Rubbing my eyes, I stepped out of my dorm room and into the crowded academy streets, students walking while gazing straight down at their textbooks, bumping into and pushing others..

With the help of the recovery water within the pond, the mental and physical toll of yesterday had been decreased, but three hours was far too little to cure everything.

As for Haerin, I could only imagine what hell she was currently experiencing.

Slipping into the classroom unnoticed, I took a seat and eagerly waited for the bell.

A few minutes later, Haerin limped into the room, her legs wobbling as she attempted to scale the stairs up to her highest seat.

Just as she was about to collapse halfway up, Leo suddenly appeared, pushing her forward with his hand and confusedly asking.

"Too nervous for sleep?"

"I wish."

...

...

...

*Ring~ring*

Not even waiting to reach her podium, Professor Lily announced while walking through the sliding door with a stack of papers.

"Take your pencils out, exams will begin as soon as you receive your papers."

...

...

...

Gazing at the massive timer, counting down from two hours, I dropped my pencil and ruffled my hair.

It was... astonishingly easy.

Sure, there were a few questions I didn't know, but with process of elimination, I could still easily identify the right answer.

I mean, I had a couple of years of experience on my classmates in my previous life, but still, even with a few hours of studying a day, I finished within half the time limit.

Of course, the free response section was a breeze for me, as I simply copied the answers I had found on my smartwatch before the exam, but even the multiple-choice section was...basic.

I mean, I did create...every piece of information and formula here.

To my right, Ruby was doing decently well compared to the other students because of her hard work ethic.

Leo was struggling, but that was to be expected: he hadn't studied for more than half an hour this entire week.

After receiving a terrible score on his first written, Leo would reach out to Serena, slowly but surely gaining her trust as she helped him study in exchange for a favor.

Turning further around, pretending to stretch my arms, I closed my eyes and bit my cheeks, trying to hold in my laughter.

Is...she sleeping!?

Mouth wide open and pencil by her blank exam, Haerin rested on her desk, her eyes completely shut.

Beside her, Carissa was close to finishing while Serena checked her answers.

Snapping me back to reality, Professor Lily's voice sounded.

"If you finish early, you may turn in your paper and leave to prepare for the physical."

Not skipping a beat, I pounced up from my seat and walked down the stairs, placing my paper on the podium.

Lily simply nodded as I headed toward the door.

However, just as I was about to exit, I side-glanced at the sleeping Haerin before taking a deep breath.

I do still owe her...

Bracing myself, I kicked my right foot as hard as I could into the side of the door, instantly feeling an excruciating pain burst through all of my toes.

"AHHH!"

As an uncontrollable scream sounded through the classroom, Haerin's head finally snapped up from her desk, alongside every other student.

Biting my lip, I simply forced a smile and bowed toward the entire class staring at me.

"Apologies."

Thankfully, diverting some attention away from me, Serena also walked toward the lectern and turned in her exam, following me out of the classroom.

Paying her no mind, I returned to my dorm and bathed myself in the painting.

...

...

...

Standing amidst the crowd of over 2,000 students, on Four Axis Academy's massive field, I peeked through the hundreds of heads before me and looked straight ahead, where a single teacher stood.

With short white-hair, tied in a ponytail, she examined the cadets before her for announcing.

"Attention, all students. Your first of hopefully many Practical Exams will now commence. A message will be sent out shortly to all your smartwatches, displaying your group pairing."

Honing my ears, I listened carefully.

Anything that happened from now on...was no longer my writing.

It was the world's...or whatever being transferred me to this world.

For the first time, since my entrance into this world, I was knowledgeless.

Anything could happen.

...isn't what I'm feeling now...just what regular people feel?

Anticipation, fear, anxiety, and even excitement all flooded my brain simultaneously.

I had gotten so used to knowing every detail of the future...that I had forgotten how normal humans lived, not knowing anything.

A bit to my left stood Magnus, his tall and muscular figure easily standing out, who seemed to be discussing answers with Carissa.

Serena casually played with her crossbow a bit away from them, next to Leo and Haerin...who stood with a smile?

Did she pass?

At that moment, perhaps by chance or her pure observation skill, Haerin's head suddenly twisted to the right, mid-conversation with Leo, her eyes meeting mine.

Immediatly, I looked in the other direction, no change in my expression, pretending to have simply been glancing around randomly.

It was instinctual.

Snapping me back to reality, a loud yell sounded from the front of the crowd.

"Your first practical will be relatively easy. As a group, you will enter a selected portal and head to the coordinates messaged to you. From there, you will encounter a demonic beast."

"Rankings are determined by time. That is all."

A moment of silence descended amongst the crowd until...

*Ring~ring*

*Ring~ring*

*Ring~ring*

As everyone's smartwatches buzzed in unison, I glanced down at my own, holding my breath.

[Team 21: Serena / Ren / Joy / Athen]

...well, at least, I'm guaranteed a top placement with her.

As a tinge of disappointment passed through my head, a loud yell once again interrupted my train of thought.

"The practical has officially started. GET TO YOUR TEAMS!"

[A/N: Two Chapters a day starting tommorow]

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