Chapter 837: It Has Began
Chapter 837: It Has Began
After a moment, Mystica faced the hall properly. "Good morning, my dear second-years."The response came unevenly, but clear enough. "Good morning, Lady Mystica."
"I hope you had a lovely weekend," she said, voice warm and playful. "Though judging by some of these faces, perhaps not. A few of you look as if Core Myst visited your rooms last night and threatened your bloodlines."
A few nervous laughs slipped through the hall.
Dylan lifted his hand slightly. "Lady Mystica, for you, I would allow Core Myst to threaten me directly."
The hall went still for half a second.
Maxwell slowly closed his eyes.
Asher muttered something that sounded like a threat.
The Water Magic professor’s expression hardened. "Mr. Wellington."
Dylan looked at him as if only now remembering other authority figures existed. "Professor."
"That is enough."
Mystica lifted one hand lightly before the professor could continue. "It is fine, Professor Caelus. Mr. Wellington has always had a talent for surviving statements that should shorten his lifespan."
Dylan smiled without shame. "Only because your mercy is divine, Lady Mystica."
Charlotte covered her mouth, shoulders trembling faintly.
Ariana looked down at her desk, visibly fighting both embarrassment and laughter.
Professor Caelus looked like he was reconsidering every life choice that brought him into the hall that morning.
Mystica’s eyes glittered with amusement. "Careful, Dylan. If you flatter me too much before the paper begins, your classmates may blame you when the questions become cruel."
"They already blame me for everything."
"Usually correctly," Liam said without looking up.
A few students heard him and snorted before quickly silencing themselves.
Dylan turned as far as his seat allowed, wounded. "Betrayal before examination. I will remember this."
"Good. Write it down on the paper."
Mystica laughed softly, clearly entertained. "How lively. Unfortunately, I must now become mildly responsible."
That sentence alone made several students more nervous.
Mystica clasped her hands before her. "As all of you know, today marks the beginning of Theory week. Your first paper is Core Myst, and depending on how you choose to approach it, this may very well be the most difficult written examination you take."
A heavy silence settled.
She continued, "Core Myst is not a subject that rewards memorized definitions without understanding. You will be asked to analyze, apply, compare, explain consequences, identify instability, and reason through scenarios where poor Myst management can lead to backlash, collapse, exhaustion, or death. If you only memorized pretty phrases from your notes, I offer my condolences."
A few students paled.
Professor Caelus stepped forward slightly. "Lady Mystica and I will be invigilating this examination. The duration is five hours. After the first two and a half hours, you will receive a thirty-minute break. During that break, you will not discuss the contents of the paper. After the break, you will return to your assigned seats and continue."