Ch 50 : Day of the Test

The day of the test had finally arrived. The students gathered at the Training Ground, buzzing with both excitement and anxiety. This was a joint event for all Year 1 students, marking their first formal test of the year. Many were nervous, unsure of what to expect, as this would be their first real assessment. Until now, the teachers had only guided them in class without any evaluations, merely setting monthly goals. Whether the students met those goals was left up to them.

Among the crowd, a few students, particularly those from noble families, appeared more confident. They had been prepped for this by their parents long before they even set foot in the academy.

Auron and his friends, on the other hand, were unfazed. Chatting casually, they seemed unconcerned about the looming test. Their hard work over the past months had paid off, and they felt ready to pass with flying colors.

"Look at those students," Alice said, glancing at the nervous faces around them. "Why do they look so scared?"

"Of course they're scared," Eliot replied. "They could get expelled if they don't meet the academy's expectations. I think the benchmark is the perfect first layer of Tier 1 for our batch, plus mastering two basic Tier 1 spells."

"That's pretty low," Alice said bluntly. "Just the first layer? Even dumb Eliot here has reached the fifth layer."

Eliot turned red as other students shot annoyed glances their way. Alice's bluntness didn't always sit well with people, and Eliot was clearly embarrassed.

"You think I'm dumb, huh?" Eliot retorted. "Not everyone is as talented—or as hardworking—as us."

Alice chuckled. "Relax, I'm just teasing."

At that moment, a voice rang out over the crowd.

"For Class 1A, please gather here. We'll begin the test in a minute. We'll start by checking your cultivation levels," announced Teacher Mathilda.

"Let's go. Teacher's calling us," said Alice, excitement bubbling up in her voice. She was eager to show off her progress.

"See you later, Walter," Auron said as he waved goodbye to his friend from Class 1B. "Maybe your class is next."

"Good luck! Do your best," Walter called back, giving them a thumbs up.

Auron, Alice, Thyra, and Eliot joined their classmates, waiting for their names to be called. One by one, students stepped up to place their hands on the mana-measuring stone.

So far, all had at least reached the perfect first layer of Tier 1, as expected. Then came Cedric Stoneforge's turn. He strutted up to the stage confidently, looking sure of himself.

"Please place your hand on the stone and channel your mana," Teacher Mathilda instructed.

Cedric complied, and four of the stone's jewels lit up.

"Well done," Teacher Mathilda said, jotting down the result. "You've reached the fourth layer. Barely, but still, keep it up."

Cedric grinned smugly as he stepped down from the stage, basking in the admiration of some of his classmates. However, his moment of pride was swiftly interrupted.

"Barely the fourth layer, and you're already acting so smug?" Alice's voice cut through the crowd. "I'm definitely better than that."

Cedric scowled. "Talk is cheap. Let's see if you can back it up," he sneered, still stung from Alice's frequent taunts in class.

Alice only laughed. "Just watch. Hope you don't run off like you did during the Underground Fighting Stage." Her words were loud enough for everyone to hear, earning a few chuckles from the onlookers.

When Alice's name was finally called, she shot Cedric a confident look and mouthed, "Watch me beat you." Placing her hand on the stone, six jewels lit up instantly.

"Impressive, Alice! You've reached the sixth layer already," praised Teacher Mathilda. "Keep up the excellent work."

Alice grinned triumphantly as she returned to her friends. "See, Cedric? This is what talent looks like," she boasted.

Cedric muttered something under his breath, but Eliot leaned in to offer Alice some advice. "It's good to stand up for yourself, but maybe tone it down a bit. Nobles don't take kindly to being humiliated."

Alice shrugged. "I'll keep it in mind."

"Relax," Auron added. "Cedric's just a kid. He won't do anything serious."

Auron's thoughts, however, were colder. If he tries anything, I'll burn them to ashes.

Thyra's name was called next, surprising Teacher Mathilda. The quiet, introverted girl hadn't drawn much attention in class, but when she placed her hand on the stone, six jewels lit up, just like Alice's.

"Remarkable, Thyra," Teacher Mathilda commented, making a note on her clipboard.

Finally, it was Auron's turn. He strolled up to the stone calmly and placed his hand on it. Five jewels lit up.

"Good work," said Teacher Mathilda. "Fifth layer. Keep it up, and you'll catch up to your friends soon."

As Auron returned to his group, Thyra eyed him skeptically. "Are you really just at the fifth layer, Auron?" she asked. "You seem stronger."

Auron smiled. "Of course I am. How could I fool the relic?"

"I don't believe you," Thyra said, pouting slightly. Alice and Eliot exchanged knowing glances, clearly sharing her doubts. After all, Auron had already taken down an abyssal months ago.

Eliot's name was called next, and after he received praise from Teacher Mathilda for his progress, the group reassembled.

Teacher Mathilda looked over the results thoughtfully. They're ahead of their peers. Maybe I can recommend them for early class advancement. Let's see how they perform in the spellcasting portion, she mused, already planning the next steps for the promising students.

Auron and his friends made their way to the next checkpoint where their spellcasting proficiency would be tested. Teacher Eleanor was already there, calmly waiting for the students to gather.

"You all can wait for a moment," Teacher Eleanor said kindly. "We need the rest of your classmates to arrive before we begin."

As they stood by, Alice nudged Auron and the others. "Hey, should we only use basic spells for this test?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief.

"That's probably what the test is for," Auron replied, raising an eyebrow. "Why? You planning to show off again?"

Alice grinned. "Hehehe, you caught me."

Eliot chuckled and chimed in, "Well, maybe you should ask Teacher Eleanor when it's your turn. She could rate your progress and, who knows, you might even score some extra points or get some advice."

"I was thinking the same thing," Alice said, her grin widening. "Besides, it's not every day we get to show our teachers how far we've come. Why not make it count?"

Eliot nodded in agreement, clearly itching to demonstrate his own skills.