To keep his mind focused, Xia De went to bed early on Friday night before the exam and, following his habit from his hometown, didn't eat too much for breakfast on Saturday morning.
This made Mia, who was eating with him, look at him from time to time during breakfast, as if she was worried he would suddenly drop dead.
The original exam location was set for the doctor's clinic, where the doctor would clear out a room and set up five tables for them to use. However, considering that Xia De's place had more space and was more convenient, the exam location was ultimately decided to be Room No. 2 on the second floor of Saint Delan Square No. 6.
The doctor had sent over tables, chairs, and benches in advance, placing them in the empty living room on the second floor. Xia De, holding Mia, welcomed his friends one by one.
People generally believed that cats could bring good luck, and among the five members of the group, only Xia De had a cat. The doctor had sent Xia De a letter in advance, telling him not to send Mia away temporarily because of the exam. A well-behaved cat on the scene might allow the five people facing the exam to perform beyond their usual level.
Of course, Xia De believed that the idea that “orange cat Mia can bring good luck” was just a small hope born from the doctor's despair when facing "Aether Mechanics."
Although cats are associated with “luck” in the occult, this does not mean that people will necessarily be lucky wherever cats appear.
Doctor Schneider's group's exam time was 9 AM on Saturday, but the five members of the group had already gathered at Xia De's house by 8 AM. The group temporarily waited in the living room of Room No. 1 on the second floor; even Priest Augustus, the oldest, showed some nervousness at this time. The most anxious, surprisingly, was Miss Louisa; after the blonde girl sat on the sofa, she frequently flipped through parts of the dictionary that Xia De had helped translate last Saturday afternoon.
If the doctor's "Aether Mechanics" didn't pass, at most he would lose the qualification to continue lessons with the professor. But Miss Louisa's ancient language was a compulsory course, and if she failed to pass it during the Summer exam week, it would bring considerable trouble in the Winter.
"Speaking of which, cheating with potions, spells, Miracles, and relics is forbidden during the exam, but is Divination also forbidden?"
Noticing that Luvia wasn't nervous at all, Xia De asked curiously.
Today, teachers from Saint Byron's would be proctoring through projection, so all five of them were dressed in formal attire. Xia De, the doctor, and the Priest were all in black formal wear, while Miss Louisa and Luvia each wore different Summer dresses.
"Of course, Divination is not allowed, no extraordinary means of cheating are allowed... and no non-extraordinary means either. Xia De, you must be careful not to entertain any crooked thoughts; the College has nearly five millennia of continuous experience fighting cheating students, and Letter-based Ring術士 have also existed for nearly two millennia. Any cheating method you can think of, generations of past students could also think of."
The purple-eyed Diviner replied, as she was examining Mia, who was squatting on the soft cushion of the tea table. The black soft cushion was a gift from Doctor Schneider, specifically for Mia to have a place to stay, and the orange cat was very satisfied with this cushion.
Xia De thought of the night he first met Professor Garcia, when Professor Sanchez skillfully used "Charm Person" to obtain information. In terms of running a school, Saint Byron's was truly very professional.
"Then why aren't you nervous about the exam at all?"
Xia De asked curiously, guessing that Luvia had exceptionally strong psychological fortitude.
"Because I only have three subjects to test... Oh, I understand."
The female Diviner smiled, and the other three listening to their conversation all showed expressions that Xia De found hard to understand:
"Xia De, you don't think that I, like you all, have to take so many courses to advance to the next grade, do you?"
"Isn't that right?"
Xia De asked, and then was surprised to see Miss Louisa make a very ungraceful pouting gesture.
"I'm different from you. Although we are all Letter-based Ring術士, I am also a student jointly trained by the Prophet Association and Saint Byron's, so I only need to take two-thirds of the courses."
Luvia tossed her hair and asked with a smile:
"I heard you're taking 18 courses at once? Oh, Xia De, you're really out of luck."
Xia De lowered his head and said nothing. He finally understood why, after arriving at Saint Delan Square today, no one else wanted to talk to Luvia.
At 8:50 AM, the group of five moved from Room No. 1 on the second floor to Room No. 2. Five tables were evenly spaced in a circle, and five chairs were placed in the open space in the center of the tables, so that everyone was facing outwards. At the same time, a basin of water was placed in the middle of the five chairs, and further away by the wall, in the four directions of east, west, south, and north, four chairs for the ritual were placed, making it convenient for the four College teachers responsible for the exam to appear.
Doctor Schneider had already received the parchment for the projection ritual in advance, and at exactly 9 AM, he lit the parchment and threw it into the water basin.
As wind gradually rose in the enclosed room, among the four professors who appeared before the five, there was Professor Garcia, the Vice Dean of the History Academy, whom Xia De was very familiar with, presumably there to announce Xia De's promotion application.
Besides Professor Garcia, among the remaining three, there was another professor, a bearded, very elegant-looking Professor Earl Grelf, from the Mechanical College, which was Doctor Schneider's major. The Mechanical College was divided into two directions: alchemy and mind. Professor Grelf was also a mind expert, and his eyes were very sharp.
