The suns had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with strokes of orange and purple as they climbed onto the back of Lemmy, Minho's loyal wyvern. The creature's wings spread wide, and with a powerful leap, they ascended into the cool evening air.
As they soared over the city of Ondur, Si-Woo couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the creature beneath him. The wind rushing past his ears and the sight of the world below shrinking into miniature was exhilarating. He turned to Ha-Yoon, her hair whipping in the wind. "How do you think you did on the pre-mid-term placement test?" he shouted over the sound of Lemmy's wings.
Her cheeks were flushed from the excitement of the battle, but she grinned back at him. "Better than I expected," she shouted back, her eyes still alight with the fiery passion of combat. "What about you?"
Si-Woo took a deep breath, the scent of the city melding with the crisp mountain air. "I think I have a lot to learn," he admitted, his gaze drifting to the book he had left in the library, "but I'm ready for it."
...
The next day at the academy, whispers and excitement buzzed through the halls as students anticipated the reveal of their pre-mid-term placement test results. The siblings, still feeling the ache from the previous day's intense training, walked side by side, sharing a look of both apprehension and determination. The grand hall of the academy was packed, with young serein users of all races chattering anxiously.
Princess Deane, an elegant and commanding presence, took the stage. She waited for silence to spread over the assembly before speaking in a clear, melodious voice. "Welcome to the Scoring Ceremony," she announced. "A moment where your hard work and dedication are recognized, and your futures as protectors of the realms are shaped."
Her eyes scanned the room, pausing briefly on Ha-Yoon and Si-Woo. Ha-Yoon felt a thrill of nervousness as the headmaster spoke of the tiers and the implications of their scores. The three large floating unopened scrolls, each representing a class level the academy was harboring, filled the air with an aura of anticipation.
"For those who scored between seventy and ninety-four percent, you have proven your dedication and skill," the headmaster announced, his eyes scanning the silent room. "You will remain in your current level until you graduate to become a senior of that level or a greenie of a higher one."
Princess Deane stated "Scoring 100% allows you to advance two levels, while a score between 95% and 99% moves you up one level. If you score between 70% and 94%, you remain at your current level. Scoring between 69% and 51% results in moving down a level, and scoring between 50% and 0% leads to a two-level demotion." The room collectively held its breath. Ha-Yoon felt a knot in her stomach, her palms growing clammy.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"These tests are notoriously challenging," Princess Deane states "With scores above 90%, let alone 100%, being a rare achievement. You are required to take the test at least once per academic year and may only attempt it twice within the same school year, so it's crucial to make your first try count. However, for levels 5-7, only one test is permitted annually.
The scrolls began to unfurl, revealing their contents with a dramatic flair that was characteristic of Fae ceremonies. The siblings watched as the scrolls began to unroll for each of the three levels, revealing the names and scores of each participant in the level. As the list grew longer, their hearts beat faster, and the whispers grew quieter.
Finally, the first scroll unfurled fully, displaying the scores of the level three students. A student named Dori was at the top, with an impressive score of 84. The students around her cheered, and she blushed with pride. Ha-Yoon felt a twinge of jealousy, but it was quickly replaced with excitement as the second scroll began to reveal the level two scores.
Their eyes scanned the names, looking for any familiar ones. There, at the top, was Mai with a 93. Ha-Yoon's heart swelled with happiness for her friend, and she turned to Si-Woo with a grin. But her gaze was drawn back to the scroll as she searched for Si-Woo's score. And there it was: 92, just one point shy of Mai.
Si-Woo felt his cheeks warm at the sight of his name, but he couldn't help but notice the glare that Sol shot at him from across the room. It was as if Sol felt personally threatened by his presence, by the very idea that a lowly Earthling could outshine him in a place where he had always reigned supreme.
But there was no time to dwell on it, for the third scroll was already unfurling, revealing the level-one scores. Ha-Yoon's eyes grew wide as she watched the names appear, each one a testament to the fierce competition she had faced. And there, at the very top, was her name. A gasp went through the room as the numbers became clear: 97. It was a score so high, it was unheard of for a first-year student.
The room grew quiet as all eyes turned to her. Ha-Yoon felt a warmth spread through her chest, a mix of pride and disbelief. She had done it. She had not just held her own but had surpassed the expectations of everyone, even herself. The whispers grew louder as students began to murmur about the Earthling girl who had come so far in such a short time.
Her friends, a crew of diverse fae pushed through the crowd to surround her, their faces alight with excitement. "You did it!" exclaimed Seon, her cheekbones flushed with excitement. "We knew you could!"
"It's amazing, Ha-Yoon!" said Chang, his eyes alive with joy. "I knew you'd blow everyone away!"
"I'm so proud of you," Seon said, hugging her tightly. "This is just the start of your legend!"
But Ha-Yoon's gaze was drawn to where Si-Woo stood, a little apart from the group. His eyes met hers, and she knew he was feeling the weight of the moment too. They had come from the same place, faced the same challenges, and yet here she was, outshining him. It was a sweet victory, and she wished she could share the moment with him.