Chapter 319: Rea.s.sessment Test (1)
As soon as Elysia and Evelyn joined their cla.s.s group, Joanna and three girls came over to say h.e.l.lo. Then, several other students also followed suit as if they wanted to greet their life savior.
Elysia"s feat four days ago left a deep impression on her cla.s.smates, especially the victims who were trapped inside the barrier dome.
The news and gossip were spread with some exaggeration among the students. Elysia didn"t know that, but she was already seen as a hero by them.
Finished with the short greetings and exchanges, the students didn"t bother Elysia and Evelyn any more than that out of consideration. The rea.s.sessment was about to start, after all.
"Ahh, I"m nervous but also excited. What should I do? What should I do? Nine cla.s.ses have gathered at the stadium, and thousands of pairs of eyes will stare at us during the rea.s.sessment test." Evelyn shook her hands with both excitement and nervousness expression.
"You just don"t have to look at all those pairs of eyes, Miss Evelyn. We"re nervous and anxious too, but we need to get past that because academy policy calls for us to be witnessed by many people." Joanna smiled slightly. She knew what Evelyn felt because she was the same.
"Ah, I heard that some aristocrats and important people have also come here to witness this event." Betty joined in and pointed her index finger up for attention.
"Oh, I know that. I heard that the higher-ups from other regions came to this city yesterday morning. Did they come for our academy event?" Lana put her hand on her chin in thought.
"We don"t know the exact facts, but I think our academy wants to showcase the talents and affinity of the students. Look at the huge crystal in the middle of the field. I"ve never seen an identification crystal that big before." Maggie pointed to a giant ice-like crystal guarded by dozens of instructors and teachers.
"Why has our academy changed its systems so much? From talent appraisal method to dorm and resource management. As far as I know, the rules of our academy haven"t had any major changes like this in the last three hundred years." Zofia rested her hand on Joanna"s seat top rail and joined the conversation.
She was no longer willing to be friends with Serena. She preferred around Elysia"s circle because of the incident at that time.
"Maybe our princ.i.p.al is just lazy or too busy. He simply let the old school rules prevail when alchemy and research have improved greatly over time." Elysia rolled her eyes. She a.s.sumed so without fear or hesitation because she knew about the Princ.i.p.al Emperor.
Evelyn and the girls were taken aback by Elysia"s wild a.s.sumption. Then, Evelyn cleared her throat. "Ahem, Ely... I thought the rules of our academy changed because of you. Emperor Arthur and the Holy Grandfather also got involved in it because at that time... You still remember, don"t you?"
"Woah! Is it all because of Miss Elysia? Even our Holy Grandfather and Emperor Arthur got involved? What, what caused it to happen?" Zofia covered her mouth in surprise.
"Hehe, you will know that later. I also want to see that for myself." Evelyn smiled mischievously and rubbed her hands together.
Since Evelyn didn"t want to answer, five pairs of curious girls" eyes turned towards Elysia for a clue. However, Elysia only smiled faintly and shrugged her shoulders as if she didn"t know anything.
"Well, that"s fine then, but please give us a clue later when the time comes. We"d like to know too." Joanna looked back at Evelyn with a request.
"Okay." Evelyn gave an ok hand gesture.
"Ah, by the way, I accidentally saw Miss Serena and her servants working in a cafe yesterday. Are they also working to earn extra money like us?" Betty put a hand to her cheek as she wondered. She said that after making sure, Serena wasn"t around.
"Hmm? Maybe you saw it wrong, Betty. Miss Serena is a student with platinum-grade talent. It doesn"t seem like she will work for extra money. She is the daughter of the Duke Family, after all." Zofie refuted that with her opinion. She wasn"t worried at all if Serena could hear her or not.
"Un, I think Zofia is right. Maybe, Miss Serena and her servants are customers at the cafe you saw, Betty." Joanna patted Betty"s arm with a faint smile.
"Is it like that? Yeah, I might have seen it wrong." Betty had some doubts, but she just shook her head to put the thought aside.
