Hiring instructors regardless of their status was really something, especially when you realized the noble academy was the only school in Ozeria attended by nobles. This was per the wishes of the royal family. If those three couldn’t understand that, then good luck trying to make it in high society.
Among other things, winter was the season of end of term exams. Last year, I stupidly went and got good scores, thereby forcing me to take part in a royal ball the following February. I told myself that next year, I would let myself make a few mistakes, but then Sheila explicitly told me not to do that. For good measure, she just now sent me a letter containing a stark reminder.
“There’s no getting past our mother,” Colny remarked.
“She never fails,” Loks added.
Can you believe those two?
We were eating lunch in the academy cafeteria. Lanmia and Luchirs were eating with other people, which was common around this time of year. They weren’t at private repasts this time, but instead eating with their club friends. At times like these, joining a club sounded pretty nice, but my general aversion to difficult things made that pretty unlikely.
Just as I started to space out, Colny tilted her head and said, “But if you repeat what you did the prior year, your scores should be good this year as well, no? I’m sure you’ll have no difficulties.”
“I sure hope so.”
Frankly, general education subjects were no problem. Like the paper exams from my previous life, the range of questions didn’t fluctuate wildly, and the instructor always covered the important points during class. As long as you had a grasp on that, a good score was feasible.
The problem was electives.
“Even with electives,” I said, “I should be able to pull through for general magic, magic tools, and alchemy.”
General magic and magic tools both involved the same sort of stuff we did at the institute, so I just had to think of it as an extension of that. As for alchemy, that was a nifty craft that I couldn’t get enough of.
“That leaves mystic-jockeying and archery,” I said.
“I guess you should be fine as long as you don’t outright fail, right?” Loks suggested. “You’ll just have to do well on the other subjects.”
“I’m sure you’ll manage,” Colny assured me.
That sure sounded different coming from two people who had always been among the best in their grades. Still, starting this year, mystic-jockeying would involve practical exams for me. That would be a big change. Previously, I had only been able to take the written and oral exams, forcing me to make sure I didn’t make a single mistake. But now I had Gonsuke! Archery, meanwhile, I should be able to pass, even if I was no match for Loks’s performance.
The days passed quickly, and before I knew it, the end of term exams were upon us. During this period, all classes were canceled to let students focus on their exams. Sort of like middle and high school exams from my previous life. All tests happened in the morning, even for electives, which were usually in the afternoon.
My first exam was mystic-jockeying.
“Finally. I can finally take a proper exam.”
“Gon.”
“Thank you, Gonsuke. This couldn’t have happened without you.”
“Gon gon!”
Unless I was imagining it, the instructor was also tearing up. Unsurprisingly, the other students were watching us from a very safe distance.
Gonsuke won’t do anything bad. He’s a good boy.
“Now then, Duval, it’s your turn!”
Mystic-jockeying classes naturally focused on riding techniques, but also taught the handling and care of mysticstock. The most important of those lessons was how to calm your mount if it lost control.
“Duval, you’ll be exempted from the calming test, as you’ve proven yourself capable on the first day. Again during general magic, you displayed perfect control over your mount.”
“Gon!”
“Certainly.”
You’re getting awfully full of yourself, Gonsuke. Remember that I had to rein you in on your first day because you were disobedient? Don’t forget that.
Sensing just a bit of pressure in my gaze, Gonsuke shrank back. Whether man or mysticstock, humility was important.
“You’ve also shown during classes that you can take care of a mount. Right, for today’s test, how about you show me how fast that black greatbear can go?”
All right! So does this mean I just need to make Gonsuke run as fast as possible?
Not wasting a moment, I got on my bear and ran around the edge of the arena. We started off slowly, gradually increasing our speed.
Oh, this feels nice.
It was winter, so the wind was cold, but even that felt nice in my state of excitement. Together, Gonsuke and I became the wind. After we got a little carried away and ran ten laps, the instructor finally stopped us.
“I know you enjoy riding the black greatbear, but there are other students.”
“Oh, my apologies.”
The instructor had to get around to every student before the period was over. I sympathized. But thanks to Gonsuke’s valiant efforts, I got a great score. It’s incredible what a good bear can do.
The next test was archery. I felt like I had gotten a bit rusty, but still got a score I could recover from. I’d just have to give it my all on the remaining tests.
The first day was only two subjects, but because the test periods were long, it was already noon by the time we were done.
Time to get ready for tomorrow!
The next day started with general magic. For whatever reason, the practical exam had me casting a group spell by myself. The normal test just required you to use two spells of different varieties in succession. I had no clue why I had my own special exam, but I sure hadn’t asked for it.
“You’ve got more than enough mana for four people,” Bear said with a grin.
“I guess that’s true, yeah.”
“Look, this spell’s real good in a fight.”
“I’ve used it before; you don’t need to tell me.”
I had cast this spell plenty of times while hunting in the Mystic Forest. Back then, I hadn’t even heard of “coordinated” magic. Heck, I was pretty sure it was Bear who first taught me this spell.
“Oh yeah, I did, didn’t I?”
The guffawing moron. Gonsuke was cute, but there was nothing endearing about this bear.
So I gave him what he wanted. By myself, I cast a coordinated spell meant for four people. Going for looks, I used fire, and man, the pillar of flame that reached for the sky sure was beautiful. I had used water in the Mystic Forest, since fire was off the table there.
I wasn’t the only one who did this; anyone who wanted to could try to cast a coordinated spell solo and let that be their exam. Of course, all the top students succeeded.
“If you can’t do it now,” Bear announced, “I’ll make sure that you can at least do a two-person spell solo before the end of the next term.”
Everyone at the lower end of the bell curve let out a wail.
“Don’t worry,” I tried to assure them, “once you get used to it, it’s not hard at all.”
The third prince looked at me agog. “Maybe so, but a four-person spell must be impossible.”
“Hmm? Do you think so? I think it’s more than feasible.”
Funny that the prince would say that, considering that he could manage a three-person spell. It was just a matter of acclimation.