"Welcome all," Cynthia said with a stoic expression at the center of the other two Professors with her.

Her voice pulled the attention of all the First Years who had been getting entranced by the Recording crystals. They knew what they were for. Kaya herself had known without Caius having to tell her so it's not all that surprising that a good number of the students were feeling self-conscious.

The broadcasting feed could even get extended to be shown to Parents. Whichever Parent opted to tune in that is. Parents who wished to see how their little munchkins were doing at school.

To present a disappointing display here is likely to never hearing the end of it when you get back home for the holidays. A scary thought for many.

Cynthia continued.

"My colleagues and I have toiled in the classrooms to prepare you for this day. We have also toiled outside the classrooms to prepare this day—this stage, if you will—for you.

We brainstormed on how our three classes could come together to create a new experience for you all. One that your predecessors cannot have possibly warned you about, giving you more preparation than is right. Retaining some element of surprise.

I must say, it has not been easy.

Your Study of Magical Beasts Professor's insistence on free roam to simulate the experience and challenges of a true Magical Beast Expert proved quite the ordeal because the other two classes required you to be carefully monitored.

I don't tell you this to put you in awe of our plight to get to where we are today but to let you understand just how much it has meant to us for this to be a clean and fair Test. If despite the precautions we have put in place, either of you injures your fellow student grievously, it wouldn't just result in a fail, but Expulsion.

Letting you choose your own strategies is to encourage ingenuity. Not blatant cruelty."

Professor Raoul Raoul waved his hand then and a chest fell out of his Storage Ring and landed on the ground with a dull *Thump*. He kicked the chest and it sprang open, revealing what looked like multiple silver-lined black vests that seemed to be especially meant to complement the navy-blue gold-buttoned long-sleeved jackets the students all had on.

Cynthia waved her hand and a spell circle appeared, conjuring what looked like hands made of wind to pick up jackets out of the chest and drop them in the arms of each of the students.

"Those jackets are enchanted to protect you even against Fifth Circle Magic and strength. More than enough defense against anything we or your classmates decide to throw at you," Lea Gilligan said.

"Damn," Baler said and Caius could feel him staring at him.

Lea seemed to ignore the outburst but she did still address the concern with her next words.

"You will be protected but some effects will still be felt. And if you get hit three times by a spell or attack from the same person, they will be considered to have won that duel."

"And winning duels will be quite important because they are the only ways you will gain either Combat Magic or Mage-Knight Training Points," Cynthia stepped in to continue,

"We have designated an area of the Lochxen Forest for these Tests. All Beasts within that area have been carefully selected. Your task is to move about the designated region, tending or pacifying the various Beasts with the knowledge you have gained during your classes.

For every successful tending or pacification, you will be rewarded with Study of Magical Beast Points. Those points can be 'stolen' from you however if you are challenged to a duel and lose that duel. You can in turn steal your challenger's points if you defeat them.

You may turn down a duel which will allow you to keep your Study of Magical Beast points but in turn, you will lose Combat Magic and Mage-Knight Training Points and your would-be opponent will gain points."

"Well, it's clear what to do then," Marcus Arognite said in a carrying whisper, "Do well with the Beasts and turn down all duels."

Eloise raised a hand then.

"Professor, what counts as the start of a duel?"

Averse to combat as she was, Eloise was of a similar mind to Marcus. She just had the good sense to realize there was likely more to it than just 'turning down the duel'.

"It can be very simple really. You can challenge to a duel by striking first. You accept a duel by retaliating to an attack. There are no words of affirmation required. Only perceived intent.

If you cast a spell to defend yourself from an attack, even if to give yourself the space to get away, you will be considered to have accepted that duel, and should you then run, you will have lost and will thus lose Study of Magical Beasts points—if you have them—as well as lose Combat Magic and Mage-Knight Training Points.

If you are really intent on rejecting a challenge, state so very clearly with words before making a run for it in the opposite direction of a would-be opponent.

Is that clear enough?" Cynthia asked after her explanation

Eloise took a pause and then nodded.

Cynthia nodded with her and smiled lightly but professionally,

"I must add though that you will be in teams and team-match-ups are allowed.

In that case, if one team challenges another, all it takes is for a single member of the other team to show intent to accept the challenge and you all must then duel. To run will be considered desertion and your Points will all three classes will be at risk. You lose the duel and you lose Points."

Cynthia let her words settle in and watched the students as they all strapped on their protective vests over their uniform jackets.

Caius found that, just like the Lochxen uniform, the Protective vest felt great. It was snug but comfortable. He could just feel the projection of a field at the ready to keep him from serious damage.

If only it would be enough.

Caius was securing the straps of his protective vest—though it was perfect already—when he felt a gaze on him and looked up to stare into Cynthia's stormy grey eyes. Their exchange lasted only a second before the Professor looked away.

Caius and Cynthia hadn't seen each other since last week when Caius said they should take the time apart to reassess. She had been busy preparing for this but to be honest, that was not entirely an excuse because Lea was just as busy—maybe even more so—and Caius had found the time to give her the Arcane Circle and feed on her enhanced blood.

The truth was that Cynthia didn't know what she wanted in regard to Caius and how to deal with her feelings for him and decided that now was not the time to spend time on that.

Caius raised his hand then and Cynthia looked at him, raising a brow like she thought he had done that just to draw her attention.

"Yes, Mr. Von Helsing?"

"Professor, I wondered, for us few who take both Combat Magic and Mage-Knight Training, how are we scored?"

That was actually a reasonable question to ask and the others who were in the same situation as Caius nodded in agreement and were attentive for an answer.

Cynthia smiled but there was little to no warmth in it,

"Well, I think it's obvious that it would be difficult—maybe even impossible—for you to excel at both.

The two are governed by different principles of combat. Long against close range. No weapons against weapons. Magical intelligence against muscle-brained nonentity…"

Professor Raoul Raoul cleared his throat and stepped in here,

"The point is, even if you are capable of switching between the two, you most likely will need to specialize and stick to our strengths.

As such, think of the Test as an assessment of where you belong. If you are drastically poor in either of the two, you will be advised to leave that one and focus on the one you excel at."

"Yes," Cynthia said with a sweet smile, "We will likely finally put an end to all that two-timing nonsense."

Caius narrowed his eyes and started believing that using the Test as an assessment for a student to choose between either Combat Magic or Mage-Knight Training and then stick with that choice was likely Cynthia's idea.

It was likely the selling point for her to have a joint Test with Mage-Knight Training despite how much she despised the practice.

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