Chapter 5 5: Mock Test (1)

Arcuied just woke up and arrived at his classroom. He looked up at the top of the door. A silver sign was placed, letters were carved into it forming Class 1 - A.

He checked his arms, making sure there wasn't anything on it. Earlier at midnight, just like always, he had a nightmare. He didnt know when it was gonna stop, and frankly he wanted it to end. He just had to endure more until he find the answers he was looking for.

He sighed as he prepared himself. This was his starting point to everything. This is where everything will begin. And he isn't gonna mess anything for that matter.

He opened the door, and there he saw the inside. The inside was neither small nor big, just medium sized. Small desk and chairs were lined up inside the room. At the furthest front was the board and the teacher's desk.

He looked around the room and realized there weren't that many people yet. Only a few notable one's. His arrival most likely alerted them. One was a blonde student with elegant mannerism and handsome looks, he sat opposite facing a beautiful girl.

The next was the beautiful girl, she had long black hair and green eyes. Those green eyes were familiar to him but he just couldn't put his finger on where he knew it. Looking at her smiling expression, it seems she didnt mind being accompanied by the blonde student.

And the next one was the oddest one. The man looked like he didnt have any kind of sleep, his eyes were drooping and there were dark eyebags below. He had a fashionable green hair and yellowish skin.

'Huh…I wonder if he got any rest…'

Arcuied thought as he prepared to walk to his desk, as he continued to walk, the blonde student greeted him,

"Good morning, your name is…?" The blonde student greeted with a casual smile as he asked,

"Good morning too, and it's Arcuied," Arcuied responded as he turned to look at the student, and ask, "How about you?"

"Eugene Pendragon." Eugene declared with a hint of pride, afterwards he introduced the girl he was talking to, "This is Amber Hong, daughter of the—"

"Stop that, you're embarassing me," Amber said in annoyance as he pinched the skin of Eugene, which the latter laughed it off, she looked at Arcuied and said, "My name is Amber Hong."

"I…see." Arcuied muttered as he looked at both of them, they seemed like good friends. It wouldnt be a stretch if they knew each other before going to Volund Academy.

The two proceeded to converse again, so Arcuied just walked to his desk and sit at his chair, suprisingly he was beside the odd student. As Arcuied sat he greeted the odd green-haired student,

"Are you okay..? You seem out of sleep," Arcuied asked with a hint of concern.

"Oh..Arcuied right? The name's Xiao, Xiao Long. A genius of the generation," The green haired student, or Xiao Long, said drowsily as he continued, "Don't worry about me, it's norma…"

The man suddenly stopped as his eyes closed. Arcuied wondered what happened until he heard him snore. He was asleep.

Arcuied blinked, he shook Xiao's hand, he decided to call him Xiao because it seemed convenient.

"Oh…where was I..?" Xiao said as he woke up from his sudden sleep, he continued, "Oh right! Don't worry, I just stayed overnight to make some dru—, potions! Yes, potions!"

You were going to say drugs weren't you..?

"Okay…" Arcuied just nodded to his weird mannerism. And then it came into him of what just Xiao said.

He knows how to make potions?! If what he said is true then…he really may be a genius of generation..

Arcuied glanced at the sleeping self-proclaimed genius. It seems his classmates were another league. It wasn't an understatement that this was the gathering of geniuses.

Still, genius or not. It doesnt matter. As the answers he was looking for doesnt end with this tiny hub of geniuses.

At that moment a loud announcement broke out in the academy.

—

Rio looked at the stack of papers he was holding while sipping his coffee. A morning coffee truly brings delight, he thought. The papers were information of students, ranging from their background, hobbies, and talents.

The students were called by announcement to go to the public examination room. At any minute now they will arrive. He just recently learned of the news, but it seemed there's going to be a mock test to rank each student's potential.

This school was crueler than he thought, it truly wasn't a joke when they proclaimed they only teach geniuses. Rio shook his head on that, it didnt matter to him the slightest. He should just calmly observe for the day and rest.

He already made several plans for the month to do. And so far, he wasn't that impatient for it. Impatience brings nothing but shambles to his plans, and he sure don't like not being in control.

