Must Test

“I’m sorry, Selina,” Ylenia said, taking a deep breath and stepping back to bow deeply to the black-haired girl.

“Huh?!” The sudden gesture drew puzzled glances from nearby examinees. Selina’s mouth fell open in shock.

What was this senior doing, bowing out of nowhere? Was there some kind of bowing culture in this world too?

“You haven’t done anything wrong, so why apologize?” Selina quickly helped Ylenia up.

Her goal at Tianqi was to stay low-key, yet here she was, already drawing a crowd before even passing the exam. Was this a plot to expose her early?

“I’m sorry, Selina. The extra Magic Department exam—it’s my fault.

I added it without your permission,” Ylenia admitted, her eyes filled with guilt. “After our brief meeting yesterday, I selfishly thought you shouldn’t waste your magical talent and added the Magic Department to your form, ignoring your own choice.”

Her apology was heartfelt. Selina looked at the remorseful purple-haired girl and couldn’t muster any anger.

After a moment’s silence, she let out a soft chuckle, her clear voice startling Ylenia.

The sound reminded Ylenia of her first meeting with Litiya, when a similar misunderstanding led to a sincere confession and Litiya’s gentle laugh.

That laugh dispelled Ylenia’s guilt, and she smiled back. The two girls’ radiant smiles drew even more eyes from the crowd.

“It’s fine, really. No need to apologize for something so small,” Selina said, her bright black eyes shining with sincerity.

“But when you make a mistake, you own it. That’s just how it should be. As a senior, I need to set a good example for juniors,” Ylenia said earnestly. “This was my error. If you need any help within the academy’s rules, just ask. I’ll do my best.”

“No need, Ylenia,” Selina replied, her gentle voice like a spring breeze. “It’s just an extra exam. Besides, your action gave me a new opportunity. Life’s full of choices, and exploring another path in the time we have isn’t a bad thing.”

Selina’s fondness for Ylenia soared. Honest girls like her were rare, embodying the values she’d instilled in Litiya. “Candidate 357, Selina, please proceed to the exam,” a voice announced.

“Alright, I’m off. See you later, Ylenia,” Selina said.

“Good luck!” Ylenia cheered.

Under the crowd’s gaze, Selina entered the Magic Department exam venue. The first test was Mana.

Closing her eyes, Selina feigned effort in channeling mana. In truth, she was suppressing it.

Her elven royal bloodline granted immense mana reserves, far surpassing her peers and rivaling high-tier mages. But with Felia in the Magic Department, she had to be cautious.

She carefully funneled a controlled amount of mana into the testing pillar, which scored based on mana quality and quantity.

As the pillar’s glow intensified, Selina cut off the flow at the right moment. Logically, the light should’ve stopped, but it kept growing brighter until it hit a threshold and stabilized.

The examiner, usually stoic, showed a rare hint of approval.

Nodding at the refined girl, he said warmly, “92 points. Very good. Proceed to the next test.”

Selina opened her eyes, glancing at her palm with a soft sigh. Despite precise control, her elven mana’s superior quality pushed her score to 92—higher than intended, though still within passing range.

Hearing her sigh, the examiner assumed she was disappointed. “Don’t worry. You didn’t break 95, but at your age, this is impressive. I can sense your strong mental power and pure mana. With effort, you could compete for a core student spot.”

His words stunned nearby candidates. A genius fretting over not hitting a perfect score while they struggled to pass? The examiner’s praise—hinting she could vie for core student status—made her a target for networking. To some, she wasn’t just a beauty but a golden opportunity.

“I understand,” Selina said calmly, nodding. She knew the examiner’s encouragement didn’t align with her thoughts, but she appreciated the kindness and responded politely.

Heading to the next test, she touched the necklace around her neck, adorned with two small crystal swords.

The gesture was more than sentiment—it was a connection. Her elven magical talent was impossible to fully conceal, so when normal methods failed, she’d rely on her divine gifts.

The next test, if not carefully managed, could expose her identity.

After all, why were Descendants so coveted by the gods?

To blend in as an ordinary student, she’d have to use a little trick today.