I studied late into the night on Tuesday. Reading chapter after chapter of all three textbooks whose topic we have the test on. Not even necessarily for the test. Rather, it's so that I understand the basics just a bit better.
I could remember most of what we have learned so far off the top of my head. I wasn't worried about that at all. But again. If anyone. Including this test would ask a more fundamental question about the topic. I'd be toast.
It would immediately be obvious that I know nothing beyond surface-level knowledge. And while that might fool some. And I may even be able to bullshit my way out of a questioning by some more knowledgeable people. I doubt I could do the same to the teachers here.
So I'd rather not risk getting caught knowing nothing. It's also just uncool to not know anything. Which is one of the many reasons I study so hard.
I want to know all the things about magic. Not just for survival or because it can help me fit in here and allow me to attend this school. No. I want to know everything about magic because it's just a very cool topic.
Just like physics, math, chemistry, and other such subjects, there is a clear logic to it. But at the same time, the people of this world don't know everything about it. So there is still a lot of mystery around the topic.
But the basic rules and outlines are there. There is something you can hold onto while exploring the more mystical and unknown sides of it. And that's very alluring to me. I just love questioning things until I eventually reach a dead end where no one really knows the answers. Always have.
I did it a lot on Earth. Diving deep into subjects that interest me. To the extreme end of whatever subject I had chosen to research. Until my question became about such fundamental things that even experts couldn't find an answer to my question.
`Like that one time I started questioning how electricity works exactly. And then I eventually stopped when I got too far into Quantum Mechanics. Where everything is up for debate and no one really knows anything.`
I ruffle my hair to get it out of my own head. `Gotta Focus.`
After all, I was already sitting in class. With the test just about to start. `At least no one bothered me today. So I could revise in my head until just now.`
Calveth hadn't entered the class just yet. But he was about to any moment now. And everyone was already in their seats. More spaced out today. At least one free seat between each student. As we were told yesterday.
`My precious Elira. Oh, how far away you are today. I don't know if my heart can take this.` I think with a grin.
Luckily, my stupid thoughts are then interrupted by Calveth arriving with his usual morning greeting. A greeting we return before sitting back down.
"As I told you all yesterday, the first two hours of today will be occupied with this test." He slaps down a bunch of stacks of papers onto his desk. Then distributes them using magic. One stack of papers for each student.
"This test will be held with the same rules as your entrance exam." Calveth adds. Going over the rules of the entrance exam again. To remind us of them for this test.
The whole no talking. No looking at other tests. Just the normal stuff.
Unlike Lysander, however, Calveth doesn't try to scare us by making it seem like we'll be expelled if we mess up even one question. "If you are finished early, review your test and try to answer any missing questions or correct any mistakes you might have made."
Though for me, that might just be the case anyway. "As with your weekly sparring duels, this test will also carry penalties and rewards with it, depending on how you do." Or at least I might drop in class ranking if I mess up.
"If you get a passing grade, you will receive points. If you get a failing grade, you will lose points. The same is true if I catch you attempting to cheat or if you speak during the test. I will deduct points for misbehaviour on top of collecting your test early and marking it as a zero." It's dead silent by the time Calveth finishes his explanation.
And it's understandable, so. `That would be quite the double whammy.` No one here wants to lose points and then lose even more points on top of that.
So we all lock in and get ready. Pens in hand. Waiting for the signal to start. Which Calveth gives by tapping his staff on the ground and giving the go ahead. "Begin."
But after reading just one question, I stop. I reread it. Again and again. Before shooting Calveth a questioning look.
`The Fuck?` Our eyes meet. And he nods at me. Like he understands what I want. What my question is. Of course he does. He wrote this test. Or at the very least, read it before. And he knows I know the truth. But he refuses to say or do anything.
Leaving me with no choice but to look back down at my test. A bit frustrated at his refusal to acknowledge this mess. To continue reading through the questions.
`Twenty Questions this time.` It doesn't take me long to read them all. And for my suspicion to be proven right.
All twenty questions are trick questions this time. But they are basically the direct opposite of the first five questions of the entrance exam. All the questions seem simple. With deceptively simple answers already built into the questions.
However. If one were to answer them like the exam questions. With the simple answers provided, with a bit of thought. They would be wrong.
The questions are actually much more complex than they seem at first glance. And I'm sure I'm not the only one that caught onto this. But at the same time, I know that there are people in this class that won't see the truth.
`I could just not say anything. Proverbially throw them under the bus. It's not like it's my job or duty to help them.` It wasn't like they were even nice to me. And they had more than enough points not to worry about failing one test.
Yet I still felt compelled to say something. Maybe just because I thought it would be unfair not to say something. "Huuu." `Damm me and my good conscience.`
I'm well aware it's a bit hypocritical to say something now. While I didn't say anything during the entrance exam. But not only did I not know if I was correct back then. But it would have probably not mattered anyway.
My fellow adepts in the exam would have probably not believed me. The people here, however. They know I got at least the first five exam questions right. Those that most of them struggled with. They know, at least in regard to academia, I know what I'm doing.
So I risk it. Out loud. But, addressing no one in particular, I speak up. "These questions seem simple. But they are actually pretty difficult if you read them carefully." It was the most straightforward way I could think of to address the problem.
And it was all I said. Not that I get away with this without consequences. "Adept Blackwell. I said I want complete silence while the test is ongoing. I will deduct some points for your misbehaviour. This is your one and only warning."
Much to my surprise, though, I do not get my test taken away. Seems like Calveth was actually expecting me to do this. Just based on the slight grin I spotted after he scolded me. A little proud grin he can't quite hide before I notice.
