The day of Cambridge's final exams arrived quickly.
The written exams were a disaster. Lily, having "slacked off" lately, saw her already mediocre grades plummet, landing her second-to-last in the entire grade.
As for last place... that belonged to Herta No. 002, who submitted a completely blank paper.
When Lily asked about it, Herta No. 002 simply crossed her arms confidently and declared, "As long as I ace the practical exam, the score on the written test doesn't matter at all."
The truth was that Herta No. 002's AI module was still quite rudimentary, lacking any learning ability. While she appeared to attend classes, she was actually just idling, which explained why she couldn't answer a single question on the exam.
During the test, Herta No. 002 tried to contact Herta Herself for help, but Herta Herself was too lazy to respond, leaving her to submit the blank paper.
The day after the written exam came the far more crucial practical assessment. Bright and early, Herta Herself logged in directly and took control of Little Herta, leading her and Lily to the examination grounds.
Puppet No. 002 was undeniably convenient. During classes, the robot took over, and after school, Herta Herself would occasionally log in to play around, relishing the rare opportunity to experience the atmosphere of school life.
Countless graduates reminisce about their school days, but few would willingly relive them. Herta was no exception, yet her current method perfectly solved this dilemma: let the puppet endure the tedious parts of student life while she enjoyed the blissful moments firsthand.
To the main point, the practical exam arena at Cambridge resembled a colossal open-air stadium. Upon entering, one's gaze was immediately drawn to the black crystal-paved floor, its surface etched with intricate magic runes. Each step sent faint ripples spreading from her feet, like walking on water yet remaining firmly grounded.
Twelve towering stone pillars stood guard around the perimeter, their shafts adorned with elaborate magical patterns. Golden energy flowed through these patterns like liquid blood, slowly circulating and reinforcing the barrier that enveloped the entire arena. Combined with the runes on the floor, this barrier formed an impenetrable shield, ensuring that combat within would never spill beyond its boundaries.
Beyond the twelve massive stone pillars lay a tiered grandstand that appeared rather ordinary. Little Herta, Lily, and their classmates were seated in the western section of the stands.
Observing the scene, Little Herta couldn't help but exclaim, "Next up must be the classic combat trials, a staple of magic academies!"
As the trials drew near, Lily grew increasingly nervous. She hugged her golden longsword tightly and asked worriedly, "Teacher Herta, are you sure I can pass the practical exam just by saying that one word?"
Little Herta stood on tiptoe and patted Lily's shoulder reassuringly. "Absolutely! I guarantee you'll get a perfect score on the practical exam!"
It's worth noting that Cambridge's practical exams weren't traditional arena matches. Instead, students fought in pairs, giving their all while invigilators scored them based on their performance. This method significantly shortened the process; otherwise, how long would it take for three to four hundred students to complete their trials?
After Little Herta and Lily settled into their seats, two students were soon called by name and left the audience to enter the central "testing ground."
Next, the students would showcase their year's worth of learning to the entire school. Without hesitation, the moment the proctor announced the start, they unleashed their most practiced magic.
For a moment, the air filled with a dazzling array of special effects. But after watching for a few minutes, Little Herta lost interest and began fiddling with her fingernails. It was simply too boring.
The flashy spells looked impressive, but in reality, it was just one student casting an offensive spell while the other defended. Then they'd switch roles, the first defending while the second attacked. The entire "battle" consisted of the two students standing their ground and trading blows.
"Ha~" Little Herta even yawned. She was starting to wonder if she should log off for a while and return when Lily's turn came.
Unlike Little Herta, Lily watched with rapt attention, occasionally exclaiming, "Amazing!" "That fireball was so fast!" "Perfect timing with that defense spell!"
Just as the battle between the two contestants reached its climax, a sudden commotion erupted from the audience. Little Herta initially ignored it, but as the disturbance drew closer, she tilted her head slightly. She saw a golden-haired girl, perhaps sixteen or seventeen years old and appearing almost underage, walking directly toward her.
The earlier commotion seemed to be the collective gasps and whispers of teachers and students who had recognized the girl.
Without hesitation, the golden-haired girl plopped down in the seat beside Little Herta, folded her arms across her chest, and gazed down at the arena as if settling in to watch the competition.
Little Herta turned to Lily, who was sitting on her other side. Lily's mouth hung open in stunned disbelief.
A normal person might have quietly inquired about the golden-haired girl's identity, but Little Herta was anything but normal. She boldly pointed at the girl and asked Lily in a loud voice, "So, who's this one?"
Lily nearly jumped out of her skin. She hastily grabbed Little Herta's pointing hand and pressed it down, hissing, "She's Her Majesty the Queen! What is she doing here?!"
Little Herta simply responded with a nonchalant "Oh," her voice no quieter than before. "So, she's the Elizabeth you mentioned?"
At that moment, Lily clearly saw Her Majesty the Queen turn to look at her and Teacher Herta. Lily's face instantly paled with terror.
Oh no! Discussing her so openly in front of the Queen! I'm going to be arrested!
Little Herta, however, showed no reverence for the Queen of Great Britain. She met the Queen's gaze head-on and, before Elizabeth could speak, demanded bluntly, "So, what do you want with me?"
After all, why else would the Queen of Great Britain be here, deliberately sitting next to her, if not to speak with her?
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, clearly taken aback by Little Herta's directness. "You're an amusing little girl."
Though she appeared remarkably young, Elizabeth was over a century old, and her words carried the distinct weight of age.