Hearing his assistant's inquiry, he answered back. "It wasn't tampered with. Tell them they can use the computer to check it."
"Okay, sir, I will tell them."
"Also, tell the examiners to come to the meeting room."
"Right away, sir."
A meeting was then set after the scanning of the exam booklets.
~~~~~~~
A few minutes later, the board office was filled with teachers overseeing the second part of the exam.
"I had called for you people to share your views about the results of this exam."
"Don't you just want to hear about the berserker knight?"
"Hey!"
"Watch what you're saying." A few teachers then reprimanded the rude comment from one of them.
"There's that too, but let's leave it for later. Does anyone care to share what they thought of this exam?"
One by one, the teachers gave their views about the exam and the examinees taking it.
Some gave good feedback, while others looked down on the examinees. And as the discussions went on, the examiners in Dustin's group started to express their views.
"In our case, the one who caught our attention is the "ice princess," as kids nowadays call her. And the berserker knight."
"Don't forget about that kid."
"Tch, fine, he was quite interesting." The muscular man clicked his tongue as he expressed his approval but still clearly disapproved of the situation.
"Oh, what's this about?"
"Here, he made this"
The old man then showed the spinning top to the principal.
"Is this a spinning top?"
"See, I told you they would be confused."
"Shut it." The lady examiner then talked to silence the muscular man.
"What did you say?"
"You heard me!"
"Ehem ehem. Let me demonstrate."
He said as he made man flow inside the top, then it started spinning slowly until it moved fast.
"And what should we expect?" commented a young looking, lively teacher
"I'm not yet done watching this."
Bam!
As he was about to demonstrate, the door suddenly opened.
"Dad! I need to show you something."
"Sweetie, can you please knock before barging in? We are in an important meeting right now."
"Oh sorry. It's just that I'm really excited. I'll be leaving it for later-."
She stopped when she saw the top spinning on the table.
"What's that?"
"A toy, obviously." One of the teachers commented in a rude tone.
She then got closer, and she swiftly moved her hands, making the top move at her palms. Surprisingly, the top's speed wasn't disturbed, but it still spins steadily.
"How does this work? or, more like, how it is still so steady. Hmm, let's try this."
tak! takatak tak tak.
She then dropped the top down, but it just bounced for a few seconds with an unstable form until it was back to being stable again and the speed was still maintained.
"Wow, it's so simple yet very effective. Who made this? Was it you, sir?" She questioned the old examiner.
"No, but if you want to know the creator, you've got to help me convince these rigid people."
"Sure thing, what's the plan?"
"Ehem! ehem!"
"What is it, dad?"
"Please leave. I will join you shortly."
"Hmph, I'm staying."
"Don't worry, you'll meet the creator; just please let us finish our discussion."
"Okay, fine, I'll back out for now. bye then."
The girl then left.
"Haaa, I apologize about my daughter, she isn't usually like this. So now that the demonstration is done, let's continue to the next one."
"Of course, sir."
"But still, the design and concept of this..um..let's just say a toy cannot be considered a magic tool."
"True, he did say that his chosen test was magic tool creation, right?"
"What is a magic tool to you people?"
The principal then spoke to them, interrupting their argument.
"Eh?" They were then puzzled by his inquiry. but the old man spoke.
"For me, it is creating a tool that can make our lives easier and more fun."
"I also agree with that. Although this little toy for you is not a magic tool, it is still a tool that has potential. So for me, I will consider this a magic tool."
They are all confused about why the principal is covering for this kid. But it did not end there, as he continued to lecture them.
"Let me tell you, some of you might not see it now, but those that can create a big change can sometimes be hidden in small packages. So for that, I think it is a success for us to gain a student like him."
Although reluctant, they all still agreed. The discussion continued until it was time for the important topic.
"So about the berserker knight: This is going to be a nationwide disaster. What should we do?"
"Nothing. We don't know the opponents we are about to face, and the only thing we can do is to do what we can."
"True, the berserker knight is a sign of unpredictability, so we need to do our utmost to be ready."
"Since we all agree, let's inform the other nation, send them the message, and prepare."
"Also, even if they are still kids, it is better to get them prepared. We need to do our best for what's to come."
"Yes, sir, principal."
"Okay, now I declare this meeting dismissed."
They then all left the room to do their duties.
~~~~~~~
"Haaa, it's boring that big brother Dustin isn't here anymore."
"Well, what can we do, sis? He is attending the academy after all."
"Yeah, but still, this place kind of feels colorless."
"Hmm." Dylan then looked around and answered. "I don't understand, but yeah, I feel lonely."
"Oh, my little brother, come here." Serafina then asked her brother to go near her.
"Okay." Then Dylan walked over to her, and they hugged each other.
"I miss him."
"Me too."
They were hugging until a maid came near them and said. "Princess, you are being called by her majesty, the empress."
"Mm, okay, tell her I will be there."
"Okay." She answered back and was about to walk away when she heard.
"Let's go, Dylan."
"Okay."
"Wait, Princess Her Majesty only called for you.' She hurriedly told her so.
"So I don't have to go?" She said this looking at the maid eye to eye.
"Uh….please understand that this lowly servant is only here to tell you what her majesty told me to do."
"Then you're done, because from what you told me, I didn't hear any argument, and I can't bring anyone with me there."
"Please, your majesty, you are putting me in a tough spot." 'Oh no, she is acting up again. This has been going on for a month. Why is her highness acting like this?' The maid complained in her thoughts.
Like the maid thought, Serafina had been acting very strong-willed for a month. And it is not wrong to guess that it was because Dustin left. But the maids and other personnel of the castle don't seem to know this and are only getting more confused by the day.
"What is happening here?"
A knight then came over, and upon closer inspection, she looked a lot like Kiara but without any flaws whatsoever.
"Lady Shield. It was indeed Kiara, who seemed to be healed from her former injuries."
"Kiara, you're here." Then Serafina smiled as she looked at her.
"How are you, Princess?"
"Here, sad. We only get one letter a week, even though I want it every day."
"That's quite the request, but what is happening here?"
"I was told to go without Dylan, even though it was not stated that he could not come with me."
"But princess."
"I'm not going."
Serafina continued to be stubborn. Thinking it would do no good, Kiara stepped in.
"Her majesty also called for me, though. How about this: let's all go see her majesty?"
"Okay."
"But."
"Let it be. I'll take full responsibility, okay?"
"Yes, Lady Shield."
After they came to an agreement, they walked towards the place where the empress told them to go.
"I see you guys are still sulking."
"hmph. We are not sulking."
"That's right, we're not. We are just lonely."
"Dylan!"
"Was I not supposed to say that?"
"Aha-ahahaha."
"Stop laughing, Kiara."
"Okay, okay, but still, it's not like he won't come back, plus you can send letters to each other."
They talked with each other as they continued to walk towards the place they were headed to.
And somehow their conversation was so short for them that they didn't notice how time passed by as they talked.
And before they arrived at the office, they made their presence known to the guards.
"Halt, state your business."
"I am Kiara Shields. And I am here because her highness has called for me."
"We are with her."
"Um." As the knight was confused upon what to do, a saving grace came to help him.
"Let them in; I called for them."
"Huh?"
"Is there anything wrong?"
"I'm sorry, your majesty! Please enter."
"Thank you."
As they got permission to go in. Kiara then moved forward and kneeled in a knight's position before the Empress.
"Greetings! Your majesty, Kiara Shield, is at your service."
"At ease."