Arc II-
"Mid Term Examination Arc"
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It was still the first semester.
Tomorrow, the academy will no longer feel like a school.
Desks will not simply be desks. Classrooms will not simply be rooms. Every space inside Galdur will become part of the examination grounds. What was once familiar will turn into something tense and unpredictable.
The mid term magical examination is not only a test of knowledge. It is a measure of control, judgment, teamwork, and survival. Written exams will test the mind. Practical exams will test the body and magic. And the final written test will decide who truly understands what it means to wield power.
For the students, this is only an academic requirement.
For some, it is something more.
Scholarship students carry expectations they do not fully understand. Other courses hold abilities that blur the line between human and something greater. Alliances have been formed quietly. Rivalries have been memorized. Distances have been calculated.
Two days ago, the academy felt ordinary.
Now the air feels heavier.
Some students aim for high scores.
Some aim for recognition.
Some aim simply to survive without failing.
And somewhere within the academy walls, unseen forces continue to move.
The Mid Term Examination begins at sunrise.
No one knows whose name will rise.
No one knows who will fall.
But when the bell rings, there will be no turning back.
Night covered the academy in complete silence.
Most students were deeply asleep in their dorm rooms, exhausted from weeks of preparation. A few lamps still glowed faintly where stubborn students continued reviewing notes past midnight.
Taika was asleep too.
Her breathing was slow and steady.
Then—
A sudden white flash pierced through the darkness behind her closed eyes.
Her body did not move, but her vision changed.
She was no longer in her bed.
She stood in an endless white space.
Cold. Quiet. Familiar.
A figure slowly formed in front of her.
Long hair. Calm presence. Eyes that carried centuries of memory.
It was the same woman she had seen before.
Almena.
Taika's voice came out softer than she expected.
Taika: "…You."
Almena looked at her with a gentle but distant gaze.
Almena: "The time approaches."
Taika felt her chest tighten.
Taika: "The exam?"
Almena did not answer immediately.
Almena: "Not just the exam."
The white space trembled faintly, as if something far away had shifted.
Taika stepped forward.
Taika: "Why am I the only one I can see you?, why me?"
Almena's expression did not change, but her presence felt heavier.
Almena: "Because you can hear what others cannot."
A faint golden light flickered behind Almena, like the echo of something sealed.
Almena: "Be careful tomorrow."
Taika's heartbeat quickened.
Taika: "Of what?"
Almena's form began to blur.
Almena: "Of what awakens."
The white light intensified.
Taika reached out.
Taika: "Wait--!"
Darkness snapped back.
She woke up in her bed, sitting upright, breath uneven.
The dorm room was silent.
But her heart would not calm down.
Tomorrow was the exam.
And something else was coming with it.
Outside,far away from the academy, a woman with flowing Aqua dress off shouldered, silver hair, Aqua eyes, ice shard earings, and colored blue nails, she holds a magnificent Bow and arrow, she was aiming at something, sh looked at the dragon, a large one, it's eyes glowed red as it glare at the woman with a bow.
The wind howled across the frozen cliffs.
The dragon towered over the icy valley, its massive wings half spread. Scales like dark steel reflected the pale light around them. Its red eyes burned with fury, locking onto the woman without hesitation. Smoke curled from its nostrils, melting the snow beneath its claws.
The ground trembled as it stepped forward.
She did not move.
Her aqua eyes remained calm. Focused. Unshaken.
The dragon released a deafening roar that shook the mountains. Snow fell from distant peaks, scattering into the wind. Heat gathered in its throat, glowing brighter and brighter.
For a split second, silence.
Then-
She released the arrow.
It cut through the air like a streak of winter lightning. Frost spread in its wake, freezing the very wind around it. The dragon unleashed its blazing breath at the same time, fire and ice colliding midair.
The impact exploded in a burst of white light.
Steam rose violently, covering the battlefield in thick mist.
When the fog slowly began to settle, the dragon's roar faltered.
And the woman had already reached for her next arrow.
The icy fog vanished in an instant.
