman. Expecting only perfection from all her students and only accepting whom she viewed to be talented. She was certain that only those from a royal or noble upbringing could be valued as a scholar. A unwise way of thinking but she meant well, you see many of the peasants in the empire could barely afford an average education, let alone an advanced one, and to serve as the empire's scholar you were expected to know every piece of knowledge regarding not only the empire but the world. After all, such a powerful civilization required those who could provide answers to almost every situation and question. Not knowing the answer to anything could not be afford.
Mirajane was going into the academy because she believed the future empress should be just as intellectual as her husband, which many agreed on. However if only one of them could be accepted, she prayed that it would be Erza because she knew the position was more important to her.
When Ooba first saw the girls you could tell that she was instantly impressed with Mirajane but skeptical of Erza. Her mind, the niece of the ambassador and fiancee to the future emperor would be exceptionally bright. But the daughter of a scoundrel and a peasant woman who just got lucky? Not much potential. Still, she would give both young woman a fair chance to prove themselves.
"Walk for me." She commanded. "You must not clop around like a mule. You must step lightly and move like a feather in the wind."
Mirajane elegantly strided across the floor with effortless balance. Erza was a nervous wreck, she moved agilely but could not stop her from trembling slightly. Ooba noticed this but said nothing. Next she had them take a test on etiquette which included serving tea and sitting properly. Both did well but again, Erza's anxiety was evident. Through each test on poise the girls were given, Erza completed with her nerves rising higher and higher, terrified that sooner or later she would end up failing.
"You're doing fine." Mirajane whispered to her. "Just breathe."
Erza tried to breathe, but it's hard to keep that in mind when someone is watching you and expecting you to fail. However Ooba surprised Erza later by complimenting her along with
"I must say you both look rather graceful and refined." She complimented. "You could both pass as the emperor's daughters."
"Thank you Headmistress." They said respectfully.
"But now comes the test that is most important. The test on knowledge."
She quizzed Mirajane first and it was done alone, in her private study. About an hour later, Mirajane returned with a smile on her face and the headmistress singing her praises.
"Excellent my dear. Excellent. You will no doubt prove to be a most remarkable student and an even more remarkable empress."
"You are too kind Headmistress." Mirajane said before winking at Erza and whispering to her. "You'll pass easy."
Erza gave her a nervous smile, and after taking a deep breath, she followed the headmistress into her study. There she was quizzed on the history and culture of the Tiānkōng Empire. She would have to get every question right in order to pass.
"Why is our realm called The Tiānkōng Empire?" Ooba asked.
"Because our realm is located in the mountains which brings us closer to the sky than any other realm." Erza answered.
"Correct. What creature symbolizes the empire?"
"The Phoenix."
"Correct. How was Makarov made emperor?"
"He was chosen by the former emperor who had never sired any children."
"Correct and why was he chosen?"
"Because he was the most honorable man the former emperor ever knew."
Ooba gave Erza one historical and cultural question after another, and she answered each one correctly. Soon her anxiety began to transform confidence, especially upon seeing the impressed gleam in the headmistress's eye.
"Your last question." Ooba said. "How did the great war start?"
"Through vicious rumors."
"I am sorry but that is incorrect."
Erza looked at her confused.
"Excuse me?"
"The Great War was started because the Lazan City wanted to destroy the empire, the Verdenshav Kingdom wanted to enslave our people, and Kiwanja Tribe wanted to steal our prized valuables."
"With all due respect Headmistress." Erza said in her most respectful tone. "I'm afraid that you're mistaken. Those were just rumors that someone made up in order to turn the empire against the other realms."
"Are you correcting me?"
"I meant no disrespect-"
"Silence!" She snapped.
"But Headmistress-"
"I told you to be silent! You are dismissed."
"But I did not get that question wrong."
"I said that you are dismissed. You will leave my study immediately."
"I will when you show me proof that I am wrong."
Ooba was infuriated by the girl's disobedience. But she did comply with her request. She produced a book on the empire's history and turned to the chapter on the Great War. Erza read the chapter carefully and it did indeed say that the war started because of threats from other regions. However Erza knew from the bottom of her heart that it couldn't be true.
"Now will you kindly leave?" Ooba demanded.
"Headmistress I believe you've been misinformed."
"I said leave! Are you deaf child?!"
Erza meant to argue further but Mirajane heard the screaming and rushed in to difuse the situation before things could get worse. She apologized on Erza's behalf and even requested if Erza could be given another chance but the pompous headmistress refused.
"I for one cannot possibly understand what the emperor could possibly see in you!" Oooba raved at Erza. "He told me that you were the epitome of a perfect scholar, and an honorable young woman. That is why I gave you this chance. But now I see that you are a disgrace! Not only are you lacking in required knowledge but you cannot accept your mistake with dignity and grace, so you attempt to lie and insult me! You will never bring your family honor!"
Her words cut through Erza like a knife. She could already picture the look of shame and disappointment on the faces of her mother and the emperor. They had wanted so badly for her to be given a great education and become a royal scholar but she had failed them. How would she ever be able to look either one of them in the eye again? How would they be able to even look at her again?
"Trying to correct the headmistress." Irene had scolded her. "How could you do such a foolish thing? If you had just answered wrong and accepted it, she would have understood and maybe have given you another chance. But now that you've insulted her, that will never happen. Never."
"I'm sorry Mother but I wasn't wrong." Erza said.
"What do you mean? Of course you were wrong. The headmistress herself, showed you the chapter on it in the history book."
"But that's not what I read in the scrolls."
"What scrolls?"
"Don't you remember Mother? Before we were granted access to the royal library, we could only afford ancient scrolls that had been discarded. The ones on the war always said that it was rumors and lies that caused all that battle and bloodshed."
"Where are these scrolls?"
"I don't know. We stopped reading them after we welcome to the library. I suppose they're long gone by now. But Mother, do all the history books say different? If they do then I think misinformation is being spread, and maybe we should speak with the emperor."
"Erza did it ever occur to you that those scrolls were discarded probably because their information was wrong?"
"If that's true then we should make sure of it. You're the one who taught me that the importance of being a great scholar is helping the world know the truth."
"But you can't just go about correcting people and speaking things without proof."
"Then we find proof. I'm sure that if we searched the palace we could find-"
"Erza this is not important right now. Right now we have to focus on your future and since there's no chance of you ever getting into the academy, I have to think of another way for you to be honorable and secure. Otherwise I'll have to arrange a marriage for you. Is that what you want? To survive by being married off to a man who'll dishonor you, like I was to your so-called father?"
"No. Of course not."
"My parents forced me to marry that man, saying that becoming the wife of a solider was the only way I'd ever bring honor to my family. But he just used the war as an excuse to run off with his concubine and leave me pregnant. On that day I made a vow to the heavens that if the child in my womb was born a girl, I'd never force her to marry. I'd find another way for her to achieve honor."
"And I appreciate that Mother. I really do."
Indeed. Erza appreciated her mother's efforts greatly. Despite being young, she knew of all the sacrifices her mother had made and all the struggles she had faced in order to ensure her child would have the best of everything. Sometimes it made Erza feel guilty that she had put Irene through so much and she still had yet to bring any honor to their family. What she wouldn't give for a chance to do something worthy of her mother's love and sacrifice.
Then there came a knock at the door. It was the emperor's imperial messenger, he said that the emperor had requested an audience with Erza.
"Now I'm in for it." She thought, expecting a harsh scolding from him.
Still despite her fear, she hurried to the emperor's throne room without delay and hoped for the best.