A Summoner Awakens, Chapter 10 [Final Exam]

Zachary Gray...

I stared at the young man, looking for the darkness he was so openly known for in the future. There was... nothing. The youth's eyes were empty. We regarded each other for a moment before he blinked. There was a flash of curiosity, but it was brief.

How strange. Perhaps... whatever made him that way hasn't happened yet?

There was no way of knowing. In the future, he would become a very powerful Wielder. The reports told how rapidly his power grew once he began his ascent. Everywhere he went, he struck gold... but he was also known for torturing others and using them as bait.

One day, he'd chosen the wrong victim. His luck ran out, and a scion from one of the Descendant Families broke the unspoken peace on the First Floor to enact his revenge. His experiences had been quite the tale.

"Since when has Rowan been so... confident?"

"Who knows? I don't think he's said a word in class this year. It's hard to believe the first time he spoke would be to Aurora."

"Isn't he just some dud?"

"I wish someone would talk to me like that!"

Hmm. Perhaps I shouldn't draw so much attention to myself... Eh. Who am I kidding? To achieve my goals, anonymity won't be an option. If anything, I'll be in more danger as an unknown. There will be danger, but a certain security comes with being venerated.

Part of me found the sudden interest amusing. The innocence of these children was refreshing. I frowned as I considered their headspace.

If something so simple can get them riled up, how are they supposed to keep their cool against their first group of Crazed?

My gaze wandered around the nooks and crannies of the stone-walled room, admiring the lack of dust in any crevice. Three rows of short tables stair-stepped from the podium, making their way up to the two entrances in the back.

It wasn't a massive classroom. The front desks each held three individuals, the second five, and the long tables in the back, seven. My table only consisted of myself and two others who sat on the opposite end. In total, the class held thirty-eight students. This was only one of the ten tenth-year classrooms.

My eyes stopped at the old chalkboard in the front centre of the class. It seemed Cecelia hadn't erased the subject they'd discussed at the end of their review.

Plagued Beasts: Ranking and Evaluation

This would be the source of the final exam. Magically constructed images would present themselves on our test papers one by one with a situation written beneath. We were required to quickly answer their Ranks and number of Skills and give a brief evaluation of what we should do in each instance, along with how the creature may react.

Such an exam wouldn't give me any trouble. More than anything, I wanted to leave this room and start preparing for the following tasks. With a sigh, I read the last of what was written on the board. Below the label, Miss Warren had given two basic descriptions for some of the creatures we may encounter on the earlier Floors.

"Feline, Blood Toothed: Large creature that appears feline in nature. Notorious for its vicious tendencies. These beasts hunt in packs, usually under a Fallen, and rely on their sharp teeth and razor-like claws to tear apart their enemies. Tend to roam arid, flat regions with little means for cover."

"Arachnid, Corpse Devourer: Spider-like monstrosity that spreads near-invisible webs to capture their prey. The venom in their glands is exceptionally potent and is used to paralyse struggling victims. Their webs can be shot from a distance to entangle their enemies. Tend to live in densely wooded areas or large caverns."

We used the Class given by the Cards to categorise the Beasts and train others to better deal with them. It was a popular theory that the Plagued Beasts were once the same as some ordinary creatures seen on the Origin Floor. They'd been infected by the Plague and undergone horrific mutations. Considering the way Summons worked, that was assumed to be true.

From the Fifth Floor on, it was no longer possible to determine whether a beast had once been a dog or some form of a mouse, so Wielders had to rely on the Card's classification to decide the best method to proceed. The names usually provided a hint as to how a Beast killed or what a Wielder needed to look out for when facing them.

I glanced back when a sudden chill permeated the air. The sound of the children's chatter became mute. Cecelia stood in the doorway, examining the room. Uninterested, I continued studying the board while waiting for the exam to begin.

That Card of hers has a wide range. It should be a higher Level Blessed, but it could be a low-Level Holy. I'd love to take a look at it.

I'd always been interested in area of effect skills, but they drained too much of my life force to Wield. Cecelia walked briskly down the stairs and stationed herself at the front of the room. No one said a word, only watching as she passed.

Her shoulder-length, curly brown hair bounced with each step. She looked stern as her gaze passed over the students, but that was just a front. Those who were perceptive would notice the tiny wrinkles on the corner of her eyes. Those lines revealed years of smiling and laughter shared among friends.