The dragon's flames surged outward with overwhelming force, devouring the cold mist and turning the battlefield into a storm of heat and steam. The woman did not retreat. Her frozen arrow met the inferno head on.
Fire and frost collided.
The explosion shook the valley.
A blinding burst of light erupted between them as shards of ice were hurled into the air, glowing like scattered stars. The dragon's blazing breath twisted together with the woman's frozen power, spiraling upward in a violent column that split the sky. Steam and sparks rained down, shimmering in the moonlight like burning snow.
The mountains echoed with the impact.
The dragon roared, wings beating fiercely to steady itself against the shockwave. Cracks formed across the frozen ground beneath the woman's feet, yet she stood firm, her aqua eyes unwavering.
Fragments of crystallized frost drifted around her like shattered glass, reflecting both the silver moon above and the raging fire before her.
This was no simple exchange.
It was a clash of elements.
And neither side intended to yield.
The flames slowly faded, leaving only rising heat and drifting embers beneath the moonlit sky.
She lowered her bow slightly, though the string was still drawn.
Her voice was calm.
???: "Not bad. For someone who killed many people a lot of decades ago."
The dragon's red eyes narrowed.
For a brief second, something changed in its expression. Not confusion. Not anger.
Recognition.
The wind shifted.
Memories long buried beneath ash and blood stirred within the beast. The Seven Mystics. The war that tore the skies apart. The frozen spear that pierced its wing. The golden barrier that sealed half its power. The endless roar that echoed for days.
It had not died.
It had endured.
And so had she.
The scar along the dragon's left side, barely visible beneath its armored scales, glowed faintly under the moonlight. A mark left decades ago. A wound given during that ancient battle.
The same wound.
The same presence.
The same hatred.
Yes.
This was no descendant.
No reborn creature.
No imitation.
It was the very same dragon that once fought the Seven Mystics.
And now, one of them stood before it again.
The dragon's chest burned brighter than before.
This was not just a battle.
It was unfinished history.
The dragon spread its massive wings, the wind whipping around the peaks as it let out a final, rumbling growl. It did not strike again. It did not roar in triumph. Without another glance, it lifted off the frozen ground and disappeared into the night sky, leaving a trail of smoke and flickering embers behind.
The woman watched it go, her bow still at the ready, but her posture relaxed. She did not chase it, nor did she call it back. For a moment, the only sound was the faint hiss of cooling fire meeting frozen earth.
Then, with a soft exhale, she turned and walked away. Her silver hair shimmered under the moonlight, her aqua dress flowing gracefully with each step. The frozen arrows in her quiver rattled faintly, but she did not bother adjusting them.
She moved silently across the snow-strewn cliffs, leaving the battlefield behind as if nothing had happened. The clash of fire and ice, the roar of a dragon, and the echoes of an ancient war faded into the night, leaving only the quiet, cold wind as a witness.
Somewhere, far below, the world continued, unaware that history had just brushed against the present.
The silver-haired woman paused on the cliff's edge, her bow resting gently on her shoulder. Below her, the kingdom stretched out like a patchwork of golden lights against the dark, rolling hills. Street lamps flickered along cobblestone streets, and the castle loomed in the distance, its towers catching the faint glow of the moon.
But her eyes did not linger on the castle.
Further beyond, nestled in a clearing of ancient forests, she saw it-the spires and walls of the Galdur Academy, illuminated by torchlight. The academy looked alive, even at this late hour, its magical wards faintly shimmering in the night.
She tilted her head, taking a silent breath of the cold air. The Mid-Term Examination would begin in less than a day, and the students within those walls were completely unaware of the storm of events unfolding around them.
A small smile curved her lips, almost imperceptible.
She had arrived in the kingdom just in time.
Her footsteps were quiet as she began moving toward the academy, the snow crunching softly beneath her boots. Every step brought her closer to the place where history and the present were about to collide.
Tonight, she would watch. And tomorrow, she would see.
She paused on the hill, gazing at the academy from afar. Memories flickered in her mind—faces of friends long gone, lessons learned together, battles fought side by side.
Everything was blurred, hazy, as if seen through mist.
