It was the final day of the midterm exams and all the first-year students all gathered at the training grounds. Many of them were worried about being graded but, since most had older siblings still attending the Royal Academy, it wasn't as if they were coming in blind.
The first year would have their practical physical examination first with the magic one in the afternoon. Everything seemed to be in place too, but, for some reason, the teacher in charge of the exam, Brice Hervolst, was fidgeting in place while glancing towards the main building with a troubled expression.
"Direct message, Syon Gemleware…"
Before any of the youngsters gathered their courage to ask what's with the hold-up, teacher Hervolst turned to the side, muttering an incantation for a communication spell.
"Yes. It's Brice Hervolst, vice headmaster."
The moment it connected, the nervous woman introduced herself, holding her breath.
Since the spell was literally a direct message, none of the first years was able to hear the person on the other side, so whatever they were saying, the curious students had to figure out on their own from teacher Hervolst's words, expression, and body language.
And she was definitely nervous for some reason.
"Why? Umm… b-because the first year students are about to start their practical exam…"
The woman fidgeted, swallowed her saliva, and pointed out shyly.
"Th-thank you, it's just that… I thought… that… since young lady Vallhall is one of them, you would want to observe her too…since she's a prodigy of the Vallhall house… To… to have a point of comparison…"
Teacher Hervolst was shivering like a leaf in the wind, muttering quieter and quieter with each word, barely whispering by the end, glancing over at the tall, prideful silver-haired girl and blushing heavily as if she was getting ashamed of herself for making assumptions that turned out to be incorrect…
"Eh? Oh! You do!? Yes! Yes!"
But then, her brows shot up, and she blinked a few times as if shocked at the response she got and, the next moment, her face brightened up with relief.
"We're waiting, don't worry!"
She assured, nodding her head vigorously, even though the other person could not see her.
Saria Vallhall wasn't taking too kindly to that delay, crossing her arms and stomping her foot in response to such displeasure, making everyone around her nervous.
Taller than all the girls and most boys, with more presence and more domineering aura than even most teachers, Saria's cold, unapproachable demeanor made her stand out even more on top of her great looks.
That did earn her a lot of admiration from her classmates and other students, but also kept her from making friends, with most keeping their distance. Despite the nickname Rose of the North still fit her perfectly, some started to call her Ice Queen or the Lonely Wolf Princess behind her back.
Her golden eyes glared at everyone, especially at the vice headmaster who arrived a few minutes late.
As if expecting some reaction out of him, she kept staring daggers at the back of his head when he spoke and patted teacher Hervolst's shoulder with a big smile, but when he actually turned her way...
"...hmm…"
"...!?"
For a moment, his brow raised before his eyes darted down, sizing Saria up and down, only for the vice headmaster to frown with visible disappointment, causing the silver-haired girl to straighten her back and clench her fists.
What was that reaction supposed to be!?
Who does that guy think he is!?
Saria instantly became agitated and already knew she would put in some extra work just to prove to the vice headmaster how much of a prodigy she is!
The first part was the physical exam, something that Saria always excelled at, be it back in the Vallhall castle or within the Royal Academy.
Once she put her mind into it, not even the most athletic boys were a match, proving that Vallhall's bloodline as a whole was, well, built different.
"...~"
Needless to say, Saria's mood was excellent. After the physical exam was over and everyone was going to the cafeteria or to their rooms to rest before the practical magic exam, the silver-haired girl lingered behind, expecting that the teachers would call out to her and praise her efforts.
"...odd… is she holding back, or simply not taking this seriously…?"
"What do you mean?"
"???"
But instead of that, what she overheard was teacher Hervols furrowing her brows and sighing with a troubled expression to the vice headmaster Gemleware.
"She publicly called her cousin a trash and the shame of the family, but then all of her results are a third of his."
"!!!"
Teacher Hervolst said while pointing out something on one of her papers... Her words felt like a slap in the face for the silver-haired girl whose golden eyes widened in shock!
"Don't forget to account for the age difference between the two. They are the first Vallhalls to attend the Royal Academy in decades, so it's possible that Rotsard Vallhall's results are actually subpar for his exact age."
"...sir… do you actually believe that…?"
The vice headmaster leaned in to check the notes for himself before suggesting, but the female teacher didn't seem convinced at all and asked back.
"Honestly? No. I believe that what you said first is more plausible. Young Lady Vallhall might be aiming for a slow start, to then show off the overwhelming difference during the finals… of course, there is also a third option. She might have her own reasons for lying low, and, as disappointing as it is, she has the right to do so without us digging into it."
"...ah… that's right… I'm sorry, I showed off how much of a clueless country bumpkin I am, didn't I…?"
The vice headmaster glanced at teacher Hervolst and shrugged with a meaningful expression, to which she ended up flinching, blushing, and mumbling while lowering her head in embarrassment.
"Hmm? Oh, no, no, no. As I already said, neither of us knows how to properly deal with Vallhalls, considering how closed-off they normally are. There's no reason to put yourself down, Lady Hervolst. Your concern for the well-being of your students is nothing short of admirable."
"...!"
The vice headmaster furrowed his brows before waving his hand decisively and declaring, causing the woman to raise her head slightly to look at him with a flustered expression.
"..."
On the other hand, the silver-haired girl who eavesdropped on the two of them finally left, stumbling her way back to her dormitory while clenching the shirt over her heart.
She wasn't wounded, but she was short of breath, and her heart did feel as if it was stabbed.
Not by blade, though, but by the teacher's words.
For the very first time in her life, an adult was disappointed in her, and, for the Rose of the North, that sure felt as if her world was falling apart.
She was supposed to be the prodigy, always praised, always celebrated for achieving above the expectations put on her…
…she gave it her all, and they thought she was holding back…?
Her result was only a third of that trash's…?!
No, no, no, no, no…! There must have been something wrong!
"...he cheated…! He must have cheated! That trash…!"
To protect herself, Saria clenched her fists and spat through her teeth, covering her shame with anger.
The practical physical exam wasn't all that important in the first place!
Everyone knew that practical magic one was the one that truly counted, and she would show her worth there!
For sure!
Saria promised to herself while hastening her step.