"Since you lot prefer prattling on over studying this morning, I suppose that means you're all prepared to jump right into testing?" her tone was harsh, and many students averted their gaze, feeling shamed by their mentor's words. It was apparent that many weren't, in fact, ready for their final exam.

I glanced around. Some students sat with straight backs and confident grins. Others looked nervous and chewed on slumped over their desks. I didn't fall into either of these categories, only nonchalantly waiting for the exam to begin.

I lamented that fact when I felt Cecelia's gaze land on me. She placed her burden on the desk beside her, ascended the short flight of stairs, crossed behind the second row of desks, and stopped right in front of me.

"Rowan Wilder..." she looked down at me with that dissatisfied look that educators used when a talented student refused to study. One hand was on her hip, the other palm down against the table in front of me. I had to do my best to hold back my laughter. It had been many years since I'd been chided in such a way.

"Cecelia Warren," I responded with a similar tone, doing my best not to laugh. "What can I do for you?"

She tensed slightly when I used her full name, as it was information that students weren't privy to. More than that, she looked surprised at my indifference. I wasn't sure what she'd expected, but I wouldn't climb under the table like some frightened chicken.

After the shock faded, she stood taller, "Where were you during our review, Mister Wilder?"

To my right, a small group of individuals started snickering. I didn't have to look to know that it was Galen and his crew, who, for some reason, were acting like tykes watching the scolding of another child.

"Miss Warren, I was certain the review period was optional," I spoke calmly. "Was I mistaken?"

The snickering stopped, and Miss Warren seemed to be caught off guard again. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose as if she were trying to recall something.

"I... No, it doesn't seem that..." She looked at me incredulously, "Did you actually read the Academy's regulation guide?"

In fact, I had read the school regulations long ago. There were many rules forbidding students from certain activities on the First Floor, and I'd had to learn them due to my circumstances. With my current faculties, I recalled every word.

"Excuse me, Miss Warren?"

The voice came from my right, and I knew Galen was attempting to stir up trouble. Miss Warren turned to look at the youth with one brow raised and gestured for him to continue.

With a grin, Galen stood and spoke confidently, "Even if he wasn't required to participate in the review, isn't it against the rules to hunt in the Howling Hills with a Party of less than four?"

Miss Warren's eyes widened, and she shot me a glare, "Is this true, Mister Wilder?"

"It is," I smiled up at her.

"Not only that, Miss Warren, but he was hunting the canyon alone during the day! I never saw anyone with him," Galen smirked toward me, as Miss Warren wasn't looking in his direction. Inwardly, I shook my head, knowing the fool thought that I had only been a porter for some stronger group.

"That's enough, Mister Boyd," she admonished the youth without turning her head. Her eyes were narrowed as she stared at me, "May I inquire as to why you would do such a thing?"

"Not all of us were born with a silver spoon," I indicated my uniform, which wasn't quite as admirable as those around me. Informing the class about my estate would have been in bad taste, but Miss Warren's visage softened.

"Be that as it may, Mister Wilder, you should be more mindful when making such decisions," she turned back to the stairs.

Galen gaped, "Wha- Miss Warren, shouldn't you punish him?!"

"Mister Boyd," she didn't bother to stop as she responded, "You would do well to follow Mister Wilder's example in understanding the Academy's regulations. Yesterday was a free day, and students were in no way subject to following our guidelines."

My senses sharpened, and I glanced about the room. I turned my head to find Aurora staring in my direction for the second time that morning. When our eyes met, she frowned and turned back toward the front.

Strange. Did she always have so much interest in me? I can't recall ever speaking to her before today.

"Well, that's enough time wasted this morning," Cecelia spoke. Her voice sounded like she was standing just before me, and I knew the other students heard the same. It was one of many such communication Cards that each Academy professor received. "It's time to get started."

She opened the ornate box on her desk and pulled out a small stack of grey papers and twenty-eight black pens. These were similar to the book and pen used by the custodian watching over the dorm entrance.

"You will have four hours to complete this exam," she said as she walked up to the first table and began passing out supplies. "Once the exam starts, the first image and scenario will materialise at the top of the page. You are to note the Beast's name, Class, and habitat before describing what you should do in the situation."

"Once finished with your description, simply tap on the image with the provided pen. The page will be cleared, and the following scenario will replace it," she explained. "Your grades are based on both speed and accuracy. When faced with these situations on the higher Floors, you won't always have time to Inspect the Beast or flip through the pages of a book to learn how to save yourselves."

She reached my table and placed the two items down before returning to the front of the class, "If you score under half, you will be moving on to the Second Floor with no benefits from the Academy. Are there any questions before we begin?"

The room fell silent as the students picked up their pens and waited for the images to appear. Rather than grabbing my own pen, I raised my hand, wanting to confirm something before starting. Miss Warren looked in my direction, but her face looked unsure as she called on me.

"Uhh... yes, Rowan?" she asked hesitantly.

"When we are finished with the exam, may we leave? Or do we have to sit until the others are done?" I asked calmly but spoke loud enough for her to hear my question clearly.

I wasn't trying to be arrogant, but the questions in the exam were rather elementary for me. If the Beasts that appeared were from the highest Floors, where the information was above my clearance, I might face some issues.

As things stood, I retained a plethora of information about every Floor up to the Sixtieth... which hasn't even been reached at this point, as far as the public is concerned. I had some basic information on Floors up to the Seventy-Fifth, but I wasn't allowed to access the details.

"...leave early?" Cecelia's expression changed, and I heard Galen and his associates muttering to my right. It was clear that they thought I didn't know the material. Based on the professor's hesitation, she didn't seem to think I would do well, either.

"If you complete the exam before the four-hour mark, then you may leave early," she spoke softly. "But I must encourage you all to review your responses thoroughly before continuing to the following scenario. Though these scenarios are currently only on paper, they are situations that have occurred in the past."

"Thank you," I picked up the black pen and waited patiently. Glowing purple lines ran from top to bottom, slightly resembling veins. Many of these students weren't aware, but the objects we were holding were once the claws of Plagued Beasts.

"Try not to give up..." I heard Miss Warren speak as if she were right beside me. "Even if you don't know how to deal with the situation, at least try to answer. You may get some points."

I glanced up and saw her worried expression, which held the same look she'd given me when trying to talk me out of ascending after the practicals. With a confident smile, I nodded in her direction and waited for the test to begin.

"The time is currently [17:00:21]," Cecelia spoke, looking at a clock on the wall that was in sync with my wristwatch. "Your examination papers will stop accepting answers at [13:00:00]. You may begin."

She opened the hefty tome that sat on her desk, and suddenly all of the exam papers in the room shone with a dull, purple light. The light died down after a few seconds. A lifelike image appeared on top of the page, along with a paragraph beneath it.

I only had to glance at the image to recognise the creature, and all of the associated information came flooding to mind. The illustration was of a Beast that appeared to be a giant boar. Two long, black tusks protruded from its upper jaw, curving upward in front of its face.

There were also two strange arm-like features on its face. One between the two tusks and another growing from its lower jaw. The Beast stood as tall as three men, and though its fur was primarily brown, black streaks ran across its mutated body. Its black and purple eyes looked nearly lifelike on the page. Two similar-looking beasts followed behind it, though they were much smaller and only had one of the appendages growing from their maw.

"These Beasts have discovered you and your Party. You are in an open, flat area. The nearest cover is a woodline just under a mile back. Your Party is a basic composition that consists of two Spell Decks, one Enhancement Deck, and one Ability Deck. None of the Party's Cards is over Level 2. What is your next action?"

I read the words slowly. These creatures were not only large but equally heavy. Their footsteps could be heard for nearly a quarter-mile. If the region was flat, the Party would have spotted them long before reaching that point.

It wasn't up to me to set the scenarios, and Cecelia was right. This had indeed happened to someone. It was careless. I began to jot down my answer on the lower half of the parchment.

"Creature Classification: Swine, Earthen Tusks

Ranks: 1 Fallen, 2 Corrupted

Primary Skills: Basic earth manipulation, abilities that cause minor earthquakes in a small area, sound attacks from the arms on their faces, and many physical attacks, mostly involving the two tusks or using their overwhelming size to stomp down with their front legs."

