Cramming Won't Cut It in Major Classes
"Cramming won't cut it in major subjects."
"We're in math class right now, not Basic Magic, and since the professor and students are all in agreement, we'll handle announcements together."
Karnaroph's chalk scratched across the blackboard, drawing out numbers. Midterm dates.
"It's really coming up soon!?"
"What can you do if you haven't studied?"
"At least the Basic Magic midterm is at the end."
The students buzzed with murmurs. Karnaroph pressed on calmly, unfazed.
"As is typical at Reinhardt Academy, midterms aren't heavily weighted. We put more emphasis on finals."
Huh? Maybe I can coast through this one easy.
"The math midterm will be a written exam."
That was a given. What else could it be? This world's math system was pretty much identical to Earth's. For someone like me who'd at least gone to college once, it was manageable. Actually, on the easy side.
"Whoa, but the math exam's super early."
"I'm screwed..."
"Gonna have to pull all-nighters starting today..."
The other students didn't seem to think so. Whatever, not my problem. I glanced over and spotted Robert and Linea looking totally chill. Guess the ones who didn't study were the only ones panicking.
What, you say I didn't study either? I did it back in the day, so I'm good.
"Next up, the Basic Magic midterm..."
Now this had my interest. Karnaroph always emphasized practical applications of Basic Magic in every class. Maybe the exam would be hands-on too.
"The Basic Magic exam will be held at the Training Ground."
Bingo.
"You'll hit five targets at varying distances, starting from the closest one in sequence. Then we'll grade based on the criteria. 20 points per target, total of 100."
Karnaroph filled the board with dense, intricate grading standards.
Damn, why's it gotta be so complicated? Of course, sticking to the basics satisfied everything. It was pure Karnaroph—every little detail for mastering Basic Magic proficiency crammed in there.
"Questions?"
Karnaroph asked. Silence.
The other classes announced their schedules too. Potionology skipped midterms entirely, so everything else was set. All crammed into the next few days.
Would've been nice if they were all physical tests. Instead, I was at the dormitory desk, books open.
"This shit's brutal."
Not that I planned to study, of course. Exams test what you already know from regular practice. Cramming extra during exam week? Heresy.
Absolutely not because I hate studying for tests!
"Krahhh! I don't wanna... save me from this hell..."
"Midterms are low-stakes and doable, though," Aris said consolingly, glancing my way.
"Huh?"
"Finals are way more practical and beyond imagination, they say. Especially Professor Karnaroph—get on his bad side and you're dead meat."
Ah, Aris's brothers. Not just pranking their little sis—they dropped some useful intel too. But looking at those target distances, midterms already seemed intense. For finals to top that, they'd probably have to drag in a monster or something.
Whatever. No sweat for me.
"Guess I can skip studying then."
"That's not what I meant!"
Aris slammed my head back onto the book as I reached for my phone. One of my downloaded vids started playing—a hydraulic press crushing crayons.
Aris nearly yeeted the phone out the window...
"Nooooo!"
"Magic devices that distract from studying get tossed!"
Who'd she learn to be this aggressive from?
"I won't! I swear!"
Shit, at this rate I'll actually study.
"Aris, check out this killer snack I scored..."
I went for the kill shot with backup munchies, but...
"After exams."
"Wait, hold on—"
"After exams."
No dice.
After getting thoroughly, mercilessly "studied" like that, on midterm day two, I left the exam hall with Aris, Linea, and Robert. Ever since Karnaroph grouped us up last time, we'd been hanging out more.
Yesterday was Herbology; this morning, Imperial History.
"How'd the exams go?"
"Eh? Nailed 'em."
"Yaaawn. Total bust."
Linea and I answered almost in sync.
"Whaaat? You memorized everything!"
"Professor's weird. Only pulls stuff we never covered."
"You didn't even open the Imperial History book!?"
Truth was, I'd skipped everything but Herbology and Basic Math out of laziness. But why'd Linea skip too?
"Haaam. Nobles twist history however they want. No point studying. Half of it's right anyway with what I already know."
"There were rumors that prof distorts history, so I wasn't super into it—but skipping entirely? That's just 'cause you didn't feel like it."
Hm. Can't argue that.
"Yeah, pretty much."
Honestly, I only cared about magic, and as a non-imperial, history held zero appeal. I hadn't even known it was controversial.
