Despite many first-year students' objections, the first part of their evaluation would take place in the training ground.
The snow had been cleaned up early in the morning, and a barrier was set in place to prevent its repeated accumulation, but nothing was done about the temperature, which angered a good few youngsters.
Rotsard ended up catching many nasty looks simply because the whole wing of the academy that he seized had a heat barrier in place, even though he had nothing to say in regards of the matter.
And so, the students who would partake in the evaluation were standing by the side of the training grounds, every single one of them donned thick winter clothes like coats and even furs, but even so, they were still shuddering while thanking the great fea that practical use of magic was the first of the two parts of the evaluation.
Moving around and sweating buckets seemed like a horrible idea in those conditions.
…although... There was one person who didn't seem to mind the weather at all…
"..."
Rotsard Vallhall was standing to the side of everyone else, wearing only his summer uniform that he didn't even bother to fully button up, and not only wasn't he shivering and getting goosebumps like the rest of his fellow first years, but he actually looked as if the freezing cold wind was nothing but a warm summer breeze…!
…which of course earned him even more spiteful glares despite him not actively trying to pick a fight and merely waiting for the teacher like the rest…
After around fifteen minutes of waiting, the students were finally graced with the teacher's presence.
A pair of them to boot.
Teacher Joshua Karlasth, followed by assistant teacher Brice Hervolst…
…who was carrying a bucket full of some clear liquid, for some reason…
The very same people who were present during Rotsard's accident.
Funnily enough, Rotsard's memory of that day was so blurry that he didn't even realize that fact, but judging by the teachers' glances towards him, that wasn't the case for them.
The two of them, especially teacher Karlasth's eyes, seemed to wander towards the bleached-blond-haired student, and each time he caught himself on it, his expression would sour in distress.
Alas, considering how much trouble he caused them back then, it wasn't anything unusual enough to pay attention to.
Regardless of their personal feelings and opinions, though, the pair began to explain the evaluation process.
It would be separated into three categories.
Attack spells, including both direct damage and hampering an opponent in any way.
Defense spells, mostly consisting of barriers but not discriminating against countering spells and arrays.
And utility spells, ranging from message spells through camouflage, mobility increasing spells, all the way to magic traps.
A surplus of training dummies had been prepared for the convenient showcase of the capabilities of each and every student.
The tier of the spell, its power, its activation time, control over it, as well as mana consumption would be the three major factors deciding on what the result a tested student would get, although some additional factors would be counted in too if the situation demanded it.
The level of each student was considerably high. In the end, the Royal Academy was the best facility of that kind in the kingdom. Taking in and honing the skill of already talented individuals was kind of its main thing.
"Teacher Hervolst… what's in that bucket…?"
One of the students couldn't contain their curiosity and asked.
"Water. Normal, plain, water."
The woman picked up a notepad and a pen and answered with a shrug.
"W-water…? Wh-what is it for then…?"
The same student uttered, baffled by the idea.
"In case someone's fire spell would get out of control. Even if your sleeve starts to burn, you might not want to get hit with a water ball, and definitely not a water blade."
"Teacher… no one's going to make such a rookie mistake…"
The assistant teacher explained, preparing to take notes, but many students were shocked at the underestimation.
"You may say that, but there were plenty of talented upperclassmen of yours who actually made such blunders. This is a precaution taken because of the experiences from the past week."
"!!!"
The woman rolled her eyes and shook her head before she muttered loud enough for the students to hear and be shocked by.
No one had anything else to say, and the evaluation could properly begin.
Rotsard, having a completely different magic system than the other students, was patiently observing everyone from the side.
He…
…was in quite the pickle…
While he could manage to circulate his mana in a correct pattern, when it came to actually activating the spell itself, he would still spit out blood even after all that time.
And although he wanted to fail on every subject for that evaluation, not just practical use of magic, that couldn't exactly be done on purpose if he actually couldn't do it.
While the difference was in semantics, basically, Rotsard was a petty person, even towards himself.
And that tiny difference actually bothered him.
A lot.
Not to mention that, putting studying aside, wasn't him being constantly breathing on Justin's neck in terms of combat kind of the main purpose of his involvement in the story?
He was the petty obstacle the future hero could not allow to overcome him.
Wouldn't… wouldn't not being able to achieve that kind of a big problem?
Especially if Rotsard couldn't use magic…?
"...hmm…"
The bleached-blond-haired boy crossed his arms and slouched, staring at the training dummies by the opposite wall with a thousand-yard-stare.