Hearing that, Evelyn just smiled happily and put her hand on her best friend"s arm again. As she looked at the field, an old teacher walked to the pulpit, and his projections appeared on every big screen in the stadium.
"Good morning to all. We sincerely welcome all outstanding students and distinguished guests. Today, we are--" The old teacher began his welcome speech.
It only took no more than five minutes until the old teacher finished with his speech. Then, he announced that they were going straight to the main event. "In today"s rea.s.sessment test, we will start with first-year students. To all first-year students, please enter the field."
"Well, we"ve been called. Let"s go down to the field." Elysia clapped Evelyn"s hand, then she stood up and put Vanessa into her seat. "Vann, please be a good cat and wait for me here, okay?"
"Meow." Vanessa nodded her head, but she also uttered her appropriate response through the spirit connection.
After that, Elysia left the grandstand with Evelyn. They followed the rest of the first graders to the field through the vomitorium.
Just before the first graders entered the field, Teacher Ruth and two shadow teachers waited for them right before the exit.
"Make it into four neat rows. This is a formal academy event. Make sure to keep your manners perfect." Teacher Ruth immediately gave strict instruction to the students who came in a disorganized manner.
"Yes, ma"am!" The students answered in unison and immediately made lines according to the instructions. It didn"t take long, then three teachers and first graders marched into the field.
"Uh, really... It"s like we"re going to the soccer field for a match, hehe..." Elena commented while glancing around cheerfully. "What is missing now is the loud cheers of the audience and the flash of cameras."
"And also the commentator." Elysia added.
When the first graders arrived near the giant crystal, the old teacher conveyed his instructions. "This crystal is an affinity identification tool that will a.s.sess your level and your magical apt.i.tude. All you need to do is put your hand on the crystal and channel your magic energy until the crystal no longer emits color. After that, please head over to the magic device over there to get your new privilege card."
Then, Teacher Ruth instructed a student at the far right of the front row to head towards the crystal.
The student who was appointed as the first subject on the rea.s.sessment test was the most nervous. Even so, the lucky student walked straight towards the crystal while trying to calm himself down.
"Please put your hand on this crystal and keep flowing your magic energy little by little until the crystal changes color. When the crystal dims again, you can remove your hand from the crystal. Do you understand?" one of the senior teachers near the crystal gave instructions as the lucky student stood in front of the crystal.
"Yes, sir. I understand." After giving a nod of understanding, the lucky student placed his trembling hand on the crystal.
At that moment, he channeled his magic energy little by little until the large crystal began to glow white, indicating he was at the Apprentice level.
[| Lv. 21 |]
A large script appeared above the crystal for all to see. It only lasted for five seconds before the inscription disappeared.
After that, the crystal began to change color from white to bright red, then turned light blue at five-second intervals at each transition.
When the crystal dimmed and returned to a semi-transparent white like an ice cube again, the senior teacher gave an approving nod. "That"s enough. You can take your hand off the crystal. Level 21, high affinity for fire and medium for water. Well then, please go to the magic device over there."
The lucky student paid his obeisance then went to the magic device in question.
An instructor asked him to fill in his full name using the on-screen keyboard. Once confirmed, he was again asked to touch the black screen for a scan, and a new silver privilege card with identification was given to him.
The other students went to the crystal, and the lucky student returned to his starting position in the line. The rea.s.sessment test was repeated for the students one by one.
"Psst, Ely... It"s my turn soon. I wish I will get the gold card, hehe..." Evelyn looked back and spoke in a soft whisper to her best friend.
"Good luck, Eve. I bet you are already a student with gold grade talent, given all the vigorous and rigorous training we have had in the past month." Elysia smiled back at her friend with a nod of approval.
"Thank you, Ely. Ah, now it"s my turn. I"ll be right back~" Evelyn walked towards the crystal as the girl in front of her returned to the line.
Elysia just let out a soft sigh when she watched Evelyn leave. She needed to wait for a line of 70 students for her turn to come. Then, she used her advanced perception to find Serena"s whereabouts as per Elena"s request.
Serena was only a few meters behind Evelyn"s original position, eleven students behind.