Chapter 172: Semestral Exams

It had been a year and a few months since Dahlia had entered the Royal Academy.

She was now a second-year student.

Dahlia was always able to remain in the top one percentile when it comes to rankings in both theoretical and practical exams.

Even her weakness, which was her talent in aura, was continuously being supplemented by her perseverance and hard work.

However, it still remained a weakness of hers.

In the time she had spent at the academy, she had just reached the Late Stage of One Star Realm in aura.

Her mana was even worse as she had just formed her first star.

Nevertheless, she was able to make up for her weakness with her gift, which seemed to be getting more overpowered as she explored it more.

"I wonder how Regis is doing..." Dahlia unwittingly muttered under her breath.

Zayin tilted her head and smiled, "Daydreaming about your boyfriend again?"

"W-What!? Boyfriend? I’m sorry, did I say that out loud? But what do you mean boyfrie..."

By the end of her sentence, Dahlia’s voice was inaudible.

"Hehe, I’m kidding." Zayin smiled teasingly.

It had been a normal occurrence for Dahlia to spontaneously mutter about Regis, which led to them being more curious about him as time passed.

"Enough about Regis. What’s going on with you and Melissa?" Dahlia asked with squinted eyes.

It was Zayin’s turn to be flustered, "W-Well, we’re fine... You know, just normal..."

The two of them were currently walking towards the cafeteria while talking happily amongst themselves when...

Tap—

Dahlia unknowingly bumped into another student.

She looked up and saw a girl who was taller than her by half a foot.

The girl had long golden hair that flowed to her waist and golden eyes that shone with brilliance.

"O-Oh, hi Freya. I’m sorry for bumping into yo–"

"Shh."

The girl named Freya put her index finger over her lips.

She then took a step back and bowed, "No, it was my fault. This is your privilege as the winner."

"Bye then." Freya said formally before going on her way.

Speechless at what had happened, Dahlia was not able to react and only spoke after about half a minute.

"Why is she still like that?"

"Hahahaha—"

Dahlia’s curious words were met with Zayin’s unbridled laughter.

"Ah, yes. Thank you so much for answering my question. I’ll tell Melissa on you."

"Hey, hey. Wait. I’m sorry, I’m just joking." Zayin wiped the tears from the side of her eyes as she sensed the severity of the situation.

She took a deep breath and spoke as they lined up for food, "You know how prideful Freya really is, don’t you?"

"Eh? She doesn’t seem that kind of person."

"Oh, trust me. I’ve spent most of my childhood with her, and she really hates losing."

Dahlia then looked at the cafeteria’s exit, "So that’s what that was about, huh?"

"Yes, it was because you took the first place on both theoreticals and practicals last semestral exams. I bet she’s itching to take her revenge this upcoming exam week."

Zayin spoke with interest as she took a tray, plates, bowls, a glass, and utensils before going on to pick her food.

The curriculum for the junior years only consisted of General Education.

Every school year was divided into two semesters, with each semester ending on an exam week, also known as the Semestral Exam Week.

Their batch was divided into three sections: Sections A, B, and C.

Aside from the section-wide rankings, there would also be a year-wide ranking that would be publicly posted on the academy’s bulletin.

Their First Semestral Exam Week would start tomorrow, making all students nervous.

’Now that I think about it, the hardest student I probably faced in the Weapon Mastery Exam was Freya...’

Dahlia was immersed in her thoughts as she followed after Zayin and picked her food as well.

Among all the other exams, the Weapon Mastery Exam was the most special since it required drawing lots to choose who one’s opponent would be.

The lots would also contain the names of students from all sections, meaning that it was an inter-section exam.

The Weapon Mastery Exam was, just as its name suggests, an exam where instructors would judge how masterful a student was with their weapons without the use of aura.

Of course, students who pursued the path of mages were exempt from this subject and would take on the Magic Mastery Exam instead.

Zayin and Dahlia soon found a table beside a window to sit at.

