Chapter 78: Test
Arthur walked away, glancing around the campus. The earlier chaos felt so childish—he figured they might have even been throwing punches by now. He had hoped to see some spells and maybe even a bit of blood, but all he saw were two boys barking at each other.
"Haah, this is boring," he sighed.
Since no teachers were around, Arthur took the opportunity to explore the front of the campus. He’d be spending the next three years here, and this year would mark the start of many important things.
He hadn’t seen Eric earlier, so he figured Eric’s test would be on the second shift. With more than a thousand students applying each year, the assessments stretched over ten days, with both written and practical tests held in two shifts daily.
To even apply to this academy, a student had to meet certain requirements: they had to be "awakened" (meaning they could use magic) and have either a middle school graduation certificate or a recommendation letter from a scholar.
Arthur hadn’t gone to middle school—he found it incredibly boring. Instead, he’d asked Father Bowman for a recommendation letter. After a few questions, Bowman happily agreed.
Since only about ten percent of the population was awakened, it wasn’t surprising that only a thousand fifteen-year-olds applied each year. To avoid having empty seats, other academies don’t have any requirements to apply, so many students went there instead.
Soon, Arthur reached the eastern side of the academy, where a huge tree stood. Its green leaves swayed gently in the breeze, and under its shade stood a familiar redhead.
His heart raced as he saw her, but he kept his emotions steady as he approached. "Thank you...for last time," he said. She didn’t flinch; she had sensed him coming.
"Hmm? Took you long enough to thank me," she replied. Though her voice stayed calm, he could tell she was a bit hurt.
Arthur leaned against the tree, folding his arms. "You live so far away. It’s hard for me to just show up and say thanks."