A thought struck her, quiet but certain: Could it be… I was one of the Seven Mystics?
The wind whispered around her, carrying only silence in response.
The first light of the sun spilled over the towers of Galdur Academy, painting the stone walls in shades of gold and pink.
Taika had already risen. She tightened her shoes and stepped onto the dewy grounds, her breath visible in the crisp morning air.
She ran along the winding paths, muscles stretching, heart pounding, feeling her body wake up with each step. The sounds of the sleeping academy surrounded her---rustling leaves, distant water from the fountain--but no voices, no footsteps.
Her mind was clear. Her resolve steady.
Today was the day before the mid-term examination, and she would not waste a single moment.
Taika slowed her pace as she turned a corner and caught sight of someone familiar moving along the track.
Sky Tudor, the student council president, was running with a focused, almost effortless stride. His posture was perfect, every movement precise, as if he had been doing this for years.
Taika hesitated for a moment, watching him pass.
Taika: "He… wakes up this early too?"
Sky didn't glance her way. His eyes were fixed straight ahead, completely absorbed in his own training.
For a brief second, Taika felt a mix of awe and determination. If the president could push himself this far, so could she.
She tightened her fists and picked up her pace again, matching the rhythm of her own heartbeat to the rising sun.
Steam filled the bathroom as Taika stepped into the warm water. She closed her eyes, letting the heat wash over her, the fog softening the world around her. For a moment, it was just her and the quiet, a calm before the storm of the day ahead.
Then a knock on the door.
Maya: "H-hey can I join?"
Taika froze, steam swirling around her.
Taika: "M-Maya?! Wh-why are you—"
Maya's cheerful voice came again through the door.
Maya: "Come on, it'll be fun! Morning baths are better with company!"
Taika quickly covered herself with her arms, cheeks burning.
Taika: "N-No! You can't just--wait outside!"
Taika and Maya stepped out of the bathroom, hair damp but neatly tied, uniforms perfectly in place.
Blazers buttoned, skirts adjusted, and shoes polished.
Taika: "Finally… all ready."
Maya: "See? Told you it would be fun!"
They exchanged a small laugh, the morning sunlight catching the edges of their uniforms, signaling the start of a long day ahead at the academy.
Taika double checked the handle before locking the dorm door with a soft click.
Maya waited beside her, adjusting her blazer.
Taika: "Let's get Clare before she oversleeps."
They walked down the quiet hallway, their footsteps echoing lightly against the stone floor. Morning light slipped through the tall windows at the end of the corridor.
Taika stopped in front of Clare's door and knocked twice.
Taika: "Clare. It's morning."
Maya leaned closer to the door with a grin.
Maya: "If you're still sleeping, we're coming in."
The door opened halfway.
Clare stood there, clearly unprepared for visitors. Her upper body was covered by a simple undershirt, her blazer hanging open as she was just about to button it. She wore casual short shorts, her hair slightly messy from rushing.
Clare: "Y-You could've waited a second…"
Maya blinked, then grinned.
Maya: "We did knock."
Taika quickly turned her head away out of reflex.
Taika: "S-Sorry. We'll wait outside."
Clare sighed, cheeks faintly pink.
Clare: "Just give me a minute. I'm almost done."
The practical exam field stretched wide across the academy grounds, massive and imposing.
It measured 360 feet long and 160 feet wide, covering 57,600 square feet, nearly 1.32 acres in total. The main playing area ran 100 yards in length, with two 10 yard end zones at each side. Clean white boundary lines were carefully repainted, and corner flags stood upright at all four edges.
Right now, dozens of students were spread across the field, sweeping dust, polishing marker stones, and reinforcing the magical barriers hidden beneath the turf.
The grass shimmered faintly under layered enchantments designed to withstand heavy spells and physical combat.
This was no ordinary field.
Tomorrow, it would become a battlefield.
By noon, the academy made the official announcement.
The Mid Term Examination would last three days.
The first day would begin with the written exams. Theory, spell formulas, magical history, tactical analysis. Every student would be tested on knowledge alone.
