NOVEL NEXT Chapter 192: Examination Results
With bated breaths, Aodhán opened the message, his eyes darting back and forth as he read through the long line of text crawling across his vision.
FIRST SEMESTER RESULTS
AODHÁN ASHOKA-BRYSTION (1st YEAR)
Examination Rank: 5th
Current Forge Rank: 18th
Starting Forge Points: 65FP
Awarded Forge Points: 295FP
COURSES
Runic Theory 101 → 92FP
Awakened Advancement Theory 101 → 72FP
Understanding Elemental Affinities 101 → 89FP
Awakened Combat 101 → 92FP
Awakened Plants 101 → 88FP
TOTAL FORGE POINTS: 793FP
A satisfied smile spread across Aodhán's face as he scanned his results. He'd been dreading AAT, certain he'd bombed it, but it wasn't nearly as bad as he'd feared.
The forge points were a surprise, though—he hadn't exactly been keeping track of the whole thing. Still, it felt good to see that he'd done well. Fifth out of a hundred students in a test that was all about brains? That lit a warm spark of pride in his chest. Especially considering how many geniuses were packed into the first year.
Grinning, he turned to the others. "So? How'd you guys do?"
"Awful," Yurin groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "What in the heavens is this garbage score?"
Aodhán chuckled. "Is that bad?"
"Yes. I barely scraped past five hundred. Not even a dozen points over. This is tragic."
Andrew winced. "Yeah, same here. I think we're sitting in the same sad little category. What about you, Aodhán?"
"I'm just shy of eight hundred," Aodhán said, shrugging. "Kind of frustrating being that close to it, but honestly? I'm happy. Didn't expect to rank that high."
"Fuck!" Yurin hissed. "Someone end me now. My parents are going to murder me when they see this."
Andrew snorted. "Opposite for me. Even this low, my parents are going to throw a parade just because I didn't completely tank it. Perks of being the family dummy, I guess."
Aodhán laughed, then glanced at Daruk. "How'd yours turn out?"
Daruk frowned, shaking his head. "Worse than I expected. Look at this."
He shared his screen, and another line of text scrolled across Aodhán's vision.
FIRST SEMESTER RESULTS
DARUK BRYSTION (1st YEAR)
Examination Rank: 3rd
Current Forge Rank: 17th
Starting Forge Points: 85FP
Awarded Forge Points: 260FP
COURSES
Forge Mastery 101 → 87FP
Awakened Advancement Theory 101 → 94FP
Understanding Elemental Affinities 101 → 96FP
Awakened Combat 101 → 90FP
Magical Matrices and Physics 101 → 97FP
TOTAL FORGE POINTS: 809FP
Aodhán frowned, reading through the list again to double-check the math. The numbers added up. And while he hadn't expected all that much from himself, Daruk was another story entirely.
"That's weird, isn't it?" Daruk muttered.
"Not to me," Yurin said with a scoff. "All I see are a bunch of nineties."
"And a mountain of forge points," Andrew added.
"They're good," Daruk admitted with a sigh. "Really good. But guys—I'm ranked third."
Yurin snorted. "That's a rank I would kill for—"
"That's not the point, Yurin," Daruk cut in, more intense now. "Third. That means two people beat me. Two people are smarter than me, and I need to know who they are."
Aodhán smiled faintly. "Well, there's only one way to do that."
He started flipping through the chip's interface, navigating the menus. Sure enough, there it was: a ranking list. Of course, there was—nothing in the academy wasn't competitive.
"Found it," he said, tapping the screen and sharing it with the others. "Take a look at this."
TOP TEN STUDENTS IN THE 1ST YEAR
10. Lyra Davenport → 762FP
09. Ayisha Helsarin → 767FP
08. Ursaz Urdania → 769FP
07. Imani Blackwell → 772FP
06. Cyrus Valerion → 790FP
05. Aodhán Brystion → 793FP
04. Lilith Bloodmoon → 796FP
03. Daruk Brystion → 809FP
02. Azul Fetherson → 812FP
01. Lysirel Cosmind → 817FP
Aodhán stared at the list—not quite shocked, but definitely surprised. Some of the names he saw, he hadn't expected at all. Others he was sure would be there… and yet they weren't.
