Capítulo 33: Examinations [3]
A total of two hours had passed since the start of the practical examination.
Charlotte held on to her robe nervously.
Everyone had shown remarkable performances thus far.
"I can do this," she whispered.
She clenched her fist in the air, assuring herself that she, too, could put on a marvelous display.
"So that's your brother….."
The voice came from beside her. It was Elysia, who was scanning the Professors seated above.
"Yes," Charlotte hesitantly nodded.
It wasn't exactly the truth. He was an impostor, after all.
But as Charlotte thought back on the work she had poured into the past week, she found herself smiling.
He was an impostor, yes.
Yet, in the end, she couldn't help but see him as a brotherly figure.
—Group 36, step forward.
Before she realized it, the previous pair had already finished, and an announcement rang out, cutting through her thoughts.
It was her group.
Charlotte's breath hitched as her grip tightened on the hem of her skirt.
The weight of the moment pressed down on her as she stepped forward. Elysia walked beside her, oblivious of Charlotte's internal turmoil.
As they reached the center of the arena, the two exchanged a quick nod.
Their decision during the circuit exercise had been a glaringly unconventional answer.
Two different answers.
But it was one they had both agreed upon.
Reaching that agreement hadn't been easy.
Other pairs had struggled just to submit a single answer. Evident by the arguments that ensued from the clashing ideas and a lack of cohesion.
Submitting two opposing theories, while fully aware that it might score poorly or even be outright rejected, required a level of trust that was rarely seen.
For these two girls, both from Viscount households, the act was more than collaboration.
Charlotte's isolation had cast an irregularity over them both, yet they found a bond in their shared circumstances.
In a mere span of two weeks, Elysia had placed her full faith in Charlotte.
Charlotte's unwavering efforts and genuine kindness had been enough to win her over.
Despite facing struggles with her peers, Charlotte Astrea had shown nothing but persistence and compassion.
Elysia, on the other hand, had little experience with combat, focusing instead on her goal of becoming a magic scholar.
Yet, her dedication and intellect had inspired Charlotte in return.
In just two weeks, they had built a remarkable bond, one that bordered on trust.
There was no need to hesitate.
With her thoughts clear, Charlotte's mouth parted open.
"Four mid—grade demons, please."
Silence fell over the arena.
The boldness of the request left everyone stunned.
It wasn't six, like Astrid and Ezra had faced, but it was still an extraordinary proposition.
So far, no other pair had dared to summon more than one mid—grade demon, aside from the top performers.
The murmurs began almost immediately, spreading through the crowd.
Even the assistant professor faltered, concern evident in his tone.
"I… I understand the drive to excel, but Charlotte Astrea—"
Before he could finish, Charlotte raised her hand, cutting him off.
"With all due respect, we're ready," she said.
The assistant professor hesitated, glancing toward the senior faculty for approval.
The professors exchanged quiet murmurs.
Finally, meeting two amethyst eyes, the assistant professor swallowed deeply before nodding his head.
"Very well," the assistant professor said reluctantly, signaling to the summoning mages.
Voices of doubts filled the vicinity.
Seniors exchanged hushed conversations, clearly skeptical about the entire ordeal.
—She's out of her mind.
—Four mid–grade demons? Does she think she's the Princess?
Among the first-years, the reactions were even sharper.
—She's insane.
—I know she's just trying to stand out, but this is suicide.
Charlotte and Elysia, however, paid no heed to them.
The summoning circle flared brightly as a crimson light spilled across the arena.
Then, shadows began to coalesce within the circle. The first roar silenced the chatters, followed by another roar, and then another.
One by one, four mid—grade demons emerged.
"Just like we've practiced, Elysia," Charlotte said, staring at the oppressive creatures.
"Mhm."
—Begin.
As the announcement resounded, Charlotte took a step back, giving Elysia, the mage with less combat experience, the chance to step forward.
While Elysia had always chosen the path of a magic scholar, she had also decided to major in battle magic, albeit with a certain level of hesitation.
She had done so, not out of a desire for physical prowess, but rather as a means to strengthen her overall understanding of magical theory and its practical applications.
Boom—!
In any case, the examination had a special rule.
Students were permitted to use magic circles, provided they were verified as their own creations.
Elysia's mana began to glow radiantly around her figure.
She retrieved a parchment from her pouch and flung it toward the oncoming demons.
The moment it landed, the circle activated.
