chapter 35
Sevile looked at the clock and announced,
"Stop."
All hands halted. He then proceeded to collect the sheets. The first theory paper had just ended.
The students wore grim expressions.
Mana Command Theory was the basic subject of the first semester, and this was supposed to be the easier paper.
But it was anything but that.
Edrin accompanied Azek to the mess hall while they discussed the questions. Mathew trudged along behind them.
"Pull up, Mathew, or you won't even have the energy to write anything till the last paper."
Azek joked.
Mathew only nodded and yawned.
The last month had been practically hell, as Azek had been pushing all limits, and there was a devil genius, Daniel, accompanying them. The pace at which he improved after joining them made Mathew wretch in disgust.
But Azek wasn't easy to deal with either.
After returning to the dorms, he would still be busy and make Mathew discuss every bit with him.
So even if Mathew deliberately wanted to be left behind, Azek wasn't letting him go.
He was practically tortured day and night to the point that he would even mutter formulas in his sleep.
After stuffing themselves, the students regained some energy and headed to the library and dorms to study, but Azek got up and, instead of returning to the library, went to his dorm.
Mathew finally let out a breath.
The exam schedule was rough, with daily theory and practical exams crammed into one week.
But they were heading to the dorm because they had already prepared, and now it was time to take it a bit easy.
Mathew collapsed on the bed immediately after reaching his room, and Azek went to open the letter sitting on his desk.
Vivian had told him that the situation was not looking good and that they had requested the royal family's assistance.
Azek gripped the letter hard unconsciously when he came to know that a lot of people had died in the recent assault.
This world was crumbling faster and faster.
All these happenings only meant black magic was growing faster.
I need to grow faster as well so I can survive through it, he thought and looked out the window.
....
It had been the same routine for the whole week.
Azek and Mathew slept in the afternoons, later gathered in the evening with Edrin to discuss summary topics, revised, and returned to the dorms at night on time to sleep again.
Some students burned the midnight oil the whole week to get through all the topics, and their condition looked dire—like ghosts.
When Daniel learned of their plan, he excused himself and began studying on his own.
Edrin and Mathew very much welcomed his departure, as there was a constant tense atmosphere whenever he was around.
Edrin even jokingly gestured to thank the Holy Spirit.
Bang!
A loud crash resounded, and a student fell down on her back, with all her books rolling on the ground.
She clutched her head and looked toward the rude person who had bumped into her.
Mathew was standing there, both hands in his pockets, looking down at her.
She yelled,
"Can you please look where you're going?"
Mathew looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
Edrin bent to offer a hand while Azek picked up the books from the ground.
"Miss Lillian, it's not his fault. You were a bit disoriented and bumped into him."
Azek slowly explained while handing her things, and she looked at him incredulously clearly not believing a single word.
"Do you know where you are right now?"
Lillian looked confused.
"Don't make a joke out of me. Do you think I am a retard and will bump into someone deliberately only to blame them later?"
"Then where are you going with the books that need to be returned to the library today?"
Azek picked up the library card clearly indicating today's deadline.
She huffed again.
"I am obviously going to the library to return them before the exam. What is your deal?"
Her eyes shot daggers.
"This is the practical exam hall area. You missed the library. It is on the west side from here, and you will need to take a detour."
Azek explained again without getting angry.
"What do you mean? This is clearly—"
Suddenly she looked behind Azek and saw professors going inside the hall.
Students were also going in and getting their attendance marked.
Mathew curtly said,
"You don't need to be so polite, Azek. She is clearly at fault and not even understanding her situation. I even thought a drunkard had walked into me. Get your head straight. Otherwise, I don't know how someone of your caliber will even be able to pass today's exam."
His words were sharp and definitely cut into her conscience.
She immediately became embarrassed, and her face flushed red, but fury was visible on it as well.
"You only need to pay attention to your own exam. Don't lecture me."
She stood up, took her things, and left in a rush.
"Hmph. I'm worried she'll stumble on her own and fail without even noticing how she failed."
Mathew shrugged and left for the examination hall as well.
But he didn't know the person he had just belittled would be standing there, smiling and greeting them in a refreshed manner.
"I am Lillian. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Later, take good care of me. Due to exams, I have been short on sleep and happened to stumble into people."
she didn't let the chance slip and took a jab.
Mathew could only smile bitterly.