***

-The Next Day-

The First Years sat through yet another Combat Magic class. One that was spent with Cynthia Kragsten going over various battle simulations in preparation for the Mid-Semester Tests.

And on that note, she announced,

"They begin next week."

"What?" Marcus Arognite said with a surprised expression that the rest of the class shared.

"The Mid-Semester Tests," Cynthia said, "They begin Next week. Well, actually, they start and end next week.

You'll be having Written Tests—or practical tests for the subjects that require it—from the first to the last day of the week.

However, that schedule does not apply to the Tests for Combat Magic, Study of Magical Beasts, and… Mage-Knight Training. Those will take place on the first day of the weekend."

"Professor, no one told us any of this," Marcus said then.

Cynthia looked taken aback but anyone with even an inkling of perceptive ability would be able to see the sarcasm in her expression and her tone when she said,

"Really?"

Marcus seemed to still have some perceptiveness about him because he paused and stammered a bit.

"Y-yes, Professor," he said while looking at the class at large, as though he was hoping one of his classmates would join to corroborate his words.

Or at least reiterate to him that he was right because Cynthia's tone and expression were causing him to doubt himself.

Speaking of Cynthia, she placed a finger to her pretty lips which she had parted while her eyes were looking up as though in confusion.

"I see. But I could have sworn I mentioned it just last week," she said.

"Yes, but you said they'd be coming up in the next few weeks," Aylin said then and Marcus looked so grateful to finally have some backup.

Aylin didn't look at him though. Her eyes were on Cynthia whose eyes were also now on her.

"By this time next week, two weeks would have passed," the Combat Magic Professor said, "I think that qualifies as a 'few' weeks, don't you?"

Aylin frowned but didn't say anything more.

Cynthia continued,

"The truth is, it doesn't matter what I said about when the Tests will begin. So long as I told you they were coming up, you should have begun to study.

You're at Lochxen Academy. Sent here by your parents to learn what they can't or won't teach you themselves in hopes that you are armed with the necessary tools to make something of yourselves in the Acheron Empire.

You are supposed to be the best of the best of your generation. Geniuses who broke through the blossoming Barrier and advanced to the Third Circle before adulthood. You can't possibly be expected to be spoon-fed anything.

Hell, if the tests were to take place right now without prior 'warning', you have no excuses not to succeed. Because if you can't even do well to put down what you have learnt in a month, then you have no place here.

Am I clear?"

"Yes, Professor Kragsten," The Class chorused.

"What's gotten up her butt?" Eloise leaned closer to whisper to Caius.

Caius smiled lightly.

"Hasn't she always been like this?"

"I suppose," Eloise acquiesced reluctantly.

Cynthia had never been totally warm and fuzzy and all about niceties so this wasn't totally out of the ordinary. Still, though, there seemed to be a bit more edge to her.

Meanwhile, Cynthia had taken a moment to let her words sink in and she scanned her eyes all over the class until she felt the gravity of the situation had properly settled with them.

And then she softened her voice by just a bit. It was so little that only someone who was listening for it would be able to notice.

"Study. Prepare," she said, "You won't be facing anything that we—your Professors—have not taught you beforehand."

Kaya threw her hand up then by Caius's other side.

"Yes, Ms. Aiesling?" Cynthia answered she she looked like she appreciated that Kaya actually asked for permission before speaking.

Or it might have been that she liked Kaya quite a bit. Kaya WAS likely the most diligent of the First years, after all and that had shown during every drill and Question&Answer sessions.

"About Arcane Tools, Professor," Kaya said.

She had been thinking about it since yesterday after she got a bit of use with her Staff and while there was nothing in the rules that prohibited its use, she just felt it would be better to confirm.

Eloise had told her it was better she didn't ask. She felt that it might be an oversight that the Academy hadn't paid any mind so mentioning it would just bring it to their attention. Which was why she closed her eyes and shook her head a bit when Kaya went ahead and did it.

"What about them?" Cynthia asked.

"Are they allowed?"

Cynthia frowned and for some reason, her eyes went to Caius who had a hand over his lips and looked surprised at her sudden attention on him.

Cynthia looked back at Kaya then.

"I believe I've made my feelings about Arcane tools clear…" she started.

"Oh gods…" Eloise said in a dismayed whisper.

"… They stunt the development of young Mages such as yourself. They become a crutch that many lean on which causes their actual skills to fall short…"

"Fuck…" Eloise said still in a dismayed whisper and she bowed her head at the thought that she wouldn't actually get to whip her wands about.

"… Even for an adult and experienced Mage, Arcane Tools should remain for emergency uses to reduce the possibility of temptations.

Those are my thoughts on Arcane Tools, Ms. Aeisling.

But to answer, yes, Arcane Tools are allowed during your Mid-Semester Tests."

"Ah?" Eloise voiced still in a whisper, excited now. She raised her head and smiled widely as she said in a sing-song voice,

"Oh, that's awesome."

Kaya looked at her and raised a brow to say 'Told you so'.

Kaya had known she was taking a risk to ask and the whole thing could get shut down. However, she believed there was a large chance it was allowed and if she got Professor Kragsten to admit such in front of the entire class, neither she nor Eloise would have to tiptoe or worry about possible ramifications when they used their Arcane Tools.

And also, if it wasn't allowed, she planned to just use it anyway. At least, that was what Caius told her to do when she talked to him about it that morning.

"If you feel like you need it, use it," he had said and there was something about his tone that made Kaya feel like he wasn't saying 'if' and was actually saying 'when'.

She asked herself then; What does he know?

Cynthia Kragsten raised a finger then and a fairly strong flow of wind blew through the classroom, snapping Kaya out of her thoughts so she could hear the Professor say,

"There are dangers that come with ease. When things come easy, people have a tendency to become… careless. Getting carried away during the Mid-semester tests will invoke consequences for your scores and assessment.

And this is even more so for those who decide to use Arcane Tools. Whatever you do while in possession of one will be under more scrutiny. It will be looked at, assessed, and scored less favorably by me.

I prefer those who win by their own merit and not by external tools they might not even have at hand in a real combat situation. So… do keep that in mind."

There were a lot of disappointed expressions at that and it was so clear that, in their bid to get ahead, many had been planning be get Arcane Tools but the thought that they might not be even properly recognized for their successes if they used one, put a dampening on their plans.

After all, what good is beating your opponents if the losers are still considered and scored better than you?

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