The Combat Exam Begins!

The morning sun peeked through Pandora's window, casting soft light over her room. She sat up, stretching before heading downstairs for breakfast. As usual, her family was already at the table, waiting with expectant eyes.

"Today's the day!" her father declared, slamming his fist onto the table dramatically. "Your first combat exam! Pandora, this is your moment! The moment where you show those weaklings your might!"

Her mother wiped away fake tears. "My daughter, going into battle! Be strong, but not too strong! What if you break your opponent?"

Her siblings clutched their hearts, whispering amongst themselves like she was about to enter a death match.

Pandora blinked. "It's just an evaluation."

"Nonsense!" her father howled. "It's life or death!"

"…No, it's not."

"But what if it is?!" her mother wailed. "What if you destroy someone's will to fight forever?!"

Pandora sighed and ate her breakfast in silence while her family continued their over-the-top dramatics. They eventually relented, wishing her luck with the solemnity of sending a warrior off to war. She left without another word.

Arriving at the Academy - More Chaos Ensues

As soon as Pandora reached the academy gates, she noticed an alarming sight.

A group of students stood proudly outside the classroom, all wearing shirts with her face on them.

Her fan club had grown.

"Lady Pandora! We will be watching you closely today!" one of them shouted, fist raised. "May you break hearts and bones alike!"

Pandora stopped in her tracks. Why did they sound proud of that?

Lucian and Raine arrived just in time to witness the spectacle. Lucian looked delighted. "Wow! You have fans! This is incredible! Are they taking membership applications?"

Raine shot him a deadpan look. "You don't need to join a fan club when you already follow her around like a lost puppy."

Lucian gasped. "How dare you! I do not follow her around like a lost puppy!"

"Then stop standing behind her right now," Raine countered.

Lucian glanced at his position—directly behind Pandora—and immediately sidestepped awkwardly.

Meanwhile, Pandora paid no attention to the commotion and walked into the classroom. Her other friends, Lilia, Elric, and Darian, were already seated, waiting for the day's lesson to begin. As soon as they saw her, they grinned.

"So, today's the big day!" Lilia chirped. "Ready for the combat evaluation?"

Pandora nodded. "Yes."

Darian smirked. "I feel bad for whoever gets matched against you."

Elric adjusted his glasses. "It's randomized, so it could be anyone. Even one of us."

The classroom collectively shuddered at the thought.

The Combat Exam Begins

The students were gathered in the academy's training field, where the instructors explained the rules. Each student would be randomly assigned an opponent, and the matches would determine rankings for future group assignments.

As the names were being called, murmurs spread through the crowd.

Then—

"Pandora vs. Felix Arden."

The students gasped. Felix was a well-known flirt, infamous for making dramatic entrances and proclaiming himself a 'ladies' man.' True to form, he smirked, flipping his golden hair as he stepped forward.

"Well, well, well. Looks like the gods have blessed me today." Felix flashed Pandora a charming smile. "How about a little wager? If I win, you go on a date with me."

Pandora stared at him blankly. "What does dating have to do with combat?"

Felix faltered. "Uh—w-well, I mean—"

Lucian shouted from the sidelines. "She doesn't understand romance, man! You gotta speak in battle terms!"

Felix cleared his throat. "Ahem! What I meant to say was—if I win, you must honor me with your presence in a grand celebratory feast!"

Pandora tilted her head. "…So, eating?"

Felix: "...Yes?"

Pandora: "You could have just asked."

Felix turned red. "T-That's not the point!"

Lilia, Darian, and Elric snickered from the sidelines while Raine openly laughed. Lucian, meanwhile, looked slightly murderous.

"Duel begin!" the instructor called out.

Felix instantly activated his combat stance, pulling out a pair of enchanted daggers. "Alright! Prepare yourself, my—"

Before he could finish, Pandora was already behind him, her wooden training sword tapping his shoulder.

"…Eh?" Felix froze.

"You lost," Pandora said simply.

The field fell into stunned silence.

Then, Felix dramatically collapsed, clutching his chest. "Noooo! Defeated in combat and love! How cruel fate can be!"

Lucian burst out laughing while Raine muttered, "This is the best day ever."

The instructor coughed. "Ahem. Pandora wins."

Pandora blinked, watching as Felix was carried off by his friends like a fallen war hero. Why was he acting like he was dying?

The matches continued, with other hilarious results:

Lucian vs. Raine: Raine, determined to put Lucian in his place, fought viciously—while Lucian dramatically dodged, winking at Pandora mid-fight, which resulted in Raine hitting him harder.

Lilia vs. Darian: Darian underestimated Lilia's strength and got blasted off his feet by her magic.

Elric vs. a random opponent: Elric won effortlessly, analyzing his enemy with terrifying precision.

With the first rounds over, Pandora watched the other matches with mild curiosity, unaware that certain professors had taken special notice of her combat abilities.

Some were intrigued. Others… had more malicious thoughts.

As the first round of the combat exam concluded, the students were given a short break before the second round began. Pandora, as usual, remained unfazed, standing quietly while her peers buzzed with energy. Her friends gathered around her, each reacting differently to the earlier fights.

Meanwhile, Lilia turned to Pandora with a nervous chuckle. "You did great too, Pandora. Though, um... maybe next time try to hold back a little? Your opponent looked like he saw his life flash before his eyes."

Pandora blinked. "I held back."

Elric sighed. "Yeah, that's the scary part."

Before they could continue their conversation, an announcement boomed across the training grounds. "Attention, students! The second round of the combat exam will now commence. This time, the matchups will be randomized!"

Pandora and her friends turned to the large crystal board that displayed the new matchups. To everyone's surprise, Pandora's opponent was revealed to be an upper-year student who had been held back due to failing theoretical exams but was incredibly strong in practical combat.

The students whispered among themselves.

"Oh man, she's facing Gregor the 'Iron Wall'? That guy's a tank!"

"He's lost count of how many times he's repeated the year, but he's still one of the strongest fighters."

"Pandora might actually lose this one."

As the match started, Gregor grinned and cracked his knuckles. "Alright, kiddo, don't hold it against me if this gets rough."

Pandora simply tilted her head. "Okay."

The signal to start was given, and Gregor lunged at Pandora with incredible speed for his size. The ground trembled as he charged forward like a raging bull. The spectators held their breath.

Then, in the blink of an eye—

Gregor was on the ground, groaning in pain. Pandora had sidestepped his attack so effortlessly that it looked like she hadn't even moved. The poor upper-year student had crashed into the arena floor face-first, the impact leaving a small crater.

Silence.

Then, chaos.

"What just happened?!"

"Did she even do anything?!"

Lucian clutched his sides, laughing. "That was brutal! He knocked himself out!"

The instructor overseeing the match looked down at Gregor, sighed, and raised his hand. "Pandora wins."

The audience erupted in cheers and laughter, while Gregor was carried off for medical attention, grumbling something about needing to study more. Pandora, as usual, looked unfazed.

In the background, a group of instructors watched closely.

One of them, a stern-looking man with a scar over his left eye, stroked his chin. "That girl… she's something else."

Another instructor, a professor with a sinister smile, smirked. "Indeed. Imagine what she could do if we... properly guided her." His eyes gleamed with something unsettling.

As the exam continued, Pandora's reputation only grew stronger. Whether she liked it or not, more and more eyes were on her now—some filled with admiration, others with something far more dangerous.

Unaware of the whispers surrounding her, Pandora simply looked at her friends and said, "Is it lunch now?"

And with that, another chaotic day at Ebonspire Academy continued.