Chapter 56: Physical Examination
With light red eyes, the woman watched how the new princess always seemed to be by Ivan’s side, even entering the dining hall with him. Jealousy burned in her eyes as she stared at Eve without blinking.
A girl beside her leaned closer and asked, "Isn’t this lumen princess getting a bit too bold lately, entering with His Highness and daring to speak to him so openly? Aren’t you worried she’ll steal him from you, Lady Leah?"
The red-haired woman schooled her expression and replied coolly, "Why should I be worried? She’s just a lumen, after all."
"Yes, but lately she’s everywhere with His Highness..." the girl pressed.
"Of course she is," Leah said condescendingly. "Since she was chosen as his partner, His Highness has no choice but to tolerate her."
"True..I know that in the end, His Highness will always call upon Lady Leah to serve him," the girl replied confidently.
Leah, wearing a smug smile, said shyly, "That’s right, His Highness never fails to call me." Yet even as the words left her lips, she simmered with rage. The truth was, Ivan hadn’t summoned her once since the start of the new semester and for that, she could only direct her fury towards Evelyn, who was always by his side.
Jealousy and envy consumed her as she watched how easily Ivan conversed with Evelyn, how he sat beside her and even more infuriated by the fact how he had danced with her, something that he has never done in any gathering since Leah had known him.
Leah was the daughter of a count from a distinguished vampire family in Versailles. She often boasted of her lineage, gaining favours among others by flaunting the times she had served Ivan, both as his bedmate and by offering him her blood. But beyond those moments, he had never shown any interest in her. He had always drawn a line between them, apart from what was asked of her and what she was willing to offer. Still, she clung to the idea that by serving him faithfully, she would one day ascend as his lover and eventually as a crown princess.
It was the most coveted title in the kingdom, second only to the crown prince. She dreamed of standing beside the man every woman longed for. Last semester, she had thought everything was falling into place. She knew Ivan never committed to any woman, as there were others who had served him just like she had. But even then, it was never frequent and Leah believed she stood above the rest.
But since the start of the new semester, not a single woman who once served him had been called upon and all of it pointed to one reason, the arrival of Princess Evelyn Lumaeth Starforged. In Leah’s mind, Evelyn had become the greatest threat, one that needed to be removed. And so, she convinced herself, that was exactly what she would do.
Just like Leah, Kayla was busy weaving her own schemes of revenge against Evelyn. But Drake had decided to lay low, because he suspected things were too calm after spiking Evelyn’s drink, so to avoid drawing attention, he rarely left his room except to attend classes and for the time being, he kept his distance from Evelyn. So she thought it was wise for her to wait and strike at the right time.
....
Later, all the students gathered on the grounds for physical examination. It was expected that Professor Leo and Seira would be present, but what came as a shock was the appearance of Professor Dante, who looked every bit like a serial killer on a hunt.
A collective sense of dread coiled in the pit of every stomach at the sight of sadistic Professor Leo paired with Dante. Some cursed their luck under their breath, while others offered silent prayers for what was to come.
"Looks like they’re out for blood today," Damien muttered under his breath and others around him nodded in agreement, knowing nothing good ever came when either of those two professors were present.
Professor Leo stepped forward, "Welcome, I see you’re all well prepared for today’s slaugh-" He was abruptly cut off by a cough by Prof. Seira. "I mean, today’s examination." he corrected quickly, clearing his throat.
Before he could continue, Dr. Zora arrived with several members of the medical staff. A prickling sense of foreboding crept over the students as they realised this would not be an ordinary exam, the presence of a full medical team meant injuries were not just a possibility, but expected.
Professor Leo smiled thinly, "Ah, you came just in time, Dr. Zora." She gave him and the others a curt nod before taking her place beside them, her sharp eyes scanning the students.
"As I was saying, this is going to be your physical examination and as I mentioned at the beginning of the term that this class is meant to prepare you for the dangers out there. So we cannot afford to be complacent when guiding you through real-world scenarios, where the dangers lurk in any corner. This exam will test not only your physical abilities, but also your endurance and your ability to strategise, using your mind to navigate difficult situations. So a sharp strategy will play a crucial role here."
He paused deliberately and Professor Dante stepped forward with a grin that made more than a few students uneasy.
"Now, don’t look so terrified," Dante said lightly, his voice carrying a mocking cadence. "We’re not so cruel as to throw you into this nightmare all alone. In fact, we thought this would be the perfect chance to also grade you in Inter-Species Relations." He chuckled softly. "Which means you’ll be going through the exam with your assigned partner. Lucky you!"
His eyes glinted with amusement as he added, "And here’s the best part, your partner’s performance will reflect directly on yours, meaning your scores will be averaged together. So, remember this, you succeed together, or you fail together. What fun, hm?"
Dante’s gaze shifted to Damien, "Damien, since you no longer have a partner, you’ll unfortunately be going in solo. Your survival will depend solely on you."
Damien only grinned, broad and fearless, "Thank you, Professor."
"Not so fast, as I said, everyone will be judged together with their partner, so the partner plays a crucial role here. Not having one might prove to be a disadvantage for you."
At that, Professor Leo stepped forward, holding up a palm-sized blue stone for all to see. "This," he announced, "is a teleportation stone. It will determine the result of your examination." His sharp green eyes swept over the crowd before he continued, "The task is very simple, each of the pair is required to enter the forest, locate this stone and then make their way to the highest point of the hill to meet us there."
"You only need to find one stone, but within a limited time, while facing the obstacles set in your path. Once you find the stone, channel your power in it and it will immediately teleport you and your partner to the top of the hill and you’ll pass the exam with flying colours."
Then a wicked smile tugged at his lips, "But remember, this is no ordinary forest, as it has been carefully enchanted by Professor Seira. The enemies you’ll face inside are mere projections of the real ones, yes...but keep in mind...they can still hurt you badly..if you’re not careful."
A student raised their hand nervously, "Professor Leo, what if we’re not able to find the blue stone?"
"If you fail to find the stone," Leo replied smoothly, "then you may march up the hill the hard way, fighting off every enemy that stands in your path. In that case, you’ll still pass, but with only the bare minimum grade."
Nervous gasps and murmurs echoed through the grounds, only for Professor Leo to snap sharply, "Silence! I am not finished yet."
In his firm voice he continued, "Though the enemies you face are only projections of the real ones, they are set within power limits suited to your current training level. Something you should be able to handle. However, for safety, each team will be given a red stone locket. If either of you find yourself in a situation that you are unable to escape from, then simply touch the stone and concentrate on returning and you will be teleported back here to the starting point."
He paused, letting relief wash over them for a moment before his smile curved with cruel delight, "But remember, once you use the locket, you’ll earn yourself a big, fat zero. And not just in one subject but two. So....for your own sake, I strongly suggest you see this through to the very end."
"How much time do we have to complete this exam?" another student asked.
"You have until seven o’clock in the evening to finish, which gives you nine hours," Professor Leo replied. "Fail to find the stone or reach the top of the hill before then and you fail the exam. You are allowed to choose one weapon each for your defence."
Students swallowed nervously and Professor Dante savoured every bit of their dreadful expressions. "So then, students," he said, his tone dripping with mock cheer, "your partner will either be an extra hand....or dead weight, depending on your chemistry with them. Either way, I wish you good luck." He flashed them a dazzling smile.
