Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey

"Argh, this paper is a nightmare!"

"Ma'am, you are very cruel to us. Why did you make questions this hard?"

"Only if I studied instead of filling around with girls at the club!"

"Hey, you were with girls? Why don't you take me with you?"

"Shut up and let me focus on my question paper."

Lillian's eyebrow twitched uncontrollably as she listened to the class. Eventually, her patience reached its breaking point.

A wave of crushing mana pressure flooded the entire class, almost suffocating all the cadets present there.

Only a few main characters were spared from the ruthless assault since they swiftly deployed their mana pressure to shield themselves.

Consequently, the cadets caught in the middle of these opposing pressures nearly blacked out.

"Stop this nonsense at once. And you two, I swear to god I'll throw you both out if you continue to cheat so openly and disturb the class!" Lillian yelled, withdrawing her mana pressure.

The cadets shuddered and broke into fearful murmurs before returning to their work, hastily scribbling answers on their sheets.

I didn't bother with the commotion, though. After all, I had only three more questions left to answer.

As the chaos settled and the cadets begrudgingly returned to their papers, I focused on the remaining questions with renewed determination. With just three more questions to go, I pushed aside any distractions and poured all of my concentration into completing the exam.

The questions flew by under my pen, each answer coming to me with ease as I drew upon the knowledge and skills I had. Despite the earlier disruption, I remained calm and collected, determined to finish the exam on a high note.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I completed the last question and laid down my pen with a sense of satisfaction. Glancing around the room, I noticed that many of my classmates were still furiously scribbling away, their faces etched with varying degrees of stress and frustration.

With a confident smile, I gathered up my papers and made my way to the front of the classroom to submit my exam. Lillian, who was still visibly annoyed by the earlier disturbance, spared me a glance.

"What is it, Lucas?"

"I'm done with my paper," I replied.

The whole class fell silent, diverting their attention from their answer sheets to look at me with bewildered gazes.

Even Lillian couldn't help but stutter in surprise. "I-It's only been an hour. Are you sure you answered all the questions carefully?"

Instead of replying instantly, I handed her my filled-out paper and nodded.

"Yes, I even revised it. Can I leave now?"

A series of surprised gasps erupted from the nearby cadets who managed to overhear my statement.

Lillian's eyebrows shot up in astonishment as well as she took the paper from my hand and placed it on her desk.

"Yes, you're free to leave now," she granted.

I just nodded my head and walked toward the door of the classroom, to tell you the truth I wasn't confident on the written exam.

Since the plot of the novel changed, I thought that the exam paper would be also changed but thankfully nothing like that happened.

And just like that, I ace the whole week's written exam.

'I'm a genius, aren't I?' I couldn't help but smirk as I stepped out of the classroom.

Also, it's been a week since I had that talk with Evelyn in my room.

She was asking why I was at Evergreen clan but I couldn't answer her because Dereck himself said that news of Alice's recovery shouldn't be outside of the clan building.

So I had to make an excuse.

"The excuse was that I was there to visit a friend who was recovering from an injury, and I happened to meet Isabella there and she invited to me have some tea with her" I reminded myself as I walked through the bustling corridors of the academy.

Of course, she didn't seem to believe it but she didn't press any further of answer either.

Despite the passing of a week, Evelyn's visit still lingered in my thoughts, her probing questions leaving me feeling unsettled. I knew that I couldn't keep dodging the truth forever, but for now, I had to focus on the task at hand.

With the written exams behind me, my attention shifted to the looming practical exam. The thought of facing real-world challenges sent a thrill of excitement coursing through me, but also a twinge of nervousness. After all, the practical exam would put my skills and abilities to the test in ways that the written exams couldn't.

But for now, I allowed myself a moment of reprieve, relishing in the satisfaction of a job well done. As I stepped out into the crisp afternoon air, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment wash over me.

With the first phase of the mid-term exams behind me, I was one step closer to proving myself as a capacapableet. And with each passing day, I grew more determined to rise to the challenges that lay ahead, whatever they may be.

As I made my way back to my dormitory, a sense of anticipation filled me, mingled with a hint of apprehension. The coming days would undoubtedly be filled with trials and tribulations, but I was ready to face them head-on, armed with the knowledge and skills that I had worked so hard to attain.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I pushed open the door to my dormitory and stepped inside.

'I'll rest for now and head to the training ground in a few minutes.' I thought as I made my way towards the bed.

Since last week I couldn't properly train myself and the cause of this was Sunny.

Sunny was holding study sessions with a newly formed study group that he had created.

Naturally, he invited me to be a part of it.

And I had no choice but to accept. I mean, I tried declining, but he dragged me into it anyway.

To my surprise, it wasn't a cadet retreat group but a genuine study group. To be honest, I did not need to study.

Why? Because I am a genius.

But despite it all, since I was a part of the group, I had no choice but to study along with them.

And precisely because of that, I wasn't able to properly train in the last few days.

It felt really weird and somehow wrong not to be able to train for some time since it had now become my habit.

Gods, what did Yato do to my lazy self?

As I settled onto my bed, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for neglecting my training in favor of studying with Sunny and the others. It wasn't like me to prioritize academics over honing my skills, but somehow, I found myself drawn into the group's camaraderie and dedication to their studies.

But now, with the written exams behind me and the practical exam looming ahead, I knew that I couldn't afford to neglect my training any longer. The thought of facing real-world challenges without being at the peak of my abilities sent a shiver down my spine, and I resolved to make up for lost time.

With a determined sigh, I pushed myself off the bed and grabbed my training gear, ready to head to the training ground and put in some serious work. As I made my way out of the dormitory, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

The air seemed charged with anticipation, as if the academy itself was holding its breath in anticipation of the upcoming practical exam. It was a feeling that I couldn't quite put into words, but it sent a thrill of excitement coursing through me nonetheless.

Arriving at the training ground, I wasted no time in getting down to business. I started with some basic warm-up exercises, focusing on loosening up my muscles and getting my blood pumping. But as I moved through my routine, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered at the back of my mind.

It was as if there was something lurking just beyond the edge of my consciousness, something that I couldn't quite grasp. I shook my head, trying to clear away the cobwebs of uncertainty, but it stubbornly remained, casting a shadow over my training session.

Despite my best efforts to push past it, the feeling persisted, growing stronger with each passing moment. It was like a whisper in the back of my mind, urging me to pay attention, to stay vigilant.

And as I continued to train, I couldn't help but wonder what trials lay ahead in the days to come, and whether I would be ready to face them when the time came.

With a determined grimace, I pushed myself harder, channeling my doubts and fears into my training. Whatever challenges awaited me, I would face them head-on, armed with the skills and determination that had brought me this far.

For now, all I could do was focus on the task at hand and trust in my abilities to see me through. With that thought in mind, I threw myself into my training with renewed vigor, ready to face whatever the future held in store.