CHAPTER 19: CH 19: WRITTEN TEST [3]

10:40 am.

That was when I finally completed the composition. Writing a damning 5 page essay within 30 minutes has to be an achievement, even more so for someone like me who used to write a Chapter of thousand words in around 5 hours.

I was literally what they called "at a snail’s pace."

I moved to the next section.

Section B. History.

And the time left? Only eighty minutes. Cracking my knucles, I started with the history section.

It wasn’t much hard. In fact it was relatively easier with not a single question asking about the specific dates or extreme detailing about any event.

These were mainly based on the consequences or the events leading up to the historical phases. Few of them even asked us to draw analogies between the prehistoric and modern era.

I guess medievel era is modern for them.

On that note what would the people of Earth from a distant future call the people living now?

Prehistoric...?

By 11:05 am I was done with section B.

I flipped the papers in search of section D. My initial thought was to ignore section C for now and look into it only after completing the reasoning questions.

However my eyes landed on a question in Section C.

C.4. How do you feel mana flowing around you?

This...even I could answer it. I had already been practicing with mana while using my element or even while fighting with weapons. Even for strengthening my body.

In all these cases, I naturally felt the flow of mana both in me and in the air around me.

C.6. How are elements awakened?

Oh my gracious luck...what is with this easy question? While I understand I need to describe it in terms of flow of mana during the process, given the subject is itself named Mana Flow.

But this? This was pretty doable.

I calmed down for a moment and examined the other questions.

’Ahh! I can’t answer many it seems...’

But my thought was cut off as all of a sudden, foreign information started filtering in my brain. It was an euphoric feeling, as if coming in contact with something long lost but something that was undeniably mine.

As I looked at the questions once more, my brain started formulating answers of it’s own accord.

I sat up straighter in my seat, this strange occurrence taking me by extreme caution.

But all I could do was press my lips and start writing again. Afterall, time wasn’t on my side.

For the next half an hour, I kept on filling sheets after sheets. My lips moved in silent whispers as answers kept on pouring out of my mouth as well as the pen I was holding.

Having done that, I moved to the last section of the paper.

And strangely, right at that moment, the voice inside my head went silent as if it hadn’t existed at all.

Shrugging it for now, I glanced at the clock.

11:35 am.

Dang, 25 minutes and 10 questions to go!

I quickly set down to work.

D.1. What are the implications of introducing a new curriculum that focuses on project based learning and how would you support teachers in it’s implementation?

Thinking about it a bit, I made up a coherent answer.

’This should do the work.’ I thought as I cross-checked it for the second time.

Across the room, Reinhard seemed to just end his writing.

Wait...what?! He completed it?

So fast...holy shit. I didn’t have time left as I snapped out of my stupor and went back to work.

But not before glancing at the invigilator whose frown seemed to have deepened even more. And obviously it was aimed at me.

On the other hand, I had expected him to be shocked at Reinhard for his fast performance. But his face was anything but surprised as he accepted Reihard’s answer sheet.

In fact, he seemed to be find it pretty normal or might I say, he expected both of us to complete this test before 2 hours easily.

And as it would seem, I have deeply failed on his expectations.

I resumed barraging my pen all over the answer sheets with countless words that now flowed out of my aching arms with a smoothness that defied my fatigued condition.

And a few minutes later...

"15 minutes left, Mr. Mordant. Time is closing in, try to complete within in."

My hands stopped for a fractin of second, barely acknowledging his words before writing again.

D.7. What would you do if a parent complained about a teacher’s grading policy, claiming it’s unfair to their child?

Analyse.

Find the root of the problem.

Form key words.

Use common words to fill in the rest.

Done.

D.8. What would it imply if a student...

Done. Next.

And few minutes later, I was done with last question as well as I suddenly threw back my head with a audible sigh. One could hear the immense relief I felt at that second.

And the moment later as I turned to the clock, a bell suddenly chimmed outside in the empty corridor.

It was 12 noon and I was done as well.

"Okay, time is up. Your answer sheet please." I obliged it as I politely handed over the paper to the invigilator.

"Quite a struggle you did there." The tall figure of Reinhard appeared beside me, a smug smile still lurking on his lips.

Involuntarily my jaws clenched in suppressed anger. This guy had been looking down on me throughout the entire examination.

Although I hadn’t seen him, I have felt his gazes roaming at me more times than not.

Through gritted teeth, a husky voice escaped my throat.

"Perhaps other than looking into other’s affairs, you could have utilized that focus on your own paper? Probably your result would have been better than what it would be now."

Reinhard’s eyebrows shot up in mild amusement. Crossing his arms, he asked me. "How long before your act slips up, Henry-with-no-memories? This test was still a simple one. Come out to the fields and I shall show the whole world your pretentious facade."

I opened my mouth to retort but my unspoken words were cut off as a maid lightly knocked on the open door for our attention.

"Candidates, please take your seats for now. Our staff shall visit you in 15 minutes. Be ready by then."