It's happening. That awful day has finally come. The day when all the sorrow and fear, the frustration and nausea inducing panic will come. Of course I'm well prepared for it, just like every other year, it's just that it's happening faster than last year. As I sit down at my desk and the dreaded exam paper, not as thick as last year's, is passed around, the door opens and with it, our journey to doom.
"My brilliant, hard-working, sweet little students, do you miss me or do you miss me? It's me, your number one favorite teacher, who has been away for about a month or so, and I have come to bask in your spirit so that you can ace this paper that I have designed specifically for all of you!" [Merlin]
"NOOO"
"It may be thinner than last year, but when Teacher Merlin said that..." [Adnan]
"Please be calm. Please be easy" [Stacy]
"Dear Goddess above, we are doomed"
"Now, as usual, no cheating and may you ace this test. I'm sure my students who are smart, handsome, pretty, always hardworking and diligent will find this question easy. Time begins now" [Merlin].
And we begin. As the number of students who will help with the project decreases significantly, the number of those who will take their final exams earlier than usual also decreases. However, the tense atmosphere of the final exam is still there, and somehow, with even fewer people, it feels even more dreaded.
However, the question isn't as difficult as I thought. In fact, when Master Merlin said that she's the one who's doing it, I think everyone's thinking the same thing. A kind of roundabout way of asking a question with a direct type of question woven into this final exam that covers all subjects. So, does this mean that the final exam will be significantly harder for the rest? I can only pray that Tio passes, because she really wanted to go to Emas with Princess Siti for her golem research.
As I answer the questions one by one, I can't help but wonder what she's been up to in the past month. Has she infiltrated the Empire or something? Whatever it is, she came home and acted as if nothing had happened, which to be honest is both reassuring and scary. Master Merlin is a good witch, and even when she's very angry, she still has some humanity left in her, just like the two previous dukes she tortured inside the living doll she made. When the time came for their execution, she released their souls so that they could finally move on to the next life, unlike other witches in the past where they kept the souls for themselves all their lives.
"Okay, time is up, I have decided" [Merlin].
"But there's still an hour left?" [Neloufa]
"But all of you have already finished and feel satisfied with your answer... You know what, I know that the practical exam is in two days, but I changed my mind. I'll do it in an hour. Meet me in the field if you don't want to fail" [Merlin].
"Master!? You can't just... Is that the school principal sign? When did you... Never mind..." [Tiara]
As usual, she really does whatever she wants, whenever she wants. On the bright side, we can finally finish the Exam early and have some fun. That's what matters, if it weren't for the sudden change in the practical exam format.
"Golem!"
"And even Beast!"
"Are those her Marionettes she was controlling?"
"Teacher Merlin, are we supposed to beat this?" [Kara]
"How do you even control them?" [Mara]
"Beat them? No. Not really. For now, just do what you want while I keep sending them after you" [Merlin].
"I see... All of you! Together! Diana, cast a protective spell for all of us!" [Marianne]
"The knight, grab a shield and quickly form a barricade" [Kara]
"Others, quickly get inside after you grab your weapon!" [Mara]
"RIGHT!" [All]
Unlike the others, who have to grab their weapons, I take out my World Tree staff and begin to cast a protective spell for us all. The boys from the knight family form a barricade to protect us all, while the others prepare for the attack. We can tell that this is their way of testing us, our readiness, in case someone attacks us during the journey.
"My spell... Hmmph! Then how about this!" [Diana]
"Ooh... Interesting... Interesting... But as your master, do you really think that's all I can do?" [Merlin]
Since my protective spell is powerful, I'm sure whatever she has prepared for us will have a hard time breaking it, so Master Merlin will take the initiative to break my barrier. If it's me from last year, the barrier I cast might be broken, but now it's just becoming a little bit unstable, proving my growth to her. Just as she wasn't serious in her attempts to disrupt my barrier, so am I, as I don't even ask the fairy blessing inside me for help.
"Auger! Together!" [Adnan]
"Right, but be careful, don't break the formation!" [Auger]
"I'll help as well. The arrow should hurt at least one of those vicious wolves" [Stacy]
"Those wolves are really scary..." [Neloufa]
I wanted to help and just kill the wolves, but this is an exam, so I don't think I should overdo it. I mean, I could do it and get a higher grade, but that will cause others to get lower grades, so, let them have their time to shine as well.
