In order to properly grasp Nial’s fear at the moment, exactly why Kit was so beloved and feared at the same time within the academy should be explained. In the first place Kit was the closest to becoming a duo tier cadet within the academy. How much stronger is a duo tier cadet than an uno tier cadet? Well to approximate if a uno tier cadet can overpower about 100 men on their own, then a duo tier cadet can handle about 10,000 men alone.
It should be stated that Nial was by no means considered weak within the academy. In fact, within the 1st year of their 4th level academy Nial was ranked 15,326th out of 50,000. If anybody below or at most 1,000 ranks above him challenged him he would have absolute confidence to win. The problem here was that Kit was ranked 1st out of 50,000. At the moment Nial was contemplating where exactly he should ask Hao to bury him, he was shocked out of it by the sound of the world’s loudest bell chiming.
“Crap!”
He had completely forgotten about why he had ventured out of his room at such an early hour in the first place. His test. He had barely studied for it and now he was even going to be late for it. At this point Professor Mayes was going to have him in the ground before Kit did.
In an instant Nial’s face went from terrified to resolved. He had to do it, he had to use his artistic ability. Nial closed his eyes and began to imagine. He thought of Professor Mayes’ lecture hall. Visualized the rows of desks gradually leading down to where the professor stood at the blackboard.
Next, he thought about the people in the room. It was a test day so it would naturally be filled to capacity. He started by thinking about the people he didn’t like since their faces were easy to recall. Then he thought about the people he was mildly acquainted with. He filled in their faces with basic and bland features. Finally he depicted the people he didn’t know all that well thinking about them as grey shapes, vaguely resembling the human silhouette.
Then it was time for the finishing touches. He was already a full meter off the ground, but herds of students dressed in all white cadet uniforms with black buttons passed all around him paying him absolutely no mind. It wasn’t until his ability began to activate that the monotonous white river was impeded upon by a shimmering blue aura. But as soon as it began it was over, and Nial disappeared into thin air.
When Nial opened his eyes, it was as though he had held his head underwater for a solid ten minutes. It took him a while of gasping and wiping a never-ending sea of sweat from his face to realize he had successfully crossed over with his power and was now sitting in his usual seat within Professor Mayes’ classroom. It took him even longer to realize that every head in that classroom was turned towards him. Including one with a short stout body and a very angry face.
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“Do you have a reason for interrupting my class as I give instructions for a very important test?”
In contrast to his expression, his voice was ice cold. It gave off the impression that he was facing a judge in a court rather than a teacher in a classroom. Was he even supposed to respond in this atmosphere?
“I’m here for the test?”
“…”
Apparently not. As Nial discretely lowered his gaze from the raging bull in front of him his eyes met with the four-page packet below him on his desk. He tried making out the meaning behind any of the questions. “What class of artist can use their control over the fourth dimension to alter themselves?” He knew this one! If the rest of the questions were going to be as easy as the ones on the first page, he might have a shot at this!
He didn’t have a chance in hell. 30 minutes into the 90-minute exam and he was still on page two. “What formula do you use to calculate the direction and distance of a delta class traverser when they teleport?” What, he was a delta class himself and even he couldn’t figure that out. How was anybody supposed to make it through an exam like this? He came to the conclusion, if the test itself was unfair, it must be testing how to get around the test! He thanked a certain show about a spikey-haired ninja boy for imparting him with such a valuable life lesson.
His new problem was how did he get around said test? Luckily for him that was the easy part. Right next to him was Michelle a transfer from the U.K. section of the European domain, but more importantly the top student in the class. And right next to her was her scratch paper, and on it was neatly outlined the exact formulas he would need for the rest of the exam. He just needed to take a little look and…
“Mr. Rockford please see me after class.”
Luckily, at that moment, a voice rang out in his head signaling he didn’t even need to finish his exam. Unluckily his professor was the one that voice belonged to. He looked toward the center of the lecture hall and saw the face of the devil and it was smiling back at him.
After being made to apologize to Michelle who treated him as though he was a convicted criminal Nial was being made to now have a conversation with Professor Mayes.
“I don’t think I need to inform you that the written portion of your exam is nullified now?”
“…”
“However, I received some interesting information about your practical exam.”
He had a bad feeling.
“Kit Wingate has proposed a challenge.”
“And about that I have to submit an appeal my ability is mainly used for traversal and it’s a bad match up since hers has direct combat viability and…”
“Normally because of that we would accept your appeal even though she has the higher rank than you. But you do realize that due your cheating attempt you have just lost your grade for the written portion of the exam and no one else higher ranked than you submitted a combat request this semester meaning that…”
“If I don’t accept her request, I fail the exam.”
At that moment the rare smile that sprouted on his face grew even wider.
“So, do you wish to submit an appeal?”
“I”
“Hmm?”
“I, I want to except Kit’s request.”
“Splendid I will set the time of examination for one week from now.”
I left the room looking like a ghost that only recently rose from their grave, as I began to stumble back to my room to let Hao know t