The stone that blocked Yanael's sword didn't budge as much as a hair, and Drupesch shook her head condescendingly.
"Tututut. You aren't an S-rank for nothing, but you still have a long way to go."
Yanael gritted her teeth and raised her shield as Drupesh sent a stone the size of a fist toward her. Even when she successfully blocked it with the shield, the stone pushed Yanael backward two steps.
"Even so, you pass. The master is successfully protected and the familiar isn't succumbing to the panic around them and even fighting back. Zacharia even activated the contract skill. Top marks."
The pebble storm ceased and all the little stones dropped to the ground. Drupesch stopped pushing back Yanael with powerful rocks that also blocked her sword and any attempt she made at advancing toward the instructor.
Slowly, the students began to realize that the forewarned danger had passed. For now. Clutching bruised and perhaps fractured limbs, putting pressure on bleeding skin, and moaning in pain, the students slowly got up, all the while, looking at Drupesch like she was an incarnation of torment.
Drupesch didn't care. She pointed at Julius.
"You only survived because Zacharia helped you. You still get second-best marks since you only got hit three times, but think about what would have happened if you had been alone."
Drupesch's finger moved to Violina.
"You didn't empty your toolbag, and you still got hit more than you should have. But you worked well with your Ice Spirit. Imagine how well it would go if you used your skill."
Dukiel.
"Your Sentinel is more than a moving piece of stone. It can do more than defend."
Anerias.
"Your Hound is tough, but it's not meant for defense. It's also sentient. Don't use it as a meatshield if you want to keep up your contract."
Drupesch went around the class, pointing at everyone and giving them feedback on their performance during the class.
Zach was more amazed than anything. Even while controlling all the pebbles and holding off Yanael, Drupesch had still managed to accurately identify each of the students' faults and areas they could improve.
Setting aside how she seemed to take pleasure in causing her students pain, she was capable.
That was as much praise Zach was going to give her.
"That's all. Feel free to go to the infirmary. Of course, if there's anyone with a skill that's useful for recovery, go ahead and take this opportunity to practice. No? See you all tomorrow."
Drupesch's last words invited a feeling of painful dread into the students' hearts.
But it was too late to regret.
They had come this far, and unless they were expelled or graduated, they weren't going anywhere. Graduation was far away and getting farther away seemingly by the day. Expulsion was tantamount to forfeiting their lives as summoners.
The only option was to endure.
That was why the students didn't complain. Well, they complained as much as they could. But they didn't only complain. They hauled their sorry asses to the infirmary to get themselves patched up before refueling so they could handle another tough lesson.
It wasn't Drupesch holding the lesson, which had the students hopeful. Unfortunately, they had been warned, and they had taken the warning to heart.
So, when the friendly-looking Kami showed up at the training grounds, the students didn't relax. If anything, those who knew about Kami were even more worried.
"I heard Instructor Drupesch went at it a little hard this morning, so, since I remember how that felt, I'll cut you all a little slack. There won't be any of the danger she warned you guys about today. I'll just talk a bunch and then we'll put my blabbering to practice tomorrow. Sound good?"
Zach skeptically narrowed his eyes as Kami started talking about the intricacies of combat between summoners and other summoners. He was expecting a sneak attack to come at any moment. Zach hadn't forgotten what Drupesch did.
But nothing happened the entire class.
It was only when Kami rounded off the lesson with a clap that Zach slowly relaxed.
That was until Kami pointed at him.
Fortunately, however, it wasn't to launch a sneak attack.
"Top marks to Zach for this class. Can anyone guess why?"
The other students look at each other and at Zach at Kami's sudden declaration. Was there something they could have done to earn marks other than pay diligent attention to Kami's teachings?
No one could even guess what Zach had done.
Kami sighed, shook his head in disappointment, and placed his hands on his hips.
"Goodness me, what are the kids these days coming to?"
Kami raised his head again and looked at the students with a stern face.
"He was wary of me."
The students were still confused.
"He was on alert, waiting for a sudden attack, much like the one Instructor Drupesch delivered when you were busy trying to learn more about your skills. He didn't relax just because I told you all to. Being wary and staying on alert even in situations where one shouldn't need it is what saves lives, you guys. Reflect on this and I'll see you all tomorrow or something."
Kami dismissed the students before taking his leave.
Julius took a step closer to Zach and looked around conspicuously before whispering,
"Zach, my man, are you cheating? Or did you somehow bribe the instructors?"
Zach raised his eyebrows as he looked at Julius, stupefied.
"...No."
"You hesitated."
"Because it's a ridiculous question."
"You got top marks on the two first real lessons with minimal effort. If that ain't cheating, I don't know what is."
"I'll tell you what it is. It's me being better than everyone else. Simple as that."
Zach didn't wait for Julius to continue pestering him about how to get top marks on the next lessons as he walked away. However, he didn't get far before three people stopped him.
They were the only ones in the class who would dare stop him, given his current fame and infamy.