Clearly giving me some leeway that others might not have had. I had no idea why he gave me that leeway, to be honest. But I was thankful for it. Giving him a nod before I turn back to my test.
To actually get to it.
Fortunately, if you read the questions carefully. Really analyze what they are asking of you. Then the test isn't too difficult. The answers really are mostly just things we talked about in class before.
And the rest of the answers were things from the book chapters that the topics of the answers were about.
So in the end, I manage to get through the test in fairly short order. It only takes me a little over an hour to answer all the questions.
I do go back over my answers once more after I'm done. Just to double-check everything. But even with that. I'm still in the top five in terms of speed. The only ones that hand in their test before me are Selvan, Thalis, Malovar, and Talden.
Elira seemed to have struggled a little with how the questions were phrased. But in the end, she did turn in her test before the time limit was over. Though it was fairly close.
All in all, it was only seven students that managed to hand in the test before the time was up. Not that I knew who, just wasn't finished, or if everyone else was simply still reviewing the test and fixing minor mistakes up until the end.
It wasn't like handing the test in early gave you extra points or anything. It just meant you were free to chill until the test was over. I don't do that, of course. I pull out my textbooks and begin to study.
Because this test showed me that I'm still severely lacking. If there had been even one question asking about more fundamental principles of magic, I would have been cooked.
So I throw myself back into learning. Until everyone is done with their tests. Then we take a short break. After which, we return to our usual seating arrangements to continue with the normal curriculum.
According to Calveth, we'll review and get the test back tomorrow. Though I'm not so sure about that. I've heard that a lot from teachers on Earth. Only for them to give the tests back weeks later.
But either way. I put the test behind me and focus on what's ahead. And the first order of business is getting through the rest of the day.
Because, unlike the last two days, I'm being bothered again during lunch.
Or well. I'm being directly bothered again. This time by a girl with bright green hair. She looks almost as venomous as her words are. "Go on. Crawl back to whatever hole spat you out already."
Even if no one picks on me like this. I'd still be bothered one way or another. Sneers. Glares. Insults thrown my way. That kind of thing.
It's just for some odd reason not many choose this direct approach. Even though I must be at the very bottom of the hierarchy in this school. This was the first person to approach me like this in days.
But maybe it's just because most have realized that it's futile to try this with me. It doesn't take the green-haired girl to realize that either. The gentle amusement I show in the face of her barbed words trips her up.
And soon enough. "I see even your tongue's too clumsy for words, you gutter rat." She leaves. But only after throwing out one more insult. As expected.
`I wonder why her hair is green?` My thoughts were focused on something else entirely, though. Her insults. Disregarded. Or rather. I barely even hear them.
As I instead spend my time and energy on wondering how the hair colours in this world are so diverse. `Their hair isn't dyed.` I've seen more different hair colours in this school than I've seen on earth. And unlike on Earth, these were all natural.
Everything from a bright, glaring pink to a black so deep that it seemed to swallow light. `I wonder if it has something to do with Magic or Mana? Or if it's some kind of residual phenomenon of this world being born from a game?`
It's these kinds of questions that bounce around in my head while I meditate that afternoon.
Occupying my mind even though I should really focus on what I'm doing. But considering I don't think too deeply about any of these questions. Knowing I won't figure them out anyway. It's alright. Nothing really happens.
Just like I don't make any advancements on my quest to move my mana in different ways, which I started last week. `No luck, huh?` However. No matter what I try, nothing works. Not even a little bit.
`This might really be locked in. Just like how you can't change how you breathe or sweat.` I wasn't too surprised or upset. And I also wasn't going to stop trying just yet.
But even if nothing comes from messing around like this. I'll at least know I've tried.
And speaking of trying. People try to bother me again on Thursday. Right from the start of the day, too. No grace period this time.
I've barely even sat down with my breakfast when two boys approach me with cocky grins. One around my age and one older student. Both have straight black hair. Probably a third year. They looked so similar that it was fair to assume they were probably related.
Though I don't figure out if that was the case or not. Because for the first time, people actually managed to get a rise out of me. They hit the one topic I refuse to let slide.
"Look at this filth." The younger one starts. Before the older one jumps in as well. "It seems it's true. The Stars truly curse some bloodlines."
See. I don't care if someone insults me. But if we are talking about family. Oh. Yeah. No. I won't let that slide. So I turn. About to warn them to shut up when the older one continues.
"If I were a bastard like you, I'd take my own life." He sneers before really overstepping. "Though I suppose your mother should have done that before you were even born."
`Don't.. Don`t do it!` I get up at that. Slamming my hands down on the table. Turning to him with a glare that freezes the little shit on the spot. `Just sit down. Just ignore them.`
`Just. Do-.`
The uppercut lands before my own thoughts can stop me. And the boy grumbles to the ground a moment later. Tilting backwards and hitting the ground like a sack of potatoes.
The fall coincided with my straightening up again after delivering some well-deserved punishment.
"You don't talk like that about family, you hear me?" Of course, he didn't. He was out cold. But at least everyone around us heard my warning. Including his young co-conspirator, who stared at me slack-jawed and full of horror.
"Tsss." I click my tongue in disgust as I turn away. Fist still clenched tightly as I sit back down. Trying to ignore what just happened. Trying to pretend that if I don't care, no one else will. `Fucking great.`
"Stop!" Not that I was afforded that grace. A teacher and some school staff were already hauling ass in my direction. `Great job, you retard. We are so cooked now.`