He should be starting his examination soon, I thought to myself, before leaving my dormitory and proceeding toward the area where the third batch examinations would be held.
As students of the academy, whether first years or upperclassmen, we had the privilege of observing new student examinations. This wasn't just entertainment, second year students needed to witness the tests and identify promising freshmen for their teams.
The academy's second and third years weren't focused on individual power but rather team coordination and synergy. The strongest teams that could complete the highest-ranked quests and missions received superior resources and opportunities. Success in the upper years was all about teamwork and the ability to create effective groups that competed against each other for prestige and rewards.
So second and third year students always attended examinations, scouting for hidden talent they could recruit for the following academic year. It was a crucial part of the academy's social and academic ecosystem.
I made my way toward the examination grounds with my mind troubled by the possible events that could unfold. I knew for certain that it was impossible for the timeline to remain stable, and that things had started moving in directions I couldn't predict or control.
But I wanted to know exactly where and when things went off track, to prepare accordingly.
The examination area was a large outdoor arena adjacent to the main academy buildings. Tiered seating accommodated hundreds of spectators, while the central fighting space provided ample room for combat demonstrations.
I found a seat in the spectator section and settled in to observe.
The current examination phase involved individual duels. Kyle had already completed the initial aptitude testing, where applicants needed to demonstrate at least Uncommon-rank bloodline capabilities to qualify for advancement. Based on what I could observe, he had passed that requirement with flying colours and now faced the combat evaluation portion.
Of course, the fact that his bloodline was supreme-ranked remained hidden. The testing wasn't advanced enough to pinpoint how high the bloodline was. It was all based on what the person himself showed.
As for the combat evaluation portion, the format was straightforward, students would fight against an academy instructor to demonstrate their combat skills, tactical thinking, and potential for growth.
"Good. So far nothing has changed," I muttered under my breath.
My eyes scanned the waiting area until I located Kyle standing with his sister Emily, patiently awaiting his turn to be called. He appeared calm and focused, while Emily watched the ongoing duels with obvious fascination and nervous energy.
Soon his name would be announced, and I knew exactly how this encounter was supposed to unfold.
Kyle would face Professor Sylvia Ashworth in combat, and he would perform exceptionally well despite being outmatched in terms of raw power and experience. Sylvia was one of the strongest instructors in the academy, coming from a distinguished noble family and possessing remarkable talent. At the young age of twenty, she had already reached Commander rank, breaking the previous record for youngest person to achieve that level.
She would recognize Kyle's extraordinary potential during their duel and recommend his immediate acceptance into the top-tier classes. More importantly, they would develop an excellent mentor-student relationship that would prove crucial to his development throughout the academy arc.
Professor Sylvia was described in the novel as breathtakingly beautiful, with flowing white hair and striking eyes that could captivate anyone who looked into them.
As Kyle's name was finally called out across the arena, I leaned forward in anticipation.
But my eyes widened in shock at what I saw.
The instructor stepping forward to conduct his examination was not Professor Sylvia Ashworth.
"Wait," I muttered aloud unconsciously, the word escaping before I could stop myself.
Several surrounding students turned to look at me in confusion, clearly wondering why I'd reacted so strongly to what appeared to be a routine examination procedure.
But this wasn't routine at all. This was a massive deviation from the established timeline, whilst I expected a change, I didn't expect it to be this big!
Standing in the arena was a completely different instructor - a middle-aged man with graying hair and stern features that I didn't recognize from the novel's character descriptions. He carried himself with obvious authority and competence, but he wasn't the person who was supposed to be here.
Professor Sylvia Ashworth was nowhere to be seen.
This change had enormous implications for Kyle's development and the entire academy arc. Sylvia wasn't just any instructor, she played a crucial role in the protagonist's growth, providing guidance and support that would prove essential during several major crisis events.
Without her influence and mentorship, Kyle's path through the academy could be completely different from what I remembered. The relationships he would form, the training he would receive, the allies he would gain, all of it could change based on this single substitution.
Kyle stepped into the arena, apparently unaware that anything was amiss. He began his pre-combat preparations, stretching and warming up while the instructor explained the duel parameters.
I watched as one of the most important scenes in the early academy timeline began to unfold in completely unexpected ways.