The final stage of the exam, lasting 30 days, was finally over. William had worked tirelessly to learn the Magic Mind spell. Days and days of training, not just within the academy but also in the past with Jinra’s guidance, had taken their toll.

Many times, he had thought of giving up. What gave him the strength to keep going was seeing Kevin, his former classmate, there in the academy. It was a brief encounter, but William remembered all the things Kevin had done to him.

Tholfnir summoned all the exam participants to the gymnasium, where he would test them to see if they had learned their chosen spells. Many students were there to witness the event, as well as the professors. It took place during the morning, right after breakfast.

Altair had learned some spells during this month and shared his accomplishments with his friend William. “I’ve learned five B-rank spells, totaling 25 points. Impressive, right?” Altair said as they walked together toward the gymnasium. “I think I’m in the top three with the highest points!”

The total number of spots had dwindled to just eight, and Altair had done his research. With his current 25 points, he was confident he would secure a spot! William was happy for him. Altair was a kind noble who had befriended him despite their different social standings.

“That’s impressive. I’m glad you’re taking one of the spots. You deserve it.” William hadn’t told Altair or anyone that he had mastered the Magic Mind spell. He wanted to surprise them all.

“I hope you got enough points to pass too. You know, everyone in the academy is talking about how you didn’t learn the spell and will be eliminated,” Altair said, sharing his concerns with his friend.

William, looking mysterious, said, “You’ll see in time. No need to rush things.”

Altair complained, “Ahh, bro. Just tell me. I can’t live with this anxiety.” Experience more content on empire

“You’ll have to.”

“Damn it!”

No matter what Altair said, he couldn’t convince William. The only way for him to know for sure if his friend had passed the exam was during the check-up done by Tholfnir.

Speaking of Tholfnir, he was standing in the middle of the gymnasium, with all the exam participants lined up in front of him. The bleachers around them were filled with students and professors watching the prestigious event.

Tholfnir, his voice grave and amplified by magic, said, “Welcome, everyone. We are here today to see who the new students will be.” He then gestured with his hands to a few professors who were seated behind tables. “We have a few professors writing down the points for us to check later.”

There was a buzz among the participants, but they quieted down after Tholfnir told them to. “I’ll call you randomly. You’ll step forward, give me the manuals of the spells you learned, and then demonstrate them to me. Don’t try to fool me by using a spell you already knew, as I checked all of you beforehand and have all your data,” Tholfnir reminded them.

He had checked everyone 30 days prior and written down all the spells the exam takers knew to ensure no one would try to trick him.

“Bernard, step forward!”

Bernard managed to learn only two B-rank spells and three C-rank spells, totaling 13 points. That was quite low compared to Altair, for example.

Tholfnir called the other participants. They went to the middle of the arena and demonstrated the spells they learned. The professors wrote down all the points.

When it was Altair’s turn, William tapped him on the back. “Good luck, bro. Show them what you got.”

“I will. Watch!” Altair said, confidently walking forward.

Everyone in the gymnasium paid close attention to Altair for two reasons: first, his fame as a talented mage, and everyone wanted to see how he would perform. The other reason was that they knew he had befriended William, and William was currently the most talked-about person in the entire academy.

Altair demonstrated the B-rank spells he had learned—all of them focusing on body enhancement. Everyone looked surprised to see that he had learned five B-rank spells. Even Tholfnir had to give him credit. “Congratulations, young man. Not everyone can do this.”

Altair bowed. “Thank you, Headmaster Tholfnir. It’s a pleasure to receive a compliment from someone like you.”

As he made his way back to the other participants, everyone stared at him, shocked by his performance.

The participants continued demonstrating the spells they had learned, and the professors diligently recorded their points.

Everyone was aware of the top eight contenders, as they had been closely monitoring each other’s scores. As a result, a few participants appeared relaxed and even distanced themselves from the rest of the group. This exclusive group of eight included Altair.

The only person who had yet to demonstrate his spells was William, but everyone assumed he hadn’t learned the Magic Mind spell.

They even laughed at him when Tholfnir called him to the arena.

The person with the lowest points among the top eight said, “Go quickly, William. I want the ceremony to start.”

He truly believed he would be among the top eight. William had some bad news for him.

William stopped when he heard what the noble said. He stared at the young man and smirked, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Relax, little bro. You’re the one with the lowest points, meaning you’ll lose your spot to me. Also, bow to your boss. I am the ninth person to learn the Magic Mind spell!”

William was done with the mockery. Why be humble with people who had been condescending to him?

No one believed him, but the entire gymnasium fell silent as he approached the arena. William began casting his spell. 192 runes appeared around him, blue energy dancing around his body like ocean waves. The runes formed a unique rune that shone on his forehead. It was the symbol of an eye.

Tholfnir almost stumbled. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He moved next to William to examine him, and he knew William had truly mastered the Magic Mind spell. He knew it because he was one of the eight people who had accomplished this feat.

“Y-You did it, William! You mastered it! This is incredible. I can’t believe our school has the privilege of having a genius like yourself with us!”

The professors, who had been observing, rose from their seats, blinking a few times, unsure if what they were seeing was real.

It was a moment they thought they would never witness. The ninth person to ever learn the Magic Mind spell in the current time of Aethel, and it was a young man who hadn’t even begun his formal magical studies!

The most impressive fact was that William had learned it in just one month! They had never seen anything like it. Tholfnir himself, the strongest mage in the kingdom, hadn’t learned the Magic Mind spell for years, let alone in a single month.

Tholfnir announced the top eight, with William ranked first. The noble who had prematurely claimed victory had a sour expression when he was cut from the top eight, losing his spot in the magic academy. He even considered threatening William, but then he realized how talented William was, and that in the future, a mage like William could wipe out his entire family, so he thought better of it…

“Congratulations to all of you. You are now officially students of Snowpeak Academy!” Tholfnir proclaimed.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep