Months passed, and soon the time for the year-end exams arrived. The air around Arcathis Academy grew thick with tension as students scrambled to prepare. The once-lively tavern chatter had turned into hurried study sessions, and even the most confident students found themselves second-guessing their knowledge.
At breakfast, the group sat together, each of them contemplating their upcoming trials.
"Well, this is it," Nara exhaled, cracking her knuckles. "The final test of the year."
"I wouldn't call it the final test," Kalem corrected. "Just one of many to come."
"Oh, don't start with that," Lyra groaned, rubbing her temples. "Can't we at least pretend we get a break after this?"
"I mean, if you fail, you get a break," Jhaeros smirked, sipping his tea.
"Not funny," Lyra shot him a glare.
Garrick leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "I'll admit, I'm a little curious. You've all got your own fields of study—how do these exams work for each of you?"
Kalem nodded. "Good question. Let's go over them."
The Alchemical Division
Lyra sighed, rolling her shoulders. "For us alchemists, the exam is pretty straightforward. We get assigned a potion at random and have three hours to brew it. Sounds simple enough, but there's a catch."
"Let me guess," Nara smirked, "they could assign you anything, even something ridiculously difficult?"
"Exactly," Lyra groaned. "It's luck-based in a way, but also a test of adaptability. If I get something easy, I finish in an hour. If I get something that requires stabilizing volatile compounds or balancing rare catalysts…" She trailed off, shaking her head.
Kalem folded his arms. "That actually sounds fun."
"Of course you'd say that," Lyra scoffed. "You don't have to deal with the explosion risk."
Jhaeros chuckled. "So that's why we keep hearing small explosions from the alchemy wing."
Lyra crossed her arms. "I'll have you know that's just… part of the process."
The Beast Study Division
Jhaeros smirked. "Our test is probably the most exciting. They release a bunch of creatures into an enclosed training ground, and we have to tame one."
"Define 'tame'," Garrick raised an eyebrow.
"Convince it to trust you," Jhaeros explained. "No force allowed, just pure understanding and technique."
Nara grinned. "So what happens if someone tries to 'convince' a monster with their fists?"
"They fail instantly," Jhaeros chuckled. "And possibly get bitten."
Isolde frowned. "Do you get to pick your beast?"
"Nope. It's assigned randomly," Jhaeros said. "You could get a docile herbivore or an aggressive predator."
Kalem tapped his fingers on the table. "A test of knowledge and patience, then. Interesting."
Jhaeros nodded. "Exactly. But trust me, it's a lot harder than it sounds."
The Elementalism Division
Nara leaned back and stretched. "Our test is all about endurance. We have to maintain an elemental coating for twelve hours."
Garrick blinked. "That sounds… exhausting."
"It is," Nara admitted. "It's not just about keeping the magic going but keeping it stable. If I push too hard, I burn myself out. If I don't push enough, I fail."
Lyra tilted her head. "Wait… doesn't that mean you'll have to keep your fire going even while eating?"
"Yup," Nara smirked. "And sleeping."
"That's insane," Isolde muttered.
Kalem thought for a moment. "It's a brilliant endurance test. You have to regulate mana over a long period without allowing any breaks."
"Exactly," Nara grinned. "And let's be honest, I've been through worse."
The Spell Division
"I'd say the Spell Division has the most unpredictable test," Isolde said, arms crossed. "They assign each of us a completely unique task. No one knows what they'll get until the moment they step in."
Garrick raised an eyebrow. "That sounds unfair."
"Not really," Isolde replied. "It's tailored to our abilities, meant to push us to our limits. Some students will be asked to cast spells under high-pressure conditions. Others will have to replicate historic spell formations."
Kalem looked thoughtful. "I imagine they're testing adaptability rather than just raw power."
"Exactly," Isolde nodded. "I expect something tricky, but I'll manage."
Nara smirked. "They better give you something flashy."
Isolde rolled her eyes. "Not everything needs to explode, Nara."
The History Division
Garrick sighed. "For the history folks, it's an oral test. Multi-topic, individual examination."
Nara winced. "Oral exams are the worst."
"I don't mind them," Garrick shrugged. "But the problem is, they don't just test what you remember. They'll challenge your interpretations, make you defend your answers."
Kalem nodded. "Debate-based, then. That's tough."
"Yeah," Garrick admitted. "They'll ask about everything—ancient wars, forgotten civilizations, political strategies. If you can't argue your point well enough, you fail."
Lyra grinned. "Good thing you never stop talking, huh?"
Garrick chuckled. "Exactly."
The Material Division
Kalem finally spoke. "The Material Division's test is about rune circuits. We have to construct a layered rune sequence from scratch."
"Sounds easy enough," Jhaeros said.
Kalem shook his head. "Not at all. A layered rune circuit isn't just about drawing runes—it's about making them interact properly. If one layer misaligns, the whole thing collapses. And we have to do it under a strict time limit."
Nara smirked. "So if you mess up, it explodes?"
Kalem gave her a flat look. "Yes."
"…Alright, that's pretty cool," Nara admitted.
As they finished discussing their exams, a silence settled over the group. The weight of the upcoming trials sank in.
"Well," Lyra sighed, standing up, "I guess we'd better get ready."
Jhaeros smirked. "Last chance to run away."
Nara cracked her knuckles. "Not a chance."
Kalem nodded. "Then let's do this."
The year-end exams had begun.