The examination venue had an air of tension that clung to every corner. The waiting room was a long corridor lined with small adjoining rooms. Against one wall, chairs were neatly arranged, occupied by the candidates awaiting their turn. Across from the chairs stood a grand door, its intricate patterns shimring faintly under the enchanted lights. It led to the examination room, where the fate of each candidate would be determined.
Assistant Professor Ann stood at the center of the room, clipboard in hand, her expression calm but commanding.
"Wait here," she instructed, her voice steady. "Examiners are inside. When I call your na, you will enter the examination room and be evaluated. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," ca the murmured replies.
Ann nodded approvingly and glanced at the list. "Aron Levine, you're up first."
A broad-shouldered student stood, nodding politely to Ann before striding through the ornate doors. The room fell silent, the sound of the door closing echoing faintly.
Ti crawled as we waited. About fifteen minutes later, Aron exited with a composed expression, neither triumphant nor defeated.
"Jay Bardot," Ann called next.
Another student stepped forward, his steps asured but confident. He too returned after a similar interval, his expression unreadable.
"Lucy Monroe."
"Jas Ford."
One by one, nas were called, and candidates entered the room to face the examiners. So erged with bright smiles, others with crestfallen looks. Excitent, despair, calm, and nervous energy flitted across faces as each person returned.
Kaela clicked her tongue, her frustration evident.
"Ohhhh~ How long are we going to have to wait?" she groaned, shifting in her seat. Patience was not her virtue.
"Shh... Keep it down," Cedric muttered, glancing nervously toward Ann.
I watched him out of the corner of my eye. Cedric was unusually tense, his fingers drumming against his thigh. It wasn't surprising; combat wasn't his strongest suit. Kaela, on the other hand, was the picture of ease—almost smug—as she reclined in her chair. It was as if their usual roles had reversed.
Cedric murmured under his breath, a mantra ant to calm his nerves. "It's okay... It's okay... It's okay..."
I leaned toward him, offering a reassuring smile. "Relax, Cedric. It's not like you'll get expelled if you don't do well. You aced the Intelligence Assessnt, didn't you? You could always join the Scholar Departnt."
"I know..." Cedric sighed, his hands gripping the edge of his chair. "But it still makes nervous. Can't I just skip this part?"
"Rules are rules, my friend," I said with a shrug. "You have to attend all three assessnts."
Kaela, who had been sitting silently for a mont, smirked, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Where did that smug face of yours go? What happened to the confident Cedric from earlier?"
"He's already nervous, Kaela," I said. "Don't tease him."
"Hah~ Pussy," she said with a mock scoff, completely ignoring my warning. "How can a grown man act like such a coward? Even the kids in my tribe are braver than him."
Kaela's words seed to cut deep, her barb striking at Cedric's pride. His fidgeting stopped, and he fixed her with an uncharacteristically fierce glare.
"Who are you calling a pussy?" he demanded, his voice low but sharp.
"You," she replied without hesitation, her smirk widening.
The tension between them escalated, their bickering drawing a few glances from other candidates.
"Kaela, stop it," I said firmly. "You're not helping."
Before the argunt could spiral further, Ann's voice cut through the room like a blade.
"Next, Cedric Raven."
Both Kaela and Cedric stopped imdiately, their gazes snapping toward Ann. Cedric stood, his movents stiff, his nervousness returning in full force.
"Good luck, Cedric," I said, giving him an encouraging nod.
He nodded back, his face pale but determined, and walked toward the examination room. The grand door swung shut behind him with a soft click.
Kaela leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, a faint grin still lingering on her face. "That should light a fire under him," she said casually.
I shook my head with a sigh. "You're impossible."
Kaela chuckled but didn't respond. As the minutes dragged on, I found myself wondering how Cedric would fare—and how much longer I'd have to wait for my turn.
Soon, Cedric erged from the room. Before I could ask how it went, my na was called.
"Arthur Ludwig."
All eyes turned to . Even Miss Ann's gaze lingered for a mont. Ignoring the stares, I pushed the door open.
The grand door opened with a soft creak as I stepped into the examination room. The circular arena-like space was bathed in warm light, with a long table about ten ters ahead where the examiners sat, their gazes sharp and evaluative.
Three humans, two elves, one beastman, and a dwarf made up the panel of seven judges. Each one radiated a distinct aura of authority and power, their presence alone enough to make the average candidate tremble.
I offered a light bow. "Arthur Ludwig, reporting for evaluation."
A mature woman seated at the center smiled warmly, her presence both gentle and commanding. Her silvery hair shimred like moonlight, and her sharp eyes seed to pierce right through .
"Ah, Arthur Ludwig. Emily's younger brother," she said, her voice calm yet resonant. "I'm Aryana, principal of Arcane Academy."
"Yes, Principal Aryana," I replied politely.
"Hah! Let's see if you live up to her hype," the man seated next to her—Professor Luke, the combat instructor—chuckled. His rugged features and confident smirk reminded of a seasoned warrior who enjoyed testing new talent.
"Hype?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.
Aryana chuckled softly. "Your sister has been rather enthusiastic about you. Since her return from the awakening ceremony, she hasn't stopped talking about how talented her younger brother is, about your supposed genius and extraordinary skill. It's rare to see her so proud."
I sighed quietly, scratching the back of my neck. "I see. That explains a lot."
"Don't let it weigh on you, lad," Luke said with a grin. "If you're half as good as she claims, we're in for a treat."