As he had the time to think, he figured out what he will do concerning the original plot and characters. Firstly, he would try to keep the plot as it's original direction as best as he can, it's the only advantage he has afterall. And secondly, regarding the characters, he would help them subtly, afterall the stronger they were earlier the less responsibilities he bear.

So by that, he's gonna operate subtly and hidden. At morning he's a teacher, at night he's another person.

At this moment he heard the marching footsteps of students. The students entered the door. They were greeted by the large field. It was like an arena.

Rio sat at the chairs above the field, he noted many of the students seem like they just woke up. As he was observing he heard an the person behind him click his tounge,

"Tsk. Disorganized, Tardy, Unrefined." The fat man muttered. He seemed like a noble if his fancy clothes were anything to go by, he looked like the standard arrogant noble. The fat man noticed Rio staring at him.

"What are you looking at? Is there anything you need?" The fat man asked rather rudely, Rio didnt mind it however, he just shaked his head compromising no conflict to the man.

"No wonder you look familiar. You're the branded weirdo from the first day, aint you?" The fat man said as he remembered the circulating rumor in the staff,

"W-weirdo..? Where did you hear that from, uh, Mr. Whackermoley." Rio said stuttering, suprised that there was suddenly have a rumor regarding him. It seems his plans of staying unknown is falling off each moment.

"Call me, Bourgham," Bourgham said in part annoyance to being called his surname, he continued "Panicking in the first day…taking entry level basics and reviewing them over several days…atleast, that's what I heard."

"That is indeed true, Mr. Bourgham." Rio sighed, unable to deny the rumors. It seems staying lowkey as possible is going out of drains every moment.

Bourgham lost interest in him after that short conversation and proceeded to look at the students that were lined up below. Rio also put aside his thoughts and looked below.

As someone who has future knowledge, he easily knows who are worthy of investment and will reach far in the future. He also easily spotted the main cast of characters. Though, Rio looked at a student and got lost in thoughts.

The student has a short snowy white hair, and shining gold eyes. He was the main character of the novel, Arcuied. Even thought he was the main character of the novel, he was the most mysterious of them all. His actions were often contradictory, and his thoughts were messy.

At that moment, a loud voice resounded in the room. The voice was amplified by some kind of magic, as it easily reached the whole room.

"Good morning! Good morning!" A man with a bright smile walked inside the room, his hands clapping. The man was tall and look middle aged, he has short brown hair and thin glasses covering his eyes.

His voice awakened most of the drowsy students, and a particular green haired student was in shock of the sudden loud voice. All the eyes were directed at the man.

"Do you students know why we called you here?" The man with his bright smile asked, he was noting the people that were listening as he observed the crowd. And he saw a blonde student raise his hand, "You there!"

"A test, I presume?" Eugene answered casually.

"Indeed. Your reason?" The man asked, raising his eyebrows. An answer is merely a guess without reason. To formulate a proper observation, you need to have an answer backed up with reasons. A guess in a battlefield is fatal.

"Ah, I just deduced it by the fact that this is mostly a public room used for test and there are several teachers seated above. By that, only an idiot would not realize it." Eugene said as he stretched his arms forward.

"Indeed. It is a test, an important test at that matter. That is why I, Professor Guile, am here." Guile announced as he took a step forward with his hands spread, "This is a mock test to measure a student's potential. While sure, you kids are talented people reviewed by the staff and trainees, we need to make sure our investment to your future isn't gonna return badly. To that, we employed a system of measuring potential."

"And, why is this important perhaps? ...Ths will decide your stay in the school." Guile said as he walked around and flicked a drowsy' student's forehead, "Those at the most bottom rung of potential are…going to be expelled. No strings attached, expelled. Whether you're a civilian or a noble, if the academy deems your potential to be bottom rung dogshit, then... pack your bags, tie your shoes and get on the bus—you're going back to home."

Indeed a cruel procedure, but a good way to put motivation in the students, Rio thought as he observed the state of some students. The mediocre one's had sweat over their face's. Several notable one's had calm expressions, as if the announcement had nothing to do with them.

Eugene and Amber were calm as an ocean. Xiao was thoughtful, thinking of something. Arcuied just steeled his resolve.