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It was exactly one month after the beginning of the private lessons when all the fourth-year students were summoned to the Main Hall on the ground floor by the Headmaster, immediately after breakfast.
Several Professors appeared the moment the gong signaling the start of the morning lessons echoed throughout the academy. They opened multiple Warp Steps, transporting the students directly to the Main Hall.
The sudden disruption to their daily routine left everyone confused. They had started the morning like any other, packing their spellbooks, preparing their spells, and getting ready for class. Even Ash, who had been spending the past month immersed in his private lessons and magical research, found the unexpected summons somewhat surprising.
"Hello, my dear students," Linjos said once the last Warp Step closed.
"I hope you all enjoyed your breakfast, because it will be the last decent meal you'll have for a while. At least, if you're good enough."
A wave of murmurs spread through the hall.
"Today, you will begin your mock examination, designed to prepare you for the trimester finals.
"You will be divided into groups of five based on the specialization each of you has chosen. Every team will consist of two attackers, two defenders, and one healer. Your current evaluations have been taken into account while forming these groups.
"The examination will last for one week and will take place in the forest surrounding the White Griffon Academy. Your only objective is to survive for as long as possible.
"Don't worry. It's a controlled environment. The Professors will be monitoring the forest at all times and will rescue you immediately if anything goes wrong.
"Questions?"
Several hands shot into the air. Lith's was among them.
"Lith of Lutia, speak freely."
"I thought there wouldn't be any tournaments or competitions," Lith said. "Why the sudden change?"
Linjos chuckled.
"This isn't a competition. The forest is enormous, and each group will be deployed in a different area.
"The chances of two groups encountering each other are next to none. Even if it somehow happens, any team that deliberately interferes with another will be stopped immediately, and the consequences for their grades will be... devastating."
His expression turned serious.
"I almost forgot to mention one more thing. You will be under constant surveillance throughout the exam."
His gaze swept across the crowd, lingering briefly on a few of the academy's more troublesome students before moving on.
"So, be very careful about what you do... and what you say."
He then pointed toward a girl.
"Histi Cawfor, speak freely."
Lith recognized her immediately. She ranked near the bottom of the Healer specialization.
"Isn't this arrangement unfair?" Histi asked nervously. "Forests are dangerous enough on their own. If the groups are formed according to our evaluations, wouldn't that doom the weaker students to fail?"
She was, of course, referring to herself. So far, she hadn't managed to truly excel in any subject.
"You misunderstood what I meant," Linjos replied, shaking his head.
"Every group has been carefully balanced. When I mentioned evaluations earlier, I meant that each team's overall strength is approximately equal. I would never approve such a pointless exercise otherwise.
"This examination is an opportunity for you to learn teamwork, build trust, and rely on one another. The test is designed to evaluate the group as a whole, not each individual.
"If the Kingdom ever calls upon you, you won't have the luxury of choosing your teammates. You'll have to work with whoever stands beside you. Adaptability, cooperation, and solidarity are qualities every true mage must possess."
Ash listened quietly from the crowd, his expression calm and unreadable. Unlike many of the others, he wasn't concerned about surviving the forest itself. What interested him far more was how the Academy intended to challenge students who had spent an entire month rapidly improving under private instruction. Judging by Linjos' tone, this mock examination was going to be much more than a simple survival exercise.
Murmurs immediately spread throughout the hall.
Those who considered themselves talented were already cursing the thought of being paired with "dead weight" before even learning who their teammates were. Meanwhile, the weaker students silently prayed for capable companions who could carry them through the week-long trial.
Ash remained silent, watching the reactions with mild amusement. In his eyes, those already complaining before the exam had even begun were only exposing their own immaturity. A true mage adapted to circumstances instead of whining about them.
As the questions seemed to be over, everyone lowered their hands.
Everyone except Lith.
"I'm sorry, Headmaster. One last question."
Linjos nodded.
"Speak freely."
"I understand this is a team exercise, but what happens if one of the members is defeated by a beast and has to be rescued by a Professor? Can they return to the team afterward, or does the whole group automatically fail?"
"If a student is rescued," Linjos replied, "he or she will be considered to have 'died' and will immediately be returned to the academy."
He paused before continuing.
"If only one member remains, the group is considered wiped out."
His expression hardened.
"And needless to say, deliberately harming your own teammates is strictly forbidden. If disagreements arise, you are expected to resolve them—not escalate them."
Before anyone could ask another question, an enraged shout echoed through the hall.
"What do you mean I'm in the same group as this commoner trash?!"
The sudden outburst drew everyone's attention.
Curious, Lith glanced toward Linjos, who quietly explained that the girl was the highest-ranked student in the Battle Mage specialization and that she was referring to another girl whose evaluation ranked far below her own.
"Thank you for bringing that to my attention, young mistress," Professor Binlow said calmly.
The arrogant girl smiled smugly, convinced that the Professor was about to correct the mistake.
Instead—
"Minus fifty points for questioning your assignment."
The smile froze.
"And another minus fifty for having the audacity to say that in front of me!"
Binlow's voice exploded like thunder, making the entire hall fall silent.
The girl visibly flinched.
"Without discipline, there is no victory!"