“Right, this medicine—twice a day. Remember to take it every day.”
Ximo took the small bottle, opened it, and peered inside. The tiny vial was filled with pitch-black pills, similar in color to the bitter, astringent ones she had drunk at the Camberlan Family before.
“This medicine is the same as before. How has your body been lately, Ximo?”
Xiliya had gone alone to the commercial street after the Entrance Test to find a pharmacy. Afterward, she regularly paid for the medicine and processing fees, and the pharmacy handled the preparation.
This process was second nature to Xiliya. In her previous life, she had faced major troubles during enrollment due to her congenital illness, and she didn’t want Ximo to go through the same thing.
In her previous life, Xiliya had essentially been kicked out by the Camberlan Family. After arriving at the Imperial Capital Magic Academy, she had cut off all ties with them, so she had to figure out how to prepare her medicine on her own.
Unfamiliar with the area upon enrollment, Xiliya couldn’t find a channel to prepare the ingredients right away. This led to a period without proper medication, worsening her condition. Later, she gradually found a few pharmacies, gathered the ingredients, and entrusted them to brew the medicine.
Ximo shook her head. “I’m fine, Miss. No issues lately.”
Ximo hadn’t failed a single mission during this time, and her condition had stabilized considerably. She hadn’t had a flare-up in a long time—of course, she still needed to take her conditioning medicine on schedule.
“What’s this? Ximo fell ill? What about the Class Division Exam in a couple of days?” Mira finally seized the opportunity to join the conversation.
“It won’t affect her participation in the exam,” Xiliya glanced at Mira, her tone still somewhat cold. “No need for your concern, Mira.”
Xiliya didn’t believe Mira was asking out of genuine care. Someone like her would only use the knowledge of Ximo’s illness to mock her later.
But Ximo, standing nearby, focused on something else. She blinked in slight surprise. “There’s another exam?”
She had thought passing the Entrance Test was the end of it. Now they were telling her there was more?
Exams were the thing she hated most in this life!
“It’s fine. The Class Division Exam isn’t that hard. With your strength, passing the Physical Arts Department’s exam should be no problem, Ximo.”
Ximo shrank back a little and spoke softly. “Um… Miss, actually, I signed up for the Magic Department.”
Xiliya froze. Her understanding of Ximo’s magical talent was still based on the test at the Camberlan Family last time. She had assumed Ximo would definitely go for the Physical Arts Department.
“You signed up for the Magic Department? Then the Class Division Exam…”
Xiliya suddenly seemed a bit anxious, but upon noticing Mira nearby, she swallowed the words she had been about to say.
Why had Ximo chosen the Magic Department? If it was the Magic Department’s enrollment exam, Xiliya really didn’t want her to participate.
After all, in her previous life, a serious accident had occurred during the Magic Department’s Entrance Test. Many new students were injured, several even died, and the Imperial Capital Magic Academy had taken a significant hit because of it.
Xiliya herself had faced isolation from some students due to the incident… because she hadn’t participated in the Class Division Exam in her previous life.
A few days before the exam, Xiliya’s condition had worsened from missing her medication on time, forcing her to request a leave from the academy for health reasons. Who knew that very exam would be the one where the accident happened.
Though the accident had nothing to do with her, humans were pack animals, and that pack mentality stemmed from shared experiences.
Xiliya’s status as the fallen young lady already earned her disdain from some students. Add to that the fact that everyone else had been injured to varying degrees in the exam accident while she alone stayed safe, and it led to some students viewing her… unfavorably, intentionally or not.
Xiliya didn’t want Ximo to face the same situation, but the nature of the Class Division Exam made it impossible for her to guarantee Ximo’s safety completely…
Xiliya had considered reporting what she knew from her previous life to the academy, but baseless rumors like that wouldn’t be believed and might even get her in trouble. Besides, if some butterfly effect prevented the incident this time, she’d be left looking foolish.
Xiliya had originally planned to keep an eye on things during the exam and intervene if possible, but Ximo’s participation threw her plans into disarray.
“Ximo, come out with me for a bit.”
Xiliya decided to at least warn Ximo about what would happen ahead of time, so the little maid could prepare.
“What’s this? You two going off to whisper secrets again…”
Mira grumbled in dissatisfaction. At that moment, her Student Terminal chimed. She picked it up and saw it was indeed the notification for the Class Division Exam.
Alright, she would perform well in this exam and not bring shame to her family! Mira clenched her fist.
—
Seven days later, on an open ground outside the Imperial Capital Magic Academy.
The amiable female teacher stood beside the Principal, using a Magitool amplifier to reiterate the rules and precautions of the Class Division Exam to the new students.
“Sigh, what a hassle…” Mira muttered softly amid the crowd. “They already tested everyone’s levels in the Entrance Test. Why not just divide classes based on that? Do we really need another exam?”
Mira’s irritation was simple. After seeing the exam notice that day, she learned the venue was the Mist Forest outside the academy. Testing there meant dressing plainly and simply, or she’d ruin her clothes in the woods.
Yes, the headstrong young lady, who had been full of confidence about shining in the exam, was upset for a very straightforward reason—she couldn’t wear her favorite little skirt.
Xiliya, standing not far away, shook her head. The purpose of the Class Division Exam was precisely to avoid dividing classes solely by magic level.
The Imperial Capital Magic Academy emphasized well-rounded development. Magic level wasn’t the only measure of ability. Noble young ladies and lords with high power but no combat experience could easily be taken down by mages with slightly lower strength but richer experience.
“The exam lasts three days, with final scores determined by the points each of you earns in the Mist Forest…” The teacher at the front had just finished explaining the procedures and rules.
As her words ended, whispers erupted among the new students. Many noble children who found it troublesome were dissatisfied with the “three-day duration.” It was just a class division—did it have to be this complicated?
Xiliya sneered coldly amid the crowd. These noble children from Cantelot were truly naive. With their family training, their strength wasn’t lacking, but if they faced real life-threatening danger?
No wonder the accident in the previous life’s Class Division Exam had caught them so off guard.
Xiliya’s gaze passed over the teacher, landing on the mysterious forest shrouded in thick mist nearby.
