Chapter 32: Progression Analysis [3]
"What do you think...? How are the results for this year?"
Professor Kelson's voice echoed as she stood by the end of the training ground with her three other assistant professors.
The day was almost over, and so far each group had taken two of the three assessments they were supposed to take.
They were at the moment all taking a break. Be it professors or students.
"...From my group, several students stand out."
One of the Assistant Professors, a young woman with short black hair commented.
She went on to say,
"Evelyn from the Verlice family, and Luxon from the Ravenscroft family. They scored quite high on the Mana examination test, with 2.58 and 2.31 respectively. They've also scored quite highly on the Mental examination test, with a score of 2.01 and 2.11 respectively... Their results already surpass that of the top cadets of last year's batch."
"Hmmm."
Professor Kelson quietly nodded while listening to the report. Indeed, the results were quite frightening.
For first-year cadets to reach a score above 2 was quite rare. That signified that the cadet was already in the Tier 2 range.
Such feat was extremely rare and only occasionally would the academy be blessed with such individuals.
For two to appear...
"I'd like to add to that."
A tall man with long black hair and a skinny frame displayed his clipboard.
"Actually... It's about my group."
His expression was quite serious.
"My group took part in the Physical and Mental examination. Two students stood out in my group as well. It's just that..."
He took a short pause while looking at the clipboard in his hand. Scratching the back of his head, his face scrunched up in what appeared to be disbelief.
"I really can't believe we had such monsters in our year... Leon Ellert. Physical examination score, 2.91. Mental examination score, 2.98. Aoife Megrail. Physical examination score, 2.87. Mental examination score, 3.01..."
"...!"
"Th-this...!"
A still silence shrouded the space as Professor Kelson and the other assistants gaped at the results.
It took a while before they could recollect themselves, and when they did, one of them asked again to make sure they hadn't heard wrong.
"....I didn't hear wrongly, right? Did you just..."
"Leon Ellert. Physical examination score, 2.91. Mental examination score, 2.98. Aoife Megrail. Physical examination score, 2.87. Mental examination score, 3.01..."
The assistant professor repeated.
Only when he repeated did it finally sink into the mind of those present as they looked at each other at a complete loss for words.
"Monsters..."
Breaking the silence was Professor Kelson who looked at the clipboard incredulously while repeating.
"...We've got monsters this year."
And then, her gaze finally fell on the last assistant professor.
"What about you Gilbert? Any notable figures from your group?"
"Yes."
His deep voice quietly echoed out in the group.
Taking out his clipboard, he frowned.
".....Only one though."
Whether he spoke out of disappointment or not, nobody could be sure. His expression was hard to read.
He began to announce,
"Kiera Mylne. Mana examination test, 2.504. Physical examination test, 2.281."
"Another monster..."
"Wow."
The other assistant professors seemed impressed by her performance. All but Professor Kelson who saw the crux of the problem.
"The Black Star..."
She began to speak,
"Wasn't he in your group? What was his result?"
"That's what I want to talk about..."
Finally, a shift occurred in Gilbert's expression as it darkened.
"Julien Evenus. Mana examination test, 1.716. Physical examination test, 1.189."
Gilbert's grip on the board tightened.
"....He's currently ranked amongst the last in my group in terms of average. An embarrassment."
The utter disregard in his tone couldn't be hidden. Although he tried his best to keep himself from displaying such emotion, it was starting to become hard when confronted with such results.
'He is not fit to be the Black Star.'
That was the only thought that ran through his mind.
"Those are indeed quite low scores."
The Professor couldn't deny it. Her gaze turned toward the distance where a particular figure appeared. He easily stood out from the rest of the students. Just his appearance was enough to warrant that.
But there was also the fact that he stood alone, with the cadets actively avoiding him.
It was hard for her to not spot him under such circumstances.
She rubbed her forehead.
"For now, we can do nothing about this. Let's proceed with the next examination. I'd like to go home early. Who knows, he might do a little better in the next examination."
"...I doubt that."
Gilbert went on to put his clipboard under his armpit and headed back for his group. The last examination was the mental test. Of all the other examinations, it was the hardest one to score a high grade on.
He doubted Julien could do well in such an examination given how miserably he had performed in the other examinations.
As he walked, he shook his head.
'...Pathetic.' Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience
***
"Akh... ukh...!"
Her struggle wasn't as pronounced at first. However, with the passing of the seconds, her body started to tremble with more intensity.
"Don't scream. If you scream, you fail."
The assistant professor's cold voice served to remind her to keep herself composed.
"0.1"
"0.2"
"0.3"
As well as recounting her score.
"0.8"
"0.9"
"1.0"
"Akh...!"
The moment the count hit 1.0, the pain seemed to escalate to a different level as Kiera's body spasmed with even more force.
Even so, she kept herself from screaming.
The surroundings were quiet as all eyes were fixed on her.
"1.7"
"1.8"
"1.9"
"2.0"
"...!"
Her body jolted and her head smacked back. Her entire body spasmed, and for the briefest moment, she almost screamed.
However...
With some absurd level of willpower, she was able to keep herself from screaming.
Kata! Kata! Kata!
The chair rattled with force asnd her body continued to trash around.
"2.1"
"2.2"
The count continued.
Her legs flayed in random directions.
"Akh...! Ukh...!"
Saliva spit out from her mouth as she clenched her teeth tightly and glared ahead.
"Ukh...!"
"2.5"
"2.6"
"2.7"
The count continued.
Everyone stood in silence, staring at her with heavy expressions as she continued to trash around.
She looked like she had lost her mind by this point, but the fact that she had yet to scream proved she had lost anything but her mind...
She was still there.
Hanging there.
Withholding the pain. It was almost impressive.
But that eventually came to an end...
".....Akhhhhhhhhhh!"
Her scream ended up piercing through her silence as her body started to spasm uncontrollably.
Click—!
A gentle click sounded that moment and her body finally relaxed.
Only when she fully calmed down and was capable of moving her body again did the assistant professor announce her result.
"Kiera Mylne. Mental Examination score... 2.93."
Swoosh!
The expression of many of the students changed after hearing the score with many looking at her with traces of awe.
I too was impressed by her score.
Although I wasn't sure how much it hurt, the way she was trashing about and her expression, it must've hurt a lot.
"Next cadet."
But things moved on rather quickly.
Another cadet was called.
"Jaylen Roshtelia."
Yet again my name wasn't called.
A tall man with short black hair moved forward and sat down on the chair.
"You've seen the steps. Please put it on the device. I'll start you shortly."
He went on to score 1.81.
Another name was called up next.
Yet again it wasn't mine.
I stood patiently at the back, waiting for my name to be eventually called up.
But that never happened.
Not until...
I was the last cadet standing.
"Julien Evenus."
Only then was my name called.
"You're up next."