Student Query

Sixty-seven minutes have passed since the start of the exam. Since then, I’ve managed to complete all of the questions with the expected efficiency. All in all, it proved to be quite easy. Subjects like math and the sciences were my forte, and I managed to complete even the hardest questions. Anything else was also done to a good degree, with me falling perhaps just slightly short of perfection in history and geography.

Though, to be honest, it’s nothing to really be proud about. It turns out that the questions here are catered to a low uni-level at best. And as someone who completed a master’s degree in math, I find it to be very droll.

Curious as to what’s happening, I turn to watch Morgana. Evidently, she’s also finished. Looking in my direction, we exchange a bout of stares before she eventually sighs. There are around two minutes left before the end, so so I decide to spend it pondering over my circumstances.

Eventually, the time comes. The door to the hall, kicked open once again, presents the same teacher from before. Saying nothing, he descends the stairs, heading in my general direction.

He takes my paper, winks, and proceeds to seize the others.

By the end, all of the tests have been collected, and the teacher, waiting at the door, beckons us with an open hand. Gathering in a semi-circle, all of us students look at one another.

“How was it?” Morgana asks, sending a welcome glance to each student.

“Can’t say.” Dismissively replies the black hair boy.

Moving on, our gaze settles on the blonde elf, next in our clockwise chain of command.

Scratching the back of his head, he smiles. “Well, I thought it was pretty hard! I’m not used to fighting with numbers or letters or a combination of the two..”

Aren’t elves supposed to be smart?

Urgh.

I don’t even bother to expunge the energy needed to process that statement.

“What about you?” Asks Morgana, eyes on the girl opposing her.

A short pause.

The attention befalls the Crilandese girl from earlier. Faced with her head on, I catch a glimpse of a few extra details. Now that I’m closer and perhaps slightly less frustrated, I must say that she makes quite the impression.

A weird one.

It’s as if she just came from the hospital.

There are a number of eccentricities on her face.

B&B, as I post-hastely title it.

Burns and bandages.

On her left cheek are irregularly placed burn spots, like withered skin. And diagonally crossing the right side of her face are black bandages covering even her eye. While enveloping her left arm are similarly grey bandages.

As I notice these features, I sigh, understanding what a shame it’d be if my face was tarnished like this.

That proves to be a mistake.

The scarred Crilandese girl matches my gaze, taking one step forward.

She catches wind of my observation, smirking.

“Leering, boy?” The girl says, suggesting she caught wind of my observation. “Behold my charms as much as you like”. She pauses dramatically, flourishing her left arm. “I’m aware beautiful women such as myself are ill-found in your continent.”

I smile, then shrug in reply.

“I’d hardly say it’s your beauty I’m fixated on. Moreso, what covers it.”

She laughs boisterously, touching her left eyebrow with her right hand. “Clothes make the character, don’t they? You should judge my magnificence as a whole, attire and superficiality notwithstanding.”

“So how’d you do?” Interjects Morgana, no doubt vexed.

“As the next Empress of Criland, I would say that I did well befitting my position.”

Morgana wears a thin smile. “Hm, that’s weird. I wasn’t aware Criland still had a monarchy for government.”

The girl shrugs in turn, leaning into Morgana. “I would’ve thought that’s common knowledge. Though I suppose it can’t be helped. Knowledge is a cruel thing to little girls like yourself.”

“Not everyone can be as wise as you, empress. Us peasantry have our fair share of problems already, like studying, making friends, and trying not to be an asshole.”

The elf in the green tunic scratches his chin and looks on contemplatively outside the window, as if about to interject.

“I’m hungry.” He would go on to say, breaking the tension between the two girls.

“Hungry for knowledge?!” yells the teacher, finally stepping into our semi-circle.

“Thinking about food just makes me hungrier…” replies the elf, confused.

At this point, I finally decide to intervene. While watching Morgana be sufficiently tormented by a lunatic is enjoyable, I must say that every second spent in the company of maniacs is a second where my IQ decreases.

I direct my gaze to the teacher. “May we please continue?”

“May we?” He eccentrically replies.

I INHALE. “Yes. Yes, we may.”

Mercy is upon me. The teacher, in place of trying to be witty, actually walks to the door. After a series of nonsensical discussions, we, at long last, manage to make progress.

Peace at long last.

I strut onwards, following in our teacher’s wake. Marching in earnest, we make our way to the teacher’s office, where he drops off the papers, before heading to our next destination. Stepping outside, our teacher leads us atop an asphalt road, taking us to what I assume to be one of the many facilities of this academy. Along the way, I half-consider the prospect of conversation but quickly conclude that it’d be too much of a pain in the arse.

Among us, no one seems willing to speak anyway. Call it intuition, but I think the nightmare that was our previous exchange of words discouraged any further attempts at conversation.

I pass the time watching nearby trees and the occasional student which crosses our path.

The silence shatters, however, when a voice erupts to my left.

“So, what’s next, pretty boy?”

The Crilandese girl had spoken up. Feels good to be acknowledged in this hell hole. A smile encroaches on my face as I prepare an answer.

“The physical test, of course!

Our teacher had replied, assigning himself the ‘pretty boy’ role.

The elf throws a hand up. “A physical test?! As in, a test using our legs and arms?!”

“May-be! You’ll have to see for yourself when we get there.”

“Will we duel each other?!”

His momentary glee is matched by the teacher, who turns to walk backwards, winks, and struts straight ahead. Well. If that’s any sign of what comes ahead, then I really do think it might be a physical examination.

Not that that’s an issue.

Go ahead, I say.

Let me demonstrate my capabilities in front of the rest of these idiots.

Speaking of which…