Today was the day of the written assessment, and tomorrow would be the practical one.
I woke up early, going through my usual routine before having breakfast. Afterward, I donned my uniform and headed to the examination hall.
"Good Morning, Noah!"
I heard a sweet voice behind me. Turning around, I saw Scarlett—her red hair and eyes catching the light as she smiled at me.
"Good morning, Scarlett. Ready for the assessment?" I asked her.
"Hmm, I think I'll do well. What about you?" she replied.
"How about a bet?" I suggested with a grin.
"A bet? What are you on about?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Whoever has the higher overall ranking gets to make a wish," I told her.
"Ah, alright. But remember, I won't hold back," she said, her grin matching mine.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes."
We took our seats, and exactly at 9 AM, the teacher distributed the papers with a flick of telekinesis. The exam covered subjects like History, Mana Theory, and Magic Calculations—each with an hour of allotted time.
I focused on Mana Theory first:
What is mana, and how does it differ from other forms of energy?
How is mana generated and replenished? What factors influence its production and depletion?
What are the different types of mana, and what are their unique properties and applications?
How does mana interact with the physical world? Can it be used to manipulate objects or influence natural phenomena?
What are the potential risks and consequences of using mana? Are there any limitations or side effects associated with its use?
How does mana relate to other magical concepts, such as spells, enchantments, and rituals?
How does the understanding and control of mana differ between individuals? Are there any innate talents or abilities that influence a person's mana potential?
What are the ethical considerations surrounding the use of mana? Can it be used for good or evil?
How does mana play a role in the history and culture of your world?
What are the future possibilities of mana? Can it be further developed or manipulated for new applications?
The questions were pretty straightforward, designed to make students think more deeply about mana's nature and its applications. I finished quickly, feeling confident.
After the exam, we met up in the cafeteria for lunch.
"So, how did you do?" Scarlett asked, eyeing me curiously.
"Perfect. How about you?" I replied confidently.
"I did great too, but someone sounds a little overconfident," she teased, glancing at me.
"I'm not overconfident, I just believe in myself," I said, looking her in the eyes.
"If you say so... we'll see," she smirked.
"I'll see when you cry after losing the bet," I said with a grin.
"I won't cry over something so silly," she retorted, her voice slightly defensive.
"Well, you were cute when you were hugging me like a crybaby," I teased, a mischievous smile playing on my lips.
"Ah! Wha-what are you saying? I... I am not a crybaby!" she stammered, her face flushed with embarrassment as her ears turned red.
"Oh, I see. But you didn't deny that you're cute, huh?" I grinned, enjoying her reaction.
"That's... that's not what I meant! Why are you doing this?" she sputtered, flustered.
"Ah! Sorry, I won't tease you anymore since you hate it," I said, pretending to be apologetic.
"That's not it... I don't hate it," she mumbled, still blushing.
"Oh, then do you like it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I... Hmph!" she huffed, crossing her arms, then pouted. "I won't talk to you anymore."
"Idiot..." she muttered under her breath, still smiling without realizing it.
"So cute," I murmured.
"YOU!" she shot me a glare.
"HAHAHA! Ow! Sorry!" I laughed, only to get a smack on the head from her.
It seemed she'd had enough of my teasing. I pushed her a bit too far, but in a way, it felt like we'd gotten more comfortable with each other.
Meanwhile, at a table just a few seats away, a pair of icy eyes glared at us. Charlotte was watching Noah and Scarlett's playful banter with a look of pure disdain. She couldn't understand why Noah was acting like this. He had always been around her whenever she visited him, but now he was completely ignoring her existence. Worse still, he had fought for a "lowly commoner girl" like Scarlett.
"Unforgivable," she muttered to herself, her gaze fixed on them.
"Do you miss him, my dear sister?" a voice suddenly came from behind her.
Charlotte frowned and turned around. "What do you want, Arthur?"
"I'm saying you should talk to him," Arthur replied with a warm, almost sympathetic smile.
"None of your business," Charlotte snapped, irritation clear in her voice.
"You're right, but I can't stand seeing you sad, sister," Arthur said, his voice tinged with concern.
Charlotte looked at him for a moment before sneering. "Hah, drop your act. Who are you fooling? If I didn't know what kind of person you were, I might've fallen for it," she said with disgust.
"Heh, do you regret it now, sister? Rejecting him... Well, I can't blame him. After everything you've done to him, it's natural he would hate you," Arthur said, his expression shifting to one of malicious delight as he looked at the duo.
Charlotte stood up abruptly, her face contorting with frustration. "You are so annoying! I've lost my appetite." She turned and stormed off, leaving Arthur smiling after her.
As Charlotte walked away, Arthur's smile slowly faded. His eyes grew cold as he watched Noah and Scarlett, oblivious to the dark thoughts swirling in his mind.
"Very good, Noah. I'm very pleased with your performance. More... I want to see her suffer even more. I'm sure you'll entertain me further," Arthur muttered under his breath, his grin returning as he plotted in the shadows.
While Arthur was lost in his dark thoughts, Noah and Scarlett were enjoying their lunch, completely unaware of the tension building around them.