There was a mixture of many different reactions to the rankings. Some smiled, satisfied with their place; others straight up cried, and then there were those like Elise who simply stared.
They seemed to be the most hurt by their ranks, and although I understood the reason behind Elise's reaction, I couldn't help but be slightly ticked off.
'How can you be sad about being second amongst hundreds of people? Then again, I don't like that I dropped from being a nation's best to 5th place.' I nodded to myself and gave her a sympathetic look.
I began to feel a strange sense of camaraderie with her.
But anyway, I was currently sitting on a familiar wooden bench outside the main hall. This time I wasn't alone.
On my left was Liam, and on my right was Elise.
"Why did you guys follow me to this bench?" I spoke in annoyance.
"What? I thought we were friends." Liam spoke in a teasing tone.
"..." Elise just didn't say anything.
"Haa..." I sighed. "It's not that I mind being around you guys, it's just you bring too much attention."
We were receiving gazes from all directions. It made sense, though; not only was Liam handsome, but Elise was a beauty as well.
"Yeah, you're right about that," Liam said.
"I know I'm right."
"..." Liam ignored me and shifted his attention to Elise. "Uhh... Eli- I mean Lady Elise, I don't mean to pry, but could you tell us why you seem so down?" He spoke in a worried tone.
"That's literally the definition of prying," I spoke.
"Shut u-!"
"It's nothing," Elise spoke, cutting off Liam. "By the way, which academies are you both going to?"
My brows furrowed.
'...She's trying to make small talk?'
"Aethon," Liam spoke before I could say anything. "I'm going to Aethon, and you?"
"I'll be going to Arcanis," Elise replied.
"Wow, I heard the classes there are some of the hardest," Liam said, "But you do seem smart though, so you'll make it."
Elise let out a small laugh. "Thanks for your support."
They were staring straight into each other's eyes, seemingly forgetting about my existence.
'Oh my god,' I realised it then.
'I'm a third wheel.'
"Ahem...sorry to interrupt, but you two do realise I'm still here?"
An expression of embarrassment covered Liam's face, whereas Elise just looked away... I did notice a small flush of red on her ear, though.
"Okay..." I spoke. "Since we've basically become friends, why not team up for the practical?"
"That's... actually a good idea." Liam sounded surprised, which pissed me off a bit.
"..." Elise seemed to be lost in thought, probably considering what us teaming up would entail. "Okay..."
"So we're all in agreement," I smiled, "Then it's official."
It's funny, the old Cassian would never be able to interact with others like this since he had next to no social skills, mostly because everyone either avoided him or tormented him.
So my social skills came from Jake's life, where he often interacted with others happily, so they wouldn't worry about him... and to convince himself he was fine.
I frowned slightly.
I threw away the thought, "Let's get a good mark as Team Cassian and Friends!"
"What kind of name is that?!" Liam exclaimed.
"Come on its catchy."
"No... it isn't." To my surprise, Elise spoke up about the team name.
"Lady Elise, I thought you were on my side?!" I exclaimed in surprise.
"I never took sides... and call me... Elise."
Both Liam and I blinked.
"Are you sure?" Liam asked in a worried tone.
'This fucking simp.'
"Yes, as you said, we are friends." She said with a small smile that seemed to grab the attention of every guy in the area.
'I said that, not Liam, but I'll let it go this time.' I shook my head.
And just as I was inwardly praising myself...
-All applicants gather in the main hall
-All applicants gather in the main hall
The voice came through the intercom, repeating a few times as everyone went back inside.
"Let's go," Elise said as she got up, brushing off her pants.
"O-Okay." Liam got up and followed her.
"Haa..." I sighed, getting up and stretching my arm out. 'I knew he was simp, but seeing it like this is just sad.'
I walked up to them, and we stepped back into the hall.
The atmosphere was much different all of a sudden; everyone had serious faces and weren't even talking as much. Even Liam had straightened his posture and had a serious expression.
'Wow, they're really taking this seriously.'
It made sense, though.
The practical was coming up, and for most, this was more important than the theoretical.
This could be said to be the main decider for your academy; everyone was nervous. But another factor was that, from now on, the exam would be live.
Yes, live. Everyone could tune in to watch the practical on a broadcasting system that's similar to a TV on Earth, not to mention the fact that one could buy tickets to come see the practical in person; this was a stadium after all.
In the novel, Liam's exploits made headlines as he came first in both the theoretical and the practical, something that hadn't been achieved since Aethon's current headmaster did it back in his youth.
Unfortunately for him, this time I'm here.
-Welcome applicants, you're in the home stretch, but do not rest easy, the hardest part has yet to begin.
An excited feminine voice came from the intercom, different from the last time.
-If anyone has no idea of the rules, all you need to do is take a rulebook set on the right side of the main hall, and in 30 minutes, the practical will begin.
Looking to the right side, past the other applicants, I saw a large table with hundreds of booklets set on top. I didn't notice it there before.
'Why am I not surprised?'
I walked up and took a booklet since the novel never mentioned the rules.
Taking the booklet, I noticed a few gazes in my direction.
No, it wasn't just a few; the entire hall seemed to be staring directly.
I felt goosebumps all over. 'What the fuck?'
It was then that I noticed.
'I'm the only one here?'
I was the only one near the table and the only one who took a rulebook.
I raised an eyebrow, confused by the situation. "What?"
As soon as I spoke, everyone looked away, and I heard a few murmurs come from all directions.
"Who's that idiot?"
"Is he stupid?"
'What the fuck? I just picked up a book.'
Then it dawned on me.
'They all memorised the rules beforehand.'
Yes, everyone had memorised the rules, and me picking up the book showed I wasn't taking the exam seriously, which angered some, and others looked at me as if I didn't know what I was doing.
'Oh god... this is fucking embarrassing.' I covered my face and walked back to Liam and Elise.
Walking up to them, I saw Elise give me a blank look, and Liam wouldn't look in my direction... his shoulder was trembling.
"Kek."
'This cheating bastard.'
"You're laughing at me?"
"Pfft-Hahaha!!" He laughed out loud. "You have to see your face right, no-pfft!"
"You will pay for this," I vowed.
"Hahaha!!" He laughed without a worry in the world.
'You're gonna regret this, you heroic fucker.'