I didn't think we would even get to take the second half of the exam. Because it was clear that all of us failed the written part. But the school. Or at least Lysander didn't seem to care nearly as much as I thought.
After the four hours had passed and the door to the exam hall opened again, all the initiates shambled out of the room looking even more dejected and lost than before. If that was even possible.
`Damm. That Exam really beat our ass.` I was the only one who was unbothered by my failure. Well. Not completely. But there was nothing I could do about it. So, no point in getting dejected over it.
Especially knowing that there was still a whole other half of the exam awaiting us. `Hey. Who knows. I might just impress them so much with my physical prowess that they'll overlook how badly I did in the written exam.`
It was a foolish thought. One that I was certain would be proven incorrect. `Bruh. Even in the final apprenticeship examination, when I became an electrician, I had to do well in both the theoretical and practical exams to get my certificate. No way this is easier.`
The average failure rate for that exam was only about fifty percent after all. Not nearly as bad as the chances I face now. What with this exam's seventy-seven percent failure rate
"With the written exam finished, I will now hand you off to my esteemed colleague." Lysander begins, after clearing his throat, to draw our attention. Pointing to the man who just walked up to the classroom not too long ago.
A man whom I had already greeted with a nod previously. Since I was waiting outside the door already, while the others were still finishing up. My assumption that he was the second examiner was proven right with Lysander's words. "This is Brenvar Arveth. Our instructor of practical magical combat is for our second-year students. As well as the examiner for the second half of this exam."
And just like that, Lysander hands us off to Brenvar.
A man who can best be described as intimidating. Unlike Lysander, who was fairly unassuming, it was immediately clear that Brenvar was a strong warrior and competent mage.
Of course, all the professors in this school are competent mages. But there was a clear difference between someone lanky and thin in iron-pressed robes and someone who looked like he could tear your head clean off your body without using any magic whatsoever.
Not that he was rippling with muscles, mind you. He didn't have a bodybuilder or strongman type of build. His build was lean and wiry. Like an actual athlete. And anyone who knew anything about fighting knew those kinds of people were much more dangerous.
His voice and demeanor only reinforced that vibe of him being a strong warrior. "Everyone here? Good. Follow me." He spoke in a casual, unhurried manner but left no room for argument or disobedience.
His tone was so commanding and authoritative that even my fellow initiates seemed to straighten up a bit as we followed him to wherever we took the second half of the exam.
Which turned out to be a big indoor hall downstairs. A hall that was clearly intended for physical activities. Very reminiscent of a school's gymnasium. Though it was much bigger than the average gymnasium, and packed with all kinds of fixed installations.
Like training dummies and obstacle courses. And unlike before, in the exam hall we were not alone. The stands that dominated one side of the hall were packed with people. Not just students, but staff members as well as what I assume are the parents of some students.
I was a bit surprised by this. Not too much, though. It was obvious that no one was allowed to look in or spectate at the written exam. It would make cheating easy.
But here, that was no longer a problem. It was a physical exam after all. And if anyone actually tried to cheat using magic, I imagine the teachers and staff would catch said person right away.
So, under many pairs of scrutinizing eyes, we walk into the middle of the hall. Well out of earshot of the spectators. At least unless people actually screamed or talked very loudly.
Which Brenvar does. "This is the second half of the exalted Oridalis Exam. No matter how you did on the written part of the exam. If you fail this part of the exam, there is no chance for you to become a student of our school. Is that clear?"
The same intimidation tactics that Lysander employed were used once again. But this time the effect was much stronger because of how Brenvar spoke. Everyone straightened up and shouted in reply to his question. "Yes. Sir."
Everyone except for me. I just nod my head and shrug my shoulders. Saving my breath. Because this was going to be way harder than the written exam for me.
Name: Daniel Blackwell
Age: 15
Gender: Male
Body/ Strength: 7/ Endurance: 8/ Toughness: 8
Mind/ Acuity: 25/ Wisdom: 7/ Intelligence: 9
Soul/ Destiny: 0/ Fate: 3/ Radiance 9997
My physical stats were still not even average for someone my age. And I hadn't completely healed from almost starving to death out in the wilderness. I was doing better, yes. But not so good that I was confident I could pass this part of the exam.
