CHAPTER 40: THE LAST TEN
"Next participants!"
The teacher's voice echoed across the training ground.
Vee leaned against the railing, watching two students walk into the arena.
One carried a spear, while the other wielded a pair of short swords.
Vee yawned.
"How many fights are we watching today?"
Leon, who stood beside him, shrugged.
"Until everyone has fought, I suppose."
Vee turned to look at him.
"So we're going to stand here until our legs become part of the Academy's foundation?"
"Pretty much."
Vee sighed.
"Wonderful. I've always wanted to become furniture."
Leon laughed.
Aurelia, standing on Vee's other side, shook her head.
"Can you go five minutes without saying something ridiculous?"
Vee pretended to think.
"Yes."
She smiled.
"Really?"
"No."
Aurelia burst out laughing.
Before she could respond, a loud collision drew their attention back to the arena.
BOOM!
The spear user had been pushed backward, but he quickly recovered and charged again.
His opponent crossed both swords.
CLANG!
Sparks flew as the weapons collided.
The fight continued for several minutes before the spear user finally managed to disarm his opponent.
The teacher raised his hand.
"Winner! Tobias!"
The crowd applauded.
Vee nodded thoughtfully.
"Interesting."
Leon glanced at him.
"What is?"
"The spear user has excellent reach, but his footwork is terrible."
"You noticed that?"
"Of course."
Vee pointed toward the defeated student.
"That guy nearly tripped over his own feet three times."
Leon looked at the arena.
"...I thought he was dodging."
Vee slowly turned toward him.
"Leon."
"What?"
"Please never become a battle instructor."
Leon shoved his shoulder.
"Shut up."
Vee laughed.
The duels continued.
One student after another stepped into the arena.
A girl with Wind affinity fought a boy who specialized in earth magic.
At first, the girl dominated the battle. Her movements were quick, and every swing of her weapon produced sharp gusts of wind.
However, her opponent eventually surrounded himself with a wall of earth, forcing her to change her strategy.
She attempted to leap over it.
Unfortunately, she miscalculated her landing.
The boy seized the opportunity and won.
Vee winced.
"Ouch."
Aurelia glanced at him.
"What?"
"Nothing. I just felt that fall in my knees."
"You weren't the one who fell."
"Exactly. My knees are innocent."
Aurelia laughed.
Nearby, Kai stood quietly with his arms crossed.
He had barely spoken since the assessment began.
Vee glanced at him.
"You know, you could try smiling once in a while."
Kai didn't look at him.
"Why?"
"To reassure people that you're not planning to destroy the world."
"Would that make you happy?"
Vee considered the question.
"...Actually, it would make me nervous."
Kai finally gave him a look.
Vee smiled.
"See? We're making progress."
Kai turned away.
"You're exhausting."
"That's what my mother says."
By midday, the training ground had become considerably louder.
Students were cheering for their friends, discussing their opponents' techniques, and arguing over who would win the next duel.
Some students celebrated their victories.
Others sat on the sidelines, nursing bruises and reconsidering their life choices.
One boy had lost so badly that he remained seated on the ground, staring into the distance.
His friend approached him.
"Are you all right?"
The boy slowly shook his head.
"I saw my ancestors."
His friend blinked.
"...What?"
"They were disappointed."
Vee, who happened to be passing by, stopped.
He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Cheer up."
The boy looked at him.
Vee smiled sympathetically.
"At least you didn't lose to your own shadow."
The boy stared at him.
"...Has that happened to someone?"
Vee paused.
"No."
He walked away.
"But now that you've mentioned it, I should probably check the records."
Leon burst out laughing.
"YOU'RE A TERRIBLE PERSON!"
Vee looked offended.
"I'm offering emotional support!"
"You're making it worse!"
"Sometimes people need honesty."
"That wasn't honesty!"
"It was a possibility!"
Their argument continued until Aurelia pulled Vee away before he could traumatize another student.
As the afternoon progressed, the fights became more competitive.
The teachers began selecting students with similar combat experience.
A swordsman fought another swordsman.
Two spear users tested their techniques against each other.
