Chapter 466: The Teaching Assistant Interview
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 466: The Teaching Assistant Interview
A few days later.
In a cordoned-off section of the Witch Academy's Central Teaching Area, a crowd of senior sisters had gathered to watch. Had it not been for the isolation spells shielding the area, these onlookers likely would have charged straight in to get a front-row seat.
This was the final venue for the Teaching Assistant assessment interviews.
One could call this the ultimate trial. Once the interview concluded, even before the official announcement, most candidates would already have a fair idea of their standing.
Rather than a mere interview, it was more of a mutual selection—a two-way endeavor between the prospective assistants and the mentors, based entirely on individual capability.
For this session, the interviewees had to face a panel of seventeen mentors. While the sheer scale of the panel was daunting, the mentors all had different specializations. Not every mentor would grill every candidate; most would only ask a few perfunctory questions.
After all, becoming a Teaching Assistant also required a stroke of luck. If a student’s field of study didn't align with any mentor looking for an assistant, they would likely fail. However, such cases were rare. Generally, those capable of applying for the position were savvy enough to obtain a list of the participating mentors beforehand. If no mentor suited their expertise, a student would simply continue to build their strength and wait for the next opportunity.
As for the content of the interview, the mentors interested in a particular student were free to improvise based on their own needs. In most cases, however, they stuck to the information provided in the initial background check, using it as a springboard for the student to demonstrate their skills.
If a mentor caught a student faking their credentials in such a setting, it would leave a devastatingly negative impression on the entire panel.
At that moment, I was sitting in the designated waiting area.
I scanned my surroundings. It was clearly one of the academy’s large lecture halls. The elevated podium served as the visual focal point of the entire room, surrounded by tiered desks arranged in a fan-like pattern.
The choice of venue suggested that the interview was designed to highlight the candidate’s presentation skills and their communication with the mentors, rather than to emphasize the mentors' superior status.
The seventeen mentors hadn't gathered here to flaunt their prestige; they were here to pick their assistants. Unnecessary formalities were kept to a minimum.
Each of the seventeen mentors had their own style. Quite a few had dressed up for the occasion, seemingly having already set their sights on certain candidates. Meanwhile, some of the Transcendent Witches sat in seasoned silence, waiting patiently. One could easily tell from their behavior which witches were new mentors and which were "old foxes" who had been around the academy for ages.
The newly appointed mentors made no effort to hide their curiosity, leaning over to scan the waiting area with an anticipation that was plain to see.
By now, a student had already taken the stage at the central podium to face the panel. She had to endure not only the collective gaze of the mentors but also the unblinking eyes of her fellow candidates.
The performance of the first few candidates would serve as a vital reference for those following, providing both encouragement and a template for the rest of the students.
Many students had poured their heart and soul into preparing for this interview, utilizing every possible means to showcase themselves.
For instance, the most common method was a slide-like presentation. Most used the Ley Line System to handle this, while some of the more talented senior sisters used imaging spells to create a display. The latter allowed for much higher interactivity and control.
Since mentors didn't always ask questions in the order of a prepared presentation, imaging spells were far more versatile.
Watching them recount their achievements with such familiarity, demonstrating their abilities one by one, I couldn't help but feel impressed from my seat below.
In truth, most of this information was already recorded in the documents held by the mentors. These visual demonstrations were primarily meant to provide more detailed responses and a better self-showcase when a mentor asked a specific question.
I, however, sat there in a daze. Because... in my mind, I had never heard of needing to prepare a visual presentation for an interview.
This was an interview, not a project bid. I really hadn't prepared anything like that, mostly because no one had told me to. Even Sister Bai hadn't mentioned it, so the thought hadn't even crossed my mind.
However, judging by the surprised expressions on several mentors' faces when the first senior sister started her presentation, it seemed it wasn't strictly mandatory. It was just that, as one generation of senior sisters followed another, it had apparently become an unspoken rule of the interview process.
After all, in an interview like this, a dry speech could never be as direct or impactful as a presentation that combined images and text.
With a soft, inward sigh, I began brainstorming ways to compensate. My understanding of an interview was still stuck at the "they ask, I answer" stage. Seeing these senior sisters already showing off their "divine powers" during the self-introduction phase definitely put a bit of pressure on me.
Still, I wasn't truly intimidated. My strength and inherent abilities were my greatest confidence; any flashy displays were merely the icing on the cake. If the core ability wasn't there, no amount of "carving rotten wood" would help.
