Lucian flipped through the book's pages, immersing himself in the details until Amara's voice brought him back to the present.
"So, what do you want to know about the academy?" she asked with a smile.
"How was it for you there? Was it comfortable?" Lucian asked, curious. Although he looked like a kid, his mind was older, and he wanted to know if she had been truly comfortable there.
"Most of the time, yes. But not always." Amara said, tilting her head thoughtfully.
"What made it uncomfortable?" Lucian pressed.
"The practical exams." She crossed her arms and released a heavy sigh.
"Were they that tough?"
"Tough? Well, if you knew the theory and had a solid plan, it wasn't so hard. But even a small mistake could cost you a lot of points."
"Points? So they didn't give grades?" Lucian asked, intrigued.
"Exactly. Only the theoretical exams had grades. For practical's and field tests, you were given points based on your performance, contribution, use of magic, and more."
"Oh, so that's why passing the practical's was such a challenge." Lucian found the grading method fascinating; it reminded him of systems he'd read about in novels and manga.
"Were you in teams for these exams?" he asked.
"In the beginning, yes. We were in teams of three, working together. Later, we'd have to go solo or in larger teams, from eight to ten. It was random most times."
'It must be to give all the students different experiences.' Lucian thought, recalling similar methods he'd seen in manhwa.
"How was your first team?" he asked.
"For my first exam, it was me and two other students I already knew, so our teamwork was great, and we scored high. But in the next one, we were on our own, and it was a free-for-all. I felt so much pressure and nearly came in last," she admitted with a frown. "But I learned to work both with teams and solo. Some teammates were great, but others just wanted all the points for themselves. I managed to pass, though." Her expression shifted through a range of emotions as she recounted the story.
"It sounds like you went through a lot," Lucian sympathized.
"I did! I even took extra classes to make up for lost points," she said with a frustrated sigh. "But despite the tough moments, I had a great time, made friends, learned about the world, and even got an internship." Her eyes lit up at the mention of her internship.
"An internship? For what and with whom?" Lucian asked, curious to learn more.
"Professor Hilda Herta offered me a position as her teaching assistant just before I graduated. It felt like a dream, but it was intimidating too. She not only helped me with my studies but also helped me realize my own potential," Amara said, her face glowing with admiration. "I couldn't let an opportunity like that pass."
"She sounds like an amazing mentor," Lucian noted with a smile. "You must really look up to her."
"Not just look up to her, I want to be like her one day. My dream is to become a teacher." she said with confidence.
"It seems you already have your career path mapped out!" Lucian remarked.
"Absolutely. I'm committed to it, even if it means hard work and sacrifice." she said, her enthusiasm flaring up.
"Easy there! You're just starting, so no need to spill blood and sweat just yet." Lucian laughed. "Take it slow, I know you'll be a great teacher."
Amara chuckled, calming down. "You're right. I'll pace myself." she promised.
'I guess that's a promise for both of us.' Lucian thought, reminded of his own promise to Gideon and Galen.
"So, how strong are you now?" Lucian asked, sensing her potent mana. He wanted to see just how far her training had taken her.
"Curious, are we?" she teased.
"Of course! You were strong even before you went to the academy. Now I just have to see it for myself!"
"Well, I could show you, but wouldn't we need your parents' permission?" she asked with a raised brow.
"They're not home, and I'm allowed to train in magic and swordsmanship now, so they won't mind." Lucian said, eager to convince her.
"All right, then." Amara agreed. "But we'll need an open space."
"I know the perfect spot." Lucian said, leading her to his training ground in the forest, a place he had carefully cleared.
"Where did you find such a place?" Amara asked, surprised.
"Just lucky, I guess," he replied, deciding not to mention his midnight training sessions.
"This will do nicely," she said, gesturing for him to stand back. "Now, let your big sister show you real magic." Lucian backed away, his focus sharpening as he watched her.
Amara closed her eyes, and the air around her began to swirl. When she opened her eyes, her mana flared, pulsating with power as she channeled it precisely. She raised her hand, and the ground quaked as a massive spike of earth formed before her. With a flick of her finger, she launched it toward a nearby tree. The impact was explosive, splintering the tree into pieces. The spike didn't stop there, obliterating a line of trees and leaving a wide path of destruction.
Lucian stared, awestruck by her power.
"Well? Was that enough, or do you want more?" she asked with a smirk.
Snapping out of his amazement, Lucian grinned. "Big sister Amara, would you fight me?"