"The Party in question should have long noticed or picked up on the noise the small herd made while travelling the plains. Considering the lack of power from their Decks, the Spellcasters should cast area-of-effect entanglement Spells to slow the Beasts while backing to the tree line.

The Enhancement and Ability users should taunt the 2 Corrupted creatures, keeping the two smaller Beasts between themselves and the Fallen as they slowly retreat. Even if performed competently, it would take nearly ten minutes to safely work their way back. If any member accidentally kills one of the smaller beasts they are using as barricades, the Party will die. The Spellcasters should place extra emphasis on assisting the Ability Wielder."

What actually happened in this scenario was not as pleasant as my solution. The Party tried to fight the Beasts head-on, heavily injuring one of the smaller ones and losing their Ability Wielder in the process. Once he knew he was on the losing end, the Enhancer fled toward the woodline on his own. The Spellcasters didn't make it.

With a sigh, I tapped on the image and watched as the illustration and my answer were slowly expunged. While waiting for the following scenario to appear, I thought about the different Ranks known by the general public.

Crazed, Corrupted, Fallen, Fiend, and Demonic. Of course, there was another that I knew of. The Network wouldn't learn of the sixth Rank until around fifty-five years from now. The first Climber to reach the Seventy-Fifth Floor reported a Beast of unprecedented power.

After thousands of years of study, Wielders came to understand the relationship between these Ranks. Much like the feudal system from the Tower's younger days, the Plagued Beasts operated under similar roles. The higher a beast's Rank, the more sway it had over beasts of a lower Rank in its own Class. Further, the higher Ranked Beasts were much more powerful and intelligent and had additional abilities.

During my introspection, the second image appeared at the top of the parchment, depicting a large group of canines. I fiddled with my pen for a moment before writing my solution to the scenario below.

I had an answer immediately, but I wanted to make it believable. Most of my tactics were learned through the Network, and some hadn't been employed yet. Standing out was necessary, but I couldn't reveal secrets that weren't yet available. Many of the factions were stingy with their information. It was too early to draw the ire of the families by 'discovering' their secrets.

I shook my head. My thoughts were straying again, and I needed to finish this exam and begin my other preparations. With my mind on task, I swiftly gave my responses, making sure it appeared that I was studious, well-prepared, and innovative.

It only took a few moments per scenario to jot down my solutions. Only a half hour after the exam began, I stood and approached the front of the class, placed my pen and exam sheet on the desk, and swiftly left before Cecelia could get over her surprise. My cane tapped gently as I ascended the short flight of stairs and left the room.

***

Cecilia watched the class of scrawling students from the seat behind her desk. Each of them had their heads down, seemingly working hard. Some had furrowed brows or frowns, while others simply took the test in stride. It was apparent to her who had and hadn't studied.

She hoped all her students would do well, as a Climber's life was dangerous. She wanted them to have every advantage they could get. Though Blessed Cards weren't rare and could even be found as drops from the Second Floor onward, they would help those who arrived on scholarship or were from lower-class merchant families.

More importantly, graduating from the Academy provided opportunities that would benefit even those from the esteemed Families. The Academy's mark would remain on the graduates' registration and allow them access to specific shops, auctions, and information brokers that were otherwise inaccessible.

Her worries were more about what would happen to her students after the First Floor rather than whether or not they would pass the exam. Compared to the larger senior classes, some of which boasted nearly seventy students, hers was one of the smallest. With only thirty-eight students, she'd become close with most of them and spent the first half of the year studying their files.

She believed that most of her students would do fine. Many already had offers from Guilds or other factions, but a few concerned her. Cecilia's eyes shifted to one of her more successful students in the front row, Aurora Price.

Among all her students, Aurora was the one whose test results she was the least concerned with. The girl had a bright mind and was very studious, however... Cecelia worried about her future. Aurora had no friends she knew of and turned down every Guild invitation she'd received. She wouldn't make it very far if she insisted on being a loner.

The young woman's blue eyes scanned her answers constantly, re-reading each sentence several times before moving to the following scenario. Her long black hair was held up in a bun, though wisps of hair still fell into her eyes. Her flawless skin and well-defined figure had many young men glancing toward her, even amidst this exam.