Lupin, for instance. She was just as much of a bookworm as Imani, if not more. But seeing her absent from the list confirmed what he'd been afraid of—her father's death had affected her far worse than she'd let on.
And Kellan Dravenor was missing too. With how close he was to Cyrus and the way he shadowed him like a second brain, Aodhán had assumed he'd make the cut.
But the biggest surprises?
Lyra Davenport at tenth. He hadn't even considered her in the running. And Ayisha—how had she ended up on the list? Knowing her, this kind of visibility was the last thing she wanted. If results like this kept showing up, she'd have a hard time staying in the background.
Seeing Azul and Lysirel at the top of the list was… strange. Unexpected, yet somehow not surprising. Aodhán didn't know much about Lysirel, but he'd spent a bit of time around Azul—and dull wasn't a word he'd ever use for her.
"I can't believe this," Yurin muttered, eyes still glued to the screen. "How many awarded points can one person even get?"
"A lot, apparently," Andrew said, brow furrowed. "Those scores are insane. If we're doing the math, then each person must've been awarded, like—uh…"
"Two hundred," Daruk cut in, a bit sharper than usual. "Roughly two hundred forge points."
Aodhán glanced at him. "Hey… How are you feeling about all this?"
Daruk let out a long sigh. "Terrible, honestly. I just feel—robbed. I mean, look at it. Eight points. Eight. That's one question, maybe two. I know I should be happy for them, but…"
"But it still stings," Aodhán finished gently, giving his brother a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "And that's fine. You're not an empath, Daruk—no one expects you to be all zen about this. You're allowed to feel disappointed. Just don't let it rot into something worse."
Daruk didn't answer, but Aodhán could tell the words landed.
He understood exactly what his brother was going through. Right now, Aodhán held the top spot on the Tower leaderboard—he had his own moment to shine. But this? This ranking was Daruk's moment. His chance to stand alone at the top.
And instead, he'd come this close… only to fall just short.
Moving a little closer, Aodhán patted Daruk on the back. "Hey, it's not the end of the world. It's just one result list. Now you know exactly who your rivals are and how much more effort you need to put in this term. If anything, take it as a challenge—and rise to meet it."
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"He's right," Andrew added with a wise nod. "Knowing your competition is what makes the game worth playing."
Daruk exhaled, then chuckled. "Yeah… yeah, you guys are right. New term, new fight. And this time, I'm pulling out the big guns."
Yurin groaned dramatically. "Great. Now we're all doomed."
Everyone burst into laughter.
For the next hour, the rankings were all anyone could talk about. Students huddled in groups, screens shared, shouts of joy mingling with groans of frustration. Some celebrated—others realized they had serious catching up to do if they wanted to meet the 500 CFPA required for graduation.
Even Aodhán found himself reflecting. With just a bit more effort, the top spot wouldn't be out of reach. It was possible. And that made all the difference.
After the excitement settled, Aodhán and the others made their way to the cafeteria for breakfast. The plan was simple—eat, then head to the oval auditorium for UEA-102.
But the moment he finished his meal, a familiar sensation brushed over him—subtle but unmistakable. A call.
He stood up and gave a small nod to his friends. "I'll catch up with you guys later. I've got to see someone."
He made his way toward the admin building, eventually arriving at Principal Zatya's office. The door slid open to reveal her deep in a stack of paperwork, brow furrowed in quiet concentration. When she looked up and saw him, her expression softened into a warm smile.
"Well, if it isn't the hero of the Steppin' Plains," she said, folding her hands atop the desk. "How does it feel, being back in school after such an adventurous break?"
Aodhán smiled back. "Honestly? Feels good. Out there, it's always one shenanigan or another. But here, I can just… focus. Improve. No war. No distractions."
