Stormy Midterm: Witchcraft's Astral Chaos
The Academy's first-year first-quarter midterm evaluation—the very first time rankings were divided up for us first-years. The year was split into quarters, with exams every three months. To put it in terms of a normal school, it was just midterms. Midterms and finals for the first semester, then midterms and finals for the second half. An unbelievable four rounds of exams at the academy!!
That murderous schedule was suffocating, but what could we do? Places of learning are harsh by nature, and we grow by adapting. So as March approached and exam time loomed closer, everyone was alternating between the library and the cafe, practically living there.
I'd been worried the cafe space was too small to hold everyone, but my part-timer, the outer god Sephiroth, casually expanded it without much fuss. With No.1 the golem maid helping with serving, sales were climbing even faster than before, which was great, but...
At this rate, I'd end up as another lingering spirit haunting this academy building—branded the Ghost of the Cafe or something.
I cut back on sleep, doped myself with energy drinks, and studied so hard I was spitting coffee... but all my efforts were just the flailing of a mortal. It was a 100% written exam, and even after practicing predicted questions, the best I could manage was an average of 40 points. Devastating results...!! Was this really the score of a student who'd studied sleeping only three hours a day, skipping meals and training time?
And to top it off, commoners got extra points for graduation. The academy seemed to say nobles were born different, lived different, so a handicap like that was no big deal, right? Everyone actually agreed—no complaints, no worries. They just nodded like it was obvious. It couldn't get more bleak than that.
A noble scoring lower than commoners? They'd be the laughingstock for seriously slacking off. And for a duke's kid? I could already picture it.
"Haha! Duchess Aris! I heard the rumor! Your son's at the bottom of the academy rankings? Must be worrying you sick!"
"I didn't want to send him to the academy, boo-hoo... I hate my son!"
I imagined my mom sniffling, bullied and persecuted among the nobles. Sorry, Mom... your son's a dumb idiot... I wanted to go to the academy, succeed, and become a great son...!!
"Real talk, hate to say it, but was that kid even a living, breathing, tear-shedding creature?"
"My mom's super sensitive. She'd cry if I just tripped and got hurt—she's that sweet."
"The psycho bitch who laughed while half her head was torched by a dragon's breath? Damn, when did I start hallucinating...!?"
"Sigh... Grand Duke... what if the nobles or royals bully my mom?"
"Tell me ahead of time then. I'll commit seppuku, hole up in hell, and stay quiet for 10,000 years."
Our views on Mom were worlds apart. The Grand Duke was trembling at the thought of her storming down to hell after me if something happened—I pitied him and hugged him tight. Mom wasn't violent like that... probably just her immature youth, right? He muttered something about limits to childishness, but I brushed it off.
"Three months as a girl and you're bored with studying instead of enjoying it!! Ace that exam!!"
"I'll do my best..."
With the Grand Duke's cheer behind me, I left the dorm with Meru Lume and headed to the academy.
"Ah, the academy hasn't collapsed yet..."
A foreboding day began, with gale-force winds howling like a storm was imminent. Thunder roared loud enough to hurt our ears, but not a drop of rain fell—just thick, dark clouds. The sunless gloom felt like my future, leaving me oddly depressed. I'd prayed for the academy to shatter so we could skip exams, but fat chance...
"Good luck on the exam!!"
"Yeah..."
Putting aside my weak whimper, I waved to Meru and headed to a different classroom for the exam. They'd mixed all first-years together, so it was my first time in another class. Would I know anyone? As I scanned the room, peeking at my pre-exam summary notes, everyone else looked utterly relaxed.
They all seemed confident they'd ace it. No, actually, I was the only one furiously cramming from my summary notes. The exam was easy by noble standards, and commoners got bonus points anyway—no real worry about failing, so no need to overdo it. Why was this world so harsh on nobles...! Give back my commoner life...!
"Alright, everyone—this exam covers only standard subjects, not regular lectures. Total time is four hours. Solve the entire test, write your name, and submit to the professor when done."
It begins... a pure test of individual skill, where even seniors couldn't help! Handed a test booklet thin as a book but 15 pages long, I let out a heavy sigh but steeled myself and flipped to the first page.
Question 1? No clue. The moment I thought I'm screwed, the entire first-year academy building shook violently, like it was about to collapse any second.
Everyone panicked and looked around at the sudden quake, but the professor proctoring—our invigilator—got a weird look on his face.
Beep—
"[Mic test, mic test]"
Lights flickered on and off during a brief blackout. In the classroom, amid eerie dread, some students ignored it and kept solving problems as the announcement blared.
"...?"
What the hell? Was that allowed? Even if we kept the scores, we couldn't maintain them by finals anyway? From closed-book to open-book to group project exam—my despair at having no friends was short-lived.
One classmate, listening intently, muttered, "Protect the test...? From what?" Everyone looked up.
"The academy has rules for all sorts of sudden crises, including terrorism. This falls under the [Witch] category: [487 Witchcraft-Induced Problems]—classified as [Academy Collapse]. So for you first-years, that means..."
"""That?"""
"Pray you hold out. You won't die, but fail to submit and it's a zero, got it? [Teleport]!!!"
No sooner had he spoken than the proctor screamed I don't wanna die!!! and teleported out.
Everyone's stares turned to me: You again? Witchcraft? It was unfair— that was Mom, not me!
KABOOM──!!!
A massive roar echoed as the first-year building's outer wall crumbled, revealing a vast cosmic vista greeting us.
