LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 17
EP.17 Class Assignment Exam (1)
After the entrance ceremony, the students follow the staff’s guidance to be assigned their dormitories.
The West Dormitory, East Dormitory, and Central Academic Hall.
Among the three dormitories, the newly established Central Academic Hall grants priority assignment based on the scores recorded in the entrance exam.
This process is strictly based on merit.
In Apuria, recognized as the monarch’s designated place of learning, everyone—regardless of their status—was classified simply as a student.
And.
Even if one is a princess, that fundamental principle does not change.
“Hmmm…”
Princess Ayla, who entered Apuria ranked second and proved her talent, gazed in admiration at her assigned room.
‘I didn’t expect much, but this is…’
She had not anticipated much from the facilities. In fact, she had entered the dormitory with the somewhat audacious thought of experiencing commoner life.
“…Isn’t this too nice?”
To her surprise, Ayla felt a strange disappointment at the well-appointed accommodation.
*
“Silphy.”
-Yes? Master?
“Can you dust off the room a bit? And let some fresh air in.”
-Um, but this isn’t a laboratory, is it? There doesn’t seem to be much dust, and the air seems clean.
“Still.”
-Okay, then…
The lesser wind spirit, Silphy, resembling a dandelion seed, radiates light. The curtains within the room flutter, and the blankets billow.
“Thank you, Silphy. You can go in and rest.”
-Yes, Master.
Dismissed from her summoning, Resti sat on the bed. Having heard about the Central Academic Hall, experiencing it firsthand brought back memories.
‘It’s spacious.’
It was indeed larger than the laboratory accommodations Resti had previously occupied. There was no smell of chemicals, and opening the window let in a fresh breeze.
“I suppose I won’t need to ventilate it from now on.”
Although she summoned Silphy out of habit, it seemed unnecessary now. While sitting on the bed, Resti organized her thoughts.
The entrance ceremony had concluded.
Regular classes would not begin for another three days.
Besides, only the top students from the entrance examination would participate in a separate class assignment exam.
-Take enough time to explore the academy.
-Resti, your main specialization is Summoner, right? The Summoning Magic department is over near that big building.
-Be sure to come by later.
Resti suddenly recalled the image of the teaching assistant who had been eagerly guiding her. The assistant who had clung closely to her, keeping an eye on the others.
“…”
The assistant’s gaze had been fixed not on Resti herself but on the badge on her chest. Remembering that gaze, Resti clicked her tongue.
“Gross.”
Resti despised such attention.
The Ashen Tower, the Ashen, that cursed Ashen.
She was a girl sitting in the position of the next Master of the Ashen Tower, akin to that of the Ashen Mage. Surely she must be impressive; perhaps they would let her into the tower if she caught their eye…
Resti could easily see through such thoughts, the ones that approached her with expectations. It wasn’t the first time this had happened.
‘I’m not as good as that person, and my influence within the tower isn’t much.’
It was effectively a hollow position.
If the Ashen Mage returned, she could be cast aside at any moment. Resti sneered weakly.
“Seriously, it’s nothing special.”
Those who approached with such expectations would soon leave, disappointed on their own terms. In the process, they would spread vile expressions towards Resti.
Having grown accustomed to such occurrences, Resti found the teaching assistants’ reactions rather unwelcoming. It was clear to her that their attitudes would change dramatically in just a month.
“Huh…”
Resti sighed. Caught up in the disinterest of the teaching assistants, she hadn’t even spotted the person she actually wanted to see.
Rosel Elder’s adopted daughter and teaching assistant.
Rania van Trias.
In truth, it was she whom Resti wanted to speak with, but Rania had vanished somewhere right after the entrance ceremony.
‘Still, it’s not like I can’t meet her…’
Courses on the basics of mana and the study of trade, advanced classes.
If she could take Professor Rosel’s classes, she would naturally be able to meet her. For that, she needed to achieve good results in the class assignment exam.
“…”
Resti silently began unpacking the belongings she had brought from the tower. Dozens of sealed spell scrolls, containing her summoned creatures and contracted spirits, spread out on the floor.
Class Assignment Exam.
Regardless of the name, it was still an exam.
A test where ranks are assigned and publicly announced.
‘I have to do well.’
Whatever it might be, if ranks are announced and released to the public… Resti had no intentions of slacking off.
-I hope you have a good experience.
-I’ll always be watching.
Unlike others, Resti did not want to betray the Elder’s expectations. She wanted to meet those expectations as much as possible.
“If I’m going to do it, it has to be first place. I won’t settle for anything less.”
No matter what anyone said.
No matter who compared her to whom, she was the next Master of the Ashen Tower. Reminding herself of this fact, Resti began to organize her spells.
