Supreme Magus novel Chapter 175

The main hall soon fell into chaos, the best students being fought over like they were cattle. It didn’t take much for the situation to devolve into an auction where people would attempt to bribe or blackmail their targets.

Friya sneered at all those that had previously acted all high and mighty, drowning her daily with their venomous words, now fighting among themselves without a shred of dignity, like hungry wolves over a slab of meat.

When Kippa, a girl that had been particularly obnoxious to Friya in the last month, had the gall to ask for her help, Friya gently smiled to her and politely refused. Friya even gave her a small bow, right before punching Kippa in the face, smiling the whole time.

"Our group may be quite unbalanced but I trust your skills, and more importantly I trust all of you as persons. In a life or death situation, I couldn’t ask for better teammates."

Phloria said extending her arm with the open hand in the middle of the group.

"Indeed." Yurial was the first to place his hand above hers.

"If there is no supervision, trust and teamwork are of paramount importance to survival. That’s what we learned from the mock exam. Knowing the Headmaster, I doubt firepower will be essential. It’s probably another learning experience more than a test of pure strength."

The girls as always, remained flabbergasted. It was like there were two Yurials. One was a lady-killer, sometimes even a bit lecherous, that always appeared in the safety of their rooms or when flirting with girls.

The other was very similar to Lith, calm and calculating.

"Yeah, but I will still miss Lith’s hunter skills and battle experience." Quylla sighed. During the last month her feelings for him had waned quite a bit. After the caring attentions Lith had given to the crying Friya, she had expected him at least to ask her out.

Instead nothing had changed. Wherever Lith’s heart was, it was clearly devoid of everything but brotherly feelings, for all of them.

***

Linjos watched the events unfolding in the main hall with a big smile.

"This will teach those snotty brats that commoners or not, in life talent and hard work are much more important than a piece of paper attesting their nobility." He said.

"And also, that they cannot expect to receive help or cooperation by those they treated like inferior beings, right?" Lith asked.

Linjos nodded, while Lith curled up his upper lip in disgust, seeing how quickly things were escalating.

"That will not prevent them from coercing others, though. A leopard cannot change its spots." Linjos dismissed that observation with a wave of the hand.

"You are underestimating me. Besides, I didn’t bring you here because I want your opinion on my plans, but to talk about your future."

Lith furrowed his browns. He did not like being taken by surprise.

"As you have surely noticed, after your return you have received special treatment. That’s because I have received several calls, from Professor Marth and the Crown."

"The Crown?" Lith echoed, swallowing a lump of saliva.

"Sometimes from the Queen, sometimes from the King, others from both. Bottom line, all the three of them told me how splendidly you performed under a nightmarish situation, fighting against the odds like a professional.

At this point, you could sit on your hands until the end of the year and still get promoted. Normally, I’d just let you skip the second exam, since it’s useless to you. After how easily Captain Velagros was found and killed, though, I’m certain we have one or more traitors within the academy. Hence I’m short of people I can trust.

And since I know you wouldn’t like anything bad happening to your friends, here is my proposal..."

***

The announcement of the second exam had been sudden, but its execution was delayed for a few hours. First the students had to form a group, appoint a team leader, and then the leaders would bring their list to one of the Professors.

Unlike the past test, the members of each team were summoned one by one in a special room where they would be questioned to find out if they had been the victim of blackmail or coercion during the selection process.

Unbeknownst to everyone, the main hall had been constantly monitored the whole time. Everything that happened after Linjos had left was recorded and had been examined for future disciplinary measures.

Those who denounced their aggressors were once again asked if they wanted to take part in the test. In case of affirmative answer, they would be grouped together, forming new teams.

Those who didn’t were automatically excluded from the test and sent back into the dorms. Linjos had decreed that those who weren’t able to stand up for themselves even when offered help and protection, couldn’t be evaluated above Rank B.

Strength of character was universally considered a prequisite for first class mages. A meek mage, no matter how talented, was bound to not get far in life.

While waiting for their turn, Phloria’s group received an unexpected surprise. Orion Ernas, her father, had come to pay them a visit.

"My little Flower, come to papa!" Before Phloria could even react, Orion lifted her from the ground like she was a doll, spinning her around the room. He was over 1.96 metres (6’5") high, he had to bend a little to walk through the door.

"Dad, what the heck..." Her protests were muffled by a hug as sudden as it was tight.

"I’m so sorry little Flower. I was away dealing with the traitors; I had no idea your mother would do something like that. When I learned what had happened, it was too late."

Phloria was red from embarrassment, but Orion didn’t seem to notice, patting her head like she was still a small child.

"So you two must be my two new daughters." He finally let Phloria go. She really wanted to give her father a piece of her mind, for treating her like that in front of her friends, but she was too embarrassed for that.

Friya and Quylla gave him a small curtsy, not knowing how to react to the sudden intrusion.

"I’m really sorry for what my wife did. I know you will find it hard to believe, but she is actually a good woman." He gave them a deep bow. Orion had black hair and brown eyes like Phloria. His physique was lean but muscular, his perfectly shaven face showed only honest regret.

He had some wrinkles around the eyes and temples, but every movement of his was full of vigour.

"Don’t worry about all her marriage talks, the Ernas household is mine, my opinion matters as much as Jirni’s. At least when I’m home." He sighed.

"Dad, what are you doing here? How did you manage to enter into the academy?"