“Agh… damn it, Yara!” I grumbled, trying to push her hands away.

“Mhm…” Yara barely seemed to notice my distress, her fingers still tracing lazy patterns on my chest.

“I’m going to be late!” I said, panic creeping into my voice.

She just shrugged lazily.

“So? Just miss your classes today…”

“No way!” I snapped, frustrated.

“Today’s the day the exam results come out! And it’s the last day of the semester!” I hurriedly shook off her hands, quickly glancing at the clock.

“That also means it’s the last day I’ll see you,” she mumbled quietly, a little sadness creeping into her voice.

“You can visit me through the rift,” I shot back quickly.

“Until then, it’ll take weeks to finish it!” she argued, crossing her arms with a pout.

I groaned.

“Gosh…!”

Without wasting any more time, I muttered under my breath.

『 Cleanse 』

I threw on my academy uniform in a flash, barely pausing to brush my teeth. The clock was ticking, and I couldn’t afford to miss the exam results, not today.

“…I’ll see ya later!” I called over my shoulder as I bolted for the window.

Before she could protest, I jumped right out of her bedroom window.

In mid-air, I snapped my fingers.

Then, in that instant…

My red eyes glowed intensely.

『 Time Freeze (✯ 9th-Level Spell ✯) 』

Fwoop!

Time around me slowed to a halt as I pushed myself forward, sprinting at the highest speed my body could handle.

The black market was pretty far from the academy, and I really didn’t want to be late for my final day.

A few seconds later, I could feel the drain on my mana, so I quickly released the time freeze and felt the world rush back into full speed.

Wind howled around me like a wave crashing against a cliff.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed harder.

『 Ice Wall! (✦ 3rd-level Spell ✦) 』

I slammed my hand down, and a thick wall of ice shot up behind me.

I used the wall as leverage, channeling mana into my legs, then pushed off it with everything I had.

CRACK!

FWOOP!

I shot forward, the force of it sending me flying much farther than I intended.

I was flying.

Like really flying.

Fuck…!

I had probably put too much mana into it, but at least I was going in the right direction now.

Somehow.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, in the academy’s auditorium…

Students from all years, from first-year to fifth-year, were packed into the large hall, each sitting in their designated seats.

The air was buzzing with a mix of excitement and nervous energy. Everyone was eager to hear what the headmistress had to say.

At the front, standing confidently on the podium, Eleonora smiled warmly at the crowd. Her voice, amplified by magic, echoed clearly across the room.

“Hello, my dear students!” she called, her tone friendly but authoritative.

The room fell silent as everyone turned their attention to her.

“Today is a big day for all of you,” she began softly.

“The results of your exams are out. I know how hard you’ve all worked and how important these grades are, not just for your future here at the academy but for everything that comes after. Remember, these marks reflect your effort, but they don’t define you. It’s not the end of the world, no matter the outcome.”

The students shifted in their seats, some nervously adjusting their uniforms while others glanced at their friends.

A few whispers filled the air as Eleonora paused for a moment.

She raised her hand, and after waving it, the atmosphere in the room seemed to change.

In an instant, glowing panels of light appeared in front of each student’s face. On them, their results were displayed for all to see.

The auditorium erupted in reactions.

“OOHOOOO!”

“YES! I PASSED!”

“LET’S GOOOOOO!”

Some students let out loud cheers and high-fived each other, their faces lighting up with pride and relief.

Others slumped in their seats, visibly disappointed, their shoulders sagging as they stared at their scores.

A few quietly whispered to their friends, probably offering comfort or sharing their frustration.

Eleonora let the reactions die down before raising her hand again, silencing the room.

“Now,” she continued, her voice booming with a hint of excitement.

“Let’s move on to something even more special… the top five students from all years, those who have achieved the absolute best results!”

A ripple of anticipation swept through the auditorium, and the students leaned forward in their seats, eager to find out who had made it to the top.

“Now, from the fifth-year, John Alkey, please come up to the podium!” Eleonora’s voice rang out.

The moment John’s name was called, a proud grin spread across his face. He stood up from his seat, his chest puffed out with pride, and made his way to the stage.

The students erupted into cheers, clapping and shouting his name.

“Go, John!”

A few students whistled, and there was even a small group of them chanting his name.

“John! John! John!”

John couldn’t help but beam at the attention, clearly enjoying the moment. He stepped onto the stage with a big smile, his hands raised in a humble wave to the crowd.

Eleonora, with a small smile, walked up to him as he reached the podium.

“John Alkey, congratulations on making it to the top five in the entire academy!” Eleonora announced.

“And with this honor, you will receive a special prize—a recommendation ticket to the White Knights!”

At those words, the crowd gasped in unison.

A murmur of shock rippled through the students.

Some of them whispered to each other, their eyes wide with disbelief.

“THE WHITE KNIGHTS?”

“THE STRONGEST KNIGHT ARMY UNDER THE EMPEROR?”

“Doesn’t that mean he has a guaranteed future in the Empire?”

