CHAPTER 53: RESULTS [3]

Chapter 53: Results [3]

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"I wondered when you would finally unsheath it," Eldrich said, his eyes fixed on Nathan’s furious look. Nathan was in absolute shock at the fact that Eldrich knew he had a concealed weapon.

"That’s enough!" Professor Vaelian shouted, his voice a clear command. He gestured to Instructor Bale to prepare for the continuation of the test score evaluation. "I overlooked the fact that you stepped out of the line and came forward. I also ignored the inflammatory speech you made concerning the nobility of the kingdom. But there’s one thing I cannot overlook: the attempted attack on our visitor, Captain Marshal Eldrich Lionsheart. I will have to report that to the student council as a formal notice. I’m afraid a suspension may be looming your way, and it could affect your future participation in exams."

"That’s not good," Greg whispered to Arios, as Arios kept his gaze fixed on Eldrich, who stood there as if he hadn’t just been the target of a malicious attack.

"Did you attack me?" Eldrich Lionsheart asked, his gaze sharp and piercing, cutting through Nathan’s stunned expression.

Nathan didn’t respond at first, confused by such an obvious question. Eldrich repeated himself, his voice now even sharper. "Did you attack me?"

That’s when Nathan finally caught on to Eldrich’s move. Eldrich wanted Nathan to deny the attack, which would force Professor Vaelian to ask Eldrich to confirm the incident. On the surface, it made no sense, as everyone had witnessed the attack. However, under the academy’s prosecution rules, if the accused denies an allegation, the offended party must formally reaffirm the charges before any proceedings or evidence can be presented. This mechanism was designed to allow for an immediate settlement between the two parties, avoiding lengthy and public hearings.

"No," Nathan answered.

"That’s an absurd question," Professor Vaelian said, looking at Eldrich. He then quickly turned his gaze back to Nathan. "And that is an even more absurd answer. But if that’s how you wish to play it, then who am I to object?" Turning his attention back to Eldrich, he asked, "Mr. Eldrich, as per academic rules, I need you to confirm whether or not you were attacked by the first-year student, Nathan de Acosta."

"I personally don’t know of any attack," Eldrich answered.

"That settles it then," Professor Vaelian said. "Eldrich was never attacked, and we may quickly resume where we left off. Everyone, get back in line so you can all check your test scores."

Arios watched as Eldrich Lionsheart casually returned to his spot beside Professor Vaelian. Always kind as ever, he thought, a sense of familiarity washing over him.

Arios knew Eldrich from his previous life’s memories and his role in the anime. The Chief Marshal was a figure of immense power, but beneath his fearsome title, he was a compassionate man who understood the struggles of those who were overlooked. He wouldn’t have allowed an act of youthful rebellion to ruin a promising talent like Nathan’s. It was a hearted move, one that showed his character without drawing too much attention.

The students, now reassured that a suspension wasn’t looming, quickly fell back into a line. Instructor Bale took the stage again, holding the tablet. One by one, students came forward, placed their thumbs on the edge of the screen, and saw their scores. There were gasps, sighs, and the occasional quiet cheer as the scores appeared: 55, 43, 38, 67, 71, 48, and so on. The air was a mix of quiet happiness and bitter disappointment.

When it was Arios’s turn, he calmly walked forward and placed his thumb on the tablet. A moment later, his score appeared on the screen, visible only to him: an overall score of 88. His breakdown showed a high level of consistency and understanding across all subjects: Mathematics: 89, Science: 86, Magical Arts: 88, and Civics & History: 89.

He stepped back and the murmurs in the hall grew louder. "I got a 61! At least I passed."

"My score is a joke. I’m so screwed for the combat test."

"Did you see Rian Blake’s score? 28. He’s so done for."

"I can’t believe I got a 75! My parents are gonna be so proud."

Arios was pulled from his thoughts by a tap on his shoulder. It was Greg, a wide grin on his face. "Arios, I got an 81! All that studying really did Paid off! What about you? You must have aced it!"

"I got an 88," Arios said with a smile.

Greg’s eyes widened in surprise. "An 88? Holy cow! Dude, you’re a genius! That’s only ten points off of Elisa Ravenscroft!"

Before Arios could respond, a familiar voice called out to them. "Well, look at you two, all happy with your scores," Liza said, her eyes twinkling with energy as she approached with Lucy. "Don’t leave us out of the fun."

Greg, noticing the two girls, quickly excused himself. "Well, I gotta go find my spot in line. Congrats again, Arios!"

After he left, Liza and Lucy stood on either side of Arios. "So, what did you get?" Liza asked, her head tilted playfully.

"I got an 88," Arios said. "Liza?"

"An 83," she replied with a confident smirk. "Not bad, right?"

"Way better than mine," Lucy mumbled, her cheeks puffing out. "I got a 58."

Arios placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Hey, at least you passed. That’s a huge step."

"Yeah, Lucy, you’re not going to be at the bottom of the pile anymore," Liza teased, nudging her. "Now you’ll be slightly above it."

"Hey! Don’t make me beat you up," Lucy said, her voice a little higher than usual, though a smile was tugging at her lips.

"Come on, you two, don’t argue," Arios said, shaking his head with a chuckle. "We all did great."

As they talked, their playful banter was interrupted by Professor Vaelian’s voice, now amplified by magic. The entire hall fell silent. "Students of Class 1-D," the professor began. "I know you are all eager for the combat portion of the test, and to mark its official opening, we have a special ceremonial match. It will be between Instructor Bale and Chief Marshal Eldric Lionsheart!"

A wave of excitement rippled through the students, as this was an unprecedented event, one for the academy history books. The event was originally meant to be between Instructor Bale and some random Mage Knight from the Kingdom of Postoria. But now, with Eldrich Lionsheart’s presence, things had taken a major turn.

Professor Vaelian continued, his voice resonating with purpose. "This match is not for entertainment. It is to show you, the misfits of this academy, what true strength looks like. It is to show you what you can achieve if you focus, if you don’t relent, and if you truly give it your all. Let it be a lesson, a mark of inspiration, for the challenge that lies ahead of you."

"Now let the men step forward."

This wasn’t just a ceremonial match anymore.

The Chief Marshal of the Kingdom of Postoria, the Hell’s Knight, Eldrich Lionsheart, against one of the Elite Academy’s reverend sword practitioners, Instructor Bale. The hall silent, filled with an electric tension as two titans of power, one a legend of the battlefield and the other a master of the academy’s ancient sword arts, stepped into the centre. Many student held their breath, knowing they were about to witness a clash that would shape their understanding of what it meant to be a Mage Knight.