“Settle down.” The tone that echoes out is thundering, its presence and magnanimity able to command everyone's attention. Yet, somehow it wasn't loud. “The aptitude test is now being handed out. If I'm forced to speak again and it's not for the signal to start, you'll quickly learn the Twice Precepts of Pain.” A tall and pin-straight woman stands before us, the professor's hair is lightning strikes and frizz. She continues, “Keep your eyes on your own parchment and I do not want to hear a single peep during.”

When the test papers finish circulating, she softly and firmly claps her hand once as signal to begin. And begin we do, pages frantically flipping.

...

Hmn? This can't be right.

I go through all the pages, making sure there wasn't anything I missed.

Are aptitude tests supposed to be this simple?

The professor ordered us to look only at our own paper, so although the compulsion to look around is great, I keep my eyes trained on the paper in front of me.

Perhaps I missed something crucial? It would be embarrassing if I missed a page or interpreted the questions incorrectly.

However, going over it twice still leaves me certain that these were all rudimentary topics I covered a while ago.

Well, it looks like all my answers are correct... But uh.... Now what? Usually, as soon as I set down my quill or pen, Aristole would swiftly snatch the sheet away.

The hall is silent save for pages creasing, ink scratching, and my mind wailing in confusion.

Am I to just sit here looking at my parchment quietly until time runs out??? P-perhaps this is to train patience and resilience of mind… Yes, that certainly sounds plausible.

Like this, from my internal clock, about half a sun-click passes by in boredom. From my peripheral vision, I see a hand raise up. I don't see who it is for I'm too focused on staring at my paper.

“Professor Teuille, I have finished.”

“Very good Mercurius, bring it up and you may be dismissed.”

...!

So that's what you're supposed to do!

I stick my hand straight up and hand the test in with no problem. As soon as I'm out the test hall, I lay my back against the wall.

“...”

Ahhh!!! No one saw my tears right!?

What a terrible predicament! In my whole ten years of age, I had never expected such a situation…!

Since this is a University with mostly students of a noble pedigree, it's safe to assume the majority have been privately tutored from a young age until now… So, it can't be that I was the only one who didn't know what to do after completing a test, right!?

Right!?

In embarrassment, I fwip my head both sides to make sure no one else is in the hall before madly dashing back into my room. Flopping onto bed, I lay there in self-loathing for the rest of the night.