"Argh, this paper is a nightmare!"
"Ma'am, you are very cruel to us. Why did you make questions this hard?"
"Only if I studied instead of filling around with girls at the club!"
"Hey, you were with girls? Why don't you take me with you?"
"Shut up and let me focus on my question paper."
Lillian's eyebrow twitched uncontrollably as she listened to the class. Eventually, her patience reached its breaking point.
A wave of crushing mana pressure flooded the entire class, almost suffocating all the cadets present there.
Only a few main characters were spared from the ruthless assault since they swiftly deployed their mana pressure to shield themselves.
Consequently, the cadets caught in the middle of these opposing pressures nearly blacked out.
"Stop this nonsense at once. And you two, I swear to god I'll throw you both out if you continue to cheat so openly and disturb the class!" Lillian yelled, withdrawing her mana pressure.
The cadets shuddered and broke into fearful murmurs before returning to their work, hastily scribbling answers on their sheets.
I didn't bother with the commotion, though. After all, I had only three more questions left to answer.
As the chaos settled and the cadets begrudgingly returned to their papers, I focused on the remaining questions with renewed determination. With just three more questions to go, I pushed aside any distractions and poured all of my concentration into completing the exam.
The questions flew by under my pen, each answer coming to me with ease as I drew upon the knowledge and skills I had. Despite the earlier disruption, I remained calm and collected, determined to finish the exam on a high note.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I completed the last question and laid down my pen with a sense of satisfaction. Glancing around the room, I noticed that many of my classmates were still furiously scribbling away, their faces etched with varying degrees of stress and frustration.
With a confident smile, I gathered up my papers and made my way to the front of the classroom to submit my exam. Lillian, who was still visibly annoyed by the earlier disturbance, spared me a glance.
"What is it, Lucas?"
"I'm done with my paper," I replied.
The whole class fell silent, diverting their attention from their answer sheets to look at me with bewildered gazes.
Even Lillian couldn't help but stutter in surprise. "I-It's only been an hour. Are you sure you answered all the questions carefully?"
Since last week I couldn't properly train myself and the cause of this was Sunny.
Sunny was holding study sessions with a newly formed study group that he had created.
Naturally, he invited me to be a part of it.
And I had no choice but to accept. I mean, I tried declining, but he dragged me into it anyway.
To my surprise, it wasn't a cadet retreat group but a genuine study group. To be honest, I did not need to study.
Why? Because I am a genius.
But despite it all, since I was a part of the group, I had no choice but to study along with them.
And precisely because of that, I wasn't able to properly train in the last few days.
It felt really weird and somehow wrong not to be able to train for some time since it had now become my habit.
Gods, what did Yato do to my lazy self?
As I settled onto my bed, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for neglecting my training in favor of studying with Sunny and the others. It wasn't like me to prioritize academics over honing my skills, but somehow, I found myself drawn into the group's camaraderie and dedication to their studies.
But now, with the written exams behind me and the practical exam looming ahead, I knew that I couldn't afford to neglect my training any longer. The thought of facing real-world challenges without being at the peak of my abilities sent a shiver down my spine, and I resolved to make up for lost time.
With a determined sigh, I pushed myself off the bed and grabbed my training gear, ready to head to the training ground and put in some serious work. As I made my way out of the dormitory, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
The air seemed charged with anticipation, as if the academy itself was holding its breath in anticipation of the upcoming practical exam. It was a feeling that I couldn't quite put into words, but it sent a thrill of excitement coursing through me nonetheless.
Arriving at the training ground, I wasted no time in getting down to business. I started with some basic warm-up exercises, focusing on loosening up my muscles and getting my blood pumping. But as I moved through my routine, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered at the back of my mind.
It was as if there was something lurking just beyond the edge of my consciousness, something that I couldn't quite grasp. I shook my head, trying to clear away the cobwebs of uncertainty, but it stubbornly remained, casting a shadow over my training session.
Despite my best efforts to push past it, the feeling persisted, growing stronger with each passing moment. It was like a whisper in the back of my mind, urging me to pay attention, to stay vigilant.
And as I continued to train, I couldn't help but wonder what trials lay ahead in the days to come, and whether I would be ready to face them when the time came.
With a determined grimace, I pushed myself harder, channeling my doubts and fears into my training. Whatever challenges awaited me, I would face them head-on, armed with the skills and determination that had brought me this far.
For now, all I could do was focus on the task at hand and trust in my abilities to see me through. With that thought in mind, I threw myself into my training with renewed vigor, ready to face whatever the future held in store.