As the brief, tense confrontation between Princess Lilith and Victoria came to an end, the attention of the freshmen was quickly drawn to another figure.
A woman dressed in deep blue professor's robes walked slowly onto the high platform at the front of the Arena.
She looked to be in her thirties, with her auburn hair pulled back into a meticulous bun. Her face wasn't conventionally beautiful, but it had sharp, well-defined lines that exuded a sense of efficiency and capability.
A pair of rimless glasses rested on the bridge of her nose, behind which her eyes were a calm, light brown. When her gaze swept over the freshmen below, it carried no emotional weight, only pure scrutiny and evaluation.
Grace Quinn, the Chief Professor of the first-year class at Glory Cael Magic Academy, was also the head examiner and final arbiter for this Placement Exam.
In the academy, she was famous for her rigorous, almost harsh teaching style and her absolute creed of "strength above all."
In her eyes, there was no distinction between noble and commoner, and no consideration for family background or connections. There was only mana, technique, will, and combat performance.
Everything was decided by results.
"Silence."
Grace's voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a strange piercing quality and authority that carried clearly across the entire Arena.
The grounds, which had been buzzing with low conversation, instantly became quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
"The Placement Exam will now begin."
She was concise, wasting no words on unnecessary pleasantries.
"The rules have been announced in advance. The match order will follow the public list. Victory is not the sole criterion; the use of mana, tactical thinking, adaptability, and strength of will are all part of the evaluation."
"Now, first group, step forward."
The crisp, direct opening immediately pulled everyone's focus back to the exam itself.
Nervousness, anticipation, and unease spread among the freshmen.
The rules for the Placement Exam had long been established: freshmen would battle in pairs, with several instructors, including Professor Quinn, observing and scoring the matches.
The final class assignment depended not just on winning or losing, but more importantly on the comprehensive performance during the duel.
This meant that even if one lost, as long as they demonstrated enough potential, skill, or tenacity, they could still enter the prestigious A-class.
Conversely, if one won through pure luck or performed poorly, they might only end up in B-class, C-class, or even the worst, D-class.
This was a trial where one could not afford to hold back.
For those limited spots in A-class, for better instructors, resources, and future prospects, every freshman standing on the Arena stage had to give their all.
The first group to take the stage consisted of two female students.
One was the daughter of a count, majoring in the quite rare wood-attribute magic.
Less than a minute into the battle, she seized a tiny opening in her opponent's defense. Several tough vines burst from the ground, instantly entangling the other's legs. Following up with a precise Leaf Blade that grazed her opponent's neck, she forced an immediate surrender.
Clean and efficient, with precise mana control and clear tactical intent.
Professor Quinn nodded slightly and exchanged a few low words with the instructors beside her before announcing directly: "Winner, assigned to A-class."
Decisive and without a hint of hesitation.
The two freshmen in the second group fully illustrated the raw nature of the word "freshman."
Their mana levels were similar, and both only knew basic Fireball and Water Arrow spells. The battle scene felt somewhat like an amateurish scuffle.
A fireball here, a water arrow there—they traded blows back and forth, depleting their mana quickly but failing to land a decisive hit.
In the end, one of them relied on slightly better physical stamina to knock the opponent off the platform with a wobbly shockwave just as their mana was nearly exhausted.
Although he won, the process was tedious, the tactics were singular, and the mana efficiency was low.
Professor Quinn announced expressionlessly, "Winner to C-class, loser to D-class."
She gave no explanation, but the result spoke for itself.
The following matches varied in quality.
Some were as impressive as the count's daughter in the first group, while others were mediocre, barely passing.
Upperclassmen and instructors in the spectator stands whispered among themselves as new names were mentioned and evaluated.
Finally, when the names for the sixth group were called, a slight commotion rippled through the Arena.
"Sixth group: Silvia Lorraine versus Angela White."
Silvia took a deep breath. Under Victoria's encouraging gaze, she lightly slapped her cheeks as if to pump herself up, then walked onto the spacious stone platform with somewhat hesitant but determined steps.
As she stood on the stage, the gaze of most freshmen focused on this girl with silky pink hair and a delicate, beautiful face that bore a clear look of timidity.
There was very little information about her; the freshmen only knew one rumor: this girl named Silvia seemed to have deep ties to the Holy Church of Light.
That in itself was heavyweight information.
It meant that this girl might possess powerful light-attribute mana.
Light and wood were both rare attributes, but in the hands of mages of the same level, light magic was often more troublesome because of its two characteristics: "severance" and "strengthening."
Silvia's opponent, Angela White, a girl from a viscount's family majoring in wind magic, was currently sizing her up carefully.
Seeing the other girl's obvious nervousness and even slight clumsiness, Angela felt a secret sense of relief.
Judging by that reaction, her opponent didn't seem very confident in her own strength.
This meant she might not be as powerful as Angela had imagined.
However, Angela did not let her guard down. She knew very well that her performance in this duel would directly affect her class placement.
She took a deep breath and drew a finely crafted short-staff magic conduit from her waist, its head set with a pale green gem.