Robert clicked his tongue. "Seriously, why pull that crap?"
"Magic world's had a generational shift lately. They're protesting 'cause they can't bask in past glory anymore..." Linea yawned, eyes heavy.
Seemed like hot gossip among nobles.
"How was Herbology?"
"Aced it."
It felt like a 100% giveaway test anyway.
"No clue how brutal finals'll be."
"Definitely on the easy side."
Robert nodded. Herbology was like a prereq for Potionology—just memorizing basic herb names and traits. Nothing tough. Kinda boring, though. Heard we go off-campus for practicals after midterms. That might be fun.
"What's next?"
"Math this afternoon."
We strolled in relaxed... and got wrecked coming out.
"Gyaargh! What the hell!!!"
"Such bizarre problems..."
"Insanely tough. Solve this in 90 minutes? They're joking."
"How do you even come up with this stuff..."
Imperial History was doable, Herbology too—I'd forgotten Karnaroph was Karnaroph.
Linea asked me something. First time I'd seen her eyes fully open.
"Know the answer to number 8?"
"Solved 'em all, but can't remember."
Number 8? Couldn't even recall what that was. Pure sprint from start to finish. Applying class formulas was basic; some needed totally new approaches. I mashed modern math with what we'd learned and barely scraped by.
"I couldn't even finish properly..."
"Stuff we never learned popped up."
Now I got why some students looked weird when Karnaroph entered. Back at the dorm, I split from the group with Aris.
"Sigh. Not sure if I did okay."
"Everyone said it was tough."
I'd figured my magic square mathematician side would carry me easy... Math was my strong suit after heavy studying, but that exam obliterated my confidence. First time ever I thought going to college was worth the suffering. Even if I bombed my GPA there anyway.
"Last one... Basic Attack Magic? Potionology has no midterm."
Honestly, a huge relief.
"Aren't you nervous at all, Yumia?"
"Why would I be?"
Just go shoot some spells and done. Basic Attack Magic was so routine now, I was tempted to sneak advanced spells from the tower dorm.
Who knows? Might decode 'em solo.
"You're way too laid-back..."
Next day. Students gathered at the Training Ground. It doubled as an arena, so spectator seats ringed it.
I lounged in a chair, slurping mana potion cola through a straw. Sunglasses on for vibes—exam survival celebration. Mana potions subtly calmed the mind and body, so potion cola wasn't half bad.
"You look like the exams are already over..."
"Fnyaaawn..."
Nice sunlight...
"Just gotta finish this and midterms are done...!"
"Still super tense, though..."
Hm. Noobs. Just enjoy it.
"We'll start the midterm... but first. Ditch those ridiculous sunglasses, Yumia."
"Yeees..."
I pocketed them slyly. Ow, sunlight's blinding.
"Proceed as announced. Called? Step up and test. Miss a target? You're done."
Karnaroph's voice boomed, hands clasped behind his back. He pointed right away.
"Oliver Bernia."
Oliver? Oh, the assignment copier from before. Bragged about senior records sticking around for regular homework. Bumped into Karnaroph and didn't explode—must've figured he wouldn't get caught.
Let's see your skills, punk.
"Yes, sir!"
"Step forward and demonstrate Basic Attack Magic."
Oliver strode out confidently.
"Casting, Bullet!"
He blasted max power at the first target. After a brief cast, a mana bullet shot from his wand.
—Kwachik!
"Ooooh!!"
"Bernia Marquis family for ya!"
"Mana output's on another level!"
Karnaroph's brow furrowed like mine.
"Him?"
Emboldened, he shifted sideways.
"Casting, Bullet."
Another heavy shot pierced farther.
—Pa-jik.
Smashed the target at about 40 meters. Satisfied, he fired at the next. But he whiffed the third at 70 meters and stopped.
(Distances don't scale evenly—world's units are wonky.)
"Good work."
Oliver returned, not looking too bummed.
"Ooh, pretty solid, right?"
"At least 40 points locked in."
"Oliver's got talent!"
I stretched lazily. Guessed from the first shot.
Screwed. Not even one clean hit, huh?
"9 points."
"Wh-what!? What kind of grading is that? I clearly destroyed the second target—"
Oliver protested, incredulous. Karnaroph approached.
Looming over him, the professor spoke.
"Let me explain the grading criteria again."