The morning of the ranking session arrived beneath cold gray skies.
Long before the first bells rang across Aethermoor Academy, students had already begun gathering throughout the central grounds. The usually calm pathways between buildings now carried noticeably heavier movement as groups from different divisions headed toward combat arenas, magic halls, and evaluation chambers prepared specifically for the internal rankings.
The academy felt different today.
Sharper.
Focused.
Even the atmosphere in the air itself seemed heavier than usual.
For many students, this ranking session represented more than ordinary evaluation.
It was proof.
Proof of progress after vacation.
Proof of talent.
Proof that they deserved recognition before the Inter-Academy Exchange Event six months later.
And inside Class S—
that pressure existed more strongly than anywhere else.
The classroom remained unusually quiet that morning.
Normally Finn would already be complaining loudly about training schedules or academy life by now.
Today, even he sat silently for several moments before finally speaking.
"...Why does it feel like we're marching toward execution?"
Crest adjusted his glasses while reviewing a notebook filled with tactical observations.
"Because you prepared less than everyone else."
Finn immediately looked offended.
"I prepared mentally."
"That explains the problem."
Several nearby students quietly laughed.
The tension inside the room eased slightly afterward.
Still, nervousness remained visible throughout Class S.
Some students reviewed magical formulas one final time.
Others silently organized equipment.
Even those pretending calmness revealed subtle signs of pressure through restless movement or sharper focus than usual.
Dorian sat near the window section quietly adjusting the glove around his right hand while reviewing several condensed wind formulas beneath his breath.
Across from him, Lyra calmly read through magical sequence calculations while Isolde sat nearby with her usual composed expression.
Aldric remained silent as always.
His attention occasionally moved throughout the classroom, quietly observing everyone.
The ranking session had not even started yet, yet Class S already felt different from weeks earlier.
Competition had become visible now.
Not hostile.
But unavoidable.
And at the far side of the classroom—
Zynar sat near the window calmly watching the academy grounds outside.
No nervousness.
No anticipation.
No visible concern regarding rankings at all.
That emotional contrast stood out more heavily today than ever before.
Because everyone else cared.
Even students hiding it still cared.
Yet Zynar looked completely detached from the atmosphere surrounding the academy.
Finn eventually glanced toward him.
"...How are you this calm?"
Zynar looked toward him briefly.
"It's just rankings."
Finn stared for several seconds before sighing dramatically.
"Talking to you feels spiritually damaging sometimes."
The classroom doors opened moments later.
Professor Tal entered carrying several evaluation documents beneath one arm while multiple academy instructors followed behind him.
The room immediately quieted completely.
Tal placed the documents across the desk before speaking calmly.
"The first internal ranking session will begin shortly."
Several magical screens appeared behind him instantly.
Evaluation Categories:
Combat Performance
Magic Control
Reaction Judgment
Practical Adaptability
Team Compatibility
Tal folded his arms.
"The rankings will function dynamically."
That immediately regained everyone's full attention.
"Strong performance in one category can drastically alter your standing."
This meant rankings would constantly shift throughout the evaluations.
No student could remain comfortable.
Tal continued calmly.
"The first stage will consist of individual assessments."
The screens shifted again.
Combat arenas.
Magic precision halls.
Reaction chambers.
Adaptive combat simulations.
Everything had been prepared throughout the academy simultaneously.
"The second stage will involve selected combat evaluations between students."
Finn quietly muttered:
"That's the terrifying part."
Tal ignored him completely.
"The third stage involving team assessments will occur later."
The classroom atmosphere sharpened further.
This ranking system clearly measured far more than raw strength.
Which also meant unexpected students could rise significantly.
Tal's gaze moved across the room slowly.
"Today's evaluations will determine the academy's initial ranking structure moving forward toward the exchange event."
Silence settled afterward.
Everyone understood the importance now.
This was not a simple academy exercise anymore.
It was the beginning of the academy deciding who stood above others.
Tal finally stepped aside.
"Move to your assigned evaluation zones."
The room immediately erupted into movement.
Students gathered equipment quickly while discussing evaluations in quieter voices than usual.
Even the normally confident students carried visible focus today.
Finn stretched his shoulders dramatically while walking beside Crest toward the western combat arenas.
"If I die during this ranking session," Finn declared seriously, "tell the academy I hated them."
Crest barely looked up from his notes.
"They already know."
The central combat division of Aethermoor had become crowded by the time Class S arrived.
Multiple arenas operated simultaneously beneath massive magical barriers while instructors monitored evaluation stations across the academy grounds.
Students from other years also participated nearby, though the attention surrounding Class S remained noticeably stronger.
Especially after the recent evaluation duel involving Zynar.
Many students quietly observed the first-years with growing curiosity.
The first evaluations began shortly afterward.
Finn was among the earlier students called toward one of the combat performance arenas.
The moment his name appeared across the magical display, he groaned dramatically before walking toward the field.
"I suddenly regret existing."
Several students laughed quietly as Finn entered the arena.
Unlike ordinary duels, the combat evaluation involved adaptive combat projections created through mana constructs.
The objective was simple.
Survive efficiently while eliminating targets.
The arena barriers activated instantly.
Then combat began.
Finn exploded into motion almost immediately.
His fighting style lacked elegance.
Lacked refinement.
Yet it carried overwhelming aggression and instinctive combat flow.
He smashed through the first construct directly before pivoting into another attack without hesitation.
The audience section quickly became louder.
Because despite all his complaints—
Finn was genuinely talented.
His movements carried strong physical instincts that many technically refined students lacked.
Even when overwhelmed by multiple projections simultaneously, he adapted naturally through aggression and momentum rather than panic.
The instructors quietly observed while recording evaluations.
