Luvia and Priest Augustus had fewer subjects, and both maintained grades of "Exceeded Expectations" or above. Shade, who had taken the skipping grade exam, received only a "Pass" in the third-year course "Introduction to Dreamland Theory," but his other grades were all quite good.
"Especially in the three 'Mastery of Ancient Languages' courses. The History College believes that Mr. Hamilton has already reached a level that many formal students do not possess even upon graduation."
Professor Garcia praised him without reservation. Shade smiled and nodded, and the professor continued:
"Next are the end-of-year evaluations for the five members of Bill Schneider's group for the Year 1853 of the Sixth Epoch Common Calendar."
Everyone unconsciously sat up straighter. This was the most important part of today's proceedings—
"Group leader Bill D. Schneider successfully passed the fifth-year examinations and has sufficient Practical Credit, advancing to the sixth year. Based on the number of Academy commissions completed throughout the year, the special honor earned in the Summer Lake View Manor Incident, excess Practical Credit, and supplementary evaluations from elective course instructors, his overall evaluation for this academic year is Exceeded Expectations. Due to his status as group leader, the rating is raised by one minor grade. Due to the correspondence student he recruited, Shade S. Hamilton, advancing to the fourth year within half a year, the rating is raised by two minor grades. Final rating: Excellent."
The smile on the Doctor's face was impossible to hide. He winked at Shade, who somehow understood what he meant—
I told you. Meeting you was the luckiest thing that happened to me in all of 1853.
"Following Academy deliberation, your academic-year rewards are: the selection of one relic below Document Level and two free Thaumaturgies, with ritual materials provided. Half of next academic year's tuition fee