The topics for the second exam were chosen from the eight core courses of the first Academy exam and four electives.
Each topic was chosen through numerous discussions to suit current social issues, and the problem was that the debates were completely random.
First of all, no one knew who would be on their team. Not only could they not predict the topic, but whether they would be on the affirmative or oppositional side.
Everything was decided on the day of the exam through a strictly impartial lottery.
In some ways it was frighteningly fair, but in others it was terribly unfair.
Since there was no way to predict whether luck would be on your side, if you wanted to pass the exam, you had to be prepared for all potential topics.
But that was easier said than done. Covering all the vast theories explored over the past four years has been a daunting task.
Even if they are lucky enough to encounter a topic that they have already discussed before, the outcome will still depend on whether they viewed it from an affirmative or opposing point of view.
Ultimately, to pass the exam with confidence, they needed to be knowledgeable enough to articulate their arguments clearly, regardless of which side they were on, a nearly impossible task.
In these cases, the most important skill was the ability to narrow down potential topics. If they couldn't cover everything, they had to at least practice the most likely topics.
Conducting at least one debate could play a decisive role if you were opposed by a person with no experience.
Knowing this well, Tilia looked at the man with slight envy.
Ilex Davenport will almost certainly take first place again in the second exam.
In contrast to her, who, if things go badly, must be prepared to fail.
-...So you, like, have a private tutor or something? - Tilia asked, and there was envy in her voice, which she could not completely hide, while looking at Ilex, who was looking through her notebook.
She had already heard that high-ranking nobles who sincerely wanted their children to graduate from the Royal Academy hired private tutors for them before the final exams.
These expensive private tutors, hired secretly, were usually former or even current Academy professors.
- You seem to know a lot, so I decided to ask.
Belatedly realizing that Ilex would not give her a straight answer, even if it was true, Tilia added, trying to recover.
- Well, even if you did, it wouldn’t just be you...
-Didn't you hear?
In contrast to her hasty words, his response was casual.
- The new dean, who replaced the old one because of the exam scandal, is famous for his severity. I heard that as soon as he took office, he filed complaints against the nobles who tried to bribe him. Who would dare to conduct secret training under such a strict dean?
- Then...
- As far as I know, there is not a single graduate currently receiving tutoring. The new dean allegedly sent out a formal notice to both current and former professors. He declared that the honor of the Academy should never again be tarnished. If this happens again, he will put his deanship on the line to find the culprit.
Folding down the corner of the notebook page, Ilex laughed quietly.
- It seems he is more suitable for the role of a knight than a dean, but still. I guess this is good news for you.
With that, Ilex went back to looking at her notes as Tilia watched him silently.
She also heard about the new dean appointed last semester. Since it was unusual for the head of the Academy to be replaced due to scandal, the council was particularly selective in choosing a candidate, eventually appointing a strict scholar.
But she had no idea that the new dean had taken such measures.
While she was processing this unexpected information, Ilex returned the notebook to her as if he had gone through everything.
- Here, I have folded the corners of the pages with the topics that I think will be raised.
Hearing his words, Tilia hurriedly took the notebook and opened it.
Among the pages marked, there were some that made her think: “Is this really the topic?”
But among them there were also pages with topics that she herself considered plausible.
While looking through her notebook, she noticed Ilex staring at her and looked up.
Why are you doing this for me? She wanted to ask, but she felt awkward considering what she had already shown him.
Still, she couldn't bring herself to thank him. Her pride did not allow this.
Reading her wary gaze while she still clung to the notebook with the topics he had marked, Ilex grinned.
- You did a good job. Your notes are well organized.
Hearing these words accompanied by his soft smile, Tilia realized that she was not the only one who benefited from this.
She had forgotten, distracted by the fact that the man in front of her had been ranked number one for four years, that it wasn't really a good idea to let anyone see your notes.
For graduates, study notes were more valuable than life itself. Sometimes they were not even shared among group members.
However, she was foolish to allow Ilex Davenport to see the topics she had so carefully selected, believing that he was helping her.
Seeing how her shoulders trembled with a feeling of strange betrayal, Ilex laughed even louder.
He may have sensed that she was going to grab him by the collar because he quickly took a step back.
- Study hard, Tilia.
Leaving her with these words, like a teacher giving instructions to a child, he quickly walked away.
The long strides that soon carried him beyond the reach of the gaslight seemed almost joyful.
Without realizing it, Tilia found herself watching his broad retreating back, but then, noticing the late hour, she hastened to turn away.
However, just before entering the dorm, she once again turned her head in the direction where Ilex Davenport had disappeared.
Was he really interested in my list of topics?
Or more importantly, why was he in front of the girls' dorm at such a late hour...?
As these confused thoughts momentarily clouded her mind, Tilia stared down the path before turning away resolutely.
It doesn't matter what his intentions were.
After all, he had nothing to do with her.
Having answered her questions decisively, Tilia entered the dorm without further hesitation.
***
The long-awaited day of the new semester has finally arrived. The graduates were busily moving between the classrooms and the library, they seemed more tense than usual, and even the professors were showing some leniency towards the fourth year students.
But within a week, Tilia sat at the far end of the large, fan-shaped lecture hall with a wry smile on her face, not the enthusiasm of an examiner.
The curriculum for the last semester was somewhat different from the previous three years.
Unlike the usual busy schedule, the schedule for the second semester of final year had more empty spaces than classes, all of which were filled with preparation for the second exam.
At the final exam, five students sat at a round table to debate. Accordingly, graduates formed groups of five to practice debating together.
Because they had to cover so many topics, the group members spent more than seventy percent of their time together during the last semester.
Study groups that determined learning outcomes were formed on the basis of benefit, not familiarity.
No matter how close friends they were, no one wanted to include in their study group a person who had barely passed the previous exam.
No one wanted to fail at the last stage due to personal attachments.
In this sense, it is only natural that Tilia should have received many offers from others.
After all, she was the student who came second in every exam.
It was clear that she would take the lead in the fierce competition for study partners.
But contrary to expectations, not a single study group was offered to Tilia either on the first day, or on the second, or even after a whole week.
After spending some time in confusion, she finally understood why no one approached her and why she received refusal after refusal.
This is the work of Cecelia Clayton. There was no other explanation.
Everyone who turned her down was clearly wary of Cecilia.
Smiling bitterly again, Tilia looked at the girl with fiery red hair sitting below.
From the moment she entered the lecture hall, her eyes were always fixed on one person.
Her cold-blooded would-be suitor, Ilex Davenport, never returned her gaze.