Vice Dean Hargan stepped forward once more, his deep azure robes flowing as if reflecting his solemn mood. The students’ murmurs gradually quieted, their eyes nervously shifting toward him.
His piercing gaze swept across the hall, stopping momentarily on the faces of Orion, Arya, and other top students. "I urge all of you to heed Vice Dean Elanora’s words carefully. Students have indeed lost their lives during academy’s examinations before. This is not a mere threat to frighten you—it’s a sad reality. Treat your preparation with utmost seriousness."
Orion inwardly groaned, ’No shit, we are going to a warzone.’
Despite his wry humor, he clearly understood the severity of the situation. Around him, the silence shattered into tense whispers. Students exchanged panicked glances, unease palpable in the stifling air of the grand hall.
"We’ve barely started at the academy and now we’re being sent to war? This is madness," one student anxiously muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief.
Another responded nervously, "Do you think they’ll really let us die out there? Maybe this is just to scare us...?"
Arya, composed despite the shocking news, turned subtly toward Orion, whispering softly, "This will be more dangerous than any of our previous training. We’ll need to prepare ourselves carefully."
Orion nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "We’ll have to do whatever it takes. After all, we’re at the academy precisely to face challenges like these."
Nyss, sitting calmly beside Orion, crossed her arms once more, her expression returning to its usual indifferent mask, though the glint of seriousness in her eyes hadn’t faded.
She softly murmured, barely audible, "It’ll certainly weed out those who don’t deserve to stand at the top."
As the murmurs continued, Vice Dean Hargan turned sharply, his stern presence dominating the room.
He exchanged a quiet glance with Vice Dean Elanora, who nodded gently. With synchronized steps, the two stepped off the platform, exiting the hall through the doors from which they’d entered.
Their departure left the students feeling an unsettling mixture of dread, apprehension, and cautious determination.
Outside the examination hall, Elanora released a gentle, weary sigh, her typically graceful and composed stance relaxing now that they were away from the prying eyes of the students.
The playful charm and unshakable confidence of her earlier demeanor slipped, revealing an uncharacteristic moment of uncertainty.
Turning slowly toward Hargan, her eyes filled with concern, she asked softly, "Hargan, do you think we’ve been too harsh on them? They’re only first-year students, after all. Sending them straight to a warzone feels dangerously unprecedented."
Hargan paused thoughtfully, his deep azure robes gently shifting around him as he considered her words.
After a moment, he shook his head firmly, his gaze resolute yet reassuring. "This is the golden age. We need to be more ruthless with our means. Before, we used to have one test every three months. But clearly, this batch of students is far more talented. Instead of making them push every other month, it would be better to give them the creative freedom to do as they wish until the time of the test arrives."
He looked at her, shaking his head softly. "And besides, Elanora, we aren’t truly sending them to the frontlines or into major conflicts. Their deployment will be restricted to minor cities, places with minimal risk. Our aim is simply to let them gain firsthand experience, not to lead them into certain doom."
Elanora exhaled again, feeling that Hargan’s words made sense. "That’s good to hear, Hargan. But still... the southern border is not something to trifle with at this moment. The situation there can worsen at any moment."
Hargan nodded gravely, his expression hardening. "Yes, the demons are becoming alarmingly bold and coordinated. It’s clear something sinister is brewing beneath the surface. Even I can’t help but feel unease."
Elanora’s gaze turned sharp, her usually playful eyes narrowing as she stared ahead. "I fear these small skirmishes will soon erupt into something much greater. If the demons escalate their aggression further, the southern towns and cities may suffer greatly."
Hargan shook his head. "That’s why we gave the students a buffer of ten months. Some of them should be able to reach the fifth level in this time. Now we only need to trust our students."
Elanora slowly nodded, sighing lightly as her expression slightly brightened again. "You’re right, Hargan. Maybe I was being too worried."
He exhaled and turned around. Elanora raised her head and looked at him curiously. "Where are you going?"
Hargan paused. "To the battlefield. The test has been concluded here. About time I return there to slaughter those mongrels."
Thunder crackled in front of Elanora as Hargan vanished from his place. She softly shook her head. ’He really hates demons to the bone, huh.’
With one last glance back at the hall where students had gathered, she took off toward the Sky Pavilion.
Back in the garden beneath the sprawling cherry blossom tree, Orion and his fellow club members had gathered once more.
The gentle breeze carried delicate petals through the air, drifting lazily around the small group—a stark contrast to the heavy topic they discussed.
The tranquility of the garden felt almost surreal compared to the tense atmosphere inside the academy’s examination hall just moments before.
Elias paced anxiously, frustration evident in his every movement. He waved his hands angrily, his voice dripping with annoyance and disbelief. "This is definitely Hargan’s twisted idea! No way the gentle Vice Dean Elanora could think of sending us to a warzone! She’s always been kind and considerate, unlike that ruthless old man."
Kale chuckled softly, shaking his head at Elias’s exaggerated reaction. "Calm down, Elias. Whether it’s Vice Dean Hargan or Elanora, does it really matter who made the call? The fact remains—we’re headed into a genuine battle."
Elias shot him an irritated glance, his voice rising with each word. "Of course it matters! Vice Dean Elanora at least would have given us a gentler test! This is outrageous! It’s Hargan who’s always pushing us to the brink—"
Sylvia interjected calmly, her cool voice cutting through Elias’s tirade with ease. "You do realize Vice Dean Elanora delivered the announcement herself, right? She didn’t exactly look hesitant or apologetic."
Elias paused mid-sentence, visibly deflating under Sylvia’s sharp gaze. He grumbled quietly, reluctant to accept her point. "Maybe... maybe she was pressured by Hargan? She’s probably as miserable as we are."
Arya, sitting gracefully on the grass, chuckled softly at Elias’s futile attempt to rationalize. "Regardless of who made the decision, we should focus more on preparing ourselves. The test is inevitable, and complaining won’t change a thing."
Felira, leaning casually against the tree trunk, spoke softly with an amused glint in her eyes. "If anything, Vice Dean Elanora’s involvement makes this test more frightening. After all, gentle people rarely remain gentle forever."
Elias groaned dramatically, collapsing onto the grass beside Kale. "I give up. You guys clearly don’t share my pain. I just hope we survive this insane idea."
Orion, who had remained silent up until now, finally spoke with a confident tone. "It’s true that this is an extreme test, but remember, this academy was never meant to coddle us. Whether it’s Hargan or Elanora, they wouldn’t give us this task if they didn’t believe we were capable."