Zatya's smile deepened, and she leaned back slightly in her chair, clearly pleased. She nodded and flipped open the document she had been reading. "Rahim just submitted your results to me. Were they what you expected?"
Aodhán shrugged. "More or less. There were a few surprises, but nothing too shocking."
Zatya raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. Considering the issues you've had with the nobles, I thought you might have had more to say about it."
Aodhán's expression tightened slightly. "I don't have an issue with nobles, just the ones who expect me to bow and scrape every time I see them." Principal Zatya hummed in approval, and he continued. "Besides, I think everyone on that list earned their spot. Honestly, I'm just surprised to see myself up there with them."
"You don't give yourself enough credit," Zatya replied, flicking the document with her finger. "Of course, you could've done even better if you hadn't been distracted with other matters. I want to say this term will be easier, but I doubt it. With the tournament coming up and your honorary position with the army, I foresee an even more hectic term. Which is why I need you to stay at your absolute best, Aodhán."
"I'll try my best," Aodhán said with a nod, choosing not to argue. His mission with Geneva had taught him many things, and while he didn't always agree with Zatya's methods, their end goals aligned. Power. An unstoppable strength that placed him far above his enemies and made them tremble at the sound of his name.
He'd seen it in action during the break. Every time the cultists caught wind of Geneva's presence, they scattered, desperate for safety and mercy. Those few who dared to challenge her were cut down effortlessly, and the rest didn't dare step forward.
That was the kind of power Aodhán wanted. But he knew he couldn't gain it on his own. Zatya could give him that power. He just had to ensure he didn't lose himself along the way. He wanted to be a weapon, but he wanted to wield himself. And therein lay the conflict—his agenda didn't completely align with hers. As long as their paths remained parallel, though, he was willing to follow her plan without complaint.
Principal Zatya closed the document and leaned forward, her expression shifting into something more serious. "Now, there are other matters we need to discuss. First," she said, pulling out a giant pouch of money from her spatial ring and placing it onto the table. "This was sent to you by Champion Ryntharion yesterday. It's the monetary value of all the items and materials you confiscated from the cultist outposts you destroyed."
Aodhán's eyes lit up as he grabbed the pouch, his fingers itching to count its contents. But before he could, Zatya spoke again.
"There are 12,375 coins in the pouch. That should be more than enough to pay off your fine."
Aodhán paused, letting the number sink in. "It is," he replied, his voice almost a whisper. The sheer amount of money before him was mind-boggling. The cultists had certainly accumulated a fair number of items, but most of them were common rank at best, and a few had been damaged or destroyed in the chaos. He had expected far less.
Weighing the pouch in his hands, he muttered, "I can't believe it."
Twelve thousand gold coins. It was a fortune. His thoughts briefly flitted over the possibilities of what he could buy with such wealth. Coupled with the money he had earned from selling the nightshade lotus and all the cores he had in his spatial necklace, he was looking at a total of around seventeen thousand coins.
If he deducted the fine owed to the council, he'd still have about twelve thousand gold coins left. The amount felt ridiculous for someone like him, but even as he pondered the sum, his mind raced with ideas on how to spend it. There were so many things he could get: a time chamber to train without limitations, several books on runes, and a camera for documentation, but more than anything, he needed to create his own item.
However, creating an Epic+ ranked item wasn't cheap, even with the craftsman's fee waived. The materials alone would cost a fortune. But before diving into any of that, Aodhán asked, "How do I pay off the fine and get it off my back before the council catches wind and slaps me with something else?"
Principal Zatya chuckled lightly. "You'll need to visit the Awakened Court in person. They'll want to confirm you earned the money yourself."
"Can I do it today? No point in dragging it out, right?"
"There's no rush. You were given six months, and you've raised the money in just two. I'd recommend going over the weekend—less traffic, and you won't miss any classes."
Aodhán grimaced. "I just want to get this done, but I guess waiting a few more days won't kill me."
"Good. Now, the second thing I wanted to discuss is your training going forward." She paused, watching him closely for a reaction. When she didn't get the usual resistance, she continued with a frown. "I have both good and bad news. The bad news is that Helzarvauth has refused to continue your therapy."
