I Killed The Main Characters

Chapter 54: The Placement Exams [3]

The day of the placement exams had finally arrived, and the atmosphere at Ravenwood Academy was nothing short of electric.

A sea of first-year students gathered at the assembly point, their expressions ranging from nervous to cautiously optimistic.

The morning sun shone brightly overhead, but the tension in the air was palpable, wrapping around the students like a thick fog.

Groups of students clustered together, whispering anxiously to one another.

Conversations hummed all around, most of them nervous but sprinkled with a few voices of confidence.

"I can't believe it's already here," one boy muttered, his fingers tapping anxiously against his watch.

"I didn't sleep at all last night. My mind kept racing about all the things I didn't study."

"Same here," replied another student.

"I swear I forgot everything the moment I woke up.

I might as well walk in there with a blank piece of paper."

A girl standing nearby crossed her arms, looking more composed than the rest.

"You two worry too much. It's not like they expect us to be perfect. Just do your best, and you'll get by."

"Easy for you to say," the boy shot back, his voice dripping with envy.

"Not all of us have perfect recall."

The girl shrugged, a small smirk playing on her lips.

"Well, it's not my fault I'm a genius."

Some students chuckled nervously at her boldness, but most others continued to murmur about their own insecurities.

For many, this was the most important day of their lives at Ravenwood Academy.

The results of the placement exams would determine their future—whether they would rise to the top or be relegated to the lower classes.

In the distance, a tall figure made their way toward the podium.

The chattering students fell silent almost instantly, their attention drawn to Professor Sharon Albright, who stood with her hands clasped before her, her expression stern but not unkind.

The professor's presence commanded respect, and even the most talkative students straightened up as she prepared to speak.

"Good morning, first years," Professor Sharon's voice echoed through the assembly point, calm and steady.

"Today marks the beginning of your placement exams, a critical moment in your journey here at Ravenwood Academy."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing.

"As you all know, these exams will determine your class ranking for the remainder of your time at this academy.

Classes range from S, which is the highest, to D, the lowest."

A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd again, but Professor Sharon raised a hand to silence them.

"Each of you received your exam timetables last night via your academy watches.

These watches will guide you through the next two days.

If you haven't checked yours yet, I strongly advise you to do so now."

Many students fumbled with their watches, tapping at the holographic displays as they double-checked their schedules.

Xander, standing at the back of the crowd, quickly skimmed his own timetable before turning it off.

"The placement exams will take place over two days," Professor Sharon continued.

"Today will focus on written exams, covering the theoretical knowledge you have acquired in your respective departments.

These will vary depending on your course of study, so some of you may finish earlier than others."

A few students exchanged hopeful glances, clearly glad they wouldn't be bogged down with extra exams.

"Tomorrow, however," she said, her tone growing slightly more serious, "will be the combat exams.

And I must remind you, combat exams are mandatory for everyone—no matter what course or department you belong to."

There was a brief ripple of shock and disbelief among the students.

Some of them, especially those in non-combat-oriented departments like healing or support magic, looked particularly unsettled by this announcement.

"Wait, even healers have to fight?" one boy whispered frantically to his friend.

"I've never even held a sword before!"

"It's not like they're going to throw you into an actual battle," his friend whispered back, though he didn't sound too sure of himself.

"It's probably just a test of your magical capabilities. Right?"

Despite the reassurances, a few more murmurs of concern spread through the crowd.

The combat exams were notorious for testing not just physical strength, but magical prowess, strategy, and adaptability.

It wasn't enough to just be strong or knowledgeable—you had to be able to apply it under pressure.

Professor Sharon cleared her throat, and the crowd quickly quieted down again.

"As of today, your focus will be on the written exams.

These exams will assess your knowledge in various subjects, depending on the courses you've been taking.

Some of you may find them challenging, while others may breeze through."

She scanned the crowd, her sharp gaze lingering on a few students who were already sweating bullets.

"I advise you all to take today seriously.

Do not rush, do not panic, and most importantly—give it your best effort.

The results of these exams will shape your time here at Ravenwood."

The weight of her words settled over the students, the reality of the situation sinking in.

It was one thing to talk about the exams; it was another to face them head-on.

With a final nod, Professor Sharon concluded, "You are dismissed. Good luck to you all."

The crowd began to disperse, students slowly making their way toward their respective exam halls.

The tension was thick in the air, but beneath it all, there was an undeniable buzz of excitement.

This was their chance to prove themselves, to rise through the ranks—or to fall.

As the students shuffled toward the exam halls, conversations broke out again, some filled with nervous energy, others trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm so doomed," one boy groaned, dragging his feet.

"I barely studied for the history section."

His friend patted him on the back sympathetically.

"Hey, at least you're not in the advanced magic theory class. Those guys are going to be grilled."

"I heard they're testing battle tactics today," another girl chimed in.

"I'm just hoping I can remember what I studied last night."

"I've got potions and alchemy right after," someone added.

"That stuff's like a ticking time bomb. One wrong answer, and you've got an explosion on your hands."

Meanwhile, a few students who looked more confident strode ahead with their heads held high, exchanging banter that came across as a little too relaxed for the rest of the group.

"This'll be a breeze," one particularly cocky student bragged.

"I've aced every test so far, and I don't plan on stopping now."

"Good for you," someone muttered sarcastically.

"I'm just trying to survive."

The tension was undeniable, but there were enough jokes and complaints to break the intensity now and then.

Still, the weight of what was at stake loomed over every conversation.

Everyone knew that these exams would determine their standing for the rest of their time at Ravenwood.

Would they be among the privileged, placed in the elite S-Class, with access to the best resources and training?

Or would they be cast into the lower classes, like D, where survival meant relying on your wits and fending for yourself?

There was no in-between.

As the students filed into their exam halls, the buzz of conversation quieted down.

The first exam—a written test—was about to begin, and no one wanted to be caught unprepared.

The future was in their hands now.