The practical examinations had been announced, just after every first–year student finished their theoreticals.
Their objective was clear.
To demonstrate magic capable of exorcising a demon.
Just like in the exercise, they were told to tackle the exam with their pair.
No matter how much of a gamble the draw pairing system was, it didn't matter to the University.
Inside the grand dome, first-year students gathered anxiously for the examination.
Above them, seniors watched from the upper balconies, curious to see how the test would unfold.
At the very top, seated in their elevated positions, the professors of the magic department observed the entire vicinity.
They each had their own expertise, ranging from alchemy, magic engineering, spirit manifestation, essence manipulation, and so on.
Headmaster Elsa, however, was absent, having been summoned by the Mage Association for an important matter.
In any case, Vanitas, seated among the Professors, crossed his legs and glanced downward.
Beside him sat Claude, the Professor in charge of alchemy lectures.
"Professor," Claude began. "About that circuit. I tried deciphering it, but I'm unsure if my solution is correct."
The moment he spoke, the other professors leaned in slightly.
They had been waiting for this.
Most likely, Claude had been coerced into asking the question. He was the closest professor to Vanitas, after all.
All to confirm if Vanitas Astrea had truly designed it himself.
Vanitas remained calm, his expression unchanged. He shifted his gaze to Claude.
"Which part of the circuit?" he asked.
Claude hesitated before pulling out a notebook. He opened it to a marked page and placed it on the table.
"This section," Claude said, pointing at the circuit. "It doesn't seem to harmonize with the node stabilizer."
Vanitas glanced at the diagram, then sat back, letting the silence stretch for a moment.
But the truth was….
'Ah, so that's what he's talking about….'
The Spectacle was giving him the answer.
It always did.
Vanitas was by no means a genius when it came to magic theory.
How could he? He had only been in this world for two months.
The game would've been boring if he meticulously studied its magic system. All he knew was that the developers had based it off calculus and physics.
Besides, it wasn't as if he needed to solve equations just to cast magic in the game.
'Just click the keyboard, and bam!'
In other words, Vanitas could be considered a con–artist.
A fraud.
A psychopath who replayed the game more times than he could count in his head.
His addiction, to the point of archiving relevant information, devising strategies while applying knowledge from veteran players and his own experiences in the game inside a 3,808 page document file.
And most probably, that was where the Spectacles was getting its information from.
He couldn't even remember most of what he had written.
Still, he had put in his own efforts into studying, to the point where his brain would fry.
If he couldn't grasp the information, the Spectacles would simplify things for him.
In any case.
"It harmonizes. But only if you account for the node's mana frequency."
The room fell quiet as the other professors exchanged glances.
"Mana frequency?" Claude asked.
Vanitas tapped the page.
"Every node has a unique mana pulse. If you realign the spellformulas, it will synchronize with the frequency."
Claude's brows furrowed. "I didn't factor that in."
"That's why it fails," Vanitas replied.
A professor, a stern man with graying hair, leaned forward.
"Professor Astrea," he said. "Was the frequency deliberately embedded into the design?"
Vanitas turned his gaze toward him, unfazed, discreetly imbuing a bit of mana into the Spectacle.
"Of course. A circuit without harmony is nothing more than a dead diagram."
The stern professor nodded, though a glint of doubt remained in his eyes.
For now, the Professors remained silent.
Moments later, a voice echoed across the dome.
—All students, prepare yourselves. The examination begins now.
It was an assistant professor, who was the closest to ascend to a full professorship.
—Group 1, step forward.
All eyes turned to the pair as they approached the circle.
The first to step forward was unmistakable.
Golden hair fluttered as she moved with an air of regal confidence.
Aetherion Empire's Second Princess, Astrid Barielle Aetherion.
Beside her stood the unexpected name.
Ezra Kaelus, the student who ranked first on the ESAT examination.
Astrid's success was a foregone conclusion. Ezra, on the other hand, carried the burden of doubt to the Professors who weren't in charge of him.
Some whispered that his ranking was a fluke.
Others speculated that Astrid would carry their performance entirely.
This was his moment to silence those doubts.
Tak. Tak—!
A figure stepped forward, and surprisingly, it wasn't Astrid.
"Please summon six mid—grade demons."
It was Ezra.
The arena froze.
—What!?
The commotion was immediate. First-years gasped in shock. Seniors leaned forward in disbelief.
—Is he insane?
—I know the demons are under control, but still, isn't that too much!?
