Chapter 38: The Graduation Test Begins (Part 2)

"All final-year students, please assemble in the assembly hall."

As soon as I entered the school grounds, I heard the announcement calling all the final-year students. Starting today, due to the graduation test, all students except those taking the test were on a school holiday. The school implemented this measure to ensure that the final-year students could focus on the test without any distractions from the outside.

I hurriedly made my way to the assembly hall upon hearing the announcement. When I arrived, the hall was already filled to capacity with students. The noise emanating from the hall indicated how packed it was inside. Some students were sitting and reviewing their test materials, while others were nervously conversing with their peers in an attempt to calm their nerves. Merely stepping into the hall suffused me with the pressure and anxiety emanating from the students.

After searching for a while, I finally found an empty seat in a corner of the hall and quickly took my place among the chairs. Within a few minutes, more students began to gather in the hall, including Sarah and the rest of our team. I also noticed Phillip and Mark entering the hall together at the last minute. It had been a while since I last saw Phillip, and he appeared unchanged from when we last met.

While observing the students entering the hall, I noticed the teachers making their way to the stage. They stood there solemnly, waiting for the principal to arrive at the podium. It had become a tradition in our school for the principal to deliver a speech before the start of the test, and this year was no exception.

After a while, the principal also walked onto the stage. He had the appearance of a man in his forties, and though he looked younger compared to the other teachers and principals, he commanded respect and could not be underestimated.

This principal, who always exuded a solemn and dignified air, was a legend in our school. Even when I first entered the school, I had heard tales of how he used his strength to quell dissatisfied teachers. With his sheer power, he maintained absolute order and held the highest position in the school.

Furthermore, his strength was recognized as one of the greatest among the residents of Miston City, making him a heavyweight figure in the city. However, despite his reputation, nobody seemed to know the true extent of his abilities. The mystery surrounding his true level had persisted until now.

"Ehem! Everyone, I understand that the upcoming days will be filled with anxiety for most of you. This test will determine the path you will tread in the future, so it is natural that many of you feel pressure. But remember! You have trained, studied, and worked hard to reach this point, so all I ask is for each and every one of you to give your best performance. Remember, the future is always unknown, and if you don't give up, you will always have opportunities ahead of you. Now, go out there and give it your all. That's all from me, and with this, I officially declare the graduation test to have begun!"

Following the principal's impassioned speech, the students were filled with high spirits. As always, his words had a way of touching everyone's hearts. Though I had anticipated this kind of speech, I couldn't help but be moved as well.

With the principal's speech concluded, it was finally time for the test to commence.

I arrived in my designated classroom for the test. All the classrooms used for the test had been specifically modified for the examination, with additional installations such as surveillance magic items and anti-cheating magic circles. These measures were put in place to ensure a fair testing environment throughout the examination period.

Taking my seat, I closed my eyes and waited for everyone to settle in and for the test to begin. This had become a routine for me since childhood, a way to calm my nerves and approach the test with a sense of calm.

"Everyone, once you have taken your seats, you will notice a small tablet in front of you. That is the magic tablet you will be using for the entire theory part of the test. All the questions and answer sheets are inside the tablet, so write your answers accordingly. Do you understand?"

The teacher began explaining the basic rules to us before the exam began, although we were already familiar with them. Nevertheless, we listened attentively for the sake of formality.

"Since none of you have any questions, I hereby announce that the test will begin now!"

As soon as the teacher finished speaking, I opened my eyes and focused on the tablet in front of me. The test had finally begun.