By Zephyria The second month of classes began.
The academy’s first semester starts in February and ends in late May. June and July are spent resting during summer break, followed by the second semester from August to November, and another break in December and January. Therefore, exams were scheduled for the second and fourth months of each semester.
I was also well aware from previous explanations that discussions about preparing for midterms would be ongoing throughout the classes this week.
So, when I entered the basic swordsmanship class that morning, I felt considerable tension. However, when asked how the students’ midterms would be assessed, Maelo Sanson grinned and waved his hand.
“How could we possibly evaluate you twice in one semester? Should I test if you hold your sword with your right hand or your left? Forget it, forget it. I know everything you do.”
“Wow!”
“Your grades will be based on how much your skills improve from the first day to the last day of the semester. Swordsmanship isn’t about absolute standards; it’s a battle against yourself. Always strive to be stronger and more solid tomorrow than you were yesterday. Understood?”
“Yes!”
He was truly a good teacher. The students’ voices answering were exceptionally bright and resonant. I also replied aloud and smiled a little. It was a relief to know that the morning hours would continue to be spent in such a comfortable and enjoyable state of mind.
However, the afternoon was a completely different story.
“…Alright, including what we learned today, we have now learned a total of five Magic Formulas, and we can all cast them… The midterm for this class will be to interpret the formulas on the handout I’m giving you on your own, without my help, and demonstrate them directly before my eyes during the exam…”
Lacking the talent to interpret the formulas on the handout, I stared blankly, lost in thought.
“Magic is a very ancient discipline, and most Magic Formulas are first encountered in written form… Whether you can interpret and use the written formulas yourself is a very, very important matter… There will be no class next week, and the exam will be the week after, so I hope you all apply yourselves… If you have any questions, please come to my office between three and four in the afternoon…”
I stared intently at Professor Angela Sting, barely able to breathe. I waited for her to notice my presence.
It was true that I had enrolled in magic classes out of my own desire, and it was true that I couldn’t keep up with the lessons, but I had attended diligently every time, and it felt unfair to fail because of the exam.
Perhaps she sensed it too, as she looked my way, let out a faint sigh, and prepared another handout for my desk.
I looked at the newly appeared handout before me. It was a sheet of paper with basic Magic Formulas written on it.
On the left were the magic symbols, and on the right were their pronunciations and interpretations.
I was speechless and quietly gazed down at them.
“And… Young Master Ernhardt will have a separate quiz… If you succeed in filling in more than 70% of the formulas correctly, I will give you a base score… The other students here have all memorized this, so you should be able to understand the class if you can read this much, right?”
I finally understood why the professors didn’t suspect Edwin Kiadris, even though the students from the Swordsmanship Department had all fled the class.
I was certain that any student from the Swordsmanship Department that I knew would have immediately stood up, bowed, and disappeared upon receiving this alternative midterm handout.
However, there was only one answer I could give now. Resolving not to take any more magic classes from the next semester, I replied respectfully.
“Yes. Thank you for your consideration, Professor.”
“Mmm… Work hard… Oh, and… do you have time on Saturday?”
“Yes? I’m free. What is it?”
“That sparring match… I’m going to officiate it… Let’s meet at two o’clock on Saturday afternoon.”
I was surprised for a moment, then nodded with a smile. I had naturally expected to receive the message through Edwin. It seemed the rumors that the entire Department of Magic was abuzz about this sparring match were true. Even though class had ended, all the students remained seated, and not a single person showed surprise.
Professor Angela Sting gave me very detailed directions to the sparring venue. I decided I should leave a little earlier to avoid being late.
Although I couldn’t make magic department friends as I had hoped due to Edwin’s interference, I had met the bright and bold Marianne during the camping class, so I had achieved half of my original plan.
And the fact that a sparring match with Edwin, presumed to be a Battle Mage, was scheduled was also a good omen. Although the heavy handout had made me feel down for a moment, I soon became excited thinking about whether I could counter magic with my sword.
Right, when was anything easy enough to just memorize?
It was shameful to whine about not being able to do something just because I was older, when even young children here learned and used it. I composed myself and bowed respectfully to the professor who was leaving.
❖ ❖ ❖
Towards the end of the advanced swordsmanship class on Tuesday, Maelo Sanson gathered all the students and mentioned the sparring match between myself and Edwin Kiadris.
Some had already heard about it from somewhere, while others, hearing it for the first time, giggled and found it amusing.
Indeed, those who wielded swords were all the same, regardless of age. If you asked who was stronger, the discussion could go on for three days and three nights without end.
“Talks about sparring between magic and swordsmanship, and swordsmanship and magic, come up once every generation, but no one has ever actually stepped up to spar. You’re quite something, Mikael.”
“You flatter me.”
“…Thank you for taking it as a compliment. For now, I’ll be observing at Professor Sting’s request… How about inviting your friends and seniors here? Wouldn’t they all be curious?”
“Yes, of course, I will invite them. But what is the size of the sparring venue, the First Auditorium? Will it be spacious enough for everyone to fit?”
“Certainly. It should be about the size of this Martial Arts Training Ground. They’ll even put up protective magic on the spectator seats, so you can just watch at ease.”
A few seniors who had been peeking and watching from the side suddenly interjected with worried voices.
“But Young Master Ernhardt, will Edwin Kiadris Young Master be alright with all of us going?”
“I know… They say you didn’t set up the sparring because you two are on good terms, but there are all sorts of rumors.”
“If you ask if he’s holding back because he thinks he’ll lose, he’ll give permission.”
“…Huh? No, wow, no, that’s a bit… his personality.”
“This time, against Ernhardt, you’re not messing around… Anyway, thank you.”
If I hadn’t been the one sparring, I too would have done everything I could to see it with my own eyes, so it wasn’t surprising. Everyone looked excited.
I suddenly thought that perhaps they were enjoying it more because it was exam season.
As I finished the general talk and was leaving for lunch, laughter poured onto my shoulders. The pats on my arms, legs, and back as people brushed past were now familiar.
I just thought they were fond of me and let it be.
As I was about to move to my seat for lunch, Prince Rubel, who had hurried after me, stood before me.
“…You don’t have to rush. It’s okay to take your time.”
“Yes?”
“…I was worried you might get hurt…”
“Ah. I’m fine. I’m doing this because I want to.”
“Edwin Kiadris?”
“Yes?”
“…Ah, no. That slipped out. I was just curious why it was Young Master Edwin Kiadris… Even though it’s not my turn yet, I’m also looking forward to sparring with Young Master Ernhardt, so I just asked.”
“Hmm. I just wanted to know who was stronger between a mage and a swordsman, so I picked someone who seemed to be of a similar level. I couldn’t ask a professor to spar, and fighting a weak mage would just look like bullying.”
“…I see…”
“Still, thank you for your concern. I’ll come back unharmed, and if possible, victorious.”
He seemed like a timid boy lately, perhaps because he had been looking frail.
Most importantly, I hadn’t expected it, but hearing that he was looking forward to sparring with me was music to my ears.
Prince Rubel was quite high-ranked among the twenty First-rate Warriors I trained with in advanced swordsmanship class. Knowing that he, who had not yet fully grown and occupied a lower seat, was paying attention to me, I understood why he tried so hard to be good to me.
One must have a good eye to become a capable warrior. Seeing the signs of his great growth made me feel pleased.
In truth, as the boy said, this wasn’t something I needed to rush.
As Rubel said, if I were to duel Edwin now, there was a high chance I would lose or get hurt.
Thanks to having reached the Transcendent Peak realm in the Central Plains, my Eye Technique was superior to warriors of the same level.
However, my current self, with arms and legs significantly shorter than in my prime, suffered a disadvantage in judging distance, and my underdeveloped muscles and unhardened skin put me at a disadvantage in strength and durability.
If I had a strong desire to win, now would not be the best time.
But I also knew that I could not reach higher realms by calculating everything and playing it safe. Through the experience of those who had faced countless life-or-death situations, hardship had made me grow.
The years I lived believing that had made me who I am today.
That’s why the confrontation with Edwin had to be now.
On the other hand, thinking about how Edwin Kiadris, like a horned colt, would continue to be a thorn in my side, I felt even more that this was something I had to deal with now.
Grudges are not left behind; they are faced head-on. Those who aim for your back when you are off guard, at an unexpected moment, should not be kept close. How many have died like that…
Suddenly, my mouth felt bitter, and I licked my lips. It was because a thought I didn’t want to dwell on had surfaced.
Regret was enough to happen once. I was not someone who made the same mistake twice. It was true in the Central Plains, and it was true now.
❖ ❖ ❖
…Humans are creatures that inevitably make the same mistakes. I sat there blankly, unable to find a way to pull my scattered thoughts back together.
Professor Briana Casablanca of the General World History class, as she had hinted before, stated that the midterm exam would require filling in the royal lineage of the Five Dynasties and the Sierren Imperial lineage.
My learning has been too short; I can’t even remember which emperor of the Ming Dynasty it was when I died, yet I had to memorize not only the names of the thousand-year Sierren dynasty but also the lineages of neighboring royal families. It was outrageous.
However, this was something I had anticipated, and it was simple memorization, so it wasn’t a cause for great shock.
When she added that we would also have to write essays on five topics from the material covered in the past month, a wave of deep sighs swept through the classroom.
I wished she would narrow down the exam scope, but she said all topics were equally important and she couldn’t pick any, which made my eyes sting and the back of my neck tense.
The only fortunate thing was that the Imperial Genealogy Class, as predicted, had no midterms or final exams, nor any assignments.
Professor Calypse Agrigent stated that he would conduct the usual pop quizzes and continue the class as normal.
It was a great relief, but I couldn’t bring myself to smile.