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It felt endless. Creating the Mana Insensitivity Cure was a considerably tricky process.
Even after going through a perfect process, success wasn't guaranteed.
No matter how thoroughly she prepared, the results varied slightly, so there were many times when she had to make adjustments separately.
Above all, the color of the Magical potion she wanted was neither silver nor gold.
‘A deep crimson, like blood.’
But there was a chance, however small, that the color wouldn't come out.
Magical potion-making was a science of probability.
No matter how perfect the mixture, the result could change with just the weight of a single leaf.
Ayla repeated the same process throughout the dark night. How much tedious time had passed?
Ayla looked out the window at the faintly brightening view.
Before she knew it, the sun was rising.
‘This is the last chance.’
Ayla carefully held Sky's Tears in her hand. The sun rising meant that the Moon's Footsteps were disappearing.
The herb Moon's Footsteps was named for its color, which resembled the rising sunlight at dawn.
Ayla ground the herb and added it to the Magical potion, which had a faint crimson color.
The subtle pink color, like her own hair, gradually turned into a deeper color.
Somehow, it felt good.
If the Magical potion didn't turn completely red, Ayla would end up failing the exam.
But that didn't mean she would avoid the exam. She would go there and accept her failure fairly.
Ayla watched the contents of the pot change every moment. Then, finally, the Magical potion stopped changing.
At that moment, the dormitory room was enveloped in a quiet silence.
With tearful eyes, Ayla stared at the result she had created.
Rosia Blanche was in a good mood from early in the morning.
Arriving at the exam hall before anyone else, she sat by the window with a satisfied smile.
‘She must be exhausted and collapsed by now.’
It had already been two days since Ayla was locked in the storage.
Rosia Blanche was planning to release her only after the exam was over.
Frankly, when she thought of Kadin, she was strongly tempted to lock her in the storage forever.
But she shook her head.
Unfortunately, Ayla was still useful. Her existence itself was a medium that would strengthen Rosia Blanche's Magic.
So she couldn't let her die just yet.
‘Well, socially, she's already as good as finished.’
Before long, students began to enter the exam hall one by one.
Freya naturally sat next to Rosia Blanche.
“You're here early today, Rosia Blanche.”
“Yeah, I guess I'm nervous.”
Freya smiled at Rosia Blanche's answer.
“What's there to be nervous about? I've been watching you all this time. You'll definitely be the top student this time.”
Normally, Rosia Blanche would have waved her hand, pretending to be humble.
But this time was different. She didn't respond to Freya's words, only gave a faint smile.
No matter how she thought about it, there was no one here who could beat her.
‘Just Academy students.’
Rosia Blanche didn't think she needed to hide her skills.
The daughters of the Blanche Noble house had always shown outstanding Magic skills, so she just needed to show a level befitting that.
With a slight twitch of her lips, Rosia Blanche took a quill in her hand.
In her mind, she was already picturing the situations after the exam.
“As expected of Rosia Blanche. She's definitely the daughter of the Blanche Noble house.”
“Unlike the fake, her skills are amazing. It's amazing that she became the top student as soon as she entered.”
Already, the students' admiration was ringing in her ears.
The people of the Blanche Noble house would also be proud of her.
“As expected, her aptitude is different from Ayla's. She became the top student right away without even learning separately.”
“The Blanche Noble house has regained its past glory!”
Even Irene wouldn't be able to help but acknowledge her in the end.
“Such great Magic skills, you were my real daughter after all. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you all this time, Rosia Blanche.”
Rosia Blanche's cheeks turned a faint red.
Her imagination didn't end there. What Rosia Blanche truly wanted was something else.
“Truly amazing. You're the only one worthy of being my spouse, Rosia Blanche.”
‘If I become the top student in the exam, Kadin will look at me again. Then the postponed engagement issue will be resolved.’
It was then, as she was swimming in all sorts of happy fantasies.
“Ayla?”
Freya's shocked voice was heard. Soon, the murmurs of other students spread.
“Ayla showed up?”
“What, I heard she went to her biological parents.”
Rosia Blanche was startled and turned around.
And she was horrified by the sight that soon came into view.
‘It really is Ayla?’
Her eyes widened.
Ayla's complexion was pale and her lips were bluish.
Judging by how she didn't look well, it seemed like she hadn't been out of the storage for long.
‘No way.’
She was the one who had directly confirmed that Ayla was locked in the storage.
She had cast all sorts of Magic to hide her tightly, in case anyone passing by might hear her.
‘How is she here?’
She felt like her heart was sinking.
Ayla walked towards Rosia Blanche without hesitation. Rosia Blanche's eyes trembled.
Ayla, who had been looking at her for a moment, gave a faint smile.
‘What's with that smile?’
Rosia Blanche frowned annoyedly.
Even though she couldn't possibly know that she was the culprit, Ayla's smile was somehow irritating.
It was a meaningful smile, as if she knew that she had been trapped by someone.
But that couldn't be.
‘I cast Confusion Magic and Emotion Manipulation Magic, so there's no way she recognized me.’
Rosia Blanche looked out the window with an innocent face, as if she didn't know anything.
But inside, she was quickly turning her head.
‘How did she get out of the storage? Who took her out?’
As her mind became disturbed, the murmuring in the exam room grew louder.
“Well, I guess she wanted to keep at least some honor.”
“The result will be similar anyway. But it's better than running away.”
Rosia Blanche tried not to care.
Ayla would fall into an even deeper abyss anyway.
The fact that her situation was still pessimistic hadn't changed.
‘I'll be the top student, and you'll be stuck at the bottom.’
Thinking that, Rosia Blanche glared fiercely at Ayla reflected in the window.
She didn't know how she got out of the storage, but the result wouldn't change at all.
The Academy's end-of-semester exams were held over three days.
The first day was mostly written exams.
The exam, which started early in the morning, ended late in the evening, so the professors had to grade until dawn.
Professor Arina, who was in charge of Magical Tactics, suddenly muttered in surprise while grading the answers.
“Two students got perfect scores on the theory exam.”
At his words, the professor next to him raised his head. It was Professor Roman, who was in charge of Practical Magic.
“Could it be Ayla and Rosia Blanche?”
Arina nodded.
Then Roman continued with a face mixed with surprise and delight.
“Those two students also got perfect scores in my class. The essay questions this time were very difficult, but they both wrote excellent answers.”
At his words, the other professors nodded in agreement.
“It's the same in my subject. I think Rosia Blanche, as the daughter of the Blanche Noble house, has a very great aptitude.”
“That's right. And she showed a very strong side in practice as well.”
Everyone had a satisfied look on their faces.
Arina turned to the only person who hadn't said anything.
It was Professor Jacy.
As if feeling his gaze, Jacy shrugged and reluctantly added a word.
“As expected, Ayla is second to none in terms of theory.”
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