The second day would be the practical test held on the massive field. Team and individual combat evaluations. Strategy, control, endurance, and real time decision making.
Then on the final day, another written examination would take place. More advanced material. Higher level spell structures and magical calculations.
Three days.
Mind first.
Power second.
Mind again.
There would be no room for weakness.
The wide courtyard outside the academy had been prepared since dawn. Rows of chairs were neatly arranged across the open grounds, facing a raised platform decorated with the academy's crest. Flags fluttered gently in the morning breeze.
Taika, Maya, Clare, and Alwin sat in the middle row among hundreds of students. The atmosphere felt heavier than usual. No one was laughing now. Even casual conversations were quieter.
At the center of the stage stood Sky Tudor. Calm. Composed. Unshaken.
He stepped forward, his voice carrying clearly across the courtyard.
"Today marks the beginning of the First Semester Mid Term Examination. Over the next three days, you will be tested not only on your magical knowledge, but on your discipline, control, and judgment."
He briefly explained the structure. Day one and day three would be written examinations. Silence was mandatory. Any form of cheating would result in immediate disqualification.
Day two would be the practical examination held on the field. Combat rules would be strictly enforced. Lethal intent was forbidden. Protective barriers would be active at all times.
"Remember," Sky continued, "strength without control is recklessness. Intelligence without action is useless. This examination measures both."
He stepped back.
Next, the secretary, Elvione Astres, approached the podium. Her silver golden hair shimmered under the sunlight as she adjusted the microphone.
"Please stand for the academy anthem."
Students rose in unison. The anthem echoed across the open grounds, voices blending together in a solemn harmony that spoke of legacy, knowledge, and power. For a moment, even Taika felt a strange pride stirring in her chest.
When the song ended, Elvione stepped aside.
Finally, the treasurer walked forward. Silver Astres. Her gaze was steady, sharp but warm.
"You have all worked hard to reach this point," she said. "Trust your training. Trust your teammates. And most importantly, trust yourselves."
Her eyes swept across the crowd.
"Do not fear failure. Fear only the chance you never took."
She gave a small nod.
"This concludes the opening ceremony. The First Semester Mid Term Examination now begins."
A quiet tension filled the air.
It had officially started.
Students began dispersing in an orderly flow, conversations returning in low murmurs as they headed back toward the academic buildings. Shoes tapped against stone pathways. Papers rustled. The tension of the ceremony slowly shifted into focused anticipation.
Taika and her team were halfway up the stairs toward the second floor when it happened.
A pressure dropped over the campus.
It was not loud. There was no explosion. No scream.
Just an overwhelming aura that pressed down like invisible weight.
Students froze mid step. Conversations died instantly. Even the wind seemed to hesitate.
From the academy gates below, someone had entered.
Uninvited.
The air felt colder. Heavier.
Maya's fingers instinctively tightened around her sleeve. Clare's sharp eyes shifted toward the courtyard. Alwin frowned, sensing the disturbance.
Taika stopped on the stairway.
"…I forgot my notebook in the courtyard," she said quietly, as if trying to keep things normal.
Maya looked at her. "Now?"
Taika gave a small, apologetic smile. "I'll be quick. Go ahead."
Before they could argue, she turned and hurried back down the stairs alone, the strange pressure in the air growing stronger with each step.
Taika hurried back to the courtyard, her footsteps echoing louder than before in the sudden silence.
Rows of chairs were half empty now. Her bag was still resting on the middle row where she had left it. She quickly grabbed it, slinging it over her shoulder.
Then she turned.
And froze.
Standing near the center of the ceremony grounds was a woman unlike anyone Taika had ever seen up close.
Silver hair cascaded down her back like liquid moonlight. Aqua blue eyes shimmered with a depth that felt ancient and unreadable. A flowing blue dress moved gently despite the still air, lined with delicate icy ornaments that caught the light.
At her side floated a magnificent bow and arrow, suspended without touch, faint frost swirling around it.
The aura pressing down on the academy was coming from her.
Taika's breath hitched.
The woman's gaze shifted slowly.
And settled on Taika.