The rooftop door would stay open, they said—finish your test and head up to sightsee. The walls were gone, but a translucent hexagonal barrier protected the building. Absurd scene: our structure floating on an unknown black sea.
"Grab desks and chairs!!! Barricade the door!!!"
"Anyone know barrier magic?!"
"Wiyu!! Call the Grand Duke!!!"
"Didn't bring him..."
Everyone clutched their tests like lifelines, frantically barricading—but my classroom was on the lowest floor, first level. Black amorphous liquid poured in, smashing the door. Slime-like, they mimicked humans, turning into students and wailing.
"Ugh... urghhh..."
"Expelled... dropout..."
"Professor... let me graduate..."
"Fuck, it's the ghosts of seniors who died without graduating!!"
"What? That was just a ghost story?! I heard only grad students die!!"
"No, they do exist?"
Classmates swept away instantly by the horde. Plus, massive monsters clung to the outer walls, smashing away.
"Gaaahhh!!!"
A student grabbed by ghosts got wrapped in black cocoon, slammed splat against the wall. As others watched in terror wondering what next, it snatched the test and started eating it like a goat.
"They said the academy's blessings prevent student deaths."
"At least guarantees social death too."
"I just studied!!!"
"Didn't train both mind and body at the academy... Hunter exam's already begun?"
What a mess—no other word for it. With four hours to go, students scattered orderly to safe spots.
"Wiyu! Over here!!"
"Revo! How'd you know I was here?!"
"Only black-skinned first-year is you."
"Wait, what'd you say?"
"Ugh... racist..."
"All darkies are... wait, she's not one of us?"
"Oh, thought black meant ally."
No wonder they weren't attacking me. Mystery solved. Shaking off late attackers, I bolted with Revo.
"How many questions done?!"
"Stuck on 1!"
"I finished in 20 minutes! Copy mine!"
What? An angel? With him, even gay would be fine. He handed it over, asking me to submit since he couldn't protect his own.
KABOOOM──!!
"Gaaah!! Seniors who flunked and haunted as ghosts, grabbing juniors' ankles!!!"
"Well, technically not real seniors—trauma manifestations from the land?"
"Why analyze mid-crisis!!!"
First-years swept by fused ghost seniors. They fought back, but had to protect tests and solve them too—no full combat. Some even snatched rivals' tests and shredded them.
"Gyaaah!! Beatus is eating my test!!! Why!!"
"I'm a goat, dumbass."
"Ah, showing paper to a goat. My species sensitivity sucks."
"Why you accepting that?!"
Over there, Beatus argued exasperatedly with her fleeing classmate. Amid the chaos, familiar faces appeared.
"Wiyu?"
"Huh? Yamucha!"
"Everyone!! Elevator's open! This way!!"
Revo, deeming running futile, grabbed the elevator and yelled. We dove in desperately; doors slammed shut.
Ephemera pulled me up from the floor. Beside Yamucha stood the greatsword dummy.
The greatsword dummy glanced around slowly before speaking.
"Damn!! Take us to the first floor!! Gotta save Revo!!"
"No, it's not real death—calm down."
"Plus, you're the culprit behind this mess, Chocolate."
"Ugh... so did you all finish?"
"Too easy—about 15 minutes."
"I'm commoner, so midterms optional—random-guessed."
"...Stuck on 5."
Greatsword dummy's honest admission turned Ephemera and Yamucha's heads. Their gazes hit me; I showed my unsolved test from question 1.
For the first time, I saw the greatsword dummy's beaming smile.
"Never seen her smile."
"Me neither."
"Heh... not dead last then..."
"A friend you ditched left his test for me to copy—so not last."
"You coward!"
"Wanna copy together...?"
"No loyalty—these guys need saving on floor 1?"
"Doing a skit?"
Ephemera scoffed that using loopholes meant no noble honor. Greatsword dummy's face turned tomato-red at Yamucha, our commoner rep, looking disappointed.
"Our Chocolate has no shame."
"Wasn't gonna cheat!!"
She huffed it was just for submitting—as elevator doors creaked open. We'd hit the top floor...
Inside: the divination professor battling on the stairs.
"Professor? What're you doing here?!"
"Bribed Wiyu, got branded proctor—sacrificial lamb."
"Why such ominous words?"
"I'm the one collecting tests!! Help!!"
Seeing endless ghost hordes on stairs, we headed rooftop. Bribe-giver prof's wail echoed, but survivors first.
On the roof, as announced, the door-unlocking prof waited.
"Test submission."
"Oh, first place—Ephemera."
"Basic noble duty."
She'd rushed up for this... Greatsword dummy and I stared; she snorted.
While rooftop refugees solved problems, Ephemera admired the starry Milky Way. I submitted Revo's; with greatsword dummy, we sprawled solving ours.
As time neared end—someone blocked me, test in mouth, quadruped-running greatsword dummy sent off urgently.
"...Top student?"
"Thanks to someone, hardworking friends suffered too?"
"...Sorry, my bad."
"If apologies sufficed, no need for seppuku?"
"Waaahhh!!!"
Flash of blade—test sliced in half. Tears burst; top student's flying kick sent me airborne.
"Hm, too much?"
"Nah, perfect."
If she hadn't represented us, first-years would've lynched. Yamucha muttered, shredding his own test.
"Gotta comfort a friend."
"So sweet."
And so our first-year midterm ended.
Naturally, the first-year dead last was Wiyu Witchcraft.