`Not that it matters. I'm going to fail anyway. But fuck it. We ball.` I was going to give this my all, no matter how hopeless things are or get.
And hopeless they are. "We will start with a test of endurance. You are all to run twenty laps on this track in half an hour, starting now." Just like Lysander, he claps his hands to signal the start of the test.
But for a moment, no one moves. After all, what he was expecting from us was impossible. The track he had pointed out was somewhere between four hundred and six hundred meters long. Which means that he expects us to run around eight kilometers in just under half an hour.
`Bruh. That's professional-level times for something like that. Are they serious?` I think while blinking. Yet despite this, I'm the first to move. I overcame my shock and just got on the track with a slow jog.
`They can't be serious. This must be more about mental endurance than actual physical ability.` I muse to myself as I begin to run the track. Soon enough, I was joined by my fellow examinees.
Unlike me, however, they seem to think they honestly need to run that many laps in that time. So they eventually pass me. Their pace is all over the place. While I keep going with a steady pace. Slowly speeding up into a decent jog.
Though I'm already sweating and breathing heavily by the third round. "Tsss."`Yeah. I'm not gonna make it. No way. Even just twenty laps is too much right now.` But I keep going anyway. Even knowing that I won't make it.
After all, this was not the first time I faced something difficult in my life. And since coming to this world, nothing has been easy. Running laps until I collapse seemed like a dream in comparison to climbing that mountain with a broken hand and after suffering from a fever for a week.
So I run. And run. Until my legs feel heavy and like they are about to give out. And then I keep going. My horrible physical stats are rearing their ugly head, as despite doing my best, everyone else is doing better than me.
Which does surprise me. I thought for sure that the other initiates would eventually collapse from their uneven pace and how sickly they looked before. But they all grit their teeth and keep going.
Finding their own pace and outdoing me quite handily. Half of them overtake me multiple times. And even the next slowest after me almost caught up with me by the time we finished our twentieth lap.
"Huh. Huh. Huuuu." We all gather around Brenvar again once we are finished running our laps. "You are all pathetic. None of you managed to run the twenty laps under half an hour." To get a scathing scolding.
Yet despite this, the test continues. With an obstacle course next. And then we switch over to doing exercises. Like push-ups and squats. Then we lift weights. And run laps. Again.
All while enduring the harsh words of Brenvar, who keeps demanding we break world records in whatever we do. Which really shows me that this isn't about actual physical abilities. But rather mental endurance.
And I was very good at that. I keep going no matter how many times I go down. Even when I collapse and vomit, I get back up and keep going. One hour. Then two. Three. Four. Five. Until the sun goes down, I keep going. Without pause. Without a break.*
Long past when the others eventually give up, I keep going. Through blood, sweat, and tears. Though I have no tears to cry. All the water in my body leaves me through sweat alone. But I keep going.
Even when I sway down the track on unsteady feet, I keep going. Refusing to go down with everything I have. And getting back up when my body fails to keep up with my willpower.
Because even though the sight of me is pathetic as I stumble down the track for the fourth time to run another twenty laps. And even though my results will only get worse the more I do.
This is the one thing I won't do. I won't give up. No matter what. Even if it kills me, I won't give up. Even when I slip on my own sweat and vomit, I do my best to catch myself and push my legs off the ground again. To take just one more step.
After all, this is my most impressive strength. And my biggest weakness. My inability to give up once I set my mind on something. Even to my own detriment.
But either because they worry I'll actually kill myself doing this test. Or because the sight of me is so sad that they can't laugh at it anymore. I'm eventually stopped by Brenvar. Who intercepts me on the track."You really are pathetic. Get off this track." He spits at me. But he can't hide the respect in his eyes.
Which causes me to grin at him. Though even this act takes considerable strength from me at this point. "Look. This is what I do." *I press out between gritted teeth as I walk after him. Though my voice is so quiet, I doubt he heard me. And if he did, he doesn't say anything in response.
He just leads me to the others. To the other Initiates who have been waiting for me to finally give up. Some longer than others. But all had waited at least an hour or two for me to stop. All staring at me with mixed expressions. Somewhere between pity and awe.
Not that I care. I could barely see straight. I need to concentrate as hard as possible just to hear what Brenvar is saying while remaining upright. "This concludes the physical exam. But since someone took far too long to finally see how futile his efforts are. We will do the potential test tomorrow. You are all dismissed for the day. The meeting place for tomorrow is the same place at the same time as today."