This was a Split Gem prepared by her family, which allowed her single-target wind blades to split into two, greatly increasing the area of attack and making them harder to predict.
"Both sides, prepare,"
Professor Grace Quinn's voice rang out from the platform, calm and steady.
Silvia crossed her hands over her chest and closed her eyes slightly, as if praying or perhaps focusing her mind.
Angela gripped her magic conduit tightly as faint green currents began to swirl around her.
"Begin."
The moment the command fell, Angela moved.
She had no intention of testing the waters; she went all out from the start!
"Wind Blade!"
She gave a sharp cry and swung her staff, pouring mana into it.
A half-person-tall deep green wind blade with edges shimmering with cold light instantly condensed and whistled through the air!
At the same time, the Split Gem at the head of the staff glowed brilliantly. The massive wind blade split into two in mid-air, becoming two smaller but faster and more erratic blades. They closed in from above and below in a pincer movement, shrieking as they tore through the air toward Silvia!
Angela clearly intended to end the match quickly. By using the power of the magic conduit's gem right at the start, she aimed to crush this seemingly unadjusted opponent with an overwhelming offensive.
Seeing the two wind blades arrive in an instant, Silvia clumsily took a small half-step back, failing to make any proper defensive or evasive maneuver.
"I've won!" The thought flashed through Angela's mind, and a look of ease even appeared on her face.
However, just a split second before the two wind blades could touch Silvia's body—
Hum!
A layer of soft, pure, yet incredibly solid milky-white halo emerged out of thin air in front of Silvia without warning. It rapidly expanded, transforming into a wall of light flowing with faint holy runes!
Thud! Thud!
The two sharp wind blades slammed hard into the light wall, producing dull thuds.
Ripples spread across the surface of the light wall, but it remained as steady as a rock, unmoving.
The tearing force within the wind blades was easily neutralized, dissipating into turbulent air currents that ruffled Silvia's pink hair and skirt.
"Li... Light magic! It really is light magic!"
A freshman in the crowd cried out in shock.
"And it was an instant-cast defensive spell! Such incredible mana control!"
Surprised whispers instantly swept through the entire Arena.
At the same time, it confirmed another point.
Since Silvia could use light magic, it proved she wasn't just some marginal figure in the Church; she definitely held a more significant status.
The ease on Angela's face instantly froze, replaced by shock and solemnity.
The situation she feared most had happened.
It really was light magic!
Angela grit her teeth, a flash of determination in her eyes.
She decided to take a gamble!
"Hurricane Piercing!"
She shouted and lunged forward with her short staff!
A green wind cone, only as thick as an arm but radiating an extremely dangerous aura, shot out!
This was the strongest single-point penetration spell among low-tier wind magic. She sacrificed area of effect for ultimate armor-piercing capability, aiming straight for the center of the light wall!
This was a strike into which she had poured all her mana!
The wind cone collided violently with the light wall!
There was no loud bang, only a piercing screech like metal grinding against metal!
The milky-white light wall fluctuated violently, its surface runes flowing rapidly and flickering.
Silvia remained standing where she was, though a layer of fine sweat beads had broken out on her forehead.
Three seconds, five seconds, ten seconds...
The light wall did not break in the end.
The light of the green wind cone grew dimmer and dimmer until it finally dissipated completely into the air.
And while the light wall had also dimmed considerably, it still stood stubbornly in place.
Thump.
Her mana completely exhausted, Angela's legs gave way. She dropped to one knee, barely supporting herself with her short staff. She panted heavily, her face pale and her forehead drenched in sweat.
She looked up at her opponent with eyes full of frustration but also a hint of acceptance—she had done her best.
Silvia slowly lowered her hands, and the wall of light dissolved into shimmering particles.
She panted slightly, her bangs stuck to her skin with sweat. She looked a bit disheveled, but she was otherwise unharmed.
On the high platform, Professor Grace Quinn quickly exchanged glances with the instructors beside her and nodded slightly.
"The match is decided."
She announced calmly, "Silvia Lorraine wins. Comprehensive evaluation: A-class."
There were no cheers, only a wave of suppressed wonder and hushed whispers.
Silvia seemed very uncomfortable being the center of attention. She bowed shyly toward the platform, then, like a startled fawn, she lowered her head and hurried off the stage. She ran straight back to Victoria's side and grabbed her friend's arm, finally letting out a sigh of relief.
"Good job," Victoria said, giving her a thumbs-up.
Silvia giggled, then held her hands to her chest in a cheering gesture as she looked at Victoria.
"It's your turn next, Victoria. You have to be careful!"
"Yeah, I will."
With that, Victoria's gaze shifted to the other side of the stage.
The ripples caused by Silvia had not yet fully settled, but everyone's attention had already been firmly seized by the upcoming duel.
Because in the seventh group, the two names on the match list were enough to make anyone following this exam feel their blood boil.
"Seventh group."
Professor Grace Quinn's voice rang out again, as calm as ever, but it seemed to carry a trace of imperceptible anticipation.
"Victoria Cecil versus Lilith Kahn."
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