Chapter 380 88.3 - Final Exams

Chapter 380 Chapter 88.3 - Final Exams

After the last students had finished their oral examination, Eleanor and the other instructors gathered in a small conference room adjacent to the examination hall.

The room was quiet, a stark contrast to the nervous energy that had filled the examination spaces earlier. Eleanor sat at the head of the table, her usual stern expression softened by the end of the rigorous session.

"Let's start with Lila Thornheart," Eleanor began, glancing at her notes. "Ranked fifth among the freshmen."

One of the instructors, Professor Whitaker, who was a slightly elderly man with a grown beard, nodded. "Lila's performance was impeccable. Her responses were pixel-perfect as if she had everything memorized down to the last detail. She navigated through the dungeon scenarios with confidence and precision."

"She even handled the theoretical aspects with ease," added Professor Moreau. "Her understanding of mana fluctuations in dungeons was particularly impressive. She's clearly put in a lot of effort to maintain her rank."

Eleanor nodded in agreement. "Yes, Lila's preparation and execution were flawless. It's no surprise given her ranking."

The discussion continued, moving through various students who had performed well and those who had struggled. The atmosphere was collegial but focused, with each instructor providing insights and observations.

Then, Professor Sterling leaned forward, a curious look on her face. "There was one student who caught me off-guard," she said, glancing at her notes. "Astron Natusalune, ranked 1729."

There was a brief silence as the other instructors took in the information.

Eleanor raised an eyebrow. "Student Astron Natusalune? His rank is quite low. What stood out about his performance?"

Though her question sounded like she didn't care, it was all an act. She was doing this because she wouldn't be perceived as showing a favor to the cadet of her homeroom classroom.

She also didn't want unnecessary entanglement since she was still in the process of testing him.

Sterling nodded. "His grades have shown significant improvement recently, as you must be already aware."

"I wouldn't consider it as a significant improvement, but you may continue," Eleanor interjected.

"Ah, yes." Knowing that this was how Eleanor was, Professor Sterling didn't mind. "During his oral exam, he provided a well-rounded answer to your question about handling a Mana Rift in an Anomalous dungeon. He stayed calm and articulated his strategy clearly, without any hesitation. Unlike many of the other cadets, he didn't flinch under pressure."

Professor Whitaker added, "I noticed the same. His understanding of the dungeon dynamics and team management was solid. It's clear he's put in a lot of effort. His response was not just a regurgitation of facts, but showed real analytical thinking."

Eleanor looked thoughtful. "It's good to hear that."

"Don't worry, instructor Eleanor. We won't think you are showing a favor."

"....Even if you think that this will never be the case. I never give special treatment to anyone."

"Ahaha....I guess that's right. Forgive this old man talking so impudently."

"I don't mind."

"Thank you." As Whitaker smiled warmly at Eleanor like a grandfather, he showed his rubric.

"For me, he gets full marks."

Inwardly, Eleanor smiled.

*******

<Tuesday Morning, Arcadia City>

In the bustling heart of Arcadia City, the Valerian Federation's capital, a young man with a white robe walked through the crowded streets with purpose.

The sun cast long shadows as it dipped toward the horizon, bathing the city in a warm, golden light.

He clutched the silver necklace tightly, its crescent moon pendant gleaming with a faint, mysterious glow.

Yet, he swiftly entered one of the back alleys, and from there, he entered the tavern.

In the dimly lit corner of a bustling tavern, Leonard sat with a hood drawn over his head, blending into the shadows.

The air was thick with the scent of ale and the murmur of hushed conversations. This was the kind of place where secrets were traded as freely as coin—an ideal location for gathering information.

Leonard's eyes scanned the room, settling on a woman seated across from him. She had a sharp, calculating gaze and an air of mystery about her. Her slanted eye showed that she was from the east.

Known among the informants as Shina, she was a well-respected broker of knowledge, adept at navigating the undercurrents of Arcadia City's darker side.

"Any progress from your side?" Leonard began, his voice low and steady.

