462 Chapter 462: Practical Examination

In Melina's class, the gray-haired, bespectacled teacher was making an announcement while holding up a book in one hand. Why, I had no idea. Was she reading the announcement out from the book or something? Well, whatever. It was none of my business.

I recalled my professor did have a bunch of notes to refer to while conducting his lecture, so it wasn't all that unusual. And unlike back then, where we had Powerpoint slides (and the professors could refer to notes that were privately displayed on their primary screen as opposed to the one projected onto the board), the modern (or future for you readers) didn't really make use of that. They had private holographic screens from their smartphones or devices, which they linked to their personal portable computer and were able to read from there.

So why the teacher was reading from something as anachronistic as a book, I had no idea. But whatever. Maybe we were still meant to be parodying Assasin's Pride or something.

"Everyone, I'm sure you're looking forward to the summer holidays!" the teacher declared with a smile. Everyone just exchanged a few glances and nodded. As for me, I recalled that the national high school tournament was held just before the summer, and now that it was over, it was true that summer was just around the corner.

I had almost forgotten. I had completely lost track of time. Whoops.

"I'm sure everyone is looking forward to the middle school tournament at the end of the semester. And yes, I know everyone – especially the girls – is more interested in the Weaver's Festival that will be taking place shortly afterward, don't forget that the tournament counts as your practical exams and will contribute to your overall grades."

"Yes, ma'am." The students looked a little lethargic at her reminder. The girls had piped up, particularly at the mention of the Weaver's Festival, but they came crashing back down to reality when the teacher reminded them of the practical exam.

The Weaver's Festival was something similar to Tanabata, where couples were encouraged to stargaze and look upon the night sky, and there was a bonfire dance at the end of it. Before the dance, people would gather on the streets and eat snacks and other forms of food from stalls, or play games at booths. In other words, a festival very similar to the Japanese kinds you watched in anime (and if you were lucky enough to have been to Japan, or live there, you would have probably experienced it too). The girls were encouraged to dress up as prettily as they could, which was why it appealed to them more than it did to the guys.

Still, the guys were also invested in the festival because…I mean, you had the chance to dance with the girl you had a crush on. What was there not to like? Okay…rejection, yeah, but if you didn't try, you would never know.

Melina Franklin was listening to the class, looking a little tired. She was less interested in the festival, weirdly enough, and more focused on the tournament. She clenched her fist, and whispered to herself.

"I have to do this. I need to score well this time!"

"Don't worry, you will score well," her classmate, Iris Langford, assured her. "You always score well on the magic tests. As long as you continue to support from the backline and attack the opposing team with your ranged holy spells, we should be able to get a good grade this time as well!"

"Um…Iris, this time I wish to be a frontline fighter."

"Huh?!" Iris swiveled around to gape at her. "But you don't have any talent in swordsmanship, right? That's why your family decided against teaching you swordsmanship. You have so much talent in magic, why don't you stick to that?"

"Hah! A ranged mage who doesn't know her place and insists on becoming a Paladin." Nirvana scoffed from across the room. "When will you understand that there are just some roles you aren't born to fulfil? Just leave the vanguard to us frontline fighters and warriors. Magic specialists should stay in the back like the babies you are."

A few of the ranged mages bristled at her comment. Though most people appreciated ranged spells and support magic, in Saint Teresa Academy where Paladins, Knights and frontline soldiers were revered and placed on a pedestal, they tended to look down on ranged mages. Stupid, if you ask me, but the world was full of stupid people. Just look at the current American president (as of March 2020). Don't ask me why.

"Ahem."

Everyone jolted up and turned back to look at the teacher, who had narrowed her eyes into a glare.

"Have you forgotten that we're still in the middle of a lesson?"

There were mumbled apologies and whatnot, but the teacher waved them away. She then regarded Nirvana with a scowl.

"And Miss Mallory, I would not casually disregard ranged mages in the same manner as you do. No doubt our school places more emphasis on frontline fighters such as Knights, Warriors, Swordsmen and Paladins, but ranged mages are also just as important. Yes, you probably face more risk if you are placed in the vanguard and fight on the frontlines. You put your body on the lines and brave danger against monsters and other deadly enemies. The courage required for that sort of duty is indeed admirable. However, do not look down on ranged mages and support units just because they do not directly engage the foe in combat. How many of you vanguard units and frontline fighters have been save by a well-aimed ranged spell? How many of you have been kept alive by support buffs? Countless. Each unit has a role to play, and no squad, no platoon can function without cooperation and teamwork. That's why the Federation has changed their curriculum – they have realized that the individual ranking system is becoming obsolete. No man is an island, and teams are not based around individuals. You need each other to survive. If you're missing even a single member, you are disadvantaged massively."

She took a deep breath and shook her head.

"Besides, it's a myth that ranged mages and support backline units don't face the same risks that frontline fghters do. They are on the same battlefield as you are. If you fail your duty, the monsters will be on them, and they have neither the skill nor durability you do to survive close combat and direct engagements with the foe. If anything, they are often more vulnerable. Flanking maneuvers. Ambushes. Surprise attacks from behind. While you usually receive their support via buff spells, or monopolize top-of-the-line equipment and armor by virtue of you being prioritized for frontline duties, they often do not receive the same protection as you do. So do not so casually dismiss them as dishonorable and weak just because they do not get stuck in as often as you do."

