Without every student noticed, this month has passed and they will begin the last exam before finishing their semester. They are too fixated at the Gracia Continent and when there is the announcement about the exams, it's naturally shocked them. The exams were held once each six months, 2 semesters per year. However, between this shock notice, there are some students who have a content face. Not many as they can be counted on both hand, though. The majority of students was a 'Warrior' and think this Academy school as fun. They still study, but just an average level. It's because there is no penalty for someone who has the bad grade, the teacher doesn't have time to warning them as they have another job to do.
The minority of students decided to seriously study and helping the School research. They, of course, get excited to get the fighting experience at first, but after the skeleton incident, their motivation was disappeared. They now focused on understanding the system. What they are really admired is the unnaturally NPC, it's because they acted and have a similarity as the real human and not like a fixed data as they imagined.
As a first year the teacher of course just explaining the basic information, they make sure to close their mouth tight regarded the Gracia Continent and their Inhabitant. Now as they will be the second year, this excite them. Their mind was focused on solving the mystery behind this incredible virtual world. Which make their teachers smile wryly seeing so many expression their students showed.
And for the third years, they, of course, have a very tense atmosphere. It's like yesterday they come as a fresh student and now they have to finish the last exams. Everyone thinking the same, though. There is a guarantee if they finish all the semester the Academy will gladly accept them as internal staff or maybe be a teacher but the seat for that is limited, from 100 students only half of them will be accepted. If they didn't do this right they didn't know what to do. This Academy was a place of international secret, and if one come here to be a student they must lock their mouth. They will unable to go back as a normal human anymore, and if they didn't do their best and fail they must resign for whatever the Academy do. There is 2 other generation before them and the fail students were nowhere to be seen, this story still keeps silent from the first year, though.
Now as the first year still doesn't aware of this darkness side of Althinaia Island, they still keep their usual activity where the door of exams that will make them climbing to the next year already waiting for them. In 2 Days.
****
"Yo Arya, its look like your face already back to normal."
"Hn, Edward? Well, yes. I still hurt, though."
After the study end, Arya dragged his body only to be called by Edward who standing in front of his class while leaning his body on the wall. When he take a peek at the right side at the junction of stairs to the first floor, he can see a figure of hiding Alicia and Charles.
"Okay, let's speak on the way to the canteen."
Edward shakes his head after looking at where Arya staring at and sigh, then he walked at them while lead Arya to the canteen. When they meet with Alicia and Charles there is no one who started to speak and Arya didn't have any motivation to take the initiative either. With the silent atmosphere, they arrive at their destination.
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"So, how is she? "
"... Bad."
After they find a table and comfortably sit in their own seat Edward decided to ask about the previous problem which Arya reply with a sigh. The awkward atmosphere turned worse. Alicia beside Edward couldn't help but to glare at him which being ignored by Edward. It seems that Yukiha really trying to avoid Arya, it's already 2 weeks after that and their relationship just started to going down.
Arya couldn't help but throw a tired sigh.
"Well, it can't be helped, maybe she is currently busy because of the work right?"
Seeing Arya who trying to be strong, his friends just able to give an imaginary thumb up. They continued their lunch in silent before Charles opened his mouth to make the conversation.
"You know that we will do the Exam the day after tomorrow right? It seems I hear that some of the Juniors already arrived here."
When Charles started speaking while trusted his knife forward, Alicia frowned and almost scold him for bad manner but after hearing the content of Charles word she becomes interested.
"Eh, is that true?"
"I hear it, they said this year the Juniors are different from the last time."
"What is it, Edward?"
Edward beside her was agreeing to Charles word, which makes Arya who focused on something perked his ear in curious.
"It said that their skill for information gathering and decoding was more accepted. The Academy refused many students that have a good physic and increased the intelligent one to help the researcher enhance the system."
Hearing it Arya thought that it makes sense, remembering the skeleton incident when they lack of system decoding students and they suffer a great blow. And it's even aired live with the badge on Arya's chest, it can be that the leader of each nation decided to increase the system defense to protect the system.
Wait. Why do they need to protect the system again? Arya thinks he missed something, it's in the corner of his mind but is too vague to remember.
"Ah, look! Isn't that Iroha?"
When Arya still deep in thought the mention of certain person from Charles' mouth make Arya startled and turn his head in reflex. There he can see Iroha carrying her food tray while looking confused for which way to sit.
"Oi, Iroha over here!"
Seeing Arya who keep staring at her without saying anything, Edward make an evil smile and to Arya surprise called her over. Iroha who noticed them nodded her head and walked over them.
"What is it? It's not usual for you to call me."
"Oh, come on. We are friends, it is right?"
Iroha unconsciously sitting beside Arya while giving Edward a question, which he reply with a smile while occasionally take a glance at Arya. Somehow, Iroha remembered something and her ear turned red.
"Cough, well I came here late because some of the Juniors was confused to find some location."
Iroha makes a cough while giving a subject conversation to turn their attention, which taken by them easily.
"Wait, they already in the Academy ground? I think it's still a rumor?"
"No, they arrive few hour ago. there is some exceptional person, though."
Edward who was the one overreacting was replied by Iroha in a calm manner.
"What do you mean by 'exceptional'?"
Iroha who already scooped her food and almost bring it to her mouth was disturbed by Charles question and she frowned. "... I don't know."
"Charles, give her time to eat for a second."
"Sorry..."
Alicia gives him a glare before Iroha take the first mouthful of food.
"I don't particularly know about them. However, there is one person who troubled them."
Before Charles or Edward opened their mouth because of their curious about that person, to their surprise Iroha turned her attention toward Arya who keep silent from the beginning.
"They need your help to speak with them, Arya-san."
"Me??" Not expecting himself being called, Arya blinked.
"Yes, I don't know what they talking about but Andini senpai said to me to call you. She said you can help this Junior."