One assistant instructor spoke calmly:
"Exceptional combat instincts."
Another nodded.
"His adaptability score will be high."
Finn eventually exited the arena exhausted and sweating heavily.
Yet the score appearing beside his name across the magical ranking display immediately caused him to freeze.
"...Wait."
His ranking was far higher than expected.
Several nearby students also looked surprised.
Finn blinked repeatedly.
Then grinned widely.
"I knew the academy respected greatness."
Crest sighed softly nearby.
"You said you were going to die twenty minutes ago."
"That was before victory."
The next evaluations continued steadily afterward.
Crest eventually entered one of the adaptive tactical chambers rather than direct combat arenas.
Unlike physical combat, this assessment focused on battlefield judgment and situational adaptation through simulated combat environments.
Many students underestimated this category.
Crest did not.
Inside the tactical simulation, magical projections recreated unstable battlefield conditions involving shifting enemy formations, defensive collapse zones, and mana disruptions.
Rather than relying on overwhelming power, Crest analyzed everything carefully.
Movement routes.
Defensive positioning.
Enemy behavior patterns.
His responses lacked speed compared to combat specialists.
Yet they carried remarkable precision.
Several instructors watching the simulation exchanged brief glances.
"He prepared extensively."
"His battlefield judgment is impressive."
Crest eventually completed the simulation with surprisingly high evaluation scores.
When his ranking rose afterward, several students looked visibly surprised.
Finn immediately slapped his shoulder afterward.
"You tactical monster."
Crest adjusted his glasses awkwardly.
"It was only a simulation."
"Exactly. And you somehow bullied the simulation itself."
Elsewhere across the academy grounds, Dorian's wind magic evaluation began inside one of the advanced elemental chambers.
The moment the assessment activated, compressed currents of wind surrounded the arena instantly.
Dorian raised one hand calmly.
Wind blades formed sharply around him before launching forward with frightening precision.
Multiple moving targets shattered simultaneously.
The speed of his casting alone immediately drew attention.
Unlike ordinary wind mages relying purely on raw force, Dorian emphasized refinement and control.
Every movement remained disciplined.
Every spell carefully measured.
The evaluation intensified quickly afterward.
Targets accelerated unpredictably while environmental interference disrupted mana flow across the chamber.
Dorian adapted smoothly.
Rotating wind currents formed defensive barriers around him while compressed air blades struck incoming targets from impossible angles.
Students observing from outside the chamber quietly watched with growing focus.
Even among Class S—
Dorian clearly stood near the top regarding magical combat ability.
By the end of his evaluation, his temporary ranking rose significantly across the magical display boards.
Not first.
But extremely high.
Dorian himself simply exited the chamber calmly before continuing toward the next assessment zone without celebrating.
Meanwhile, Lyra and Isolde completed their own evaluations separately within the mana precision halls.
Their approaches differed completely despite both receiving exceptional scores.
Lyra's spellcasting resembled flowing elegance.
Complex mana structures stabilized around her effortlessly while layered magical formulas intertwined with almost artistic smoothness.
Even instructors watching the evaluation looked impressed by her refinement.
Isolde's style contrasted sharply.
Cold.
Efficient.
Minimal movement.
Her spells prioritized accuracy and execution speed rather than visual complexity.
The mana constructs inside her chamber collapsed almost instantly beneath precise magical attacks.
Several observing students quietly whispered afterward.
Class S truly contained monsters.
As the hours passed, the magical ranking boards positioned throughout the academy constantly shifted.
Names rose.
Others fell.
Students gathered increasingly around the displays after each assessment.
Comparisons spread naturally.
Tension increased.
Finn repeatedly checked the rankings every few minutes with unhealthy obsession.
"I moved up again."
"You moved down two positions," Crest corrected.
Finn froze.
"...This system is evil."
The temporary rankings continued evolving constantly throughout the day.
Yet among all the names appearing across the displays—
one remained absent.
Zynar.
Students began noticing eventually.
"He hasn't been evaluated yet?"
"Not even one assessment?"
"Why are they delaying his evaluation?"
The absence itself slowly created anticipation.
Especially after the duel with Gareth.
Everyone wanted to see how the academy would score him now.
Even instructors from other divisions quietly observed the ranking displays with interest.
Inside one of the upper observation chambers overlooking the main arenas, Tal stood beside Rhett while reviewing assessment results.
"This year's Class S is unusually competitive," Rhett said calmly.
Tal nodded slightly.
"The exchange event accelerated them faster than expected."
Another instructor nearby glanced toward the ranking displays below.
"And one student hasn't even been evaluated yet."
The room became briefly silent afterward.
Because everyone understood exactly who he referred to.
Down below, the academy atmosphere continued growing noisier around the ranking boards.
Students discussed scores constantly.
Predictions spread rapidly.
Comparisons became unavoidable.
And through all of it—
one question quietly lingered everywhere.
Where would Zynar rank?
As evening approached, another group of students gathered near the central arena displays while watching rankings update again.
Finn crossed his arms dramatically.
"This suspense is intentional."
Nearby students quietly agreed.
Even Aldric observed the displays silently.
The academy clearly delayed Zynar's evaluation deliberately.
Perhaps to gather instructors.
Perhaps to observe reactions.
Or perhaps because even the academy itself no longer knew how to evaluate him normally.
Then—
one of the instructors stepped toward the central arena platform.
The surrounding conversations slowly quieted.
The instructor activated another magical display before speaking clearly throughout the arena grounds.
"Next assessment."
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Students stopped speaking.
Several turned toward the central combat arena instinctively.
The instructor continued calmly.
"Zynar."
Silence spread across the surrounding academy grounds almost instantly.
Because everyone had been waiting for this moment.
[End of Chapter 48]