The week evaporated into a brutal, agonizing blur of late-night cram sessions and high-strung panic.
The pressure pressing down on the first-year division was almost suffocating.
Everyone was out for blood, desperate to score high enough on the mid-terms to crack into the coveted top ten rankings.
Securing a top spot meant access to advanced libraries, and the undivided attention of wealthy noble sponsors.
And naturally, the powerhouses currently sitting in those top spots had absolutely no intention of letting their dominance slip without a fight.
The training halls had been packed to the brim every single night, echoing with the sounds of exploding mana and clashing steel.
But despite the overwhelming tension, phase one was finally over.
When Professor Vance had officially called time on the grueling six-hour written exam that morning, a collective, profound sigh of relief had physically shaken the lecture hall.
