It was the 27th of April, 2020—the beginning of the academic exams. Although Norman was never considered a top student in his previous life, he consistently ranked among the higher-performing students. In this new life surrounded by mana, academic achievement didn't hold the same weight for him. However, he still took his studies seriously enough to prepare for exams. His routine during exam week was strict and balanced: every morning, he completed the half-day exams; in the afternoon, he hunted mana beasts until dusk; and at night, he studied diligently for the next day's test. The academic exams passed without any issues.
On Saturday, Ellie invited Norman to train together at school. As a B-grade talent, the school had already rewarded her with a scholarship, providing her with medium-grade mana crystals for her mana refining. Ellie was already a full-fledged, second-tier mana adept. When Ellie had previously achieved her physique and mental breakthroughs, the school invited all senior students to observe the process, as it was an important learning opportunity. However, Norman had chosen to skip the event, disregarding the rules. Interestingly, the school didn't punish Norman or any other students who opted out; they saw it more as a missed opportunity than a disciplinary matter.
That Saturday morning, the school courtyard buzzed with activity. It was open for all senior students to train and prepare for the upcoming mana aptitude exams. Groups of students gathered across the training grounds—some studied together, others sparred in duels under the supervision of instructors, while a few meditated or refined their mana alone. The air was thick with tension and anticipation.
Norman and Ellie's appearance together immediately drew attention. Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"Is that Ellie training with Norman? What's she doing wasting her time with that guy?" Rex blurted out, shocked and visibly annoyed.
But what truly surprised everyone wasn't just that they were training together—it was the sparring match itself. It was completely one-sided. Norman wasn't fighting back; he was simply on the defensive, absorbing each of Ellie's attacks with practiced ease. The crowd watched in confusion.
"Hah! So that's it—Norman's just her punching bag," Rex snickered, drawing a few uncertain laughs from his group.
However, the truth was quite different.
"Norman, you're holding back, aren't you?" Ellie asked between strikes.
"Yes," Norman replied calmly. "I'm teaching you right now. Your movements are still rigid. You're overthinking each step. Your strikes are technically perfect, but that's the problem—you're treating combat like it's a mana formula. It's too predictable."
Every time Ellie overextended, Norman would subtly adjust his stance, guiding her into correcting her posture. When her attacks became repetitive, he redirected them with minimal effort, disrupting her rhythm. Through the spar, Norman was silently passing down combat fundamentals that would be crucial for the physical aptitude test.
The physical exam wasn't just about raw stats like strength, speed, and endurance—it also included a real combat evaluation against an instructor. Each of the four aspects could earn a maximum score of 10, totaling 40 points. Norman's training focused on making sure Ellie could score as close to perfect as possible.
After finishing their sparring session in the courtyard, the two of them took a break and had lunch together. Then, in the afternoon, they moved on to energy manipulation training. The energy manipulation test was straightforward: it consisted of two parts. The first was a basic elemental test where students demonstrated proficiency in manipulating the four basic elements—fire, water, earth, and wind. The second part was a focused test in which students showcased their mastery of a single chosen element. Each section carried a maximum score of 20, making 40 the total.
Both Norman and Ellie performed the four basic elemental manipulations, evaluating each other's control, fluidity, and mana efficiency. As expected, Ellie excelled in water due to her B-grade affinity with the ice element—an advanced form of water. Norman, however, demonstrated a more balanced proficiency across all four elements.
"Norman, since you're well-rounded in all the basics, which element will you choose for the focused demonstration?" Ellie asked curiously.
"I'll go with earth. Nothing too special," Norman replied nonchalantly.
He didn't elaborate on his reason, but deep down, choosing the earth element was a symbolic gesture—after all, it was one of his father's thunder element's weaknesses.
"You're going with ice, right?" Norman added with a smirk. "It's an advanced element, tougher to control than the basics. You'll probably get a perfect score with it."
Ellie smiled in response, and they continued trading insights and refining their control over various elements. Their cooperation sharpened both their skills.
After the elemental session, they moved on to prepare for the mental aptitude test. This portion of the exam had two segments: telekinesis, where students were scored on their ability to move and control objects with mental force; and psychokinesis, which tested the strength of one's will by resisting mental intrusion. Each part also had a maximum score of 20 points, bringing the mental exam total to 40. Altogether, the full exam—academic, physical, energy manipulation, and mental—offered a maximum score of 120.
The top three students from each school would later compete in the city-wide "Best Junior Mana User" competition. Ellie was a definite contender. Norman, however, chose to remain in the shadows. Gaining fame would only attract unwanted attention, especially for someone still officially labeled as an F-grade student. Though the competition rewards intrigued him, he understood the dangers of revealing too much too soon.
For the psychokinesis training, Norman acted as the mental intruder, challenging Ellie's resistance.
"Relax and try to resist my intrusion," Norman instructed calmly.
Ellie nodded, bracing herself. The moment his will entered her mental space, she flinched. "Ugh..." she grunted, surprised by the pressure. She hadn't expected Norman to have such a powerful presence in the mental domain, stronger than her despite her superior official talent grade. Still, she didn't question it—she just endured.
The sun had long set, casting deep shadows over the school grounds. Most students were still training, unwilling to waste even a single hour before the final exams. Finally, at 8 p.m., the teachers signaled the end of the session and instructed everyone to return home.
Ellie and Norman ended their training. She smiled and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Norman. I learned a lot today... especially from resisting your mental pressure. It helped me refine my mentality way faster than I thought possible."
"You're welcome," Norman replied with a rare smile.
They decided to eat dinner together, enjoying a quiet meal filled with light conversation, laughter, and the kind of mutual respect that could only come from shared effort. As the night deepened, they reluctantly parted ways.