After what felt like an eternity to Eric and especially to Alina the written examination for Alina and the other prospective students finally concluded. The large classroom doors opened with a soft creak.
The students filed out one by one forming orderly lines once again in the corridor.
The sa female professor who had overseen their entry into the classroom now led them along with other Academy staff mbers to another even larger field.
This second field was clearly designated for practical assessnts for physical tests.
Eric followed at a respectful distance. He walked along the sidelines of the field observing everything.
He watched as the students were put through a battery of tests a long series of different challenges.
Their magical aptitude their natural talent for magic was assessed by specialized mages.
Their raw physical strength was asured in various ways. And their swordsmanship skills were put to the trial against experienced Academy instructors.
During these practical tests it quickly beca very apparent that Princess Monica was in a league of her own.
She was far better than everyone else.
She dispatched the instructor who was assigned to test her swordsmanship with an ease that bordered on contemptuous.
It looked like she wasn’t even trying very hard. Her movents were fluid powerful and incredibly precise.
She passed every single test with what seed like minimal effort.
Her amazing performance drew looks of astonishnt from the Academy staff mbers and from the other students alike.
They all watched her with a mixture of awe and a little bit of fear.
Alina on the other hand struggled considerably during these physical tests. While her theoretical knowledge was now sound thanks to her hard work and Eric’s help the practical and physical aspects of the examination proved to be a significant challenge for her.
She was not a natural fighter. During the swordsmanship test she found herself on the defensive almost the entire ti. She was barely managing to parry the instructor’s thodical and relentless attacks.
With great difficulty after a prolonged and exhausting struggle that left her breathless she finally managed to land a single solid hit on the instructor.
It was just enough to et the minimum requirent to get a passing mark for that section. It was a close call.
After the last of the practical tests was completed the long and stressful examination was officially over.
All the students were gathered together in a vast open field just outside the main Academy complex.
They were told to wait there for the results to be announced.
Eric stood with Alina who looked utterly dejected. She was very downcast. A dark cloud of sadness and disappointnt hung over her.
Ever since the practical exams had finished she had been repeating the sa disheartening mantra the sa sad phrase to Eric over and over again.
"I won’t get in Eric," she would say shaking her head. "I’m sure of it. I failed the physical part so badly."
Eric hearing the despair in her voice tried to offer her so reassurance. "I trust in you Alina," he said his voice firm and confident. "You’ll definitely get in. I know it. Don’t worry so much about it now. It’s over."
But despite Eric’s encouraging words Alina’s spirits remained very low.
She couldn’t shake the feeling of her own inadequate performance.
She especially felt bad when she compared her own struggles to the effortless brilliance of applicants like Princess Monica. The difference between them felt like a huge gap.
A short distance away Monica stood calmly with her retinue of Imperial soldiers. Her guards had rejoined her after the conclusion of the exams. She too was waiting for the results to be announced.
But her expression was one of calm almost bored confidence. She had no doubt that she had passed with the highest marks. For her it was not a question of if she would get in but what her rank would be.
After a short while of nervous waiting a figure descended from the sky. He landed softly in the center of the field without making a sound. It was a professor clad in black robes.
The Academy’s special symbol was emblazoned on his chest.
He hovered a few feet above the ground. His body was supported by a visible shimring magical aura a soft glow of power.
Using his magical power he amplified his voice. This caused his words to echo clearly across the entire field so that every student could hear him perfectly.
"All students listen to carefully," the professor announced. His voice was loud and clear.
The scattered conversations among the nervous applicants imdiately ceased.
Everyone went silent.
The students who had been looking at each other sharing their worries and their hopes now all turned their attention to the floating professor.
Eric and Alina also looked up their gazes fixed on the man in the black robes.
This was the mont they had all been waiting for.
"My na is Mr. White," the professor continued his voice authoritative and official.
"I am the head of the Academy’s entrance examinations departnt. It is my duty to administer the tests to all applicants who wish to join our great institution. And it is also my duty to admit those who have passed the examinations into the Academy."
A wave of understanding and a fresh surge of anxiety rippled through the large crowd of students.
If the head of the examinations was here in person it ant that the results were ready.
They were about to be announced right now. The students looked on with nervous anticipation. Their hearts were pounding. Alina’s hands clenched into tight fists at her sides.
She held her breath.
Eric sensing her heightened anxiety her growing fear placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He gave it a gentle squeeze trying to comfort her without words.
Professor White spread his arms wide as if he was addressing the whole world.
"I will send a white bird a magical construct a ssenger of light to all those students who have passed," he declared his voice ringing out across the field.
"If you receive a white bird it ans you have passed the examination and you are now a student of the United Academy. If you do not receive a white bird it ans you have failed. You may return next year to try again." The finality of his words his thod of announcing the results hung heavy in the air.
It was a sentence a final judgnt to be delivered to hundreds of hopeful young minds all at once.
For so it would be a mont of great joy. For others it would be a mont of deep disappointnt.
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