By the end of the interview, candidates would usually analyze their performance to see which mentor might favor them. If, after a round of questioning, you couldn't tell who was interested in you, you might as well excuse yourself. That wasn't even accounting for the "two-way selection" process or the competition between multiple candidates for the same mentor.
Naturally, most prospective assistants tried to avoid "multiple-choice" scenarios, as the risk was immense. No one could guarantee that if they were rejected by their first choice, another mentor would still want them.
However... the number of prospective assistants usually exceeded the number of mentors. Competition was inevitable, especially for the popular mentors.
As the senior sister on stage stepped down, the disappointment on her face was almost palpable. Her interview had been very short; only a few mentors had bothered to ask questions, and many had made it clear they were just waiting for the next candidate. Even the mentors who did ask were the kind, welcoming types—the sort who asked questions just to keep you from being too embarrassed. One couldn't expect them to have the charity to actually choose her as an assistant. They had already screened several candidates and hadn't picked a single one.
"Next, Yang Yuehan?"
Shortly after that senior sister had packed her things and left, the deliberating mentors called out the next name.
Upon hearing that name, many mentors and students alike showed peculiar expressions.
The mentors, of course, had the students' files in front of them—some had even received them much earlier. They had seen her information before, and this particular student had left a deep impression.
The witches who had been mentors at the academy for a long time showed looks of genuine interest. Some even adjusted their posture, preparing to watch this student's performance closely. Others glanced toward the five Transcendent Witches sitting at the edge. After all, the relationship between this student and those witches wasn't just a rumor among the students; it was well-known among the mentors as well.
The student body felt much the same.
They were more concerned with how I would handle the situation. With such powerful backing, what kind of performance would I put on during the interview? If I just phoned it in, my position as a TA wouldn't be seen as legitimate. The world is never short of people who hate to see others succeed.
Then again... no one truly dislikes "going through the back door"; they just hate it when they aren't the ones who get to do it.
I stood up, smoothed out my elegant dress, and walked onto the stage. As I rose, I heard words of encouragement and luck from the senior sisters I had met once before sitting nearby. I nodded to each of them in response.
Though this was the first time I had faced such a grand occasion, my nerves were completely unable to affect my performance.
I was no longer the person I used to be. Just by standing there, a sense of confidence naturally radiated from me.
"Student Yang Yuehan, correct? If you have anything to prepare, you can set it up now. We might have quite a few questions for you in a moment~"
The mentor who had previously seemed very approachable spoke up to remind me. She held my personal file and gave me a slight nod.
This mentor was named Cindy. The display card in front of her, which included a brief introduction, told me as much.
"Thank you for the reminder, Mentor Cindy. However, I haven't prepared a presentation flow like the senior sisters before me. If I encounter a question that absolutely requires a visual aid, I will use spells to create a temporary demonstration."
"You're very confident. In that case, give us a brief self-introduction. Though we're already quite familiar with your file," Mentor Cindy continued. Her words were a clear hint: the self-introduction wasn't that important, so there was no need to be long-winded.
A self-introduction is an opening act to describe one's own abilities; it's an art of speech meant to catch the mentors' attention.
Its essence is to make the other party understand and become interested in you, while providing a clear structure for the rest of the interview. Many interviews follow the order of the self-introduction to delve deeper into related matters. The entire interview is a communication process to facilitate mutual understanding, not a one-sided show.
If you dump a massive list of your abilities during the intro, it makes it hard for the mentors to ask questions and hard for you to answer them, leading to an awkward situation for everyone. In such cases, mentors usually pivot to much deeper questions. Answering them correctly is a plus, but failing to do so tanks your impression score. An interview is a subjective choice based on objective facts.
"Hello, mentors and senior sisters. My name is Yang Yuehan, a first-year student at the Witch Academy. I consider myself an explorer who loves seeking out the Transcendent. During my time at the academy, I have learned a great deal, accumulated a certain amount of experience, and achieved a few minor successes. Although my time here hasn't been long, I believe I have proven my capacity for continuous learning and my commitment to constant self-improvement. I believe I am qualified to become a Teaching Assistant at the Witch Academy. Thank you," I said briefly. Since Mentor Cindy had hinted at brevity, I kept it short.
"That self-introduction was basically saying nothing at all. Aside from knowing your name is Yang Yuehan and that you've been here for a year—no, half a year—you probably don't even know what 'Transcendent' truly means, do you? What could you have possibly learned? What experience could you have accumulated?"
Another mentor nearby spoke up with a smile, though it was hard to tell if she was amused or irritated by my introduction.