"I wonder how Melissa is..." Dahlia spoke out loud as she took a bite of the pasta on her plate.

Zayin shrugged her shoulders, "She always seemed busy this day. I think it’s because of the clubs she joi—"

"Dahlia!!! Zayin, my love!!!" The cafeteria’s double doors opened as a lively, bespectacled girl with freckles and short auburn hair entered.

"Hi~" Dahlia waved with a smile while Zayin blushed and panicked.

"H-Hey! Can you keep your voice down!?"

"Ehhh? Why are you angry at me? Hic.. I’m just excited to see you..."

Seeing Melissa, who was on the verge of crying, Zayin felt bad, "I’m sorry, I was just surprised..."

The two of them then hugged, with Zayin’s back facing Dahlia.

Melissa winked at Dahlia, who then gave her a thumbs-up with a wry smile, ’She changed too much since she knew that Zayin had a crush on her too...’

"Thank goodness I was able to catch up with you guys..." Melissa spoke while breathing heavily.

Zayin looked at her with a tinge of care and said, "Go ahead and get some food first, we’ll wait for you."

"Okay, my love~"

"Ugh..." Zayin could not help but feel her cheeks heating up.

Dahlia giggled at the sight of this, "What, are you embarrassed?"

"Kind of? We’re too young and not even teenagers yet... and she’s already so bold. What would my dad say if he finds out?"

"Well, why not tell her to stop?"

"Ehem, i-iit’s not that I want her to stop. It’s just that maybe..."

"Ugh, kids these days really are different, huh?"

"What the hell are you on about? You’re a kid too!"

While the two of them were bickering, Melissa arrived with a tray full of food.

"Hey guys! What are you talking about?"

"Zayin’s saying somethi—"

"No, I’m not!!!"

The three of them ate together while laughing among themselves.

***

Later that night...

"I wonder what Regis is up to right now?" Dahlia asked out loud while staring out the window.

The soft glow of the moonlight illuminated her dark room.

She was now alone in her student dorm room, wearing comfortable pastel pink pajamas.

However, the lonely gaze in her pale-pink eyes could not be hidden.

Dahlia spent most of her nights like this, wondering about what Regis was doing.

Whether he was sleeping well in a comfortable place like her, or whether he was able to eat her fill like her.

The window that oversaw some parts of the Royal Capital could only be described as breathtaking, as the lights of the city looked like stars on the ground.

"I hope that I’ll at least get some news when I go back home after the exams."

Dahlia closed the window as she spoke with a tone full of hope and yearning before lying on her bed.

Every time the semestral exams were finished, all students would get a two-week vacation, which would be enough time for them to spend time with their loved ones and enjoy life outside of school.

Dahlia had always gone home to the Grava Mansion and asked about any news about Regis, but she had not been so lucky..

She then slept, wishing for Regis to at least appear in her dreams.

***

The next day...

It was the day of the Weapon Mastery Semestral Examinations.

Inside the training hall, there were six lines of students, each carrying a weapon of different variations.

Some had swords, rapiers, axes, hammers, shields, and whatnot.

The lines consisted of the students from Sections A, B, and C, with the boys and girls separated.

One by one, they pick a lot from the box that was placed at the front.

Soon enough, it was already Dahlia’s turn.

’I hope it would be Freya...’ She could not help but wish since she was the only one who was able to get her to do her best.

After all, unlike her, the weapon Freya used was a spear.

’Well, I’ll also be fine if it’s not her as long as my opponent uses anything other than a sword...’

Dahlia muttered in her heart.

Her words were understandable because her win was guaranteed already if her opponent used a sword.

After shuffling the lots in the box for a few seconds, Dahlia hurriedly pulled one out.

The instructor beside the box, who was holding a clipboard, asked, "Who did you get?"

Dahlia carefully read the details engraved on the lot and said,

"Section A, Freya Artorius."

Amidst the crowd of students, a girl with golden hair and eyes clenched her fists.