Having passed the entrance exam as the top student, she had no intention of giving up her position of first place even a little bit.
2.
“Let’s begin the meeting.”
Professor Cesar of the Elemental Magic Department announced the start of the meeting. As the longest-serving professor, he took the lead in most meetings.
“Most of you are already familiar with the outline, but for those attending for the first time, I’d like to provide a brief explanation.”
The newcomers.
Without needing to say her name, all present knew who he referred to. Soon, the gazes of the professors turned toward one corner of the table.
In a corner that had always been vacant.
Sitting in the “Basics of Mana and Trade” seat.
Rania van Trias.
The gazes of the professors directed at her were anything but kind. Cesar, having purposefully left the focus on her, patiently awaited their attention to shift back to him before continuing.
“As you know, this time we were unable to accurately classify the students based solely on their entrance examination scores. There was a notable clustering of top-scoring students.”
Compared to last year’s graduates, the level of the students had increased too much. It was necessary to reclassify the top students who had clustered together.
“Thus, we will conduct a class assignment exam for the top students, to further refine their categorization.”
With a flick of his finger, a large map unfolded in the air.
“The class assignment exam will be held in the Harmain Forest near Apuria.”
Harmain Forest.
“As you know, Harmain Forest is perpetually saturated with mana in the atmosphere. Consequently, the flow of mana can become tangled, making it difficult to control one’s own mana.”
“Therefore, this is exactly what we aim to test.”
A colleague of Cesar’s continued his explanation.
“How well can one control their mana? Can they suppress their talents from running wild? That’s what we want to see.”
“Control over mana is fundamental; if a student lacks this foundation, they will need to be taught from the beginning, no matter how outstanding their talent.”
This was not an issue decided by the professors themselves.
It was a fundamental principle established by Professor Rosel, Dean Aaron, and the other professors to assess the abilities of this semester’s new students.
-A mage must always perfectly govern what they possess. If they cannot do so, they are nothing more than a ticking time bomb.
If their talent was evident in the entrance examination,
In the upcoming class assignment exam, they would be tested on how well they understood their talent and their ability to control it.
And it would be up to the professors to shape this exam. The professors merely set the general framework for it.
“Thus, we plan to split the students into four sections, allowing those with similar fields to compete against each other.”
The map splits into four sections.
“Each section will have a central ‘mana stone.’ The scores will be based on how long a student remains in contact with that mana stone.”
Cesar nods slightly.
“A certain amount of interference and competition is acceptable.”
Of course, he adds.
“However, we must ensure that excessive competition doesn’t result in student injuries. Our faculty will be dispatched to supervise each section.”
With another gesture, red dots appeared on the four divided sections. They indicated where the faculty would supervise.
However, one area remained unmarked.
Among the four sections, the northern area. That quadrant bore no red dot, openly left vacant as if no one wished to go there.
“We have already selected the areas for supervision, but there is one person here who has yet to choose.”
Cesar narrowed his eyes and gazed across the table at the woman sitting opposite him.
“Professor Rania?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I understand you’ve recently joined as a teaching assistant, and given all the recent adoption ceremonies, you must have been busy.”
A faint smile graced his lips.
“Since you’ve become a teaching assistant, I think it would be good if you selected an area to supervise.”
“Then…”
“Oh, but there’s only one spot left.”
Cesar points to the northern section.
“You’ll be overseeing that area.”
The northern section.
There’s a reason all professors shy away from that spot. It’s precisely because of the students assigned there.
The top apprentice of the White Tower, the Duke of the North, Lac.
The top apprentice of the Black Tower, the Nightmare of Dusk, Belnoa.
That location had been prepared solely for those two at the request of both tower masters. If a fight were to break out there, it would be difficult for professors to intervene.
A warrior who would tear trolls apart from the North.
An assassin who drenched slums in blood.
If they clashed, surely one side would end up seriously injured, and the supervising professor would bear the responsibility.
‘I’d rather not get swept up in this tower rivalry and take on unnecessary responsibilities.’
Smirking internally, Cesar cast a disdainful glance at the ashen-haired woman sitting across from him. To be honest, he didn’t particularly like her.
That spot should have been his.
At least, that’s how he saw it.
He had applied for Professor Rosel’s assistant position the year before and was denied every time. Ignored.
‘And yet, a newcomer who seems to have rolled in from nowhere has claimed that spot? While being an adopted daughter at that?’
He didn’t show it outwardly.
However, most teaching assistants shared a similar disdain for Rania.
‘Serves her right, parachute baby.’
They would all be mocking her in this way. Cesar thought so, maintaining a polite smile as he spoke.
“Oh, but there are only two students assigned to that area. It should be fine, right?”
To that question.
“Yes, that’s fine.”
Rania merely nodded her head.