Mr. Hazaki wrote on the board while Yuuto barely paid attention. He was busy thinking about his fight with Asagi.

I get being fast. But there’s something strange about his movements. Something I’ve never seen before. What is it though? I guess I should start with what I know. Asagi’s footsteps don’t give away his movements. The rhythm is off. It’s like I can only hear one or the other. Flint mentioned some sort of family technique. Wonder if it has to do with sound or something? Nah, it probably doesn’t. Then what is it?

“And so after the fall of the original empire. A temporary government was established by the people. This temporary government established a number of rules and founding principles that would later be carried over into the third era.”

Quietly Senji raised a hand which got him a few grumbles mostly from Meiji and his friends. Mr. Hazaki was too busy writing on the board to notice at first. Once he turned around to ask if anyone had any questions he spotted Senji’s hand.

“Yes Senji.”

“I have an off topic question.”

Mr. Hazaki scratched behind his ear then yawned. “Alright. What is it?”

“Well I’m concerned about the Elimination Exam. I figured we would be focusing on learning what we need to so we can pass.”

Mr., Hazaki blinked once. “While practical application of the concepts would be a bit more difficult because of the space in this classroom. I could go over the concepts if you’d like. But I’m sure everyone wants me to finish teaching the lesson so it will have to wait.”

Senji nodded. Then another student raised their hand. “What if we’d rather you teach us about the concepts?”

Aoi Chiba raised her hand. “It seems like that would be a better use of our time considering the Elimination Exam is the most pressing thing we have to deal with right now.”

Mr. Hazaki looked around. “Do you guys agr…”

Before Mr. Hazaki could finish the question a number of students raised their hands. “Well I guess it’s decided then. What do you guys want to know?”

Aoi Chiba took that as an opportunity to ask what she wanted. “What are we gonna be tested on during the exam?”

“You’ll all be tested on bullets. Shield or skildus and sense.”

Another student raised their hand asking their question once Mr. Hazaki pointed at them.

“What’s sense?”

Mr. Hazaki sort frowned for a moment then sighed. “Sense is an advanced level technique. In its most basic form the user is able to sense the magic/mana surrounding them. And the magic emanating from individuals nearby. The better the mastery of the ability the greater the area of effect. More advanced versions of the ability would let you not only sense someone’s magical presence. But if would give you a scale to measure their full potential by.”

Wait. Sense is an advanced technique. Why’s this the first time I’m hearing about this? Well if it’s what we’re being tested on looks like I’ll have more time to focus practicing on bullets and skildus…

Yuuto couldn’t help but notice that Mr. Hazaki had glanced in his direction while he was talking.

“So what’s the grading scale?”

“Typically it’s a star system. Three stars. Ranging from novice to intermediate to advanced. You’re required to receive at least seven stars to pass.”

Something about that seems weird.

“Hey, wait that means we have to get advanced on at least one of the three skills or else we fail.”

“Correct. Seventy percent is the minimum. And depending on who the supervisory instructor is determines what it takes to earn a star from each rank.”

“Hey, no fair. A sixty percent should be a passing grade. Am I right? Come on that’s B.S and you know it Mr. Hazaki.” Sun complained.

Mr. Hazaki just gave him a blank look and said. “Considering that Ichiryu no maho Academy is one of the top magic academies. A seventy percent grade is being gracious.”

“But, but we haven’t even learned bullets. Mr. Sensu is kinda a crappy teacher. Because of him we’re gonna fail. That totally blows.” Jet added.

“Yeah, I’ve heard that Sensu has been a little lax when it comes to practice. Although I wouldn’t go as far as to say that if you fail it will be on him. Remember the Elimination Exam isn’t just a text that eliminates students from the school. But one that determines whose skills are worthy of being nurtured.”

Those whose skills are worthy of being nurtured huh. Well up until recently I thought that was what the entrance exam was for. It’s one way to keep the school in the top. Even though it’s seriously messed up. Seems like they’re not expecting people to improve over the course of the school year. If you can’t cut it in the beginning what’s the point I guess. Bullets the manipulation of magical energy into an offensive projectile. Skildus the manipulation of magical energy into a defensive shield. And sense the ability to feel the magical energy of your surroundings and others.

“So, Mr. Hazaki how exactly do we learn how to use sense? I mean it doesn’t seem like it’s something you could teach us overnight.

With a sideways glance Mr. Hazaki looked at one of his students and said. “It’s not. And it’s not really something I’m gonna teach you at all.”

“Huh. What?!?!”

“Well to be clear. I could say just try to feel the energy around you or something like that. But sense is an instinctual ability. One that’s is typically gained through time and effort. From paying attention to the way magic flows and fluctuates. Eventually you start to unconsciously notice the subtle changes. And from there you can feel the energy no different from your other five senses. Teaching the ability is kinda difficult because you would know your own senses better than someone else. So you would know what works for you when it comes to interpreting energy.”

Class 1B continued to ask questions. And Mr. Hazaki continued to answer than. Yet it didn’t feel like he was easing any of the tension the students were feeling. In the end Yuuto realized it would require a lot of effort on their part if they were going to stay here or not.