John’s eyes widened in disbelief, and for a moment, he looked like he might faint from the sheer excitement.

His hands trembled slightly as he bowed to Eleonora, his expression filled with gratitude.

“Thank you for this incredible opportunity, Headmistress! I will not disappoint you!” he said, his voice full of determination and his hand over his heart as a sign of respect.

“I hope so.”

John straightened up, his face flushed with pride, and returned to his seat.

As he did, the murmurs and whispers among the students grew louder. Everyone looked at each other with a mix of envy and longing.

“Did you hear that? The White Knights… that’s huge!”

“Man, if fifth place gets a reward like that, imagine what the top spots will get.”

The room buzzed with excitement as the students anxiously waited to see who would be next.

“Another student from the fifth-year, Harley Puffington, please come up to the stage!” Eleonora called out, her voice cutting through the noise.

Harley stood up from her seat, her face flushed with both pride and nervousness.

She slowly walked to the podium, as her blue eyes scanning the crowd as she made her way to the stage, and her blonde hair cascading in soft waves down her back.

The students erupted into cheers once again, though this time, there was a sense of awe mixed with admiration.

Harley was well-known across the academy, not only for her excellent grades but also for her beauty.

A few students even whispered.

“She’s one of the academy’s top beauties, no doubt about it.”

“Harley! Harley! Harley!” they chanted, their excitement growing by the second.

Some students were practically leaning out of their seats just to get a better look at her.

As she reached the stage, Eleonora smiled at her warmly.

“Harley Puffington, congratulations on securing a spot in the top five!”

“For your hard work, you’ll be receiving a recommendation letter to join the Royal Mage Court along with a check for 100 platinum coins!”

At those words, the auditorium exploded with noise. Gasps of disbelief filled the air as students exchanged shocked looks.

“THE ROYAL MAGE COURT?”

“She’s going to the Royal Mage Court? That’s one of the most prestigious positions in the Empire!”

“100 PLATINUM COINS?!”

Harley’s face lit up, a wide smile spreading across her features.

She quickly bowed to Eleonora, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.

“Thank you so much, Headmistress! I’m honored!” she said, her voice full of excitement.

Eleonora gave a small nod.

“I’m sure you’ll make us proud.”

Harley stepped back and returned to her seat, but the crowd’s excitement didn’t die down.

Instead, it only seemed to grow as students looked at each other with widened eyes, muttering excitedly.

“She got 100 platinum coins… That’s more than enough to live like royalty!” one student whispered.

“Royal Mage Court… I’d do anything to be in her shoes,” another student murmured, eyes filled with envy.

Before the chatter could get too loud, Eleonora raised her hand, silencing the crowd.

“Now,” she began, her voice cutting through the noise with ease.

“Next up is one of our brightest students. A third-year student who has already earned the title of the academy’s most promising mage. Please welcome… Rose Firefly!”

The moment Rose’s name was announced, the entire room seemed to hold its breath. A hush fell over the crowd, and then… the cheers erupted louder than ever before.

“ROSE! ROSE! ROSE!” students shouted, some of them even standing up to clap.

Rose Firefly, known not only for her incredible talent but also her striking beauty, gracefully walked to the stage.

Her fiery red hair flowed behind her like a living flame, and her bright red eyes glistened with confidence.

She wore a calm expression as she approached the podium.

The students couldn’t stop staring—some were entranced by her beauty, while others were simply in awe of her accomplishments.

She had always been one of the top students in the academy, and her charm only added to her reputation.

As Rose reached the podium, Eleonora smiled faintly, tapping her shoulder.

“Rose Firefly, you’ve proven yourself to be an exceptional mage, both in skill and character. It is with great honor that I announce you as one of the top five students of the academy.”

The crowd grew silent in anticipation.

Eleonora continued.

“For your achievements, you will be receiving a check for 200 platinum coins, and more importantly, an incredible opportunity… You will have the chance to become the Fire Queen’s only disciple!”

The announcement sent shockwaves through the crowd. Gasps, shouts of disbelief, and whispers filled the air.

“The Fire Queen’s disciple?” one student exclaimed. “Isn’t that one of the most prestigious honors a mage can receive?”

“She’s going to become the Fire Queen’s disciple?” another voice asked in awe.

“That’s unbelievable! She’s going to be one of the most powerful mages in the Empire!”

Rose’s eyes widened for a split second, but then she quickly regained her composure.

“Thank you so much, Headmistress! I will do my best to honor this opportunity.”

Eleonora smiled back.

“I have no doubt you will.”

As Rose turned and walked back to her seat, the applause grew even louder. The students were completely amazed by the incredible rewards she had received.

“200 platinum coins? And she gets to be the Fire Queen’s disciple?!”

The excitement in the room was palpable.

Everyone was on edge, eagerly waiting to see who would be next.

What other incredible rewards would the top students receive?

“Now… Violet Von Luxuria, our dear Student Council President, and the second-place winner… please step forward.”

Eleonora announced, a smile playing on her lips.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep