Slowly, the other students arrived at the area where the individual exams were held.
June also finished her exams and joined the group, dropping into her seat with an exaggerated sigh.
"Finally," she muttered, rubbing her temples. "If I had to write one more word, I swear I was going to start summoning fireballs out of frustration."
Alia chuckled but didn't comnt, instead glancing toward the students still arriving. She was still waiting for two more people to show up before she could take her last exam.
As the conversation continued, i turned to Alia, her expression curious.
"By the way, Alia," she began, "I forgot to ask—how did you not co in second or third during the team exams?"
Since Alia was always first in everything she did, it surprised i that she hadn't placed at the top.
Of course, this was a team event, and Arlon was involved, which ant first place was impossible for anyone else.
But i had fully expected Alia to secure second or third.
Alia tilted her head slightly, as if the question didn't really bother her. "Hmm… I don't know. It just happened that way this ti."
i frowned. "Huh? I see."
She didn't believe it. But she also didn't press the issue.
And she was right to be suspicious.
Alia could have easily taken second place. Especially since her team included Carn, Evan, and Maria—a four-person team that could have outperford most others.
But instead of focusing on winning, she had helped the others improve, prioritizing teamplay over personal achievent.
That was why she hadn't received the free pass for today's team exam.
Not that she cared.
Alia had never needed shortcuts to excel. Whether she was given a free pass or not, she would always be prepared.
And when the actual test ca, it wouldn't matter which students she ended up with.
She would still co out on top.
Obviously, she wouldn't be teaching anyone during the real thing.
After a while, other students also finished their individual exams and the team exams started for those who didn't have a free pass.
Still, there weren't many students who finished their theory exams even though lunchti had passed.
Out of respect for others, the ones who finished all their exams also didn't eat anything.
---
The final bell rang at exactly 5 PM, marking the end of the exams.
Any student who hadn't finished their tests by then automatically failed—no exceptions, no second chances.
Fortunately, all the players had finished in ti.
Among the top perforrs, Alia and Maria's team had taken the first spot in the team exam.
They didn't beat Arlon's record, obviously—but they did manage to surpass Zephyrion's previous record, which was an achievent in itself.
As the exhausted but relieved students chatted amongst themselves, Borik's voice bood through the hall, cutting through the noise.
"You are free to go now. Don't forget to eat your dinner," he announced. "In one hour, all third-grade students will gather here for the exam results."
With that, the exam day was officially over.
The usual group—nine players and five students—gathered together as they exited the exam area.
For the players, this was their last day here, and they decided to visit the restaurants one final ti before parting ways.
As they walked, Zack stretched his arms behind his head. "Aren't you guys excited about the results?"
Sia, walking beside him, shot him a bored look. "What's there to be excited about?"
Zack frowned. "Huh? Aren't you afraid of failing?"
Sia scoffed. "Of course not. Probably everyone here except for you already knows if they passed or failed. So even know their rankings."
Zack placed a hand over his heart, gasping dramatically. "Ouch. That was uncalled for." He turned to Carole for support. "Right, Carole? There's no way she can be that sure."
Carole tilted her head in thought. "Hmm… Actually, I know I passed every test."
Zack froze. "Wait, what? How?! At the very least, you can't be sure if you passed the team exam since groups participated at different tis."
Carole shrugged. "I kept track of my own scores, and I asked around about the team exam tis. Also, since the three top groups were exempt, the test was easier than usual."
Zack pointed accusingly. "Traitor! How could you betray like this?!"
Pierre chuckled. "You expected her to struggle like you? That's your mistake."
Zack groaned. "Ugh. I was supposed to be the dramatic one here."
Carole wasn't wrong, though. With three strong teams exempt from the team exam, the difficulty had decreased significantly.
In theory, most groups should have passed.
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Of course, the reality wasn't always that simple—but the odds had definitely been in their favor.
Additionally, since so students had failed purely due to running out of ti, it ant that the majority of those who completed the exam were likely to pass.
As the conversation continued, the group finally arrived at the restaurant district.
This ti, they chose to try a different place—one last al before the results were announced.
---
The group stepped into the new restaurant, the warm scent of grilled ats and seasoned dishes filling the air.
Unlike the quieter spot Arlon and i had visited before, this place had a livelier atmosphere—more students, more conversation, and a subtle sense of celebration in the air.
It made sense. The hardest part of Hell Week was finally over.
They found a large enough table near the window, and as they settled in, Arlon's gaze drifted outside.
The restaurants sat atop a hill, and from their vantage point on the third floor, the view stretched far beyond the academy grounds.
It was breathtaking.
From here, he could see Cardon Academy, its towering spires rising against the sky, its silhouette bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun.
But the most striking thing wasn't the academy.
It was the clouds.
A vast ocean of white and gold stretched beneath them, rolling in slow, endless waves.
Even though Arlon and the other players had been in Cardon Academy for nearly a week, they had never seen this sight before.
The edges of the floating island were off-limits, and their ti had been consud by training, exams, and survival.
Perhaps if they had asked, the students could have shown them better vantage points, places where the sky felt even closer.
But they hadn't.
Maybe because they were too focused on Hell Week.
Or maybe because they never thought to ask.
And now, in these final monts before their departure, Arlon saw sothing that no longer existed in his past life.
Sothing that had been lost.
He watched the clouds drift, knowing that soon, he would have to leave them behind.
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