Rumble… Rumble…!
A wall of earth erupted from the ground, immediately halting the demons in their tracks.
Elysia had about eight spells in her arsenal, all prepared and ready for immediate use.
Meanwhile, Charlotte clasped her hands together. The moment she did, her figure slowly lifted into the air.
As a soft, monochromatic glow started enveloping her, she began chanting.
"O spirits of the spectrum, guardians of the prismatic cycle, heed my call—"
—What is she doing?
—Is she just going to let her partner handle everything?
Once more, Charlotte paid them no mind.
They would all be silenced by what she was about to do.
"From crimson flames that burn and purify, to azure tides that flow and consume—"
Blue and red magic circles began flaring around her. One. Two. Three. Four.
Elysia continued to hold the demons at bay, skillfully maintaining a safe distance while stalling their advance.
Her magic, however, lacked the firepower to cause any real damage.
The spells inscribed on her magic circles were all beginner-level, and they were designed for stalling rather than offense.
The disparity became increasingly apparent with each passing moment. However, Elysia had one goal.
Nestle them all into a single spot.
"From emerald winds that dance and protect, to amber earth that rises and endures—"
Green and hazel circles erupted around Charlotte. Their glow brightened as the pressure in the air grew heavier.
The mana radiating from her body was almost suffocating, drawing gasps from the crowd.
—Holy!
—What is that!?
"Unite with diamond light to illuminate, obsidian shadow to shield and devour—"
Silver and dark magic circles joined the others, spinning faster and faster.
The circles blended together. Prismatic hues shifted and merged as if they had all been one singular color.
The overbearing energy coalesced around Charlotte, forming a radiant aura of pure, crushing energy.
"Ukh!"
A demon broke free from Elysia's control and lunged forward, attacking her in the process.
Elysia staggered. The strain of maintaining her spells had finally caught up to her.
But with gritted teeth, she forced herself to keep going.
Charlotte's chant neared its crescendo.
The myriad of colors spun faster, forming a vortex of prismatic light that engulfed her entirely.
Elysia glanced back for a split second, sweat dripping down her face.
"Almost there," Elysia whispered under her breath.
She couldn't fathom the complexity of Charlotte's magic at all.
The demons roared, their fury shaking the arena as they clawed at the barrier of spells holding them in place.
—That's spirit magic, isn't it?
—But how is she blending all of them together?
—The real question is, how is she even controlling that many elemental spirits at once...?
The murmurs grew louder, unable to tear their eyes away from the overwhelming display.
"Converge under the sevenfold prism! Harmonize! Coalesce! Collide—"
Charlotte's figure remained obscured by the swirling vortex of colors, but the pressure radiating from her magic was undeniable.
But once more, a demon escaped out of Elysia's control, sending her skidding back.
These mindless demons, noticing the emanating pressure of mana from Charlotte, rushed toward her.
"No!"
Elysia screamed, panic filling her voice as she reached for her last parchment.
With trembling hands, she threw it toward the approaching demons.
The parchment flared mid-air and instantly, the magic circle activated.
Crackle!
A barrier of energy erupted in front of the demons, halting their advance for a fleeting moment.
However, with a united swipe of their claws, the barrier shattered. Fragments of energy scattered into the air like shards of glass.
The demons roared, their focus locked on Charlotte as they surged forward.
Elysia staggered back, sweat pouring down her face as she clenched her fists.
She had nothing left.
Desperation overtook her, and with trembling hands, she began to chant, raising her arm forward.
But before the first syllable left her lips, Charlotte's eyes snapped open.
"By the sevenfold prism, converge and unleash—"
The spell was complete.
Each node had aligned perfectly. A flawless circuit built with layers upon layers of recalibrated and refined spellformulas surrounded her.
Charlotte had taken Vanitas's circuit design as a foundation, and transformed it into something extraordinary.
By utilizing her unique understanding of spirit magic into the framework, she had fundamentally evolved the circuit.
The circuit, designed specifically for her, provided a tailored foundation.
Prismatic light surged outward from her body. Each color rippled like waves in a boundless rainbow.
The sheer force of her spell sent vibrations through the arena. The pressure was so intense it forced the audience to shield their eyes.
Charlotte's voice was calm, almost cold, as if unaware of the chaos around her.
"Prismatic Convergence."
The colors began to shift and harmonize. They blended seamlessly as they spiraled into a radiant formation.
Each node bound to an elemental spirit with which Charlotte had forged a bond with.
Her stigmata, Breath of the Spirits, allowed her to speak to these entities as if they were alive.
And they had responded to her call.
The colors coalesced into a single radiant beam before fracturing into seven streams of pure elemental energy.
Crackle! Crackle!
The audience seemed to hold their breaths as the light scattered and weaved through the air like a painting.
—Wow!
—So beautiful….
Even the finest artwork paled in comparison to the mesmerizing display unfolding before their eyes.
The professors stopped evaluating the 'demon slaying examination.' They were simply enchanted by Charlotte's magic.
To them, it wasn't just magic. It was a phenomenon they had never seen before.
An art form that transcended their expectations of what a student could achieve.
Charlotte stood at the center of it all. Her stunning appearance far surpassed the brilliance of her magic.
The beauty she created with her spell was pure, and breathtaking.
Could such magic not be considered art itself?
The demons roared. Their forms had been bathed in the prismatic glow, before the streams struck.
"Ah…."
The collision was instantaneous and catastrophic.
"Beautiful…." she whispered, oblivious to the strain surging in her body.
For all of Charlotte's life, she had endured so much.
Bullied in her childhood for rejecting the advances of a noble boy.
Ridiculed by jealous noble girls simply for her beauty.
Forced to attend her mother's funeral before she could even attend her own graduation..
Her father, whom she cherished deeply, taken from her by her brother's reckless experiments with dark magic.
And that same brother—the only family she had left—berated her endlessly. Not for her faults, but for merely existing.
Even here, in the academy, she faced the repercussions of her brother's reputation.
The persecution. The disdain. The hateful remarks.
All of it, simply because she bore his name and shared his blood.
But the spirits had told her the truth.
Her brother was no longer there. His soul was gone, replaced by another entity.
She was exhausted.
Every day felt heavier than the last, and she couldn't help but cry herself to sleep at night.
Truth be told, Charlotte initially had no expectations of the new Vanitas.
She had already given up the day she resolved to kill him.
And everyday, Charlotte just simply…. lived.
Day by day, she lived with no hope. Her sole efforts had been just for hers and her alone.
And for the entire month, she existed in an endless cycle of effort and doubt, her hope fading with each passing day.
But just as that hope was about to fade entirely, Vanitas changed everything.
He made her realize something.
'I can do this.'
It felt like drifting in an endless ocean.
No matter how hard she paddled, she often doubted, 'Am I going the right way?'
Not anymore.
That entity—her so-called impostor brother—had shown her something she hadn't felt in years.
Kindness.
The same warmth she had once known when her brother had loved her.
Now, that same entity had given her a gift.
A gift she was sure of, would silence the whispers, the doubts, and the allegations of nepotism.
The magic didn't simply strike.
Crackle—!
It incinerated.
The demons' towering figures disintegrated on impact. Their forms crumbled into oblivion as the elemental energies consumed them entirely.
The force of the explosion rippled outward, shaking the ground and sending shockwaves through the arena.
When the brilliance faded, the arena was silent.
Not a trace of the demons remained.
Charlotte's figure descended slowly. Her glow dimmed as her feet touched the ground.
She stood in the aftermath.
It was then.
"....."
Clap– Clap– Clap–
Theoretical formulas and grades were one thing, but the ability to apply them in practice was something else entirely.
Magic often carried traces of its creator. Yet the magic Charlotte had displayed, while based on Vanitas's design, bore almost none of his signature.
Her contributions had completely overshadowed the foundation.
It wasn't just a variation.
It was her own magic.
Her own creation.
The cheers grew louder.
Among the applause, the professors, who were highly sensitive to magic, recognized what had just occurred.
Charlotte Astrea had become the first first-year student in the current curriculum to successfully create her own magic.
A feat so monumental that it left even the most skeptical speechless.
The spell formulas, the circuits, the magic itself—every element harbored Charlotte's unmistakable identity.
And her creation, Prismatic Convergence….
There was no doubt in everyone's minds.
"A Master–ranked spell, huh?" Vanitas muttered in his seat.
Concern flashed across his expression.
Charlotte had jumped from Advanced, all the way to Master–level magic.
It was like going from a high school athlete straight into an Olympic competition.
Her body simply shouldn't have been attuned to handling that kind of power.
It was borderline reckless.
"Ah."
As expected, there it was.
Thud!
….Charlotte collapsed.
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