Cecilia shook her head at this and let her eyes linger on another student. Galen Boyd. Despite his questionable character, the young man was intelligent. He'd already surrounded himself with students that had more physical skills than him. Though the youth was manipulative, likely a cause of his upbringing, she believed this trait would help him survive in the Tower. He often boasted about one day forming his own Guild and recruiting noteworthy Climbers.

Finally, she turned her gaze to the student that made her the most anxious. The youth sat near the window in the far back corner of the class, his long black hair pulled back into a ponytail. His bright green eyes, which were usually staring out into the sky, were turned down and focused on his exam. Though... His brow wasn't creased in concentration, and his pen was moving so swiftly that he couldn't have been writing legible words.

Rowan had always been a shy and quiet young man. He never seemed to believe in himself. Well, until two days ago when she'd tried to scold him for not paying attention to the lecture. One minute, he'd been his usual self, and the next... well, she didn't know how to describe it. He'd gone from slouched over to straight-backed in mere moments.

She'd tried to speak to him in many instances, but the young man couldn't even look her in the eye without glancing nervously away. That day, however, he'd stared back at her. His smile was reminiscent of an old man looking down on some naive youth. It was bizarre.

Something else that she found odd was his history. The records showed that he was an orphan picked for a scholarship, yet he'd never proven to be studious enough to receive such merit. His practical skills were above average. He ranked among the top thirty per cent or so in all of his physical lessons, but even that wasn't enough to warrant a scholarship.

The dean was adamant that he be afforded the same respect as any other student. Not that Cecelia would treat any student differently, anyway. Sure, he was sharp, but compared to the likes of Aurora or Zachary, he was nothing special. Still, as an orphan herself, she felt for him. Her parents were already old when she was born, and they'd passed while she was still an adolescent.

She studied his relaxed expression, and it unnerved her. He'd asked if they could leave early if the exam was finished. Was he... planning on giving up? The way the young man's pen was still gliding across his parchment... he barely had time to read the scenarios.

While she watched on, Rowan stood with his pen and paper in hand. The youth seized that strange cane from beside his seat and walked confidently toward her. He placed the two items on her desk, smiled, turned, and walked briskly up the stairs.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Cecelia watched his back as the tapping of his cane echoed through the quiet classroom. She'd been too surprised by his abrupt movement to stop him. Her gaze shifted to the clock on the wall behind her.

[16:38:46]

It had barely been twenty minutes. Cecelia sighed and shook her head, knowing that the young man had given up. Flipping through the massive tome on her desk, she found the section in which Rowan's answers appeared, intending to mark down his failing grade. However, when she began reading through the youth's responses, her eyes widened...

***

Another set of eyes stared at the youth as he turned in his exam and left the room. Aurora gawked at the audacity of the young man doing such a thing. Had that fool really given up? Without even trying?

A look of disdain marred her usually stony visage. She'd disliked Rowan from day one. Somehow, he'd gotten in on a scholarship while her family had gone into debt to give her the opportunity. But, while she pushed herself, that slouch never seemed to put forth any effort in his studies.

Her family gave up a better life for her to be here. If she'd been granted a scholarship, maybe... Aurora sighed. There was no use in thinking about it, not now. This was the final exam, and all of her hard work over the years was about to pay off. She'd pushed herself to be the best in the knowledge-based courses. Even her practical scores earned high marks.

She gripped her pen tighter, trying not to think about how that man had wasted an opportunity that many others would kill to have. The following query on her exam appeared, and it was time for her to get back to work. Her family depended on her success, and she couldn't get distracted.

She thought of her dad, who she hadn't seen for over a decade. He'd vanished without a trace, never returning from his ascent of the Tower. There had been no news, and even their queries to the Government hadn't turned up any leads. It was almost like he'd never existed.

It was hard on Aurora and her mother, but things changed when they met her stepfather. He was a good-hearted man, part of the Merchant Guild, and a small-time merchant. Not only did he love her mother, he even accepted Aurora as his own and used most of his assets as collateral to give her this opportunity. She owed him everything...

But that didn't keep her from wanting to find out what happened to her father. She was very observant, even from a young age, and there were details about his disappearance that didn't add up. The only way to find out what had happened was to get stronger. And to do that... she had to ace this exam.

With some effort, Aurora focused on the task before her. To achieve her goals, she had to be the best.