Despite being overshadowed by Alea, Sian was a spirit magician of considerable talent, more so than most realized.
"I've only seen two of his spirits, but he claims to command spirits of all elements: earth, fire, wind, water, and spirit—the last being of the mental realm. I remember him complaining about how difficult the spirit realm was to navigate."
"Sian underestimating Alea? That hardly seems likely. You still don't understand him."
Sian clicked his tongue and wagged a finger, causing Helmut to bristle slightly. After all, Alea was his roommate, and he believed he knew Alea better. Alea didn't even consider Sian a friend.
But Helmut found no need to vehemently deny it. He simply stated, "The exam isn't in Alea's favor."
"That's true."
Realization dawned on Sian as he suddenly widened his eyes.
"Could it be, Alea acknowledges me as a rival? To think, Alea himself recognizes Sian!"
He touched his chest as if moved, reflecting on the long days he felt overlooked.
Facing the final exams, Sian found himself being cautiously regarded by the top student of the Magic Department, a realization that filled him with a profound sense of achievement.
"My heart's racing."
"…Do you feel confident fighting against monsters?"
Helmut felt a mix of emotions. He'd never cared much for others' grades, but the thought of Sian outperforming Alea was somehow unsettling.
The prospect of a sulky Alea roaming around was even less appealing. Yet, Sian didn't seem like the type to gloat over good grades.
"Though I'd like to think not, I can't be sure. After all, Alea has a grudge against him."
Despite it being a mere wager, Alea had once cruelly made Sian run laps around the field. It wouldn't be surprising if this came back to haunt him.
"No, I'm not confident. I've led a sheltered life. Never even fought a bear."
Sian appeared gentle and soft, hardly the type to have muscle or strength.
"But I'm not alone. I have my spirits."
Sian gestured to a light spirit perched on his shoulder, looking smugly at Helmut. It was merely for show since the spirit couldn't actually pet itself.
"See? Confident."
"…Right."
Helmut felt no need to worry about Alea. Sian's success seemed unlikely, given his reliance on intellect rather than combat prowess.
"Make sure you don't lose to Asuka. It's time for the second bests to rebel! I refuse to always be defeated by Alea."
Influenced by Asuka or not, Sian had grown considerably louder since they first met. Helmut didn't bother to dampen his spirits.
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The examination wasn't confined to a single location. There were three identical rooms, dividing the large number of students. Keeping the exam content secret, the entrance and exit were separate to prevent students from sharing tips on handling the monsters.
Interestingly, Helmut was scheduled to take the exam right after Asuka. Helmut waited, estimating Asuka's performance time.
"If each monster takes about 5 minutes, then reaching the tenth stage would take about 50 minutes."
Helmut neither underestimated nor overestimated Asuka's abilities. Known for his explosive strength, Asuka's outcome in this exam, whether passing or failing, seemed imminent.
Though Helmut had managed to end duels in under a minute, many variables remained unknown. His encounters had been limited to non-threatening duels with wooden swords since the fight in the Pedika Forest.
This would be his first real fight with a live blade in a while. Not facing Talon had been a prudent choice, yet Helmut regretted missing out on a battle with such a formidable opponent.
Despite being an exam, wielding a real sword meant unrestricted use of Vis. Weapons other than swords were generally prohibited unless they were a combatant's primary weapon.
Helmut gripped his sword tightly, eager for a proper duel. With no worthy opponents and Ethan busy with other classes, sparing Helmut's pride by not defeating him seemed best left for holidays.
"Familiar with monsters, this feels right."
Helmut had faced many monsters, their demonic essence impacting his Seed of Darkness. But this exam would be different, using illusions instead of real monsters. Hoping to complete the test within 15 minutes, Helmut listened to the chatter of fellow second-year swordsmanship students, discussing the advantage Helmut might have.
"Fighting a monster feels like battling a massive, intimidating animal. Their demonic essence gives off a chilling vibe."
As he explained, a scream pierced the air.
"Ah!"
Asuka emerged, pale and shaken, as if he had witnessed something horrifying.
"What happened?"
"Why did he come out there?"
Confusion spread as Asuka screamed again, clutching his head, clearly distressed.
"Did he get a mental illness from the illusion magic?"
"Must be crazy."
Though labeled "mad dog," Asuka was sane, just prone to dramatics. His peers hesitated to approach, while Helmut observed him carefully.
"He brought his sword."
The presence of his sword at his waist suggested Asuka was still coherent, unlikely if truly disturbed.
"Asuka, what are you doing? Forgot? The exit's that way."
Instructor Patricia approached, arms crossed, bringing Asuka's focus back. He gritted his teeth and exclaimed.
"Instructor, what kind of exam is this? I made it to the eighth stage!"
With a familiar smack, Patricia hit Asuka's head, scolding him for discussing the exam and reminding him of the rules.
Embarrassed by his peers' stares, Asuka defensively shouted, earning another hit from Patricia, who then pinched his cheek, eliciting a different kind of scream.
"Quit the drama and come with me! It's nothing serious."
Recalling the eighth-stage monster, Patricia dismissed the students' worries, assuring them the exam was safe and vetted by the instructors.
As she led Asuka away, curiosity and concern bubbled among the students.
"What got into him?"
"What kind of monster could have scared him like that?"
Seeing Asuka's reaction only heightened their anxiety, a disadvantage in the exam.
However, Helmut was the exception, his curiosity piqued.
"What could it be? Not Naho, surely."
Naho, a terrifying two-headed snake, was beyond the academy's ability to conjure. Helmut wondered if the exam also tested courage and mental strength, vital in real combat.
"Helmut!"
Following Asuka's departure, Helmut was called. He rose, ready to face whatever awaited him.
"Just so you know, don't slash the walls with your Vis-charged sword."
Instructor Patricia, having dealt with Asuka, warned Helmut about damaging the exam venue.
"Yes."
She acknowledged Helmut's potential to break the protective spells, hinting at his significant strength. The instructors knew of his abilities, suggesting he might even destroy the costly exam setup.
"Be especially careful. Damaging the room would disrupt the exam schedule."
Patricia seemed unconcerned about Helmut's reaction, unlike Asuka's, hinting she believed Helmut would face no difficulties.
All instructors had passed the exam's ten stages, indicating their proficiency. Despite their experience, Helmut's superior skills suggested the exam wouldn't challenge him much. Patricia smiled, revealing a bonus for reaching the tenth stage—a reward from the Magic Department, likely more generous than the cafeteria vouchers Helmut had won before.
Helmut's motivation surged, appreciating the value of accruing assets. Patricia hoped for a swift completion from Helmut, given Asuka's delay.
With a bow, Helmut entered the exam room, the door closing behind him.
"Stand in the center."
The spacious room seemed enhanced by space-expanding magic, slightly smaller than the swordsmanship department's field.
Monster strength often correlated with size, necessitating ample room for the exam's progression.
As Helmut positioned himself, the surrounding air vibrated with a buzzing noise and magical energy, signaling the exam's commencement. The floor seemed to crack as a magical formation enveloped the space, recognizing Helmut as the examinee.