Midterm (9): The Sky is Blue
The sky was a brilliant blue.
Not a single cloud in sight.
The sun blazed fiercely, but the breeze was refreshingly cool.
"Nice weather."
The best day since I'd entered this body.
Sparring was over, and today marked the final day of midterms.
Plus, this exam wasn't particularly important.
The Academy prioritized practical combat above all.
They taught academics and held exams, sure, but they barely factored into grades.
Basically, I could relax without a care.
Speaking of academics...
"Wonder what format it'll be."
No details on the exam method had been revealed yet.
They'd explain once we got to the Great Hall.
More curiosity than worry stirred in me.
The point of the Academy's academic training was mental discipline.
Building personal values, sharpening self-judgment.
That sort of thing.
So the exam would probably test those principles.
"No clue."
I racked my brain, but nothing came.
Eh, whatever.
One step through this door, and I'd know.
No point overthinking it.
Creeeak.
I pushed open the Great Hall doors.
Unlike the packed crowds of recent days, it was eerily quiet.
No cadets in sight—just a handful of professors.
As I scanned the room to gauge the situation,
"Follow me."
"Pardon? Uh, yes?"
What the—
Aeshy Emberline, the current Hero, appeared out of nowhere, grabbed me, and started dragging me off somewhere.
"I'll explain briefly."
"...Explain what?"
"What else? The exam you're taking today."
Before that, mind telling me where you're dragging me?
I'm seriously confused here.
"You'll take the exam in a room prepared specifically for you."
"So this is leading to that room?"
"Yes."
A custom room for each cadet...
Probably spatial magic.
I had no idea what the significance was, though.
Maybe just for atmosphere?
"Here's the exam content."
"...Do you have to explain while dragging me?"
"Shut it."
"...Yes, ma'am."
Something sour her mood today?
She's awfully sharp-edged.
"I'll cast an exam-specific spell on you."
"Exam spell?"
"Yes. When it hits, you'll fall asleep and relive one random moment from your memories in a dream."
"...Pardon?"
"No telling what memory it'll be. Could be a happy one... or a trauma."
Ah.
I got the gist of this exam now.
"In that memory, you must make one choice."
"Must... as in, obligatory?"
"Yes. Obligatory."
Emphasizing choice like this meant the act itself was key.
Not what choice, but that you make one.
The evaluation criterion was probably "self-judgment."
Which meant that spell didn't pull truly random memories.
It summoned ones where choice was difficult.
...Headache incoming.
No idea how others would fare,
but for me, it was a pain.
Most of my memories had evaporated.
The solid ones only went back to entering this body.
Yet traces of those lost memories lingered.
So where would the spell send me?
The new memories I'm building in this body?
Or the faded, hazy ones already gone?
No clue which.
Hell, not even sure the spell would work properly.
"We're here. Enter through this door."
"Closer than I thought."
She'd dragged me down the hall, and suddenly we were at a door.
I turned the knob and opened it.
The room inside was pristine.
No furniture—just pure white walls enclosing the space.
"Sit in the center, legs crossed."
I followed Aeshy's instruction, settling into position.
I even closed my eyes.
No real reason; it just felt like meditation.
"...Tch."
Aeshy clicked her tongue softly.
She seemed displeased about something.
Not my problem, honestly.
I just wanted to finish the exam quick and chill.
"Beginning now."
"Roger."
Snap.
The moment I replied, she snapped her fingers.
Mana stirred beneath me, tracing a magic circle.
She must've pre-inscribed it and infused her mana.
Intricate work, befitting the Academy.
Hm...
My mind started fogging over.
Magic effect, obviously—no resistance from me.
I just let it wash in.
Like catching a quick nap.
I surrendered to the haze, relaxing my body.
After about three breaths,
Thud.
My consciousness blacked out.
The morning everyone else was slowly waking.
Sellin El Soladion stepped out of her dormitory room.
Destination: the Great Hall.
For the final midterm exam.
The academic portion of midterms always varied in format.
Sellin, who'd lived through countless cycles—most at the Academy—had never seen the same one twice.
This time would be no different.
One thing she knew for sure:
Academic exams let you start early if you entered early.
That's why she'd come sooner than usual.
Today was the day she'd erase Shin Iheon from her life.
Proper preparation was key.
Taking the exam early was part of that—to wrap it up fast and prep thoroughly.
Shin Iheon looked carefree on the surface, but he was something else.
He claimed to hate thinking ahead, yet always did.
Even his cunning tricks.
His crisis response—honed by unique senses and experience—was unmatched.
His body was frail now, easy to overpower.
But let your guard down, and you'd get burned.
Many had fallen that way.
Sellin knew it well, so complacency wasn't an option.
Lost in those thoughts, the Great Hall's main entrance loomed.
"...Gotta finish this as fast as possible."
She murmured, pushing the door open.
Only three professors visible through the gap—no one else.
They looked startled to see Sellin so early.
They'd just been about to start.
No expectation of a cadet barging in.
But the exam was ready, and here was the cadet.
Professors' job: get her testing.
"Cadet Sellin El Soladion, follow me."
"Fine."
The brown-haired female professor, Aina, led the way.
As they walked the corridor,
"Cadet Sellin... your direct advisor is Professor Luwell, right?"
"Yeah."
Aina asked; Sellin replied flatly, as always.
She never showed emotion or energy to others.
Aina took no offense at the tone.
Just content with the answer.
"Does Professor Luwell treat you well?"
"Dunno."
Sellin didn't bother with others.
Honest response.
"...I see."
"Enough chit-chat."
"Yes, of course."
Conversation ended there.
Only their footsteps echoed down the hall.
As silence settled,
Aina stopped at one of many doors.
"Enter."
"...Right."
Sellin opened it and went in; Aina followed.
"Sit in the center."
Sellin sat without a word.
The room was pitch black—nothing visible.
No lights, pure void.
Without Aina, it'd feel like floating in space.
"Like the room?"
"...Yeah. It's fine."
"Thought so. It's made for you."
"Thanks."
"Good."
Snap.
Aina snapped her fingers.
Sellin felt mana flowing from the floor beneath her.
Guessing this was the exam mechanism, she did nothing.
Just surrendered to the magic.
Fastest way to finish.
"Sellin El Soladion, I'm putting you to sleep now."
"Then what?"
"I'll show you a dream."
"...A dream?"
"Yes. In it, you'll arrive at a moment from your past."
"...Hold on."
A moment from the past.
Those few words rattled Sellin El Soladion.
"There, you must make a choice. Obligatory."
"No, stop—"
Her frantic shout cut off unfinished.
Aina watched, feeling oddly satisfied.
"Good luck on the exam, Cadet Sellin."
With that, Aina left her and exited the room.