"Indeed. Within these six months, I have received course exemptions, but I have mastered the core knowledge points of the three-year curriculum. My previous written exam scores prove my learning ability. Furthermore, I have conducted significant research into both Runology and Alchemy," I replied confidently.
The mentor didn't refute me. My written exam scores were right there in the file, and that near-perfect score—missing only a single point—was indeed eye-catching.
"I see other things in your file. You've published academic papers in the academy. Although you're listed as the second author, the fact that your name is included suggests you contributed quite a bit, right? Especially since these papers seem to have updated the academy's existing models regarding Spellbook Model Deconstruction. Specifically, the deconstruction of the Fireball Spellbook model? That's one of the classic models with very universal characteristics. Can you elaborate on your understanding of that paper?"
"Of course. Once I get the paper..."
"No need. Just give us a brief summary. This is an interview. You mentioned earlier that you would use spells for demonstrations. I understand the inadequacy of language when it comes to explaining the Transcendent. You may use your own methods to assist your explanation."
"Alright." I nodded. Although those papers were organized and published with Teacher Ji Niang's help, my understanding of the subject was second nature.
I scanned the room, looking at the mentors and the bewildered senior sisters, finally letting my gaze settle on Sister Bai's encouraging eyes.
I smiled back to show her there was no need to worry. I could handle a question of this caliber.
"Mentors, this is an effect of one of my illusion spells. I will use it to briefly demonstrate my deconstruction and understanding of the Fireball Spellbook model." With a wave of my hand, a phantom leaf floated in my palm.
It was a leaf from the Tree of Knowledge, another means of demonstration. At this point, such a display was no longer confined to a Subjective Illusion; it could even manifest from void to reality as an actual demonstration. However, since I had already announced it as an illusion, I didn't intend to change my approach.
"An illusion? Interesting."
Just the start of the demonstration prompted a comment from one of the mentors.
After all, they were Transcendent Witches. A Subjective Illusion that could affect them the moment it was cast was indeed surprising. Granted, it was partly because they hadn't actively raised their mental defenses—they didn't think a student could do anything to them.
But if she actually did something—even if it was just leaving a tiny scratch on a Transcendent Witch—would that be an interview accident?
No, that wouldn't be an accident. It would be a magnificent display of ability. With such a proud achievement, the rest of the long interview wouldn't even be necessary.
"Transcendent" was an absolute threshold of rank. No one was supposed to be able to bridge that gap.
And before ascending to the Transcendent level, were there no rank divisions?
There were, and plenty of them. There were almost as many classification systems as there were worlds in the Void. However, those rank divisions could never truly spread across the Void.
The only rank that could never be overturned was "Transcendent."
Any rank system that allowed for "fighting above one's level" was an inaccurate assessment of combat power, strength, and capability. Such systems were only useful for reference; they didn't define the Void.
The gap between Transcendent and non-Transcendent was unbridgeable. It was the most rigid hierarchy in the Void. Its rigidity didn't stem from the power of those who created the rank or any human intervention; it was because the concept of "Transcendent" was a natural boundary. Stepping across it meant dealing a "dimensional strike" to everything behind you. It was the Void's original, self-evident hierarchical concept.
At that moment, another mentor suddenly spoke up, offering a different perspective.
"The deconstruction of the Fireball Spellbook is the most fundamental yet most testing form of demonstration. I will allow you to be as detailed as you like. If you prove your ability, I will acknowledge the learning capacity you claimed to have achieved in these six months. Even if your subsequent demonstrations are mediocre, I am willing to take you as my assistant. In fact, I would be willing to teach you as my true disciple," the witch, who had been quiet until now, declared.
She was a very senior mentor at the academy, and her words immediately drew everyone's attention.
The senior sisters in the waiting area were stunned. Their minds were filled with the feeling that I had already secured the position. They were consumed by envy; this was an interview, a process with no clear boundaries and no promises from mentors. Now, a mentor had explicitly set a bar for a student—if she cleared it, she was in. Who could refuse such a temptation?
But the other mentors in the room were thinking something entirely different. Their minds were screaming... This woman beat us to the punch!
The most intense reaction came from Bai Yu. This was a blatant attempt to poach from her!
Although their current conflict centered on what a freshman could possibly learn in six months—and they all acted skeptical—none of them doubted the accuracy of the academy's information. This student's file was packed with detailed records. Even with the most malicious interpretation, even if taken purely at face value, one couldn't deny the student's excellence.
This was six months. Even if she had only achieved what was written on paper, she was in a league of her own!
And they had only just started on the academic paper portion. This was just the appetizer...