CHAPTER 46: MONTHLY RANKING TEST 4

For the magic portion of the day, Aegis had a very simple plan.

[I’m going to put Rosanna’s magic on display.] She nodded to herself as the students took a break before the next test. [I mean, it’s magic that I got straight from the first empress. It has to be impressive enough to let me pass.]

She had no guarantee of that, of course. And, it was unlikely that the judges would believe her if she said "hey, this is from Rosanna. Yes, Queen Rosanna."

[Unless I sell it well, I guess.]

"How are we feeling, Country Mouse?" Scarlett threw an arm around Aegis casually as she sat on a bench. Aegis instantly treated her arm like a pillow, letting her head fall on it.

"Cautiously optimistic."

"The best kind of optimistic!"

"How many different kinds are there?"

Up ahead, various students chatted away about how powerful they were and how their fireballs could melt more stuff than so-and-so’s fireballs and so on and so on.

The noise cut away, though, when Aegis spotted Talia.

Talia was probably going to be going first, if the game was any indication. It was sort of funny to think about in a way, there were all sorts of absolutely gratuitous show-off moments she had all throughout the school year.

As eager as Aegis was to see them all, she would need to add her own little moments in there if she wanted to remain at the top.

"Aegis," Lune said.

"Yeah?" Aegis didn’t leave her position, tilting her head slightly from Scarlett’s arm.

"What do you plan to do for this test?"

"Curious are ya?"

"Yes."

Aegis nodded.

"Well... I’m still kinda figuring it out. I mean, I have a rough idea in my head. I’m just... not too sure how it’s gonna go over with the judges."

"I see."

Scarlett noticed the lingering gazes from both parties (Aegis was still making eye contact with Talia) and asked:

"So, uh, you two talk at all? Or, do you just gaze at each other from a distance? Not judging, mind you, just asking."

"I’ll have you know I’m actually making slow and steady progress toward warming our little princess’s heart."

"Really?" Scarlett smirked, raising her brows at Aegis.

"You’re doubting my charm?"

"Never. I’m doubting the princess has ever met someone she didn’t find at least annoying."

"I aim to be her first."

"Ambitious. I like my women ambitious."

Aegis rolled her eyes lightheartedly. Though she couldn’t fight off that smile that tugged on her lips.

Before long, it was finally time.

The next test, like the first one, was a pure magical display. Unlike the first time though, there was no echo crystal Aegis could use to get through without actually using any magic.

She’d actually have to show off some magic here.

The academy staff began calling out names. Talia was first up.

"Princess Talia Stone!"

Talia strode onto the demonstration platform. Her black hair gleamed under the afternoon sun and she’d swapped out her more practical combat uniform for a simple black dress over the course of the break. Those fiery yellow eyes swept the crowd with casual disdain.

[Here we go. Time for the show.]

The princess raised one hand. Fire erupted from her palm, spiraling upward in a controlled pillar. Students gasped. The heat washed over the audience even from fifty feet away.

But Talia wasn’t done.

With her other hand, she conjured ice. Frost spread across the platform, creating intricate patterns. The temperature dropped twenty degrees in seconds.

Then she brought both hands together.

Fire and ice collided. Instead of canceling out, they danced around each other. A dragon of flame chased a phoenix of frost through the air. The two elements wove complex patterns, neither consuming the other.

[Dual-element mastery at her age. Of course.]

The display continued for three minutes. Fire roses bloomed and shattered into ice petals. Frozen spears ignited into burning arrows. Every transition flowed perfectly into the next.

When Talia finally lowered her hands, the magical constructs dissipated into sparkling mist.

"Exceptional!" Professor Alberic clapped. "Absolutely exceptional!"

The other judges nodded. Perfect scores across the board.

Talia walked off the platform. Her eyes found Aegis in the crowd. One eyebrow raised in challenge.

[Yeah, yeah. Your magic’s impressive. Let’s see how you handle mine.]

More students went up. Some managed decent fireballs. Others conjured water or manipulated earth. A few scholarship students barely produced sparks, earning sympathetic winces from the crowd.

Then—

"Aegis Starcaller!"

Scarlett squeezed her shoulder.

"Knock ’em dead, Mouse."

"That’s the plan." Aegis stood, smoothing her skirt. "Watch and learn, babe."

She climbed onto the platform.

Hundreds of eyes followed her every move. Nobles whispered behind their hands. Commoners leaned forward expectantly.

[Alright, Rosanna. Let’s see if your magic lives up to the hype... And if these uncultured swine can recognize greatness, I guess.]

Aegis took a deep breath. She raised her right hand, focusing on the aether around her.

[Don’t force it. Don’t dominate it. Just... Invite it. Persuade it.]

A whip of pure aether materialized in her grip.

"What in the—" someone gasped.

Instantly, Aegis breathed a sigh of relief.

[Good. They understand what they’re seeing. That’ll make this a lot easier, then.]

The whip’s glow was intense. It moved like liquid starlight, responding to the slightest twitch of Aegis’s wrist. She cracked it once. The sound echoed like thunder.

"OOOH!"

[Heh, that got their attention.]

But she was just getting started.

Aegis spun, the whip following her movements. It extended, wrapping around invisible points in the air. Suddenly, she was suspended ten feet off the ground, held aloft by her own magic.

"Is she... using aether as a physical construct?" Professor Nazraya leaned forward in the judges’ booth. "Without any elemental base?"

Aegis grinned. Time for the real show.

She released the whip and dropped. Just before hitting the platform, she vanished.

The crowd gasped.

She reappeared 3 meters away, already weaving her next spell. Aether Step. Which, of course, could possibly be Aegis’s favorite spell thus far.

[I knew Aether Step would get some points with the crowd. Come on, let’s bring this show home!]

She blinked across the platform. Left. Right. Behind. Above. Each teleport left a trail of silver light, creating an intricate pattern in the air.

"Spatial manipulation?" Another judge stood. "At her level?"

Aegis appeared in the center of her light-web.

She raised both hands. The silver trails pulsed, then exploded outward in a dazzling display.

It didn’t do anything. This wasn’t even a real "spell".

But it sure looked good.

And yet, the best was still to come.

Aegis gathered the falling aether, compressing it between her palms. The energy grew denser. Brighter. Students shielded their eyes.

Then she released it.

A butterfly. No, dozens of butterflies. Each one made of condensed aether, wings shimmering with impossible colors. They spiraled upward, dancing through the air in perfect formation.

Rosanna had taught her this little trick a few days ago. She called this one ’Memories of Spring.’ Said it was her favorite party trick. Again, not a spell, not something that actually did anything, but Aegis had theorized that maybe there was more to her Charisma than just speaking.

What if her Charisma allowed her to sell things like this more effectively? If so, then this non-spell was exactly what she needed.

The butterflies exploded into sparkles of light. The audience sat in stunned silence.

"I..." Professor Alberic cleared his throat. "That was..."

"Impossible," Nazraya finished. Her red eyes locked onto Aegis. "Pure aether manipulation at that level requires decades of study."

Aegis curtsied.

"I had an excellent teacher."

[If only they knew said teacher was a ghost.]

The judges huddled together, whispering furiously. Finally, they turned back.

"Miss Starcaller," Alberic announced. "Your display was... unprecedented. We award you..."

He paused. The crowd held its breath.

"Full marks."

Cheers erupted from the commoner section. Nobles sat in shocked silence. Talia’s knuckles went white as she gripped her seat.

Aegis walked off the platform. Scarlett grabbed her in a crushing hug.

"Holy shit! Where did you learn that?"

"Trade secret." Aegis winked. "A girl’s gotta have some mysteries."

Lune studied her with those pink eyes.

"That wasn’t normal magic."

"Nothing about me is normal, roomie."

[Two tests down. One to go.]

The artistic examination would be last. Aegis’s strongest and weakest area, even with Liora’s singing lessons. But she’d figure something out.

She always did.

For now, she basked in the shocked stares and whispered speculation. Let them wonder. Let them gossip.

[After all, what’s a little scandal between friends?]

The judges called for a brief recess before the final test. Students dispersed, buzzing with excitement about what they’d witnessed.

Varyn approached, violet eyes calculating.

"That was quite the performance."

"Glad you enjoyed it."

"I’m curious." He smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes. "Where exactly does a commoner learn magic that most nobles can’t even attempt?"

"Maybe I’m just naturally gifted." Aegis examined her nails. "Or maybe nobles aren’t as special as they think."

His jaw tightened.

"We’ll see about that."

He stalked off. Aegis watched him go.

[Make all the plots you want, buddy. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.]

The final test loomed. Arts and Performance. She’d made it this far on pure audacity.

Why stop now?