"Yes, ma'am." Nirvana lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, but she didn't seemed convinced. That was normal. Once you were stuck in a certain mindset, it was difficult to change your mentality. She had been brought up learning how Paladins, Knights, Warriors and frontline fighters were the most honorable thing since sliced bread, while ranged mages were cowards who hid behind their comrades. No doubt it was her parents who taught her that nonsense.

What utter BS. Not that I cared.

"All right, people. Let's get ready for practical lessons." The teacher clapped her hands together. "Theory is done for the day. We're going to evaluate you in mock combat."

"Yes, ma'am."

There was the sound of chairs dragging across the floor as middle school students rose from their seats and stretched themselves, or grumbled amongst their friends. Melina was slightly alone, with only Iris by her side.

"Hey, Melina. Are you serious when you said you're going to test for swordsmanship?"

"Yeah." Melina looked up at her classmate. "Is that all right?"

"Um…I guess. It's entirely up to you. But you'll have to find another team."

"…eh?" Melina stared at the person she regarded as her friend throughout her two years here in Saint Teresa Academy. "What do you mean…?"

"I'm sorry." Iris looked at Melina helplessly. "But we already have too many frontline fighters in our team. There's no space for you. We need ranged mages more. If you're not willing to fulfil that role, then there's not much we can do."

"…I see. I'm sorry."

Melina hung her head, but she refused to change her mind. Ever since that day, she had resolved herself, and she wasn't going to give up now. She clenched her fists determinedly and steeled herself. This was just a minor setback. All she needed to do was assemble a new team.

Easier said than done, though…and before you ask, no. I can't join her team. I was her private tutor, not her classmate. I wasn't a middle school student, so obviously I couldn't join her team. That would be against the rules.

Even so, I was confident that Melina would be able to overcome this trial.

"How do you even know what is going on here?!" Melina demanded, turning to stare in my direction. Exept that I wasn't in the classroom with her, and wasn't present at all. Undeterred, Melina looked around. As expected of my disciple, she had also gained the ability to break the fourth wall. "Why are you narrating as if you are here, even though you clearly aren't?! This isn't Assassin's Pride! Even if you're my private tutor, you're not supposed to show up and attend my lessons by standing at the back of the classroom like Kufa Vampir! You're not even supposed to be here, physically or mentally! Don't you have your own classes?! Are you really that bent on maintaining a first person perspective even though there will be plot holes and narrative problems?!"

"Don't sweat the small details and focus on assembling a team for your practical exam," I told her. Melina buried her face in her hands.

"Why do you even know about that?! You aren't here! Wait a minute…how are you even talking to me in the first place?!" she glanced around, as if expecting me to suddenly show up, but obviously I didn't. She frowned, bewildered. "Is this…telepathy? But I'm hearing your voice outside of my head."

"No, it's called breaking the fourth wall."

"Do you mind not breaking the fourth wall during my lessons?" the elderly teacher asked me sternly. Somehow I felt as if she was staring at me even though I physically wasn't there.

"But your lesson is over. Aren't you guys moving to the practical portion now? The one in the arena."

"Yes, we are. So the lesson isn't over. It's still ongoing. I would appreciate it if you stop breaking the fourth wall and disrupting my classes."

Damn. These guys aren't fun at all. Sighing, I disengaged and pulled back from the fourth wall, disappearing back into the library where I had taken up residence after Einsberg's class. Right now I was revising ice magic before trying the spells out in reality. In any case, there was nothing I could do for Melina except offer encouragement. And…let's be honest, offering encouragement behind the fourth wall was insincere.

Besides, I had my own matters to worry about.

"…so that's how I might be able to better improve my ice magic, huh? By infusing my Constellation spirits with icy mana, I should be able to alter their nature and improve their own abilities." Even if I said that, the Constellation spirits were still dependent on my own abilities and magic. It wasn't as if I could just imagine them being capable of casting whatever magic and they would magically be able to cast those spells. If I didn't know healing magic, they obviously couldn't cast healing spells. Their repertoire of spells was completely dependent on mine.

That was exactly the reason why I was learning ice magic, to expand the range of spells they could use. Obviously it was still very limited by my themes and decisions in life. I couldn't suddenly have Taurus breathe ice instead of fire, or Sagittarius fire off an ice arrow instead of a fire-type. Since those constellations had been designated "fire" element by ancient astrologers, I couldn't alter those set rules. I could only manage within those legends that never decreed the element of whatever constellations they represented, such as Cetus, Cerberus or Hydra. And even Draco.

The thirteen zodiac (which now included Ophiuchus) were pretty much bound by iron-cast laws regarding what elements they were in. Fortunately, there were seventy-five other Constellations I could play around with. Phew.

"All right…now time for practical application."

Rising from my seat, I returned my library books and proceeded to the gymnasium that the academy had set aside for the high school students' use. As I did so, I noticed a commotion right outside the gates.

"Hmm?"

Apparently someone was trying to get in, but the guards had stopped him, and were checking his identity. A crowd of curious students had gathered to watch, and being human myself, I naturally allowed my own curiosity to get the better of me and ventured over to watch.

"What's going on?"

As I neared the crowd, the person outside the gate caught sight of me and brightened up. He jumped up and down and waved frantically.

"Brother Richard! You're here too!"

"Huh?" I did a double take when I spotted him, my jaw dropping in disbelief when I realized that I did indeed recognize that figure…as well as the manner in which he addressed me. Staring at the visitor, I couldn't help but shake my head in confusion. "Adrian? What are you doing here?"