Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Luviya only had three exams, so the parchment she received was quite short. Shard, on the other hand, who had to take 18 exams at once, received a parchment so long that it could completely wrap the orange cat Mia, who was quietly lying on the windowsill, into a tight ball and still have leftovers.

There were no breaks during the Saint Byrons exams. The test started at nine in the morning, and students could leave once they finished answering questions. However, if they didn't finish, they couldn't leave their seats even for physiological needs.

Shard knew this in advance, so starting from nine o'clock on Saturday morning, he engaged in a mental conversation with the voice in his head while fervently writing. That evening, Miss Luisa had invited him to the opera. The 18 exams were challenging, as no exam was particularly light, and if he didn't want to miss his first visit to the opera house, he couldn't afford to slack off at all.

Luviya stood up and left at ten-thirty, followed by Miss Luisa and Dr. Schneider. Even Priest Augustus, who had only seven exams, had left the room by twelve o'clock, while Shard had already finished the questions for 10 courses by then.

During lunchtime, neither the professors nor Shard could eat. The four who had left early, however, stayed in Room One next door awaiting to hear what the professors had to say after the exams.

They originally wanted to take Mia for food, but Mia stayed on the windowsill waiting for Shard, showing no intention of leaving with anyone else. In order to feed his hungry pet cat sooner, Shard once again increased his writing speed.

His Draleonian handwriting was already challenging to decipher, and speeding up made the letters even more twisted and deformed, but he liked to think they were still recognizable.

Since it was only first-year exams, the content was even simpler than Shard had anticipated. A week of diligent preparation and the help from the voice in his head, along with his familiarity with various exams, allowed Shard to finally place the last period on his parchment at 4:21 that afternoon.

The deep blue ink saturated the parchment, the dots of ink spreading due to the pressure used.

Despite his current physical condition, Shard still felt his wrists ache. However, after dropping his fountain pen, a smile still graced his face. Although he hadn't answered every question, Shard was confident he had passed all the exams.

Postponing the use of the Time Key was worthwhile; sincere preparation for the upgrade exams without distraction brought him this moment of happiness.

The used parchment roll was sent off through the stack of manuscript pages on the doctor's desk, and the four supervising professors also breathed a sigh of relief. Since it had taken so long, everyone decided to take a half-hour break before announcing anything else.

The projected figures stood up and left, their transparent shadows disappearing into the empty room. Shard then picked up Mia, who had finally stood up from the windowsill. The small orange cat, probably famished, meowed continuously in his arms:

"I'll take you to eat something nice soon."

The notably cheerful detective said while petting the cat.

Leaving the room, he pushed open the door of the neighboring room. The other four members of his group were all there. Miss Luisa was flipping through a book, while Luviya sat at the dining table, using playing cards for divination on the table. Priest Augustus and Dr. Schneider sat on the sofa, discussing tax issues while looking at the newspapers spread on the coffee table.

Seeing Shard carrying the cat over, they all paused their activities:

"Shard, how do you feel? Think you'll pass?"

asked the doctor curiously.

"Shouldn't be a problem."

He then sat down on the sofa, the soft seat bringing great comfort to a Shard tired from the day's efforts:

"How about you?"

"Annette's doing a divination now; trying to see what the results will be like."

Priest Augustus said, while Shard turned to look at Luviya at the dining table, the purple-eyed diviner playfully winked at him:

"Shard certainly won't have a problem, Priest Augustus' score might not be very high, but he'll be able to pass smoothly. However, the doctor should be a bit worried."

"Oh, I knew it!"

Dr. Schneider covered his forehead and sighed with a look up, while Miss Luisa beside him showed an expression of wanting to ask but not daring to, for fear of hearing bad news.

There was still some food at home, both Shard and Mia ate a bit to fill their stomachs, and during this time, Shard also heard other people complaining about the examination content. This scene of everyone sitting together complaining about the exam gave this Outlander a feeling of being back in his hometown.

Though the world where steam and mystery coexisted was completely different from the past, occasionally Shard could still find traces from home in his life. Now, his enthusiasm for finding a way back had waned, but he would never forget where he was from and who he was.

After resting for a while, the five returned to the adjacent room. The four professors also appeared on time again, as the Magic Academy seemed to have a very unique grading method. Anyway, the report cards were delivered directly. They didn't show specific scores but were rated as Excellent, Exceeded Expectations, Passed, Failed, and Terribly Failed.

Out of Shard's eighteen courses, eleven were Excellent, six Exceeded Expectations, and one Passed. The course that merely Passed was "Folklore, Religion, and Civilization," which required more understanding than memorization, so Shard barely passed.

But that was enough.

"Cough cough!"

The five looked down at their own report cards as Professor Glover coughed to draw their attention:

"The summer examination week of the Year 1853 in the Common Calendar of the Sixth Era has ended, and first of all, congratulations to all the Correspondence Circle Mages. I've seen your report cards, and your group has performed very well, and does not require academic warnings from the academy. As usual, I need to remind you about promotions—"

"Bill Schneider, the academy has received your promotion application. If you wish to advance to the sixth year by the end of the year, you still have half a year to earn the remaining 30 practice credits. Also, have you advanced to Six Rings yet?"

"Not yet, but I have obtained the ritual materials. I now meet the basic requirements for the four Spirit Runes and plan to advance during the Full Moon of the Yellow Moon this autumn."

Dr. Schneider responded, and Professor Glover nodded:

"Also, the academy has received the sample of the 'Forged Philosopher's Stone' you submitted. You did very well on this, Professor Rogers, who issued the task, is very satisfied. Reward issues will be communicated a bit later. Meanwhile, this summer's official student field practice has been scheduled, and specifics will be notified to you by next Saturday. Currently, the plan is to have twelve students go to the Tobesk region, with your local group responsible for three people each."

"No problem, professor."

Dr. Schneider said, and his tone made it seem like the score for 'Aether Mechanics' must have indeed been awful.

"Miss Dorothy Louisa, you want to advance to the fifth year by year-end, please do not forget you are still missing several fundamental courses. Also, for your fourth-year rating issues, please communicate privately with the Folklore Academy."

"No problem, professor."

The Blonde Writer Miss nodded, her face filled with a smile, indicating she likely passed Ancient Script smoothly.

"Luviya Annette, regarding the next grade's joint training program, please remind the Prophet's Society to send us the documents as soon as possible. In addition, the Astronomy College is organizing an autumn Astrology event, if you are interested, you can find out more details through a Poet-Level parchment."

"Alright, professor."

Luviya didn't have any problems.

"Lat August, whether or not you intend to advance to the third year this winter, please inform the academy as soon as possible so we can arrange the subsequent training plan."

"Alright."

Priest Augustus nodded as well.

"Last is Shard Hamilton."

The professor glanced at Shard:

"According to the regulations of Saint Byrons, grade advancement can only be conducted at the end of the winter term, but after receiving your application, following a discussion at the History Academy and Miss Danester's recommendation, we theoretically agree to promote you to the second year... Advancing from the First Ring to the Second Ring in a month, that's indeed setting a record."

Professor Garcia at his side couldn't help but smile; if it hadn't been inappropriate to speak now, he would have already started saying that students of the History Academy should indeed be like this.

"You have passed all the basic written exams, and your practical final projects in alchemy and magic potions have also been approved. By the way, that ever-burning candle is really good."

It seems that Old John's tuition fees were not deliberately overpriced.

"Moreover, although in principle we agree to promote you to the second year after this summer's exam week, rules are rules, and violating them requires punishment. Therefore, as a penalty for advancing to the second year during the summer term, originally you needed 10 practice credits, now it has been increased to 20. Please complete the 20 practice credits left for the first year by next Saturday, otherwise your grade promotion request will not be approved."

Professor Earl Griever said seriously, Saint Byrons's school regulations are very strict. It's possible to get around some rules, but those that need to be complied with must be adhered to.

In fact, the condition of 20 practice credits is very harsh; after all, the doctor spent a month, experienced great dangers and even almost faced an Evil God to complete the "Forged Philosopher's Stone" academy bounty, and only gained 5 points. Theoretically, Shard would have to complete four tasks of such difficulty to attain 20 points, but the difficulty is too high, and even the time is not enough.

Luckily, he still had other methods. He had initially thought that if he was lucky, he could keep the "Infinite Mercury Bottle", but now that was definitely not possible. And just this relic probably wouldn't be worth 20 points, so it looks like he will need to take on some other tasks this week.

"I understand, Professor."

Shard said, thinking not only of waiting for Iluna to return next Wednesday but also of looking for academy tasks he could complete if he had the time.

"Good, beyond your studies, there is another document from the Saint Byrons Student Affairs Office, regarding the second Godfall incident in the Tobesk Region of the Common Calendar of the Sixth Era 1853 summer. The occurrence of such an event was not anticipated by the academy; we have already received very detailed information from the True God Church."

The professor flipped through the document in his hand:

"Since you are correspondence circle sorcerers from the Tobesk Region, the academy will give you a report to let you know what exactly happened last Thursday. If you believe that the Tobesk Region is no longer suitable for living, you can also apply for an inter-regional shift for your group."

"Not necessary for now,"

Dr. Schneider cautiously said, and the professor nodded:

"Based on the information you submitted, each member of the group is awarded 5 practice credits. You have fully experienced two Godfall events, which is more than most professors in the academy will experience in their lifetimes."