Shina leaned back, a faint smile playing on her lips. "It was a curious matter indeed. Someone from your place is looking for a person with such uncertain criteria." Yet, seeing Leonard not revealing anything with his face and the tranquility remaining, she decided not to beat around the bush. "There isn't any progress yet. My men searched the whole city and back alleys, but we have yet to find anyone with the characteristics you mentioned."

"I see." Leonard was not expecting much from it in any case. After all, finding a single person in this whole city was like trying to find the needle in a haystack. "If that is the case, I will take my leave."

Just as Leonard was about to leave his place, Shina called out, her voice cutting through the murmur of the tavern. "Wait a moment. Will you be attending the Arcadia Hunter Academy's final exams?"

Leonard turned back, his expression curious but guarded. "What do you mean by that?"

Shina leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. "I've heard that you have a sister who attends the Arcadia Hunter Academy. They will have duels starting next week's Monday, and the relatives of the cadets will be allowed to enter."

Question 3 was easy, discussing the discovery of mana wells and their transformative effect on magical theory and practice.

'This question....I guess they don't want many students to fail the course.'

It was a classic move. Putting such an easy question in the exam so that students would at least get a passing grade.

She included key historical figures and events that highlighted the importance of these wells. And that was it.

For Question 4, she outlined various techniques used in mana reinforcement for physical combat, from basic mana infusion into weapons to advanced techniques like mana armoring and enhancing physical attributes through mana flow control.

This part was where things started getting a bit harder since she needed to be quick with her solution steps, but at the same time, she also needed to make sure she didn't make any mistakes.

But her mind was fast with the calculations as always.

Question 5 had her exploring the complexities of healing spells.

She discussed the delicate balance required to avoid overcharging or undercharging a healing spell, the dangers of mana feedback, and the critical role of controlled mana flow.

And then, she showed her calculations.

Then, she reached Question 6.

Irina paused, her brow furrowing as she read the problem. The scenario presented was challenging, requiring not only a deep understanding of mana mechanics but also the ability to apply that knowledge in a high-stress, dynamic environment.

She took a deep breath and started outlining her thoughts. The key would be to stabilize mana flow despite the fluctuating environment. She began by calculating the mage's average mana consumption per spell and their natural mana regeneration rate.

Irina wrote:

Mana Consumption per Spell: 50 mana units

Mana Regeneration Rate: 10 mana units per minute

With the mana density fluctuating every ten minutes, she had to consider both extremes: a high concentration where mana regeneration might temporarily increase and near-depletion where regeneration could halt entirely.

She continued:

High Concentration Phase: Mana regeneration might increase to 20 units per minute.

Near-Depletion Phase:

-Mana regeneration could drop to 0 units per minute.

-Irina sketched out a strategy:

1. During High Concentration Phases:

-Cast high-mana spells to utilize the surplus.

-Store excess mana in mana crystals for later use.

2. During Near-Depletion Phases:

-Conserve mana by casting only essential spells.

-Use stored mana from crystals to maintain necessary spellcasting.

She calculated the optimal use of mana during these cycles:

High Concentration:

-Regenerate 200 mana units in 10 minutes.

-Use 100 units for spellcasting and store 100 units.

Near-Depletion:

-Consume stored mana at a rate of 10 units per minute, maintaining minimal spellcasting activities.

Irina's pen moved more slowly as she worked through the details, ensuring her strategy was viable. She included diagrams to illustrate the mana flow and graphs to represent the fluctuations and her planned mana usage.

Finally, she concluded with a summary of how the mage could neutralize the artifact by synchronizing their actions with the mana fluctuations, using stored mana strategically to maintain stability.

Irina leaned back in her chair, reviewing her work. The last question had taken considerable effort, but she felt confident in her solution.

She glanced at the clock, noting she had used her time well.

Instructor Ethan's voice broke the silence. "Time's up. Pens down."

Irina set her pen aside, a sense of accomplishment washing over her. The week had been grueling, but she had faced the final boss and given it her best.