A pair of students with Fire affinity battled until the arena was filled with smoke.
Vee watched every match carefully.
Although he occasionally made jokes, he paid attention to the details.
He studied how the students moved, how they controlled their mana, and how they reacted when their opponents changed tactics.
Some relied entirely on their affinities.
Others used their weapons to compensate for weaknesses.
A few understood how to combine both.
Those were the ones who interested him most.
Raw power is useful, he thought, but someone who understands how to use it is much more dangerous.
His gaze moved across the training ground.
Uncle Rowan would probably make all of them run fifty laps around a mountain before breakfast.
Vee shuddered.
I should never have remembered that.
Eventually, the final duel among the lower-ranked students came to an end.
The winner raised his weapon triumphantly.
The audience applauded.
The teacher stepped forward and checked his list.
"That concludes the initial assessment."
The students began murmuring.
Vee stretched his arms above his head.
"Finally!"
He looked toward the sky.
"I can feel my legs again."
Leon stared at him.
"You barely moved all day."
Vee looked at him seriously.
"Standing is a physical activity."
"Not the way you're doing it."
"You're right. I should have charged the Academy for my services."
Aurelia smiled.
"What services?"
"Providing emotional support to the audience."
Leon snorted.
"You spent half the day insulting people!"
"Exactly. I kept them humble."
Before Leon could reply, the teacher cleared his throat.
The entire training ground fell silent.
"Although the first assessment has ended, we haven't finished for today."
Vee's smile disappeared.
"...What?"
The teacher continued.
"The students who have completed their duels will now be ranked according to their performances."
A large magical screen appeared above the training ground.
Names began appearing on it.
The students immediately gathered closer.
Some cheered when they saw their names.
Others groaned when they realized their positions.
Vee glanced at the screen.
Then he looked at the teacher.
"Excuse me."
The teacher turned toward him.
"Yes, Vee?"
"Does this mean we're finished?"
"Not exactly."
Vee slowly lowered his head.
"I knew happiness was temporary."
The teacher ignored him.
"Only ten students remain."
The crowd became quiet.
"These ten students have demonstrated exceptional ability, combat experience, or extraordinary potential."
He paused.
"The next stage of the assessment will focus on them."
A ripple of excitement spread through the training ground.
Vee straightened.
The top ten.
He knew what that meant.
These weren't ordinary students.
They were the ones most likely to shape the Academy's future.
And among them were several people he already knew.
Kai.
Aurelia.
Leon.
Luna.
And himself.
The teacher raised his hand.
"Vee Ashford."
Vee blinked.
"...Yes?"
"Step forward."
Vee looked around.
Then he pointed at himself.
"Me?"
The teacher stared at him.
"Do you see another Vee here?"
Vee slowly stepped forward.
"No, sir. I was just hoping there was a replacement."
Laughter erupted across the training ground.
Even some of the teachers smiled.
Vee took his place among the selected students.
Kai stood nearby, looking completely unfazed.
Aurelia smiled at Vee.
Leon gave him a thumbs-up.
Vee looked at the nine other students.
Then he looked at the crowd.
Well...
There goes my peaceful afternoon.
The teacher opened his mouth.
"The next stage begins tomorrow."
Vee's eyes widened.
"Tomorrow?!"
The teacher nodded.
"Get some rest. You'll need it."
Vee stared at the sky.
Then he muttered under his breath.
"I should have become a farmer."
Kai heard him.
"You'd be a terrible farmer."
Vee turned toward him.
"Why?"
"You'd oversleep and let the crops die."
Aurelia burst out laughing.
Leon nearly doubled over.
Vee stared at Kai in disbelief.
"...You know what?"
Kai raised an eyebrow.
Vee smiled.
"I'm proud of you."
Kai frowned.
"For what?"
"That was almost a joke."
Kai's expression returned to normal.
"Forget it."
Vee laughed as the students began leaving the training ground.
Tomorrow, the real assessment would begin.
And for the first time since arriving at the Academy, Vee couldn't predict exactly what would happen next.
Which, considering his luck, was either exciting...
Or a very good reason to start looking for a farmer's hat.