'I see...'
She realized the tactical implication immediately.
He didn't make that entrance because he was reckless. There was a reason behind it. By smashing that skylight, he had forced a violent reaction. Every mercenary in that room had instinctively looked up and aimed at the roof, at him, and away from the captives.
If he had tried to sneak in silently and was spotted, the mercenaries might have executed the hostages in a panic. But by making himself a loud, undeniable threat, he ensured he was the only target.
'...He wasn't sleeping,' she realized, a sudden shiver running down her spine. 'He was calculating. He was analyzing the patrol patterns, waiting for the exact moment where that distraction would be most effective.'
And that hit...
The system penalized him for low defensive instincts, claiming he failed to dodge the Ranger's shot. But Shaylo looked closer at the trajectory.
If Ryn had warped immediately to dodge, the bolt would have passed through his empty space and likely hit the hostage cowering right behind him.
Her eyes widened slightly.
'He didn't fail to dodge. He chose not to.'
He drew the aggro, took the hit, and secured the objective. In a real hostage situation, that kind of selfless, split-second decision-making was more valuable than any flashy skill.
A faint, approving smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She looked at the boy on the screen with a newfound light in her eyes.
'It seems like I missed a gem in the previous tests.'
Sure, he was rough around the edges. He was reckless. And he was definitely lazy.
But he understood the core of a mission better than half the "Elites" in this room.
"B-Plus is a fair grade for the execution," she murmured to herself, tapping her finger against her arm. "But the potential..."
She glared at the screen, her resolve hardening.
"Well, that just means I will have to train him even harder," she decided. "I'll make sure he doesn't have time to sleep in my class."[1]
The other professors exchanged subtle glances and shook their heads in unison. They recognized that look in her eyes.
The famous 'Demon Instructor' had found a new favorite toy, which meant that the poor boy in Pod #02 was about to experience a very special kind of hell soon.
However, none of them voiced any objection regarding his grade. They didn't doubt Ryn's capabilities or think he would fail the entrance exam.
In fact, they considered him a highly promising cadet.
A Flux Arcanist, one with Space Affinity and a well-developed teleportation ability, was a strategic unicorn in the world of Arcana. The ability to instantly reposition allies or extract targets was invaluable on the battlefield.
Even if his combat technique was unrefined and even if he performed "poorly" by elite standards, the fact that he showed the will to act, the courage to take a hit for the hostages, and the personality to prioritize the objective over his own safety meant he was more than qualified.
"He will be a valuable asset," the bespectacled professor agreed silently, taking a secret glance at Shaylo. "With the right guidance, of course."
Then, everyone turned their attention back to their own assigned candidates.
_______ ____ _
Twenty minutes later, the simulation cycle concluded.
[Simulation Complete.]
[System Shutting Down...]
The lights in the Simulation Hall dimmed, and the hissing sound of hydraulic seals depressurizing filled the room. One by one, the glass lids of the pods slid open.
Students sat up, groaning, rubbing their heads, or cheering depending on their results.
Only Pod #02 remained closed.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Ryn frowned, hearing a rhythmic knocking sound intruding on his nap. He cracked one eye open to see Asher standing over his pod, grinning and tapping on the glass.
"Rise and shine, Rank 2," Asher's muffled voice came through. "Nap time is over. Unless you plan to stay in there until next year's intake."
Ryn let out a long sigh, pressed the release button, and pushed the lid open.
"I was considering it," he mumbled, climbing out and stretching his stiff limbs. "This thing is softer than my own back home. I could get used to this."
"Attention!"
Instructor Shaylo's voice boomed from the overhead speakers, echoing through the hall.
"The Third Phase for Batch 1 is complete. You are dismissed. The detailed breakdown of your performance and your final entrance results will be sent to your personal Arc-Link within a few days."
Her voice paused for a beat, carrying a strange weight, before continuing.
"Now, clear the hall. Batch 2, prepare to enter!"
Ryn grabbed his jacket and immediately merged into the crowd heading for the exit, eager to escape before any professors decided to come down for a 'chat.'
As they walked out of the large double doors and into the afternoon sun, the heavy atmosphere of the exam finally evaporated. The cool air felt refreshing after the sterile environment of the simulation.
"So," Asher asked, falling into step beside him. "How did it go? What was your scenario?"
"Hostage Extraction," Ryn replied, rubbing his shoulder where the phantom pain of the simulation bolt still lingered. "Had to save three loud civilians from some mercenaries. Got shot in the process. It was a hassle."
"Got shot?" Asher raised an eyebrow. "That sounds rough."
"It was," Ryn lied smoothly. "What about you?"
"Defense and Command," Asher said, his eyes lighting up slightly. "I was dropped into a border town called Riverwood. I had to organize a local militia and a squad of Adept Arcanists to hold off a Tier-3 Beast Wave for forty minutes until reinforcements arrived."
"Sounds... exhausting," Ryn commented, shaking his head. Inwardly, he gave himself a pat on the back. Choosing the Support Division was definitely the right call. While Asher was playing general in a muddy trench, Ryn had been chilling on a roof (mostly).
"It was intense," Asher laughed, wiping a smudge of virtual soot off his cheek. "But fun in a way."
"Your definition of fun is twisted," Ryn deadpanned.
"Says the guy whose ideal hobby is comatose napping," Asher shot back with a grin. "I bet you'd sleep through an apocalypse if no one woke you up."
"At least I'm not weird like you, who laughs before fainting," Ryn countered.
"Yeah, yea-wait what? I-I didn't!"
"You did..."
"..."
They continued their banter until the sleek metallic corridor opened up into the sprawling courtyard of the main gates. The sun was dipping below the horizon, bathing the Academy entrance in twilight gold.
Outside, the streets were bustling. Luxury Arc-Cars hovered near the curbs, and anxious parents or guardians were scanning the crowd for their children.
"Well, this is my stop," Asher said, halting at the pedestrian intersection. He pointed toward the bustling city center, away from the luxury vehicle pick-up zone. "I rented a room at an inn downtown. I need a long bath and sleep after all of this."
He turned to Ryn. "Where are you headed?"
"Train station," Ryn replied, pointing toward the descending escalators of the public transit tubes. "Going home."
"Alright. Good luck with the results," Asher grinned, offering a fist bump. "See you at the opening ceremony... assuming we both get in."
"Yeah. See you." Ryn bumped his fist lazily against Asher's.
"Don't miss your train sleeping on a bench!" Asher called out over his shoulder as he turned and walked away, merging into the evening crowd.
Ryn watched him go for a second, then turned around, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He walked alone toward the subway entrance, descending into the cool, underground air.
"Finally," he whispered, the noise of the exam fading behind him. "It's over."
[1] Ryn be like: ...(≖_≖ )