Three days passed faster than I realized.
I spent most of them in the Primus Tower, working on the Third Form of my sword art and refining my mana control. The written exams were finally over, and the practical were right in front of us. With the theory out of the way, there was nothing left to do but train and wait for the hammer to drop.
Outside, the rest of the academy was quieter now.
Most of the electives had wrapped up over the last couple of days. The remaining students who still had papers were dragging themselves through the halls like hollow ghosts, while everyone else kept to themselves, retreating to their dorms or preparing for the practical exams.
On the morning of the fourth day, a sharp vibration against my left wrist broke the early silence of my room.
I raised my arm. The blue light of my mana watch flickered on, flashing a message across the small screen:
