A momentary success or failure might keep one awake all night, but upon waking, one still had to face the broader tomorrow ahead.
More than twenty days of May had passed in the blink of an eye, and Saint Marian Academy's first-years had finally entered their first exam week.
After the final review sessions from Monday through Wednesday, practical examinations began on Thursday and continued through Friday, with one held each morning or afternoon—for a total of four subjects.
For the first-years, this was both the final assessment of a year of hard study and the decisive factor in whether they would enjoy the long holiday ahead.
Some were eager to prove themselves, some were cramming at the last minute, some merely wanted to pass, while others aimed for perfect scores.
With a little careful observation, one could discern each person's temperament from it all.
It was already ten at night when Dark emerged from the library. Only a scattered few remained in the reading room.
Carrying his books, he walked down the quiet corridor, feeling oddly anticipatory about the practical examinations that would begin tomorrow.
He had never felt this way in his previous life. He had never imagined that one day, he would come to enjoy studying and even look forward to exams.
Perhaps it was because he truly needed an examination to serve as an official conclusion to this year of diligent effort.
"Anyway, my goal is first place in the year!"
This year's first-years were exceptionally talented, and it would not be easy to stand alone at the top in the written examinations.
Whether it was Sara Swati or Emma Metis, both were extremely formidable opponents.
But Dark's advantage lay in practical work.
The four practical examinations were the key to his high scores.
After