The middle-aged woman and the old gentleman who looked to be the same age as Priest Augustus were both lecturers at Saint Byron's Comprehensive College, named Charlene Fonseca and David Radnor, respectively.
"Good morning, gentlemen, ladies."
"Good morning, Professor Grelf, Professor Garcia, Mr. Radnor, Ms. Fonseca."
After exchanging greetings, all nine people sat down. The older Professor Grelf was the main proctor for this exam. A transparent arm took a folded piece of paper from his clothes pocket. After a cough, he unfolded the paper and began to read, his tone very formal:
"sixth epoch, common era 1853, thunder moon 27th, yellow moon half-crescent, silver moon new, red moon full. The College has received the exam application from Bill Schneider's group and will begin exam preparations at 9 AM. Bill D. Schneider, please confirm whether you will participate in the five exams: "Introduction to Advanced Psychology," "Aether Mechanics," "Dreamland Theory," "Spirit and Soul," and "Introduction to Chicallian Psychology"?"
Professor Grelf's delarion common language was even more standard than the City Hall spokesperson's.
"Yes, confirmed."
The doctor said loudly.
Professor Grelf nodded, made a checkmark on the paper in front of him with a pen, and asked again:
"Iluna R. Louisa, please confirm whether you will participate in the five exams: "Ancient Literature (Serious Literature)," "sixth epoch Folklore Studies (Part II)," "Ancient Languages (fifth epoch 4000 ~ 5793) Mastery," "Selected Fairy Tales (Advanced Class)," "Enlightenment Element Theoretical Research (Beginner Course)," and "relic Containment: Books"?"
"Yes, Professor."
Miss Louisa also nodded, so Professor Grelf made another checkmark on the paper. Xia De then realized that he didn't know any of the middle names of the other four members of the group.
"Next is Luvia F. Annette, please confirm whether you will participate in the exams for the subjects "Peering Through the Mist to See the Future: The Price," "Registered Diviner (3)," and "Registered Diviner (5)"?"
"Registered Diviner" was both a College exam subject and a professional exam for the Diviner profession. There were a total of six exams for Registered Diviner, and all had to be passed within five years to obtain the qualification certificate. Once the certificate was obtained, regardless of one's origin, one could find work at either the Three Great Arcane Academies or the Five Gods Church.
After all, Diviners were very rare. This certificate was equivalent to an ordinary person in this era obtaining a senior steam mechanic's qualification certificate.
"Yes."
Luvia nodded with a smile. Professor Grelf glanced at her. The exam week lasted for a week, from this Tuesday to next Tuesday, so before the five members of Xia De's Doctor Schneider's group, the professors and teachers had already proctored other exams. Having seen so many people, Luvia was probably one of the few who could smile at this time.
Letter-based Ring術士' combat experience usually far exceeded that of official College students, but similarly, in terms of theoretical courses, they were far surpassed by official students; Letter-based students' theoretical courses could be called a disaster.
"Ratt A. Augustus, please confirm whether you will participate in the seven exams: "Extinct Plants of the Old Continent," "Intermediate Potion Preparation," "Cannibalism and Human Consumption," "Continental Geographical Atlas," "Use and Storage of Potions," "Mental Potions," and "Identification of Common Poisons"?"
"Yes, no problem."
Priest Augustus gave a steady reply, and Professor Grelf continued to check off.
Besides Xia De, the Priest had the most exams among the five members of the group. But he had prepared for these seven courses for more than half a year, so it wasn't too surprising.
"Finally, Mr. Xia De S. Hamilton."
Professor Grelf read out Xia De's name, and including Professor Garcia, the four teachers from Saint Byron's all looked up at him. After that, Professor Grelf slowly continued to read:
"Please confirm whether you will participate in the exams for "Herbs We Know," "Basic Potionology," "Introduction to Elementary Alchemy," "Introduction to Astronomy"..."
The professor paused, wisely not wasting time reading out all the course names:
"...and 18 other courses?"
In past history, there must have been students who took so many courses at once, but certainly no students who took so many courses within a month of enrollment.
Xia De nodded:
"Yes, Professor, no problem."
Ring術士' talents were varied and strange; although what Xia De was doing was peculiar, it wasn't particularly peculiar. Therefore, as long as it was confirmed that he hadn't cheated, the College wouldn't care whether he had gone mad from too much pressure or truly had the confidence to do so.
"Alright, the five members of Bill Schneider's group have confirmed their exam content. Bill Schneider, please distribute the exam supplies."
As the professor's words fell, the scroll of poetry on Doctor Schneider's table glowed, and parchment scrolls, ink bottles, and fountain pens appeared there. In addition, there were two stone talismans per person, which were also alchemical items for detecting cheating.
The doctor distributed these supplies to them, and then the parchment exam papers were officially transmitted from the College.
It wasn't one exam paper per subject; instead, after each person reported their exam content in advance, the College unified all the exam content onto a single parchment.
