FVN Chapter 31: Examinations [1]
Chapter 31: Examinations [1]
Chapter 31: Examinations [1]
The submissions poured in.
Vanitas sat in his study, methodically reviewing the first-year exercise papers.
Each page demanded his full attention.
Karina, standing nearby, hesitated before speaking. "Professor, would you like me to assist?"
He didn't even glance up.
"No. You wouldn't be able to check them correctly."
Karina blinked, stunned by his bluntness. But eventually nodded, realizing the seriousness in his tonality.
Scribble– Scribble–
"Hmm."
Vanitas brows raised with interest, reviewing another submission.
On the first day, most students assumed there was a single correct answer to the exercise.
By the third day, however, something shifted.
When they reached the core, the answers began to vary.
Collaboration had been essential, but it also bred contention.
Pairs debated their findings.
Some claimed their solutions were correct while dismissing their partners' work.
Others attempted to merge conflicting answers, only to create even more convoluted spellformulas.
In other words, the exercise was testing their ability to work together under such circumstances.
Vanitas smirked faintly, setting one paper aside.
"Oh?"
His gaze fell on a particular submission.
[Astrid Barielle Aetherion and Ezra Kaelus.]
The penmanship and diagrams were undoubtedly Astrid's. They were precise, methodical, and elegantly structured.
However, the convoluted, instinct-driven conjectures scattered throughout were unmistakably Ezra's handiwork.
From the way the solutions were written, Vanitas could practically paint the scene.
There was no doubt they had conflicted.
Arguments must have flared. Astrid's sharp words likely lashed out at Ezra, while Ezra, unbothered, scribbled away with his erratic ideas.@@@@
Perhaps she even came close to strangling him verbally.
Yet, despite the chaos, they had achieved a remarkable result.
Their final answer was aligned.
Vanitas leaned back with amusement.
"They surprisingly work well together."
A perfect score.
Flip—
Next up were the other submissions.
A large number of them were incomplete, ending at the outer layer.
Some managed to make it all the way to the inner layer.
A handful had attempted the core, but most left it unfinished.
Vanitas flipped through them.
"Hmm...."
Even solving just the outer layer was enough to boost their understanding for their next couple of exams.
It laid the foundation for practical applications they'd soon encounter.
Still, the disparity was telling.
The submissions varied wildly. Each of them highlighted the students' differing levels of effort and understanding.
Some papers bore methodical solutions with clear logic.
Others were rushed with sloppy solutions and equations riddled with errors.
Vanitas didn't linger on the failures.
He knew many students were overwhelmed by the exercise's difficulty.
That was expected.
"...."
He paused on a paper where the inner layer was mostly correct.
The student's calculations were solid, but they had clearly misunderstood one part of the amplification sequence.
Vanitas made a note in the margin.
[Good effort. Revisit mana flow stabilization equations.]
Flip—
Another submission caught his eye. It was a near-perfect answer for the outer layer, yet the pair had stopped there.
"Lack of confidence."
It was clear they had the capability to go further but hesitated to take the risk.
Flip—
Flipping to the next paper, Vanitas raised an eyebrow.
This one was bold.
The pair had skipped the outer and inner layers entirely, and dived straight into the core.
Of course, their answer was wrong.
But there was something intriguing about their audacity.
"An unconventional approach...."
By the time he reached the last few submissions, Vanitas had a clear picture of the class's overall progress.
Some students had exceeded his expectations.
Others had barely scratched the surface.
But the exercise had achieved its purpose.
And then, the third to the last submission.
[Charlotte Astrea and Elysia Brunhilde.]
Vanitas paused.
"Wow."
It was a totally different approach.
The submission was unlike anything he'd reviewed so far.
Two completely different answers were presented.
One was clearly marked as Charlotte's.
The other, Elysia's.
Vanitas scanned Elysia's work first.
Her style was bold.
She started by isolating the primary variables.
'Node a1 is the stabilizer,' she underlined. 'The compatibility factor depends on the mana density coefficient at b2'
Her calculations flowed seamlessly.
She adjusted the mana amplification variable and recalibrated it to align with the stability threshold.
Finally, she substituted the secondary variables back into the core formula.
It all clicked into place.
Astrid leaned back slightly.
She understood it.
Not just the solution, but why it worked.
"...."
Her lips curled into a faint smile.
Flip—
The next question.
[The circuit below depicts a three-layered spellformula. Analyze each layer in detail and interpret the function of each component. Explain the relationship between each layer, and deduce the intended spell application.]
Astrid's gaze locked onto the circuit diagram sketched on the paper.
"...."
The equation flowed seamlessly inside her head as she began jotting down her answers.
Scribble— Scribble—
***
"Haaa...."
Ezra sighed, stretching his arms as he exited the lecture hall.
The theoretical exam had lasted three grueling hours.
He felt like his brain was going to melt as the equations and circuits still flooded his mind.
"...."
He rubbed his temples, trying to push the lingering thoughts aside.
As he turned, his eyes caught Astrid standing near the corridor.
She was discussing the exams with her friends.
Ezra couldn't help but smirk.
"She probably aced it."
He turned away, shoving his hands into his pockets, ready to leave the building behind.
But then—
"Commoner."
A voice rang out, causing Ezra to pause mid–step.
Slowly, he turned around with raised brows.
It was Astrid.
She stood a few steps away, her arms crossed and her gaze locked onto him.
"Yes?" Ezra asked.
"How did you do?" Astrid asked, though her gaze avoided his.
"Why are you asking?"
"Because you were my partner. If you failed, it would reflect on me," she said, but she still wasn't meeting his gaze.
"Ah, so you're worried about your image?"
Astrid, startled, finally met his gaze, and frowned. "Don't twist my words."
"I'm kidding, Princess. Not so bad, I guess."
"Not so bad?"
"I'm pretty sure I didn't fail."
"Good." Astrid turned around. "That's all I needed to hear."
Ezra blinked, watching her retreating figure.
"That's it?"
Astrid paused but didn't turn back. "Why? Were you expecting something more?"
"Not really."
"Good."
"Fine."
"What?"
"Exactly."
Astrid finally turned back, glaring at him with an expression that screamed, 'What is wrong with you?'
"I really can't get along with her."
Not like he wanted to.
Out of all the aristocrats in the University Tower, Astrid was undoubtedly the most insufferable.
When they worked on the exercise, Ezra's suggestions were immediately shut down.
—No, that doesn't make sense, Commoner.
How would she know? She didn't even let him finish most of the time!
Ezra sighed, recalling one specific moment.
—Nodes don't work like that, Commoner.
"Uh, yeah, they do," he had replied, only for her to glare at him like he'd just insulted her entire lineage.
In the end, he had to explain every single step.
Painstakingly.
By the time she begrudgingly admitted he was right, he was already exhausted.
And did she thank him?
Of course not.
—Commoner, the coefficients need recalibrating.
After that, she'd move on as if she hadn't just wasted twenty minutes arguing over a point he'd been correct about from the start.
He groaned aloud, dragging a hand down his face as he walked.
Basically, working with her felt like solving two problems at once. One being the circuit, and the other, her.
"Haha." A laugh escaped him despite his annoyance.
It wasn't all bad, though.
She was sharp. He had to give her that. Probably one of the smartest people he'd met.
But still.
"Haa.... Commoner this, commoner that.
They were akin to oil and water.
The thought of having to pair up with Astrid again in the future made him shudder.
"....I hope that's the last time."