As the practical test went on for God knows how long, none of us keeping track of the time, even the teachers were asked by Master Merlin to play the role of protectors and attackers. Some of the teachers begin to join us in fending off the various challenges provided by Master Merlin, while others take on the role of bandits, outlaws, and the like and begin to attack us. What's funny is that when the Muscle Teacher, who clearly has a crush on Teacher Tiara, was about to attack her, he suddenly stopped. It's funny, but it clearly made Master Merlin snap a bit, as he doesn't take things that seriously, so he got kicked out.
"All right, those from other years, please join in as well! You have exactly one minute to discuss before I unleash something even more terrifying" [Merlin].
"Huh!?" [Liya]
"What happened?" [Veronica]
"I see... Diana! Can your barrier still withstand the attack?" [Dana]
"It can!" [Diana]
"Good! The rest of you, focus on protecting them. Some of you who are confident with your sword and spell, come with me! We should help thwart the danger to the younger group!" [Dana]
"Your sister is really good! She gets it right away!"
"That's Sister Dana!" [Diana, Neloufa]
And the practical exam becomes even more chaotic. With all the students who are supposed to join the project coming in, and with the number of threats increasing, as Master Merlin even hired some of the knights and guards outside to help (and to be the role of the bad guy), we're having to communicate more and more. Some need healing. Some are thirsty and hungry and incapacitated. Some are simply frozen as they don't know what to do as the situation getting tense. This is a truly challenging practical exam, one that's even harder than any of us can imagine. The one that poses the greatest threat is undoubtedly Master Merlin's Marionnetes.
Honestly, before any of us realize it, it's midnight when
"Alright! Congratulations, everyone! While some of you did well and some of you didn't, I'm happy to say that none of you failed the practical test. Well, just the practical, look forward to your score on the theory exam! Just sleep at the school and go home the next morning. I already got the permission, so you all get your well-deserved break tomorrow. Teachers included. As for the guards and knights, I'll discuss raising your pay a bit more for a job well done" [Merlin].
While we are happy to hear that, of course, she followed it up with some bad news
"Oh, clean this up yourself. I'm just taking my Marionettes back. No slacking. Bye-bye" [Merlin].
It's happening. That awful day has finally come. The day when all the sorrow and fear, the frustration and nausea inducing panic will come. Of course I'm well prepared for it, just like every other year, it's just that it's happening faster than last year. As I sit down at my desk and the dreaded exam paper, not as thick as last year's, is passed around, the door opens and with it, our journey to doom.
"My brilliant, hard-working, sweet little students, do you miss me or do you miss me? It's me, your number one favorite teacher, who has been away for about a month or so, and I have come to bask in your spirit so that you can ace this paper that I have designed specifically for all of you!" [Merlin]
"NOOO"
"It may be thinner than last year, but when Teacher Merlin said that..." [Adnan]
"Please be calm. Please be easy" [Stacy]
"Dear Goddess above, we are doomed"
"Now, as usual, no cheating and may you ace this test. I'm sure my students who are smart, handsome, pretty, always hardworking and diligent will find this question easy. Time begins now" [Merlin].
And we begin. As the number of students who will help with the project decreases significantly, the number of those who will take their final exams earlier than usual also decreases. However, the tense atmosphere of the final exam is still there, and somehow, with even fewer people, it feels even more dreaded.
However, the question isn't as difficult as I thought. In fact, when Master Merlin said that she's the one who's doing it, I think everyone's thinking the same thing. A kind of roundabout way of asking a question with a direct type of question woven into this final exam that covers all subjects. So, does this mean that the final exam will be significantly harder for the rest? I can only pray that Tio passes, because she really wanted to go to Emas with Princess Siti for her golem research.
As I answer the questions one by one, I can't help but wonder what she's been up to in the past month. Has she infiltrated the Empire or something? Whatever it is, she came home and acted as if nothing had happened, which to be honest is both reassuring and scary. Master Merlin is a good witch, and even when she's very angry, she still has some humanity left in her, just like the two previous dukes she tortured inside the living doll she made. When the time came for their execution, she released their souls so that they could finally move on to the next life, unlike other witches in the past where they kept the souls for themselves all their lives.
"Okay, time is up, I have decided" [Merlin].