The information provided by the five wasn't very substantial, the 5 practice credits weren't an award for the information, but rather a standard consolation for the local correspondence circle sorcerers. Having endured such events without going mad or dying, and still able to recount some of the night's events is an achievement in itself, hence it's understandable that the academy would give some inconsequential rewards.

Thus, Shard's task to obtain 20 credits in a week was suddenly reduced to 15 credits. Although it was still not easy, at least the pressure was significantly lessened.

"Furthermore, Saint Byrons is issuing a long-term academy bounty to correspondence circle sorcerers in Tobesk and the surrounding areas, seeking and providing information about the Thirteen Ring Sorcerer 'God Summoner'."

Professor Griever said, while the bounty order was also sent over on the doctor's poet parchment paper.

"Professor, are you sure that God Summoner is a Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer?"
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Luviya asked.

"Quite sure,"

Professor Glover nodded, and Luviya glanced at Shard, who was looking at Mia Cat sprawled in front of him. Since they were preparing a feast for the evening, he had only fed the cat a little cat food earlier. Now the cat lay there listlessly, but Shard knew it was just pretending; the tail wagging behind the cat displayed that it was very spirited.

"Although the Godfall incident had passed, the local Correspondence Circle Mages still need to be vigilant about the aftermath. The True God Church had resolved to make those madmen disappear permanently, but from last Thursday's situation, it seems the Church has been complacent for too long, even allowing such slips to occur..."

Professor Glover clearly had some reservations about the True God Church, but he expressed it rather vaguely. After discussing these matters, all the affairs of the exam week had concluded. Professor Glover and the two instructors encouraged the team of five and then left first; Professor Garcia stayed for a few dozen more minutes, discussing Shard's sophomore year training program with him.

Moreover, Professor Garcia had promised to open his personal elective course "Folded Space" to Shard, which mainly lectured on large ritual Maze Locks and Magic Maze Locks, now coming to notify Shard about the class timings. "Folded Space" totaled four sessions, each session lasting two academic hours. The schedule was set for the second week of August, on Monday and Tuesday, each day starting at six in the evening, with two consecutive classes each time.

Shard would attend the course via projection, and after the course was finished, he had to submit a course report within a week as proof of completion.

After "Folded Space," depending on Shard's performance, the Academy would decide whether to open more elective courses to him.

"Shard, your talent has already been fully exhibited. The History Academy has never been stingy in offering extra help to talented students. The Dean of the History Academy originally wanted to meet you personally today, but some incidents occurred in the New World, and he had to rush over to resolve them, so it is still I who meet you. I noticed that a month has elapsed since your first time travel, may I ask if you have plans for a second time travel?"

Professor Garcia asked.

"Of course, I procured a Time Key from the year 3002 of the Fifth Era, had Luviya Annette help with a divination for auspicious timing, preparing to start it in half a month."

Of course, the report submission must be after the complete completion of three explorations, since this key relates to the founder of Saint Byrons, Shard had to confirm which parts could be included. Therefore, this report could not be used to offset practical credits, especially since even if he wanted to compose... embellish, there currently was no starting point.

"3002? I remember nothing happened that year, at least no major events, it appears this time it's genuinely a Poet-Level key,"

Professor Garcia thought and said, this reasoning seemed familiar to Shard, but he did not raise any objections.

"Well, Mr. Hamilton. You're probably the first student in this millennium allowed to break the rules and level up during the winter term before summer. Well done, keep up the good work, I believe you have the potential to officially enter Saint Byrons before the age of 30."

Professor Garcia encouraged, then said farewell to Shard. The transparent figure left the chair, concluding the projection ritual.

The Outlander sighed deeply, feeling utterly relaxed at the moment. He got up, went to the window, and drew back the curtain, beholding the fiery sunset outside.

The day of Saturday finally ended, red light shining on his face, the midsummer sunset was just as scorching:

"A month's time from First Ring to Second Ring; at this pace, it's actually possible that I could reach Thirteen Rings before 30."

He thought, unable to suppress a smile forming on his lips.

"[The miracles of the Second Ring, Desecration, Enlightenment, and Whisper, have you figured them out yet?]"

She whispered in his ear.

"'The Mad Light Chaser' I've been reading for a month, and I can already feel that there will be results in the next few weeks. The story of 'Kiss of the Tree,' with the help of Miss Luisa, I'm going through a detailed reading, and by the end of next month, I should also see progress."

"[These are likely all Enlightenments.]"

"Yes, so the other three elements still need careful deliberation... After a week of rest, a new adventure begins, life really doesn't stop, does it?"