The silence in the classroom was almost suffocating.
The wooden chairs creaked slightly as students settled in, and the sound of quills dipping into ink filled the room like a meticulous symphony.
Arven sat near the window. From there, he could see part of the courtyard where the combat tests had taken place earlier. The sun was already high, and a light breeze made the glass tremble from time to time.
He took a deep breath and adjusted the blindfold covering his eyes.
'Written exam… doesn't seem too difficult, but if it's like the novel, there will be traps about ancient history and the structure of mana.'
The evaluator, a middle-aged man with gray hair and a rigid posture, entered the room holding a thick stack of papers. His eyes swept across the students like blades.
"Everyone ready? This is the final stage. The exam will be divided into two parts: multiple choice and an interpretive essay on mana control."
He tapped the wooden staff on the desk. "You have two hours. Begin."
The paper in front of Arven seemed ordinary at first, but as he read the questions, he realized how deep they were.
1. Who was the supreme leader of the Shisui who ended the old Human Empire, initiating the Great Ruin?
2. What is the difference between internal and external mana flow in hybrid creatures?
3. Name two reasons why the balance between light and darkness is considered essential for world stability.
Nora… the Third of Her Name.
The name echoed in his mind, accompanied by a chill.
In the novel, she had been mentioned only briefly, a nearly legendary figure known as The Shadow Hand of Unandir.
But now, in this living, breathing world, it seemed as if even the air held her memory.
He wrote calmly:
Nora, the Third of Her Name, was the last leader of the Shisui. Her decision to destroy the Human Empire marked the beginning of the Ruin and the end of her lineage.
As he wrote, his hands trembled slightly. The name "Shisui" felt almost like a forbidden whisper, and although he went by another name, the weight of his blood seemed to react to every letter.
Across the room, Kael Fever tapped his foot impatiently. The written exam was not his strong suit — he was a beast-man of instinct, not theory. His tail, hidden under his cloak, swayed restlessly.
Lyra Vesper, by contrast, wrote with elegance and fluidity, her gaze fixed and serene. The emblem of her family, discreetly embroidered in gold on her sleeve, reflected the sunlight.
Gabriela Asumi, the elf with light blue hair, seemed to glow almost ethereally. Her calm posture, fine ears, and crystal-blue eyes radiated wisdom. Arven glanced at her briefly and recognized the name.
'Gabriela Asumi…'
'She was also in the novel. One of the heroines who contributed to the villain's downfall… Elara.'
'So destiny really is repeating itself?'
He sighed softly and returned his focus to the paper.
4. Briefly describe what remained of the Kingdom of Unandir after the war.
Ruins… and ghosts, he thought.
But what he wrote was more restrained:
The Kingdom of Unandir was destroyed during the Great Ruin. Only ruins and legends of the Shisui clan remain, which dwindled from thousands to fewer than twenty survivors.
The second part of the exam required an essay:
Topic: "The balance between light and darkness and its influence on the magical stability of the world."
Arven closed his eyes under the blindfold. His mind traveled to what he knew of the two types of mana.
Light represented purity, healing, and order.
Darkness… raw power, adaptability, chaos.
But both were necessary — one could not exist without the other.
'Perhaps this is the true mistake of the world… thinking darkness must be erased.'
The words flowed naturally.
Light blinds when it is too intense, and darkness consumes when left unguided. The balance between them defines the harmony of mana and, consequently, the world itself.
When he finished, only a few minutes remained. He rested the quill and glanced discreetly around.
Kael looked exhausted. Lyra finished with methodical perfection. Gabriela gazed out the window, as if listening to something distant — perhaps the echo of the past.
The evaluator collected the papers one by one.
"The results will be announced tomorrow. Those who achieve the necessary score will be assigned from Class S to Class D. Those who fail to meet the minimum… will be dismissed."
Murmurs rose. The tension was almost palpable.
Arven remained silent.
'Class S… the highest. Where the hero Lucien Temaki will surely be.'
'And probably… the villain as well.'
He stood, gathered his belongings, and walked to the exit.
Outside, the sky had begun to cloud over.
A light rain fell on the academy courtyard. The droplets slid down the blindfold covering his eyes, and he felt the cold touch his skin.
'Destiny is moving… but this time, it will be different.'