Results of the Assessment

After the turmoil around Lily's performance, the next few displays went by as scripted. Alaric eventually performed his spell, creating a grand illusion of the kingdom's castle, and afterwards Seraphine was called up to perform.

Seraphine began casting her spell. In the game, she would have performed a complex piece of fire magic, creating the image of a phoenix. But instead of flames, ice crystals formed in the air around her. Like my own spell, she had them create a series of patterns as they caught the light.

...wait, isn't this the exact spell I did?

There was no rule against using the same spell, but this competition favored originality. A spell that can be copied on the spot is considered less difficult and thus this would be rated lower. Not to mention I specifically picked a spell that would leave a strong impression without being too impressive, so copying it seemed even more of an odd choice.

To everybody else, we both just happened to have prepared the same spell. To me, this was another message, another move in this strange chess game Seraphine was playing with me. She chose my spell as her submission, and if I was to call her out for it, I would also implicate myself.

I remained silent. If this was her choice, then so be it. There were a few whispers in the crowd, but that was it. She finished her performance uninterrupted and the next student was called up.

The rest of the assessment went by without any further major incidents. The most impressive performance overall came from Kaelan, who displayed a unique spell that combined at least seven different magical elements.

Too bad for him the first part of the assessment is weighed heavier for boys.

By the time the last student was finished, it was already evening. We were dismissed for the day, and the results of the assessment would be announced in the morning. Before I could even think of approaching Seraphine again, Rieva found me to report her observations.

Her findings hadn't changed much since she last reported to me. Seraphine and Lily's love interests were still at the top. Lily had moved up somewhat, but because she didn't use holy magic, she still placed below the others.

Regarding Alaric, she had nothing new to report. She watched him throughout the entire second part of the assessment and didn't notice anything unusual about his behavior, nor any changes compared to before his loss.

That in itself could have been suspicious, if he wasn't such a flat character. I feel like it would have been more concerning if he suddenly showed depth.

By the time Rieva finished her report, most of the other students had already left the arena. If Seraphine was going to give me any answers, she was going to make me wait until tomorrow.

The next morning, a large crowd of students had gathered in front of a large board that was posted in the entrance hall of the academy. It was the official ranking of the students based on their scores from the assessment.

To no surprise, Lily scored highest among the girls. In the end she surpassed Seraphine by just a single point.

I wasn't able to change that outcome. It's as if fate won't let me change the major events of the story.

While planning my next move, I was approached by Seraphine. "Lord Draivelle. Walk with me." she said with a calm demeanor. With how many students were still watching us, I welcomed her invitation, it would give us a chance to talk.

As soon as we were out of earshot of the other students, she broke the silence: "So? Do you have anything to say to me?"

"I could ask you the same thing. You called out Lily for not giving her best, only to do the same yourself. You could have won with an original spell!"

"Who's to say that wasn't my best performance? Or that I would have won? You seem awfully confident in your assessment of my abilities. Which is exactly why I did it. I want to understand: You don't know as much as you seem to think you do. Not about me." Seraphine explained.

I could hardly explain that I knew everything from the game. So instead, I chose to play into the act.

"Very well. You've proven your point. Perhaps you should give me a chance to get to know you better then, Lady Mireidyne."

To my surprise, Seraphine responded positively. "Perhaps. You can start by calling me Seraphine." she said with a smile.

"And you may call me Lucien." I replied. "It's a shame you had to sacrifice your placement just to teach me a lesson."

"I thought I had told you; my goal was merely to prove that I am more than just my bloodline. I believe I have done that." she said.

I suppose she is right, Lily may have ended on top of the ending, but the thing people will remember is her duel against me.

"...same spell. How crazy is that?" the idle chatter of two girls we were passing by cause Seraphine to stop and listen.

"They say if a boy and a girl use the same spell in an assessment, it is a sign they are destined to be together!" one of them continued.

This was news to me. Since Lily's the only student who can perform holy magic, the topic of anyone else using the same spell as her never came up.

Judging by Seraphine's reaction, she was equally unaware of this custom. For the first time I saw her genuinely flustered.

"My apologies, Lor-, Lucien, but I must leave." she said before rushing away.

Her blush is...pretty cute.