….
Using mana was fundamental for all living beings.
The body could function normally, however continuous intake of mana was like an addiction. The body could function normally without it, but it simply reached a stage where it was completely dependent on it.
That was why complete mana exhaustion would render the body unable to move.
Even the strongest would experience that once the last bit of their body's mana was depleted.
Their was only one way to make sure the body's mana was never used to the state where the body would be rendered immobile until it had recovered....
It was to have so much mana that it would never be used to that state.
The only way to increase the amount of mana the body could contain was to use said mana.
That was where mana burst came in.
It was something that all mages could do inherently, in fact most learned it before learning pratical spells.
It released mana in all directions of the user's body in its natural concentrated form.
Its power didn't depend on the user's strength, instead it depended on the user's mana capacity.
In short, it was just a convenient method to know the students mana capacity. And in the u
That was specifically why Arthur had chosen to give the mages this.
'Now, all that's left is the assassins.'
He thought, his gaze moving from the students in the corner to the ones on the line.
His gaze lingered on the person at the front of the line for a brief moment.
'I still can't believe she awakened the assassin class.'
Roselyn Vivienne Celeste Aurelion.
The second princess of the empire.
Surprisingly she had awakened the assassin class, it was only natural that she would attend this academy.
The first princess was a mage.
It was only expected that the second princess would also awaken the same class, but she had managed to awaken the assassin class instead.
The polar opposite of the mage class in the sense that most mages were practically immobile and had to be stationed properly while casting, while assassins were known were for their speed and stealth.
'Speaking of which.'
The test for the assassins would start soon.
….
"For this test, you're required to hit the target."
Arthur explained.
A training dummy stood next to him.
"Any method be it throwing or getting close to it is allowed."
He added.
"Does anyone have any questions before we start?"
The test was different, compared to the mana burst test for mages, this one was much more straightforward.
Even though both were quite straightforward this one took the cake.
"If you don't have any questions, you." Arthur pointed at one of the students. "Start first."
"Me?"
"Did I stutter?"
"No sir."
The young man walked towards the circle as the other students cleared out of the way.
"Move from the circle."
He instructed.
The student stood in the circle, his hand going to his waist to retrieve a short sword.
"Start."
At that moment, he dashed forward, clutching his short sword slightly.
It had to be noted that the distance between the dummy and the circle was just a hundred meters at most.
He crossed the distance between himself and the dummy in just 8 seconds, then he swung his short sword—
The sound of steel meeting steel resounded in the air as the boy's short sword bounced off harmlessly from the dummy.
"What?"
The very same dummy that would remind anyone of a scarecrow?
Was it the very thing that he had just attacked?
"You're an assassin, right?"
Arthur questioned.
"Yes, sir?"
Even now his confusion slipped into his voice.
It certainly didn't look like metal to him.
"110."
The professor didn't bother explaining any longer, it seemed like he had no patience on the matter.
Roselyn watched all this keenly, watching the boy run to the target, the way he attacked with his weapon and the professor's reaction.
She could have sworn that his expression mirrored.... Disgust?
Arthur even seemed ready to point out what the
'He swung it?'
She thought.
That was impractical.
Stabbing it would have been more efficient, especially since it would be going for the kill.
Either way, it seemed that Arthur took the assassin class more critically than he took the mages.
"Next."
The next student to come out was another boy with black hair, after telling the professor his name he went into the circle.
"Start."
As soon as his voice rang out, he dashed forward madly, weapon in hand.
Contrary to the last person to take the test, the boy went with a stabbing motion instead—
But even then, it was unable to do anything.
"210."
The professor called out.
The student withdrew his weapon and walked away as the professor wrote down his score on the clipboard he carried.
"Next."
"180."
"Next."
"230."
One after the other they were called out.
"Next, you."
He finally called Roselyn.
She snapped out of her daze and walked towards the circle.
As she moved, she could feel all the eyes in the room on her....
Penetrating gazes.
As she entered the circle her hands went to her waist, where two daggers were strapped.
"Haah."
Roselyn took a deep breath, then exhaled almost immediately.
Her eyes locked onto the target.
No one had managed to snip off from it, that meant that the focus of the test had to be something else.
She was lost in thought by the time she was told to being.
"Start."
She dashed forward all the while continuing her thought process.
'The focus of the test has to be something else? Right?'
It felt that way, like they were being tested for something other than their strength.
'Maybe its the way we move? Or is it the way we attack?'
She did notice Arthur's looks when the first student attacked.
Disgust.
'Maybe that's it.'
—
The sound of steel meeting steel resounded in the air.
"280."
She withdrew her dagger before walking to the side.
"Next."
There was only one person left.
Ezra.
Instead of moving towards the circle he moved towards the sir.
"Sir, I don't have a weapon."
Without a change in his expression, Arthur brought out a dagger from seemingly nowhere and tossed it at Ezra's feet, the tip piercing the ground.
"Take it."