บท 8: Aptitude Exam
Roughly 30 minutes passed since the writing exams passed.
Whereas the examinees took a break in their seats, Ophelia's assistants prepared the things for the last exam.
At the front, five tables were lined up each with a bracelet on a cushion.
Ophelia sat at the center with two assistants sitting at the tables on each of her sides.
"Just like I've mentioned a while ago, we'll start the aptitude test now! You can start lining up at a table of your choosing."
Ophelia sat with her legs and arms crossed as she instructed the people.
Then, the examinees slowly began to line up randomly.
Unconsciously, Mika decided to stand in the line for the table where Ophelia sat.
"Uhh, I feel my heart racing!" Lily said clenching both her fists in front of her.
Not just Lily, but everyone else started to get nervous.
On the other hand, Mika broke into a cold sweat.
[She sure is staring daggers at you.]
"Y-yeah…" Mika muttered anxiously.
Despite 10 or more people standing in front of him, he noticed Ophelia glaring at him.
In order to distract himself from that killing intent, Mika began to look around.
Catching his eyes was of course the events at the other tables.
During the aptitude tests, it will be measured how potent one's magic is by using the magic bracelet. The magic bracelet has seven small transparent crystal balls on it and when a person holds the bracelet with one hand, the crystal balls will illuminate. If the person's magic is D-rank magic, then only three balls will shine and if it's S-rank magic, then all seven balls will shine.
From time to time, Mika heard people cheering when someone scored high, however only a few people got a B or even an A rank.
"Next!" Ophelia announced.
Mika faced forward again only to realize that it was his turn now.
"Oh~, it's you this time, huh…" she said menacingly.
He gulped down his saliva.
"Here. Take the bracelet. Let's see what you're capable of."
On her command, he took the bracelet and stared at it until he noticed some balls starting to shine.
"I-It's a S rank!"
"Wait what?!"
"It's my first time seeing a S rank assessment!"
The people around him made a ruckus.
Mika counted the shining balls.
"Hmm… I see. It's that girl from back then." Ophelia commented pensively as she stared to her right.
He glanced to his left.
Standing beside his table was the girl with the shoulder-length grey hair. She stared indifferently at the magic bracelet whose seven balls all shined brightly in a light blue matching her eye color.
"C-congratulations! You're an S-rank!" the assistant appointed to that table announced still taken aback.
"So that's a S rank…" Mika muttered amazed.
[Pay attention to yourself.]
After facing forward again, he was met with an annoyed Ophelia.
"You sure like to screw around with me, am I right?"
"And here I thought that you were someone special considering what happened during that time." she said disappointed after heaving a sigh.
"I don't know what you mean, hehe…" Mika tried to brush it off.
Ophelia sighed again.
"E rank."
"Thank you?" Mika replied unsure what to say.
He was about to turn away, but Ophelia suddenly grabbed his hand.
"Wait."
"?"
"Meet me at the gates after everything is over. I won't take a no as an answer."
"Why should-"
Mika wanted to decline the offer, however, her eyes sharpened as he began to utter the first words.
"I-I understand…" he gave in.
"Good. Now go."
Thus, Mika left the line and waited in his seat again.
It did not take long until everyone got assessed.
"Seems like my people were correct. I'm only a B rank."
"That's still a great result, isn't it?"
Lily seemed a bit down after hearing her assessment.
"I guess it is, but still…"
She wanted to be at least an A-rank to have a shot at a place in the best class.
"To get into the best class one must have at least an A-rank and at least 95% must be correct in the writing exam. The only other way to get into that class would be to get assessed as an S-rank." she explained.
"Wow, these are some harsh conditions…" Mika responded frightened off.
Lily heaved a sigh as she leaned her upper body on the table.
"Listen up, everyone! The exams are now officially over. After going through your aptitude and writing exam results, we will announce your classes tomorrow. So for now you may leave and rest again." Ophelia declared.
At that moment, her and Mika's eyes met.
Exhaustedly, the examinees left the place.
Mika walked alongside Lily until they reached the gate.
"Hm? What's wrong, Mika?" she asked confused after she noticed Mika standing still.
"Sorry, you can go ahead. I still have some business to attend here." Mika answered with a faint smile.
"Oh, is that so? Well, until tomorrow then!"
Lily bid farewell as she waved her hands.
Some time passed with Mika waiting for Ophelia at the gate. As the last student left the academy grounds, the sun began to set.
"I wonder why she wants to meet up with me…"
[Speaking of the devil.]
"Hm?"
Mika looked in the direction where he heard the sound of shoes clacketing.
"Didn't expect that you would really wait for me here." Ophelia pretended to be impressed.
"Just how low do you think of me…"
"Anyways, let's get straight to the point."
She leaned on him closer as if she wanted to corner him.
"Just who are you?" she asked sternly.
"W-what do you mean?"
"This is the first time I met someone like you. Someone who intentionally bombed the writing exam and got an E-rank. Are you even motivated to be a student at Loogam?!"
"Well, I-"
"And the thing that annoys me the most is that I got beaten by you! An E rank!"
She grabbed her head in shock.
[So in the end she's just a sore loser.]
"I can't accept it! I, an S-rank, got defeated by an E-rank!!!"
This time, she fell on her knees.
Mika only stood there not being sure what to do.
"Do you possess a relic?!"
"I-"
"No, that's impossible. After all, in the encyclopedia for the mystic relics, there was not a single entry that described the weapon you've used. But what is that then…?" she murmured to herself.
"Uhm, can I say something, too?"
"Alright, I made up my mind!" Ophelia declared completely ignoring Mika.
After she stood up again, she pointed with her finger at Mika.
"Fight me once more!"
"What? No, why should I?!"
"Don't worry. This will be a personal duel between us two. It won't influence your academy life."
"That's not my point!"
"If it's about secrecy, then I have that covered as well."
"This still won't change my answer!"
"T-then…"
With her finger on her chin, Ophelia pondered about how she could convince Mika.
At the same time, Mika received a new side quest from the system.
"Ah, come on…" he murmured barely audible and annoyed.
The quest stated the following:
Win against Ophelia.
Reward: The right to change a quest once.
Punishment: More magic will be taken away from you.
"T-then, what if I reward you if you win?"
"…"
Despite Ophelia being all flustered and fidgety, Mika paid her no mind as he thought about the quest.
Sometimes Mika would receive a quest he was obliged to accept, like the quest to enter the academy, but it was also possible to get side quests which were not mandatory.
However, this time the rewards were interesting.
[What will you do?]
"I-if you win, then I'll d-do e-everything you want…"
"I accept."
Mika wished to take on the side quest without knowing what the blushing Ophelia just said.
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