Exorcising one mid-grade demon was the standard for the examination.
But six!?
It wasn't entirely impossible, but for the Professors' expectations, first-year University mages would find it significantly challenging.
"...."
Astrid, however, remained silent, her expression unreadable.
The assistant professor hesitated with furrowed brows.
"Ezra Kaelus, you only need to exorcise a single demon to pass the test."
Ezra didn't flinch.
"I know. And the Princess and I are the top first-year students," Ezra boldly stated.
The murmurs in the arena grew louder.
The assistant professor's gaze shifted to Astrid.
"Princess," he asked. "Do you support this request?"
Astrid glanced at Ezra, then to the assistant.
"Yes," she nodded. "Please summon them right away."
The assistant professor finally nodded. "Very well."
At that moment, a group of mages turned to the summoning circle and raised their hands.
"Six mid—grade demons, as requested."
The summoning circle flared to life. The glow intensified into a harsh crimson.
The air grew oppressive as shadows began to take form.
One by one, towering figures of all shapes and sizes emerged.
Astrid stepped forward, mana flickering around her like molten gold.
The tension in the arena peaked.
"Begin."
At the sound of the assistant Professor's signal, the demons roared to life and lunged toward Ezra, who stood in front of Astrid.
Swoosh—!
Immediately, Ezra and Astrid bolted in opposite directions as their mouths parted open, chanting simultaneously.
Tendrils of lightning erupted from Ezra's fingertips, while sharp, metallic spikes shot up from the ground around Astrid.
Their attacks struck the nearest demons around their vicinity, forcing both creatures to stagger backward.
Two more demons immediately turned their attention to Ezra, bearing down on him with ferocious speed.
Astrid, meanwhile, faced only one additional demon as the two they had just attacked began to recover.
Swoosh—!
With a swift chant, Astrid unleashed the plasma spell—Radiant Flare at the advancing demon. Meanwhile, Ezra pushed back his own set of demons with a burst of lightning
In a fluid motion, the two regrouped, their backs pressed together.
"How are you holding up, Princess?" Ezra asked, a smile tugging at his lips despite the sweat beading from his forehead.
Astrid scoffed lightly, her golden eyes fixed on the demons circling them.
"The same could be said about you, Commoner," Astrid coolly replied.
Ezra chuckled as parks of lightning crackled around his fingers.
"Fair enough," he said.
Astrid raised her hand. Golden mana swirled around her palm into a blade-like construct.
"Try not to slow me down," Astrid said before the two kicked the ground, dodging the demon's attack.
Before Ezra could retort, the nearest demon lunged, its arm exuding dark mana.
Bang!
Their movements were perfectly synchronized as they dodged the attack.
Ezra retaliated first, raising his palm and, chanting swiftly. Bolts of lightning shot out in jagged streaks, striking the demon's arm and momentarily paralyzing its advance.
Astrid spun mid-air. The mana swirling around her palm reconstructed into a golden blade, slicing cleanly through the immobilized limb.
The demon howled as its severed arm collapsed with a heavy thud.
But there was no time to celebrate. Another demon charged, swiping its claw at Ezra with relentless speed.
Ezra twisted, narrowly dodging, and swiftly chanted.
Magic circles flared beneath him as chains of energy erupted and wrapped themselves tightly around the demon's legs.
"Now!" Ezra shouted.
Astrid didn't hesitate.
The golden blade rippled with heaps of mana, as it drove into the restrained demon's chest.
Boom—!
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the arena, forcing the crowd to shield their eyes from the overwhelming dust.
Truth be told, neither of them had ever practiced fighting together.
Their coordination came from a single discussion after a long, heated argument that eventually led to an agreement.
Boom—!
The remaining demons weren't idle. Two advanced simultaneously. Their coordinated attacks forced Ezra and Astrid to split.
"They're adapting," Astrid muttered as golden mana formed a barrier that deflected a claw strike.
Ezra rolled to the side, a sphere of condensed lightning forming in his hands.
"I noticed," he grunted, launching the sphere at one demon. It exploded on impact, slowing the creature but not stopping it.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
For a moment, the duo faltered under the relentless assault. Mid–grade demons weren't just strong—they were cunning despite the fact they had been tamed.
But then, amidst the chaos, their senses kicked in.
All the lessons they attended, the hours of studying, and the knowledge gained from countless lectures by various professors were finally paying off.
But more than anything, one factor had propelled them further than they had initially thought.