"What will you be demonstrating, Arthur?", The dark elf to the principal's left spoke, her voice smooth and alluring. Her obsidian skin shimred under the enchanted light, highlighting her flawless beauty. She wore a short, form-fitting violet dress that barely reached mid-thigh, clinging to her curves and emphasizing her ample bosom. Silver embroidery traced intricate patterns along the fabric, drawing attention to her seductive figure. Her long white hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, and her crimson eyes glowed with a mischievous, predatory glint, leaving an air of dangerous allure.
'Hmm… What should I go with?' I pondered, stroking my chin. Over the past month of training, I hadn't just focused on swordsmanship. With Lira's help, I'd dabbled in daggers and even experinted with a variety of other weapons.
Walking over to the weapons rack, I selected a longsword. The familiar weight felt reassuring in my hand as I returned to the center of the room, eting the examiners' expectant gazes.
"Swordsmanship," I said simply.
The dark elf flicked her fingers, conjuring a complex magic circle in the air. In a flash of light, an armored knight appeared before , its figure imposing and its stance ready for combat.
"This is an enchanted martial arts puppet," Aryana explained with a small smile. "It has been a staple of our practical tests for nearly a century. It's durable enough to withstand even advanced techniques, and it's enchanted to adapt to the candidate's skill level."
Luke leaned forward, his eyes glinting with interest. "Let's see what you've got, kid."
As Aryana snapped her fingers, the room shifted slightly. A faint hum of magic resonated as the enchanted puppet ca to life, its joints creaking and glowing faintly with mana. The knight moved with unnatural precision, taking up a standard combat stance.
"Begin when ready," Aryana said, her tone calm but laced with expectation.
I nodded and stepped forward, gripping the hilt of the sword tightly. The weight of seven pairs of eyes bore into , scrutinizing my every move.
Taking a deep breath, I cleared my mind. Focus, Arthur. Show them what you've learned.
The puppet didn't wait long, lunging toward with a speed that belied its bulky fra. Its sword arced through the air, aiming straight for my chest.
I sidestepped smoothly, my training with Adam kicking in. Twisting my body, I used the montum to deflect the strike with my blade, sparks flying as steel t enchanted tal.
A murmur of approval rippled among the examiners.
"His footwork is excellent," the beastman examiner comnted, his sharp eyes narrowing with interest.
"Let's see how well he counters," Luke added, leaning forward in his seat.
The knight pressed its advantage, delivering a rapid series of slashes and thrusts. I matched its pace, my blade moving in fluid arcs as I parried each strike. Every clash reverberated through the room, the sound of tal echoing against the stone walls.
The puppet feinted to my left, then swung low toward my legs. Anticipating the move, I leaped back, planting my feet firmly as I pivoted to launch a counterattack. My sword glinted in the light as I aid a precise slash at the puppet's exposed flank.
The strike landed, sending the puppet staggering. The enchanted armor absorbed the blow, but the force of it was enough to earn a raised eyebrow from Aryana.
"Impressive strength for his age," she remarked softly.
Without giving the knight a chance to recover, I pressed forward. My movents were a combination of the techniques I'd learned from Adam and Lira—a balanced mix of calculated strikes and swift evasion.
As the duel progressed, the puppet increased its speed and aggression, its enchanted core responding to my performance. I felt the strain of keeping up, beads of sweat forming on my forehead. But rather than falter, I adapted, my Quick Learner skill allowing to read the puppet's patterns and adjust accordingly.
When the knight attempted a powerful overhead strike, I seized the opportunity. Darting to its side, I slashed upward with precision, aiming for the joint of its shoulder. The blow connected, montarily halting the puppet's movent.
"That was a critical hit," the dwarf examiner noted, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Good instinct."
Satisfied with my performance, I stepped back, lowering my sword. The puppet straightened, its movents slowing as Aryana snapped her fingers again, deactivating it.
"Well done," Aryana said, her gentle smile returning. "Your technique is refined, and your adaptability is remarkable. It seems the Ludwig family is destined to gain another swordmaster."
The dark elf, who had been watching intently, leaned forward, her crimson eyes gleaming with approval. "Not bad. I sense there's more to you than just swordsmanship, though. You're holding back, aren't you?"
I t her gaze but didn't reply, opting instead for a faint smile.
Luke chuckled. "A bit of mystery, huh? I like that. Keeps things interesting."
The rest of the examiners nodded, jotting down notes on their parchnt. Aryana turned to once more.
"That concludes your evaluation, Arthur. You may return to the waiting area."
I gave a respectful bow. "Thank you."
Outside, Kaela and Cedric were waiting, their expressions eager.
"How did it go?" Kaela asked, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
I shrugged, a small grin tugging at my lips. "It went well enough."
Kaela scoffed, crossing her arms. "Hmph. That's all you're giving us? You're no fun."
Cedric gave a thumbs-up. "I'm sure you nailed it, Arthur. You always do."
I chuckled softly, leaning against the wall as the next na was called.
"Kaela Howler."
Kaela's face lit up. "Hah, it's finally my turn!" she said excitedly, striding forward with confidence.
A short while later, she erged from the room, her expression brimming with excitent. Clearly, it had gone well.
"How was it?" I asked.
"Child's play," she replied confidently.
"Hah~ Expected from a brute like you," Cedric teased, smirking.
"Shut up, you pussy," Kaela shot back.
And just like that, their bickering began again.
"Alright, knock it off," I interjected, shaking my head. "We still have the magic assessnt left. Let's go."
Leaving the combat assessnt room behind, we stepped into the corridor and made our way toward the next challenge.
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