chapter 36
The exam hall was buzzing with hushed discussions.
Students were guessing the pattern, as some seniors had told them it would be an indoor exam with spell execution used as the criterion.
But it wasn't always like that. Judging from past patterns, the style always changed and was becoming more radical with every year.
Azek had thought about it, and the possibility of direct combat was also likely, as the academy had experienced an earth shattering incident just as the year had started.
After all, this year it was already only six months into the academy, and an attack had already occurred.
He slowly looked toward Lillian.
She was standing in a corner with her friends. Unlike their encounter before, she was laughing happily while chatting with them, her personality brimming with confidence.
Azek looked at her and remembered some information about her in the novel.
The main character—Lillian Winterfall.
The FL of the novel.
The bright and cheerful person, radiating sunshine everywhere she went.
He had been too busy to take notice of her before, and part of the reason was that he had also decided to outright ignore her presence, as there were pressing matters he needed to focus on.
But now an encounter had occurred.
Is this coincidence?
He had breezed through until now without getting involved with any of the main characters.
But Lillian had entered the scene.
And soon, it would be time for the hero of the story to emerge as well.
He shook his head.
Maybe I am being too sensitive.
He hadn't thought about how to avoid the upcoming events simply because he thought he had enough time.
The first major event took place at the end of the first-year exams.
That was the time when he exited the story as well.
But before that, nothing major happened.
So he hadn't thought about it.
But the recent attack was anything but ordinary, and he hadn't read about it anywhere in the novel's beginning.
So he thought the world was completely moving differently from the original, and at some point, he had stopped thinking about the novel's events altogether.
But six months after coming into this world, he was made aware of presences that he wanted to avoid at all costs.
He had already ended up near death before, and now he couldn't walk the same path as those walking black death flags.
He sighed and focused on the stage.
Professor Albert and Professor Serbian were there and slowly introduced the exam pattern.
Professor Serbian usually handled senior exams but he was here today. It already spoke volumes about what was coming was anything but ordinary.
Suddenly, Azek's eyes widened.
And every student became nervous.
There was a large image shown on the front wall of stage. It was the forest outside the academy's west side. That had been chosen as the exam venue.
Professors could be seen moving about on the screen.
The mana crystal flickered and showed inside the forest.
It was littered with monsters!!!
Although they were small in size and some were injured as well, the sheer number made everyone's scalps tingle.
Professor Serbian announced monotonously,
"You will have to collect the mana crystals hidden inside the forest, marked with white flags, in teams.
Every team needs to get five crystals and defeat ten monsters as proof of passing.
You will fight your way through the monsters, and once you have reached the required number, head toward the mountain hill.
Shoot the signal flare given to you when you have reached there, and the professors will come to retrieve you.
Now, the teams will be announced by the numbers you draw. Each team will have four members.
Two flares will be given to each team.
One is for reaching the hill."
"Green flare," Professor Serbian showed.
"The red flare is an emergency flare. Use it if you give up, get injured, can't continue, or in case of unforeseen circumstances."
He concluded.
Everyone sucked in a cold breath.
This was a direct combat test with monsters.
They had no idea how to go through with it, as it was the first time in academy exam history that a first-year class was required to go through this.
Usually, this was the norm for end-of-second-year exams or third-year mid exams.
But now they were directly sent to the battlefield.
Nervous whispers started throughout the hall.
Professor Albert picked up the box and placed it on the table.
"Come forward when your name is called and draw a number."
Azek also took his turn to draw a number.
Mathew had drawn the same, while Edrin was in another group.
Lillian slowly made her way toward them and greeted them in a refreshed manner.
Azek furrowed his brows.
This was the FL of the novel.
One time could be overlooked, but fate had arranged for them to get acquainted again.
Ha...
The gears in his mind were churning at incredible speed, and he wanted nothing more than to toss her out of the team, but it wasn't possible.
The last one was Rebecca,the shy classfellow looking timid, on the other hand.
She only gave a short greeting and remained silent from then onward.
It seemed fate was really hellbent on toying with him.