Chapter 389: Chapter 389 – “Will you pass?”

The academy’s study hall had already begun to quiet down as the evening slowly settled across the campus.

Tall arched windows lined the walls, allowing the fading orange light of sunset to spill across the long wooden tables arranged neatly throughout the vast room. Dust particles drifted lazily in the air where the golden light touched them, while rows upon rows of towering bookshelves stood silently like guardians of centuries of knowledge.

Most of the students who had been studying earlier had already left, either heading toward the dining halls or returning to their dormitories for the night. Only a handful remained scattered around the room, their low whispers occasionally breaking the otherwise peaceful silence.

At one of the tables near the far window sat Luca and Sylthara, surrounded by open books, loose parchment notes, and several thick volumes on academy theory that had clearly been used heavily over the past five days.

When Luca asked his question, Sylthara looked up at him immediately.

Her silver hair fell softly over one shoulder as she nodded confidently, her pointed ears giving a faint flick in the process.

“I am confident,” she said firmly.

Her expression brightened slightly.

“I can defeat anyone.”

Luca stared at her for a moment.

Then he let out a long sigh.

“I’m not worried about your combat ability,” he said, leaning back in his chair as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “You could probably flatten half the academy training grounds without breaking a sweat.”

He lowered his hand and looked at her directly.

“I’m talking about the theoretical exam.”

Sylthara’s confident expression froze.

Her ears twitched again.

For a moment she did not answer.

Instead she slowly turned her gaze away from him and looked toward the tall windows where the last light of evening had begun to fade.

Then she spoke casually, as though the thought had only just occurred to her.

“Why don’t you take me to Arcadia City?”

Luca blinked.

His lips twitched.

“Where exactly did you learn how to change the subject like that?” he asked dryly.

Sylthara remained suspiciously silent.

Luca groaned quietly as he leaned forward, placing one hand over his face while the other rubbed slowly against his temple.

“I swear,” he muttered under his breath, “teaching theory is harder than fighting demon generals.”

After a moment he straightened again and looked at her seriously.

“Just remember what I taught you during these five days.”

He tapped one of the books lightly.

“That knowledge alone should be enough for you to pass the exam.”

His tone softened slightly.

“Don’t overthink it.”

“Clear your mind, keep your thoughts steady, and simply recall what you’ve already learned.”

He held her gaze firmly.

“Understood?”

Sylthara looked back at him.

Then she nodded.

This time more seriously.

Luca studied her for a moment before finally pushing his chair back and standing up, stretching his arms slightly as the stiffness from sitting too long left his shoulders.

“That’s it for today.”

He began gathering the scattered books into a small pile.

“And go rest early.”

He glanced at her with a faint smirk.

“If you keep studying any longer tonight, all that information will start mixing together and you’ll wake up tomorrow with nothing but a headache.”

Sylthara nodded again as she stood from her seat as well.

Together they placed the books back on the nearby shelves before leaving the study hall.

The evening air greeted them softly as they stepped outside, the academy grounds now bathed in the cool blue light of night.

****

The morning light had only just begun to spread across the academy grounds, painting the tall stone corridors of Arcadia in warm shades of gold and pale amber. Students could already be seen moving through the hallways carrying books and notes, some heading toward early lectures while others rushed toward training fields for their morning exercises.

Yet outside one particular classroom near the eastern wing of the academy, the atmosphere felt very different.

Standing beside the closed wooden door was Luca, and for perhaps the first time since arriving at Arcadia Academy, he looked unusually restless.

He paced back and forth across the stone floor of the corridor, occasionally glancing toward the classroom door before nervously biting at his nails in thought. His usual calm composure had been replaced by a strange tension that made it look as though he were the one currently taking the examination rather than waiting for its results.

Inside the classroom—

Sylthara was still writing.

The scratching of quills against parchment faintly reached the hallway every now and then, each sound only making Luca’s nerves worse.

A few moments later, heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor.

“Hey.”

Before Luca could react, a familiar arm dropped casually across his shoulders.

Kyle had arrived.

The spearman leaned against him lazily, his usual smirk already forming as he glanced toward the classroom door.

“So,” Kyle asked casually, tilting his head toward Luca, “how’s it going?”

Luca exhaled slowly and gestured toward the closed door.

“She’s still writing it.”

Kyle blinked once.

Then he chuckled quietly.

“Why are you so nervous?” he asked, clearly amused by the situation. “You’re not the one taking the test.”

He gave Luca’s shoulder a light pat.

“Besides, if it’s you who taught her, I’m sure she’ll pass.”

Luca wasn’t convinced.

He continued staring at the door as though sheer concentration might somehow influence the exam happening inside.

Just then another voice joined the conversation.

“Is the exam not over yet?”

Both Luca and Kyle turned simultaneously.

Standing a few steps away in the corridor was Aiden.

The morning sunlight filtering through the windows caught his golden hair, making it shimmer faintly as small beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. It was clear he had just finished his morning training session before coming here.

Luca and Kyle exchanged a quick glance.

Then both of them shook their heads.

“Not yet,” Luca replied.

Aiden nodded slightly and moved closer to the door, crossing his arms as he joined the silent vigil.

A few moments later, another familiar presence approached.

The faint chill in the air announced Selena’s arrival even before she reached them.

Her icy eyes briefly glanced at Luca, Kyle, and Aiden before settling quietly on the classroom door. True to her usual demeanor, she didn’t say anything. She simply stood there calmly, waiting for Sylthara to finish.

The small group now formed an unusual gathering outside the examination room.

Silence lingered for a moment.

Then—

A new voice appeared behind Luca.

Playful.

Yet somehow carrying an undercurrent of seriousness.

“You will be responsible if my sister fails, junior.”

Luca flinched.

He turned around instantly.

Standing behind him as though she had appeared out of thin air was Elowen.

Her long green hair swayed lightly as she folded her arms and watched him with an amused expression.

Luca blinked in mild disbelief.

“When did you—?”

Elowen burst into laughter before he could finish.

“Hahaha!”

She waved her hand dismissively.

“Relax, junior.”

Her smile softened slightly as she glanced toward the classroom door.

“I’m sure you must have taught her well.”

The tense waiting in the corridor finally came to an end when the classroom door slowly creaked open, breaking the silence that had settled among the group outside.

Everyone’s attention immediately snapped toward the doorway.

Sylthara stepped out first.

For someone who had just finished an important examination, her expression looked unusually composed, yet there was still a faint trace of nervousness lingering in the way her ears flicked slightly and her eyes instinctively searched for Luca the moment she stepped into the hallway.

Behind her stood Professor Seraphina, her usual calm expression unreadable as she walked out of the room with the quiet authority that seemed to follow her everywhere.

Luca was the first one to react.

He stepped forward almost immediately, his earlier nervousness returning all at once as he looked at Sylthara.

“How was it?” he asked quickly.

At once, everyone around him leaned in slightly.

Kyle folded his arms with interest, Aiden stood quietly but clearly attentive, Selena’s icy gaze remained fixed on Sylthara, and even Elowen watched with a faintly amused curiosity.

For a moment it seemed Sylthara might answer—

But before she could say a word, Seraphina calmly raised a hand, interrupting the moment.

Her sharp eyes turned toward the assistant instructor who had stepped out behind her carrying a stack of examination papers.

“Grade this exam,” Seraphina instructed evenly, handing Sylthara’s paper to the assistant. “Until then, I will conduct her practical test.”

The assistant nodded immediately and left with the exam papers, disappearing back into the classroom.

Without another word, Seraphina turned and began walking down the corridor toward the academy courtyard.

Sylthara followed her.

Naturally, Luca and the others followed as well.

Soon they arrived at one of the open training grounds of Arcadia Academy, where wide stone platforms and magical training circles spread across the courtyard under the bright morning sky.

Several students practicing nearby slowed down when they noticed Professor Seraphina walking into the arena, curiosity immediately drawing their attention.

Seraphina stopped at the center of the training field.

Sylthara stepped forward and stood opposite her, her posture straightening slightly as she prepared herself.

Luca, Kyle, Aiden, Selena, and Elowen remained near the edge of the field, watching carefully.

Without any unnecessary words, Seraphina raised one hand calmly.

The air around her fingers rippled as mana gathered, and within seconds streams of water spiraled upward from the ground, twisting and compressing into shape under her precise control.

The water condensed rapidly.

Moments later, multiple human-shaped silhouettes formed, their bodies crafted entirely from flowing water yet standing with the clear posture of trained warriors.

The shimmering figures lined up before Sylthara, their forms shifting slightly like living currents as mana pulsed through them.

Seraphina lowered her hand slowly.

Then she looked directly at Sylthara.

Her voice was calm.

But firm.

“Defeat them,” she said simply.

“If you succeed—”

A faint pause followed.

“—you pass.”

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