It's today, the same exact day I failed the Sectre in my past life, I have no idea how this will turn out right now.
Professor Louisa guaranteed me that if I fail the affinity test, the academic council all still wants me to be part of the academy because of my current capabilities.
I just have to hold that round marble boulder just like everyone else.
It's a mana measuring test yet the color shows what the affinity magic is.
I can see the place still looks the same through the carriage window, and I'm wearing different dress from my past life, I remember wearing black dress that time and the first time people caught a sight of me.
Now I'm wearing a light apricot lantern long sleeves dress that has a close neckline and bertha collar that reaches my shoulders with gold ruffles detailing on the edges, and a connected nine gored floor length skirt, it has a belt like around my waist which is adorned with lace up criss-cross gold ribbons, I have a silk gold shoes on and my wavy silver hair is just styled on a twisted half up and half down casually.
It's my grandmother who picked what I should wear for today.
Jewelries are not allowed for it may be casted with spells that can affect the mana of the students, the platform where the boulder is, are made of smoky quartz that can detect stones and spell, anyone caught will be kicked out and sued.
"You'll do great, just focus and stay calm when you get there." my dad said with his right arm against the right armrest with his head resting on it, relaxed on his seat.
I nodded while my grandmother stroke my hair.
"It's just a Sectre but they all look like they're going to attend a ball." my grandmother mumbled in amusement.
She wasn't lying, the nobles are all dressed up as if they're attending an imperial ball.
The carriage stops and the door was opened by Sir Ulysses, dad head out first, assisting my grandmother out while Sir Ulysses help me out, closing the door behind.
It's just us three this time with some of our knights, while Madam Farah and Wendy are left back home.
My senses is heighten to the extent, seeing the kids around my age and some are a bit older than me, it's the first timers and repeaters taking the test.
If you fail the mana and academic exams the academy doesn't allow them to pass and instead retake the test, most needs to try it three times at most even five till they pass, bribery aren't allowed so it's really just a matter of passing either one.
My brother excel at both, every heir apparent in the noble families are required to go at early age around 5, he entered at 7 due to our mother passing and the academy giving him enough time to grief and be ready.
He only took the Sectre test once and that's it, along the crown prince and the other scholars.
In my past life I aced the academic exam but failed the mana test miserably, which made the academy professors debate and majority wants me to enter the academy due to my academic knowledge, but the lack of mana become a hindrance and made it dangerous for me to be away from the grand duchy.
People greeted my grandmother, my dad and I with courtesy, as I ignore their stares with an expressionless face, while we enter the grand looking archway, entering the academy.
I notice Sir Ulysses looking around with side glances as if he's looking for someone.
"Don't tell me you're scouting for ladies? Aren't you seeing Wendy?" I asked muttered jokingly which made Sir Ulysses look at me with wide eyes and flustered expression.
"My lady, I'm scouting my eyes around for your safety, and I'm not that type of a man, you know it took me a decade to get Wendy to finally acknowledge my sincerity." he muttered with a firm hush tone, as I stifle a giggle, biting my tongue.
Wendy and Sir Ulysses ended up dating, after being always together while looking after me, I would make way for them to interact with the tea time, walks, and the combat trainings I've done.
I've become a good wing-woman for them, I've been claiming that title ever since I found out Wendy is started to pay attention to Sir Ulysses.
"You owe me good Sir, you know she's devoted to me, you're second, make a fool of my Wendy, I'm telling you." I muttered haughtily and playfully, trying to make him laugh and he did choke a laugh, covering his face with his left freehand while I'm holding on his right forearm.
His yellow aura is so bright, he's really that happy talking about Wendy.
"Please, I don't want to look like a madman, my lady, I'm not allowed to laugh like this, have mercy." he hush taking a deep breath while he's glancing at my father who have a poker face on and my grandmother have her black velvet fan covering her lips.
No matter how they cover their expressions their aura never lies, they find Sir Ulysses and I's conversations funny with those yellow auras.
"I'm watching you, sir." I warned jokingly as he hummed smiling brightly.
"I'm well aware my lady." he said wholeheartedly as we made it in the main hall where parents are giving their children some pep talk.
Guardians can only get at the academy hall, students are strictly assigned to designated rooms with last name basis for the academic test.
Everyone will gather on the Sectre hall at the end, the last time I remember it almost looks like church altar with the giant round marble boulder in the middle.
"This will took a whole day, your brother is part of the student council, you'll see him at lunch." my father said which made me oh and feel my mood lifted up.
"We'll have a lunch together, I made a private reservation in advance at Classicus, we have a branch here in the capital just on a walking distance from the academy." my grandmother said, mentioning the famous restaurant that the grand duchy owns here in the capital.
I nodded excitedly while my grandmother stroke my hair.
I'm more excited with the lunchtime than the exam.
"Just do what you can." my dad reminded as I nod and hug my nana and my dad both which made nana chuckle fondly, while dad hummed patting my back and kiss the top of my head.
"Go." dad said as I kiss his right cheek and my nana's left cheek.
"I want my own garden conservatory at my dormitory dad." I joked confidently while dad raise his brows and shrug.
"Pass the Sectre first." he said while I giggle and let go.
"Lady Althea Lucine Argyros, room 1." the academy staff called as I go, waiving goodbye to my dad, grandma and Sir Ulysses giving my thumbs up as I turn to the staff.
"It's a pleasure to finally welcome you at the academy, the honorable lady of Wisteria, I'm Professor Frederick Jon Raquel, one of the 20 academic council, I'll be leading and guiding the room 1, her lady can call me Professor Rick." he introduce himself with a bright smile, his eyes looks like it's smiling too, he seem around my grandmother's age, he have a long salt and pepper hair tied in ponytail and stubbles with silver reading spectacles, wearing a black cape with gold sash over his neck with academy's insignia.
"It's great to meet you in person Professor Rick, I heard a lot about you from Professor Louisa." I said with a calm tone, not showing my nervousness and controlling my emotions.
I've already perfect controlling my own emotion which helps me stabilize my focus and mana.
"Is that so? Then I can only hope my lady heard good things." the old man said sheepishly as I hummed smiling.
I heard he's the most strict and a terror professor in the academy, leading the music department and majoring in music history, Professor Louisa is one of his students who lasted and stayed to teach in the academy focusing on piano, but he's still loved despite that due to his calm and kind nature when he's not teaching.
And he's a wind affinity holder, I heard he one time made a grand piano fly around the room out of annoyance from one student who wouldn't take him seriously, scaring the poor student who ended up becoming the best cello player in the academy currently and straighten that student's take on music department.
The professors aura is bright yellow and purple, he have a high regards and expectations about me, I can tell.
"I sure heard only exceptional things, Professor." I reassured as he lead the way to the room 1, it's on the west wing of the academy.
The room have a few students already seated who all stand up after catching a sight of me and bow altogether which made me froze on my spot.
"It's an honor to take the Sectre with the honorable lady of Wisteria." they all spoke in sync as I glance their mixed auras, some are yellow, some are pink, most are purple, all with gray hues which shows their nervousness towards the test.
"It's great making an acquaintance." I could only lift my right hand dismissively, Professor Rick cleared his throat when the students all stand straight watching my move with glances, Professor lead me to my seat and at the left, it's perfectly placed next to the window.
"Have a seat here my lady, I'll gather the rest of the students that will join us." Professor said as I nodded and he left as I take a sit while the rest of the students settle down their chairs.
I observe my mahogany table, there's two fountain pens on top.
I look around seeing a good amount of students, the tables have 4 meters gap to prevent cheating, and there are some foreigners who are mixed in the room.
I remember my brother calling them willing hostages, mice entering a big trap.
Most of these foreign students are nobles with high ranks from neighboring countries who wants to study or forced to study in the academy due to it's high quality education and trainings, but they're at risk of causing trouble, or more like experience trouble with one wrong move.
This is the country of Hestia after all, run by the known crazy emperor, and my dad, the warlord grand duke who can wipe out a continent all by himself.
They are seen as demons disguise as humans by others as much as I disagree.
They only start war when reasonably offended, they never involve the innocents, it's always a strategic war that target down the root of the problem, and lately they've only been subjugating monsters trying wreck havoc since the autumn season is coming, they can only prevent the monsters soon because they're stronger in winter season.
"Alright, go to your respective seats." Professor Rick come in with 15 other students, entering the room, they awkwardly greeted me as I nodded greeting them back and they take their seats while professor close the door lock, heading to the platform.
"The academic exam have 500 questions and problems for you to solve, read the exam book thoroughly, the answer sheets and fountain pen will only be activated with the user and me, your professor who will check the papers afterwards."
Professor Rick toss a stack of plain white papers and made the stack of red books levitate from his table, using his wind affinity magic.
1 book and 1 answer sheet on each examinees tables as mine landed gently on top of my table, students are in awe while I remain silent, looking at the familiar paper yet the book is different.
The old book used to be in thinner but now it's about two inch thick.
"It's a mandatory to pass at least 300, please keep in mind that any unnecessary distractions you do will cause you to be automatically eliminated." he said smiling brightly as if he didn't just threaten the examinees.
"You may start with writing your names and your home, also answer if it's your first time taking the test or you're a repeater, on the designated top area of your answer sheet." he instructed as I grab one fountain pen, touching the paper, the print suddenly appeared, there are numbers 1 to 500 with blank lines where the answers should be written.
I wrote my full name, the grand duchy of Wisteria in the address and wrote 1st exam on the side on top of the paper.
"Everyone done?" Professor Rick asked as we all said yes and he check his gold pocket watch smiling at us.
"You have 4 hours until 12 noon, go." the professor said as we all immediately start opening our test books and do the exam.
I've done this before but since the exam got more stricter now, the questions are a lot more different.
And I've never really took the review session at home seriously.
I just simply wanted to pass the mana test to know if I really did improve my physical condition completely in this time.