The Exam Hall stood like a sanctum of futuristic intellect at the heart of the gleaming academic complex. Its wide silver-paneled walls stretched endlessly upward into a domed ceiling that shimmered with a faint artificial sky. The air hummed softly with mechanical rhythm, a cool sterile pulse that filled every corner of the vast space. Hundreds of holographic screens floated above sleek metallic desks, each one glowing faintly as lines of text and questions shifted with the students' eye movements.
Over one hundred and fifty students sat in perfect geometric rows, their faces illuminated by the soft blue-white light of their exam screens. The tension in the air was thick enough to feel. Security drones glided silently between the aisles, their metallic eyes flickering as they scanned for anomalies. Tiny cameras blinked from every direction, ensuring absolute order. Beneath the floors and behind the walls, invisible anti-energy systems pulsed with a faint light, suppressing excess magic or psychic emissions. The entire room was wrapped in a delicate but powerful anti-magic barrier that ensured no trick, spell, or illusion could alter the outcome.
This was not just a test. It was a battle of intellect, focus, and raw willpower.
At the center-right quadrant sat Johnson. His tall frame was tense, shoulders slightly hunched, his white hair a little disheveled. His usually bright blue eyes were dimmed with nervous exhaustion. He stared at the glowing screen before him, fingers trembling faintly as his wristwatch projected faint readings along the edge of his vision. The questions before him were merciless equations fused with psychological case analyses, designed to crush even the sharpest mind. He clenched his jaw, every breath feeling heavier than the last.
Just to his right, Jerry lounged in his seat with deceptive ease. The tall, handsome student wore a half-zipped jacket, his long curly hair tied back lazily. Silver limiters glinted from his wrists, neck, and ankles
silent seals holding back the storm within him. Though his dark aura was restrained, the air around him still carried a faint pressure that made those nearby uneasy. Yet he smiled, his eyes calm and sharp, scanning the screen before him like a predator watching its prey.
Across the hall to the left sat Joyce, her crimson top clinging perfectly to her figure, tucked neatly into black cowboy boots that tapped faintly beneath her desk. Her glowing red contact lenses reflected the holographic light, giving her a predatory look as she analyzed every question with precision.
Nearby, Angela and Rose sat together. Angela looked graceful as ever, dressed in a white and green gown that seemed to shimmer faintly with the natural energy around her. Her glasses rested perfectly on her nose, her gaze focused and serene, though her eyes occasionally drifted toward Johnson. Her dryaid magic may have been sealed, but her mere presence carried the quiet pulse of nature's calm.
Beside her, Rose was a perfect contrast
steel wrapped in elegance. Her sky-blue hair was tied neatly behind her, her sharp green eyes unwavering. Her fitted uniform accentuated her athletic build, her calm posture radiating confidence and inner strength.
For a moment, the hall was completely still. Only the faint hum of machinery filled the silence. Above them, the AI system monitored every movement, every blink, every breath. Beneath the surface, emotions clashed..fear, focus, competition, affection
all hidden under the cold glow of data.
.
Johnson stared blankly at his screen, his hand trembling slightly. Sweat gathered at his temple as he sighed softly, lost in thought.
"Are you not going to log in to start, Master?" came the gentle voice of Jake, his companion.
Johnson's lips parted slightly, his voice low. "Why…? What did I do to deserve her? I don't want to lose her, Jake. I know I offended her… she must hate me now."
As he spoke, his hair faintly glowed, strands of white light flickering with the surge of emotion. His sadness was heavy, almost visible.
"I don't think she hates you," Jake replied softly. "Maybe she just left because she had to. Are you okay, Johnny?"
"Of course I'm not okay!" Johnson suddenly shouted, his voice echoing through the silent hall. Heads turned. A few students exchanged puzzled looks.
He lowered his tone, guilt washing over him. "I'm just… scared, Jake. Scared of losing the people I care about. Maybe I'm overthinking, but I can't focus on this test." He sighed shakily, staring at the screen. "Jake, can you help me?"
Jake paused, then spoke with a calm tone. "I'm not supposed to help you, blud… but I can do something."
"What is it?" Johnson asked quickly. "Tell me. I'll do anything to stop feeling this way."
"Alright," Jake said. "I'll just remind you of what you already know. You'll have to figure the rest out yourself."
A soft hum filled the air as his ring began to glow faintly. "Releasing limiter on cognition. User now has advanced cognition and can use his brain at hyperspeed."
Johnson blinked, and in that instant, a surge of sharp energy flooded through his body. His mind expanded like a lightning storm. His heartbeat quickened, and every thought sharpened into crystal clarity. His hair shimmered faintly with blue light as he straightened in his seat.
The holographic questions no longer looked impossible. His fingers flew across the screen, solving complex equations, decoding philosophical dilemmas, analyzing quantum scenarios at incredible speed. Each answer came naturally, his thoughts racing ahead of time itself.
But then...he stopped.
His eyes froze on a single question. It was simple at first glance, but something about it made his pulse spike. It wasn't the words that struck him..it was the weight behind them, as if the question itself was alive.
For a brief moment, everything else faded
the hum of machines, the glow of screens, even the murmuring of his Will...
Only that one question remained, staring back at him, echoing louder than all the rest.
"What is love"