SSS-Ranked Summoner: Only I Summon All Heroes And Heroines Of Legend-Chapter 43: Academy Exams: Theory Phase (Pt 1)
The ICT hall buzzed as first-year students clustered outside its massive double doors. The building itself was one of the Academy’s newer structure, it was a bit contrasting to the Victorian architecture that dominated the rest of Gran-Lusia.
Altair stood near the back of the crowd, with his hands tucked into his pockets, watching the rowdy movements of students unfold before him.
Students whispered to each other in tight groups, some frantically flipping through notes they’d probably memorized weeks ago, others standing in resigned silence. The air was thick with anxiety, the kind that made even confident summoners second-guess themselves. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
"This is it," Finn muttered beside him, bouncing slightly on his heels. "Two weeks of studying all comes down to this."
"Relax," Altair said, though he could feel his own pulse quickening. "We trained under Master Oz for three months. A written exam should be the least of our worries."
"Yeah, but still..." Finn trailed off, his eyes scanning the crowd. "Where’s Ryka?"
Altair looked around and spotted her near the front, standing with a group of Halo students. She caught his eye and gave a small nod. He nodded back.
Svenja was nowhere to be seen, but that wasn’t surprising. She had a talent for being invisible especially in crowded spaces.
The double doors suddenly swung open, and the murmuring died down.
Principal Baldwin stepped out first, his presence as commanding as ever.
Beside him stood Instructor Mary Scathach, she cleared her throat loudly, signalling for total silence.
"First years," Principal Baldwin spoke first, addressing the anxious students. "Today marks the beginning of your first year examinations. What happens over the next two days will determine not only your academic standing but also your placement in specialized tracks next term."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"This examination has been designed to test both your theoretical knowledge and your practical application of summoning principles, and the summoner’s world outside these walls. Phase one, which you will complete today, consists of a computer-based assessment worth forty marks. You will have forty-five minutes to complete forty questions."
Scathach stepped forward, her expression was calm and neutral, but her voice was firm.
"When I call your group, you will enter the hall in an orderly fashion. You will take your seats according to the last three digits of your student ID number. No talking or wandering will be permitted in the hall."
She gestured toward the open doors.
"Inside, you will meet your invigilator, Instructor Isaac Corestein. I suggest you follow his instructions precisely."
A ripple of unease passed through the crowd at the mention of Corestein’s name.
Altair had heard about him—everyone had. He was known as the meanest instructor at Gran-Lusia Academy, a man who’d failed more students than any other faculty member and took a perverse satisfaction in catching cheaters.
"First group," Scathach called out, reading from a tablet. "Student IDs 001 through 100. Enter now."
Students began filing forward, their footsteps echoing against the polished floor.
Altair checked his student ID on his phone. 851. He’d be in a later group.
Finn glanced at his own. "847. We’re close."
"Yeah," Altair said. "At least we’ll go in together."
They watched as group after group was called and disappeared through the doors. The crowd outside gradually thinned until finally—
"Student IDs 801 through 900. Enter now."
"That’s us," Finn said, taking a deep breath.
They moved with the flow of students, passing through the double doors into the ICT hall.
---
The interior was massive.
Rows upon rows of computer stations stretched across the space, each one separated by low dividers to prevent wandering eyes. The lighting was bright—almost clinical—and the air conditioning kept the temperature uncomfortably cool.
Standing at the front of the hall was Instructor Isaac Corestein.
He was exactly as described.
Tall and slender with a completely bald head that reflected the overhead lights. A jagged scar ran diagonally across his nose, giving his already severe features an even more intimidating edge. Unlike the other instructors, he didn’t wear the traditional Academy robes. Instead, he was dressed entirely in black—a fitted black shirt and black trousers that made him look more like an executioner than an educator.
He said nothing as the students entered, just watched them with cold, distasteful eyes.
When the last student had filed in and the doors closed behind them, he finally spoke.
"Sit."
His voice was clipped and harsh, the kind that made you want to obey immediately just to avoid hearing it again.
The students scrambled to find their assigned seats, checking the numbers taped to each computer station. Altair found his quickly—851, near the middle of the hall—and sat down. Finn was four stations to his left, close enough to see but too far to communicate easily.
Altair scanned the room quickly but couldn’t spot Ryka or Svenja anywhere. Their IDs must have placed them in different sections.
Once everyone was seated, Corestein began pacing slowly at the front of the hall, his hands clasped behind his back.
"This is the first computer-based examination in Gran-Lusia Academy’s history," he said, his tone suggesting he didn’t think much of the innovation. "You will log in using your student ID and password. The system will randomize your questions to prevent cheating, though I expect some of you will try anyway."
He stopped pacing and turned to face them directly.
"Let me be clear: I do not condone cheating. I do not tolerate it. And I do not give second chances."
He gestured toward the cameras mounted in the corners of the room.
"Every station is monitored. And, If you are caught attempting to cheat in any form—looking at another student’s screen, accessing unauthorized materials, or communicating with others—you will be immediately disqualified. This is non negotiable."
The silence in the hall was absolute.
"You have forty-five minutes to answer forty questions," Corestein continued. "When you finish, submit your exam. Your score will be displayed immediately. Then you may then leave, quietly."
He checked his watch.
"You may begin. Now."
---
Altair’s fingers moved quickly across the keyboard, typing in his student ID: 001-851.
Password: Altair.
The screen flashed, and the examination interface loaded.
---
GRAN-LUSIA ACADEMY - FIRST YEAR FINAL EXAMINATION
PHASE ONE: THEORETICAL ASSESSMENT
Student: Altair Elfender
Student ID: 001-851.
Questions: 40
Time Remaining: 45:00
BEGIN
---
The first question appeared.
Q1: In traditional summoning theory, what is the primary function of a summoning seal?
A) To channel ambient mana into a focused point
B) To establish a contractual link between summoner and summon
C) To amplify the summoner’s natural mana reserves
D) To create a physical anchor for extradimensional entities
Altair exhaled slowly. Easy. Answer: B.
He clicked the option and moved to the next question.
Q2: Which of the following is NOT a recognized tier classification for summons?
A) F-tier
B) SS-tier
C) X-tier
D) S-tier
Answer: C. X-tier didn’t exist in the official classification system.
He continued working through the questions methodically. Some were straightforward recall—historical events, summoning mechanics, contract law. Others required deeper analysis, asking him to evaluate hypothetical scenarios or compare different summoning techniques.