The circuit exercise designed by Vanitas.
It had pushed them to their absolute limits.
The grueling hours spent refining circuits, recalibrating nodes, and adjusting spellformulas had sharpened their minds.
Even the heated debates during the exercise had forced them to think critically.
Now, in the heat of battle, all of it was coming together seamlessly.
Astrid's voice cut through the noise. "Focus on the rhythm!"
Ezra nodded.
They moved as one. Ezra's lightning strikes forced the demons into predictable patterns, creating openings for Astrid to deliver devastating blows.
Astrid's golden constructs blocked and redirected attacks, giving Ezra moments to swiftly chant, recalibrating his spells to launch powerful counters.
The synchronization was flawless. Their spells flowed together seamlessly.
The crowd watched in stunned silence. The sheer harmony of their movements were unlike anything they had expected from first–years.
Even the professors exchanged glances, murmuring in surprise.
Vanitas's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"They're applying the theory in real-time," he said quietly. "Good. Let's see how far they take it."
Below, the battle raged on. Sweat dripped from their brows, and fatigue began to set in, but neither showed any sign of giving up.
One demon fell, then another. Each attack became more refined as the duo pushed past their limits.
Finally, only one demon remained.
Astrid and Ezra stood side by side. Their mana flared and their eyes gleamed ferociously.
"Ready?" Ezra asked with a voice steady despite the strain.
Astrid smirked. "I should be asking you, Commoner."
With a final, synchronized attack, their combined power struck the demon head-on.
The explosion of light and energy shook the arena, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind.
When the dust settled, the last demon was gone, and the two stood, taking bated breaths.
—Wooooh!
—Gosh! I didn't expect that kind of performance at all!
—It's expected of the Princess, but the Ezra kid is no joke!
The dome erupted in applause and murmurs, but above it all, Vanitas's faint smile remained.
"Well done," he whispered, joining the applause.
Ezra straightened, his breathing still heavy, and held up a hand toward Astrid.
"....?"
Astrid blinked, tilting her head, clearly confused by the gesture.
"What?" she asked flatly.
"It's a high-five," Ezra said with a grin.
"....."
Astrid's expression soured instantly, giving Ezra a disgusted look.
She stared at his raised hand like it was a particularly offensive demon.
When it became clear she wouldn't cooperate, Ezra sighed dramatically.
"Fine. Have it your way."
"Attitude much—"
But before she could finish, he grabbed her wrist and smacked her palm against his own.
The sharp echo of the high-five reverberated across the dome.
Astrid's face flushed red—not from exertion, but pure embarrassment.
"You…!" she growled.
"Good work, Princess," Ezra said with a wide grin, completely ignoring her fury. For a moment, his usual disdain for aristocrats was nowhere to be found.
"....Yeah, of course," Astrid said, brushing her hair to the side with a proud smile.
But Ezra wasn't done. He leaned closer, his grin turning mischievous.
"You know, if you smiled like that more often, people might actually like you."
"...."
Astrid's expression froze. Her golden eyes narrowed dangerously as she took a sharp step toward him.
"Take that back. Right now," she hissed. "You, of all people, are the last person qualified to say that!"
Ezra shrugged, already turning toward the next group.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go, Princess. The next group's up," he said casually, walking away without a glance.
Astrid stood hesitantly for a moment, her fists clenched.
"Stupid commoner."
Despite the curse, a faint, almost unnoticeable smile tugged at her lips as she reluctantly followed.
The next announcement didn't take long.
—Group 2, step forward.
A male and female student entered the arena. Their movements were steady, but lacked the commanding confidence of the previous duo.
As they approached the summoning circle, the demons appeared one after another.
The audience, still buzzing from Ezra and Astrid's exceptional display, turned their attention to the new pair.
It didn't take much for the pair to realize that an unspoken weight of expectations settled over them.
Finally, the examination commenced. The crowd leaned forward, and the pair started to move.
The initial clash was explosive. Their fiery assault forced the demons to stagger back.
Barrages of spells flew in the air. The seamless coordination of their casting caught the professors off guard.
This pair wasn't anyone remarkable. They were low-ranked nobles who were borderline unrecognizable.
A bunch of extras, to be exact.
Yet, their performance stood out.
While it lacked the brilliance of Astrid and Ezra, it carried a surprising level of skill.
The professors exchanged glances with curiosity.
Vanitas, meanwhile, watched silently.
He crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat.
"...."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.