Aodhán blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't seen that coming. He wasn't sure why Helzarvauth had pulled the plug, but he had a feeling he knew the reason. Ever since he'd figured out what Zatya had really intended for him, his sessions with Helzarvauth had turned into something more like an emotional dodgeball game—each side trying to outwit the other, with no real progress being made.
Aodhán refused to open up or speak about anything he deemed important, and Helzarvauth had quickly grown tired of the constant resistance. Aodhán couldn't say he was heartbroken about the whole thing, but the abrupt withdrawal still left him curious. Watching Principal Zatya carefully, he asked. "Why did he stop? Was it because he couldn't do what you wanted him to do?"
It was a pointed question, one Aodhán half-expected Zatya to sidestep or deny. Instead, she shook her head and said. "I asked for Helzarvauth's help because I thought you needed assistance in managing your emotions. I planned to have him slowly strip them away, piece by piece, so they'd become more controllable. I don't think he accomplished that, but it's not why he left. He refused to explain. Maybe if you ask him yourself…"
She trailed off, and Aodhán just sat there wondering what to think. He knew Zatya wasn't one to bother herself with morality or the line between right and wrong. She did whatever she wanted to achieve her goals, no matter the cost. She understood the implications of her actions and knew how they sounded but didn't seem to care in the slightest.
Here she was, openly admitting that she had wanted to strip him of his emotions, all in the name of making him more 'manageable.' And the worst part? She genuinely believed she was doing him a favor.
Rather than flare off in anger, Aodhán leaned forward and forced himself to look Zatya in the eye. "I don't want you tampering with my emotions ever again. I know you think you mean well, but please, next time, run your ideas by me before you drive me completely insane."
Principal Zatya tried to speak, but Aodhán spoke over her. "I swear, if you do, it'll make me more cooperative and less likely to act out in rebellion. I know you hold the strings here, but after my mission with Geneva, I think we can find common ground and actually agree if you run your ideas by me first."
Principal Zatya leaned back in her chair and studied him for a moment, a hint of annoyance leaking through her carefully created mask of calm. Aodhán held her gaze, knowing exactly what he was asking for. He was asking her to change their relationship from one of dominion to a partnership where both of them had a say. It was a far cry from what they were, and if the principal took it, it would mean giving up the chokehold she had on him. He would no longer be her pet but a partner who was also a project.
The silence stretched for a while. Seconds into minutes and minutes into—
"No," Zatya's voice cut through the stillness, sharp and final. "I will not run my ideas by you because you do not know what is good for you. We will never proceed that way. However, I will grant you a lot more leeway and say in certain things, especially those concerning who you are emotionally. That is all I can allow."
Aodhán let out a sigh, disappointed. "That's progress, I guess."
"It is," Principal Zatya agreed, her tone softer now, though still firm. "Now, as I was saying, your training with Eldrith will continue. But I'm also considering introducing you to someone else. Her name is Soren, and she…"
Their conversation continued, and though Zatya didn't offer him full autonomy, she did grant him more room to make decisions, especially regarding his emotional development. It wasn't everything he'd hoped for, but it was a step in the right direction.
After that, their conversation shifted to Aodhán's honorary integration into the military and the responsibilities that came with it. With the ban on military information still in effect at the academy, any communication regarding his duties would be routed through Rahim, leaving Aodhán to decide whether or not he wanted to get involved.
Principal Zatya didn't delve much into Ragnarok's plans for retaliation, but the subtle hints in her words made it clear that something was brewing behind the scenes. The discussion ended shortly after, and Aodhán quickly made his way to the oval auditorium.
He still had a few minutes to spare, but he would rather not be late on the first day of classes. That was the quickest way to lose points and the worst way to start a new term. He arrived at the auditorium with three minutes to spare. However, as soon as he pushed open the massive doors, a notification ping echoed in his mind.
It was a message from Aldric. "Who's the highest-ranking military officer you can get me in contact with—right now?"