This part of the exam finally comes to an end as suddenly as it had started. Once again, without much fanfare or ceremony. And I'm glad it did. I wasn't sure if I could do much more than walk to bed and fall asleep today.
Which is exactly what I do. I wave goodbye to everyone and, without another word, shamble away. Using the last bit of strength I could muster, I dragged myself to the bed in my dorm room. Falling asleep pretty much right away.
My last thoughts mostly focused on how bad my body is going to ache tomorrow after what I just did to it. Yet the grin on my lips remains.
—
The sound of hands clapping reverberated around the room. "So. That was pretty impressive, huh?" The youthful voice says excitedly. Only for a chorus of other voices to interject.
"Impressive? Yes. Impressively bad." "They all failed horribly. Not a single one of them managed to answer all the questions. Much less give an adequate showing in the physical exam." "I say we fail them all." Everyone shares their thoughts about the last initiatives of the year, all at once.
Until they were interrupted by one calm yet authoritative voice. Cutting through the noise. "That kid called Daniel has grit. I'm not surprised that he made it all the way here after what happened. He is a fighter." The words of praise from Brenvar were only met with more protests and disdain.
"Tss. The Blackwell family is a mere baronial family. And it shows. Their son is a failure." "Hmm. Your grandfather was a mere baron, too, wasn't he?" Another voice cuts in. A bickering match between the two voices quickly rose.
Before another clap interrupts them. The youthful voice cut in. "Yet he managed to impress Brenvar. That's no mean feat. And he also made it through the five gate questions without issues."
At which another person speaks up. Calm, mature, and sophisticated. "Yes. But only those five. And then he simply walked out. As if he couldn't be bothered with the others. While he had plenty of time left. We should fail him regardless. Both his physical and written scores are failing grades." Lysander counters.
A murmur of agreement goes through the room. But once again, the youthful voice speaks up. Determined to get its way. As per usual. "Hmm. Yes. But tell me. How many of you were able to defeat a two-star threat at just fifteen without any help? How many of you would have made it here by yourself? I wouldn't have."
The other voices are quiet at this. Not because they have no arguments. Half of the room defeated stronger foes by that age. And the person whose youthful voice belonged to was one of them. Someone of his talents could have easily defeated a four-star threat at that age.
And everyone knows it. But they knew better than to argue with him when he was like that. So none dare raise their hand. They all just dig their heels in.
Only one voice is brave enough to speak up, however. "Even so. We should not let just anyone that you fancy into the school, Headmaster. What point would there be in holding the exam otherwise?" The vice principal is the only one capable of talking back to the headmaster openly.
But his words are enough to shake the others out of their stupor. Many voices came to his support quickly. "Yes. Professor Solmere is absolutely right." "That's right. If we just admit anyone based on whims, then what point is there to even having an exam?" The voices all parroting his words in one way or another.
The youthful voice, however, is undeterred. "Is that so? But what if I say I'll admit him anyway? What then?" Though the voice was more serious this time. And at that, even the vice principal did not know what to say or do. Because in the end, the last choice of who gets admitted to the school was always left with the headmaster.
So if he decides, a person gets in. There was very little the others could do about it. So just like that, this part of the meeting comes to an end. Despite protests and arguments, the meeting continues with its other topics regardless of everyone's wishes.
—
After the meeting is over, however. Two people remain behind. "What is it that you see in that boy, friend? Is he worth antagonizing our supporters?" The vice principal's voice softened as he spoke with his friend. Not another person in office. Between them, there was no need for formality.
"He's interesting." The Headmaster explains with a shrug. But he quickly realizes that his friend can see through him. Solmere knows that there is more to it. So he is honest. "He has an incredibly powerful soul. Stronger than any I have ever seen before."
"I'm curious to see why. And more importantly, what he will achieve with it. So I would like to keep my eyes on him. I get the feeling he'll surprise us all." It's an explanation that baffles Solmere. But it's enough to explain why the headmaster was so dead set on allowing this otherwise failing student to attend.
So the vice principal made a mental note of what his friend had said and left the room. Thinking deeply about the words he just heard. And making another note to keep his eyes on the kid named Daniel, too.