The sun was just starting to rise when the bell rang across the academy grounds. It was loud and deep.
Everyone knew what it ant.
The trial was over.
The rankings were about to be shown.
Examinees began to gather in the main courtyard. They didn’t rush. They walked with slow, steady steps, so limping, others with torn cloaks and dried blood still crusted on their respective robe and armor.
Though their wounds had been treated with salves and healing prayers, the weight of the trial still clung to them.
No one spoke.
Not out of fear, but fatigue.
They had all survived the goblin culling. Four hundred to six hundred kills each. The trial was over. The blood had been spilled. Now ca the judgnt.
At the center of the courtyard stood the Ranking Pillar, a tall slab of black stone veined with faint silver light. It pulsed softly, as if sensing the presence of those who had earned the right to stand before it.
Professor Odel stepped forward. His voice was calm, as he exclaid, "After careful consideration, the nas of the top fifty who passed the trial will now revealed."
He thought to himself, "This year’s batch of examinees... they’re not just skilled. They’re extraordinary. Talented. Strong. So of them might even change the future of our magic tower."
The stone began to glow.
Then, a sequence of nas seared themselves into the scorched surface.
At the very top stood two nas:
1. Yin Farrock and lo Mistarm
Yin—the notorious brute who nearly punched Gabby—had been flanked by two knights. lo, his unlikely partner, was the sharp-eyed midget who caught Yin’s fist mid-swing with uncanny precision. Together, this monstrous duo was unstoppable. It was no surprise they claid the top rank.
All eyes turned toward the spiky-haired blond with razor-sharp eyes and a grin wide. He threw his arms out in a triumphant T-pose, laughing like thunder.
He bellowed, "Of course we did! Four hundred goblins in under three hours. One of the most exhilarating monts of my life!"
Yin looked like he was on the verge of ecstasy, drunk on victory and the thrill of being first.
2. Claude Smith
One of the examinees wearing glasses shouted, "That guy in the black cloak—with white hair and red eyes—killed six hundred goblins in under seven hours! His partner died during the exam."
No one knew what really happened to Claude’s partner. So even whispered that he might have killed them himself... just to make the exam more exciting.
He was handso. Mysterious. Dangerous.
3. Clara Sertu and Gabby Magus
Everyone in the room gasped when they saw Clara and Gabby ranked third.
One student stood up and asked Professor Odel, "Is this a mistake? They were the last to arrive, but you ranked them higher than the rest of us?"
Professor Odel clicked his tongue and replied, "They triggered a bonus task—complete goblin annihilation. But more importantly, they used their own teleportation magic."
The room fell silent. Eyes widened.
The total number of goblins was around seven thousand. To kill all of them in just two days was an insane feat. It’s around three hundred goblin kills per hour. But no one knew what actually happened that most of those kills happened in just one hour.
Clara Sertu had cast a sixth-core spell. That kind of magic was sothing most mages could only dream of. And yet, she was just an examinee.
Whispers spread like wildfire:
"I should’ve partnered with Clara..." one student muttered, regret heavy in their voice.
"We thought she couldn’t even use magic," another whispered, eyes wide with disbelief. "She was hiding her power all along."
The room buzzed with murmurs—shock, jealousy, admiration. So stared at Clara like she was a legend co to life. Others looked at Gabby with a mix of confusion and envy.
Gabby, who hadn’t cast a single spell. Gabby, who had simply carried Clara on his shoulder after she collapsed from using too much magic.
He wasn’t even here.
And yet... he passed.He passed because he stood beside soone who could shake the world.
The argunt had silence them. It had clear their doubt.
The rest of the rankings were written, but few paid them any mind—only the top three truly mattered at Robert’s Magic Academy.
Professor Odel exclaid, "1st rank will received ten thousand gold, second rank will received five thousand gold and third rank will received two thousand gold. Once again, welco to Robert’s Magic Academy. You are now officially students of this institution. Classes will comnce three days from now, so take this ti to rest and prepare yourselves."
anwhile, Clara was taken to the infirmary. She needed more intensive treatnt because of her injury and mana depletion. Gabby followed to keep an eye on her.
The priest turned to Gabby and said, "Congratulations on placing third."
Gabby asked, "How did you know?"
The priest smiled and replied, "We keep a close watch on promising young talents."
After so ti, Clara finally woke up. The first thing she saw was Gabby.
She tried to sit up but winced in pain. "Gabby, I’m glad you’re still alive. I thought the one who saved was a spirit," she said softly.
Gabby gave a tired smile. "I thought I was done for when I faced the blood serpent."
Clara scoffed. "Who even cares about that trial?"
She had once dread of attending Robert’s Magic Academy to learn how to cast spells. But now that she could use magic, she felt like the academy didn’t matter anymore.
Gabby leaned closer. "Trust , you need that academy more than anyone."
He added with a hint of pride, "And we placed third in the trial."
Clara was on the verge of tears when she heard they had placed third in the trial of killing goblins.
A mix of relief and sorrow welled up inside her. For days, she had pushed herself past her limits that she almost died.
But more than anything Clara’s eyes widened as the mories rushed back. So many questions filled her mind—but for so reason, she couldn’t bring herself to ask Gabby.
She whispered as her voice trembled, "I didn’t think that we’d make it and you were strong to defeat the blood serpent. Even with my current power, I have to admit, I couldn’t have beaten it."
Gabby stood as he replied, "If you couldn’t defeat it, then there’s no chance I could by strength alone. You see, strength isn’t asured by magic or aura cores. I just outsmarted the serpent."
He extended his hand and said with calm conviction, "You are strong, Clara. Trust yourself. Work hard, and you’ll beco a powerful Magic Swordswoman."
Clara stared at his hand for a mont, stunned by the words. Her lips curled into a smile. Not the kind she forced when pretending to be okay, but sothing real. It was the first genuine complint she’d ever received, one that wasn’t followed by doubt or pity.
What made it even better? She had no idea what a Magic Swordswoman was. The term sounded mysterious and grand, like sothing out of an old legend. But hearing it from Gabby made it feel like sothing she could beco. Sothing she wanted to beco.
Clara reached for Gabby’s hand, her grip weak but determined. With a quiet groan, she pushed herself up from the bed, leaning on his strength as she steadied herself.
She whispered, "You’re right."
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