"But there's still an hour left?" [Neloufa]
"But all of you have already finished and feel satisfied with your answer... You know what, I know that the practical exam is in two days, but I changed my mind. I'll do it in an hour. Meet me in the field if you don't want to fail" [Merlin].
"Master!? You can't just... Is that the school principal sign? When did you... Never mind..." [Tiara]
As usual, she really does whatever she wants, whenever she wants. On the bright side, we can finally finish the Exam early and have some fun. That's what matters, if it weren't for the sudden change in the practical exam format.
"Golem!"
"And even Beast!"
"Are those her Marionettes she was controlling?"
"Teacher Merlin, are we supposed to beat this?" [Kara]
"How do you even control them?" [Mara]
"Beat them? No. Not really. For now, just do what you want while I keep sending them after you" [Merlin].
"I see... All of you! Together! Diana, cast a protective spell for all of us!" [Marianne]
"The knight, grab a shield and quickly form a barricade" [Kara]
"Others, quickly get inside after you grab your weapon!" [Mara]
"RIGHT!" [All]
Unlike the others, who have to grab their weapons, I take out my World Tree staff and begin to cast a protective spell for us all. The boys from the knight family form a barricade to protect us all, while the others prepare for the attack. We can tell that this is their way of testing us, our readiness, in case someone attacks us during the journey.
"My spell... Hmmph! Then how about this!" [Diana]
"Ooh... Interesting... Interesting... But as your master, do you really think that's all I can do?" [Merlin]
Since my protective spell is powerful, I'm sure whatever she has prepared for us will have a hard time breaking it, so Master Merlin will take the initiative to break my barrier. If it's me from last year, the barrier I cast might be broken, but now it's just becoming a little bit unstable, proving my growth to her. Just as she wasn't serious in her attempts to disrupt my barrier, so am I, as I don't even ask the fairy blessing inside me for help.
"Auger! Together!" [Adnan]
"Right, but be careful, don't break the formation!" [Auger]
"I'll help as well. The arrow should hurt at least one of those vicious wolves" [Stacy]
"Those wolves are really scary..." [Neloufa]
I wanted to help and just kill the wolves, but this is an exam, so I don't think I should overdo it. I mean, I could do it and get a higher grade, but that will cause others to get lower grades, so, let them have their time to shine as well.
As the practical test went on for God knows how long, none of us keeping track of the time, even the teachers were asked by Master Merlin to play the role of protectors and attackers. Some of the teachers begin to join us in fending off the various challenges provided by Master Merlin, while others take on the role of bandits, outlaws, and the like and begin to attack us. What's funny is that when the Muscle Teacher, who clearly has a crush on Teacher Tiara, was about to attack her, he suddenly stopped. It's funny, but it clearly made Master Merlin snap a bit, as he doesn't take things that seriously, so he got kicked out.
"All right, those from other years, please join in as well! You have exactly one minute to discuss before I unleash something even more terrifying" [Merlin].
"Huh!?" [Liya]
"What happened?" [Veronica]
"I see... Diana! Can your barrier still withstand the attack?" [Dana]
"It can!" [Diana]
"Good! The rest of you, focus on protecting them. Some of you who are confident with your sword and spell, come with me! We should help thwart the danger to the younger group!" [Dana]
"Your sister is really good! She gets it right away!"
"That's Sister Dana!" [Diana, Neloufa]
And the practical exam becomes even more chaotic. With all the students who are supposed to join the project coming in, and with the number of threats increasing, as Master Merlin even hired some of the knights and guards outside to help (and to be the role of the bad guy), we're having to communicate more and more. Some need healing. Some are thirsty and hungry and incapacitated. Some are simply frozen as they don't know what to do as the situation getting tense. This is a truly challenging practical exam, one that's even harder than any of us can imagine. The one that poses the greatest threat is undoubtedly Master Merlin's Marionnetes.
Honestly, before any of us realize it, it's midnight when
"Alright! Congratulations, everyone! While some of you did well and some of you didn't, I'm happy to say that none of you failed the practical test. Well, just the practical, look forward to your score on the theory exam! Just sleep at the school and go home the next morning. I already got the permission, so you all get your well-deserved break tomorrow. Teachers included. As for the guards and knights, I'll discuss raising your pay a bit more for a job well done" [Merlin].
While we are happy to hear that, of course, she followed it up with some bad news
"Oh, clean this up yourself. I'm just taking my Marionettes back. No slacking. Bye-bye" [Merlin].
