Chapter 10: An Exam’s Verdict

When exam day came, Lukas couldn’t believe how quickly time had passed. He woke up that morning, realizing he only had a few things to do that day. After that, he wouldn’t have to deal with any accelerated courses again.

The prospects of becoming a palace gardener had been tantalizing. Especially since, according to the pamphlet Lord Isidor had given him, it would give him enough money to have his own apartment in this world.

Lukas thought about Lord Alik, and why he might have to stay away from the man. Hunger panged his stomach, but he tried to ignore it. He had the exam in thirty minutes; he could eat later. But his lack of food, and the struggle for sleep, had caught up to him. All of the nights where he would ask Ardelo about the letters, only to receive silence back.

At this point, he wasn’t certain who he was more anxious to hear from. While he could anticipate a letter from Lord Alik, the fear surrounding Irvin’s response left him tied. He had found a job, utilizing his skills, and he had begun to find a new way in life. But there was something deeply wrong with it. It wasn’t just Lord Alik, it was the fact that he was here, in a complicated society. And, so far, according to his studies, he had had it on easy mode.

One of his professors had talked about what it was like growing up as a farmer. How certain farming and landlord systems had been in place for far too long. How most people in this country had been starving. Lukas, for whatever else it was worth, had wondered if he would be making the right decision if he stayed away from Lord Alik. While Lord Alik himself had not worked closely with anyone associated with farming, he still oversaw many lesser nobles who did so. Although, according to the discussions in his class, the feud between Lord Isidor and Lord Alik had something to do with the current political systems.

Upon entering the written portion of the exam, Lukas would have three sections: One for reading, one for writing, and one for listening. The entire exam had been monitored with a small hourglass timer, stating how long he had with each question. Lukas would give each section his best guesses, concerned he might be failing. He remembered the words, and he remembered the alphabet from day one. It was the grammar which caused him to struggle. With all of the grammatical cases, even at an early level, he could feel the pressure from all of it.

When he finished the written portion of the exam, he moved into a private room with one of the proctors.

“You have remained at the top of the class for so long now,” the man said. Dmitry, his name was. He then turned and gestured at a seat across the room. “Please sit.”

Lukas would fidget with is pen as he waited. He wanted to protest, and to claim that he wasn’t ready for this portion. His life hung on this one exam, at least for as far as he was concerned with his university life. But as Dmitry sat down across from him, he had to keep his gaze on the man. Dmitry grunted.

“Now,” Dmitry said. “This conversation is a freestyle conversation, yes? I will give you the questions, and then you will answer. Is that clear?”

“Yes,” Lukas said.

“First,” Dmitry said. “Where are you from?”

“I am from Sveri,” Lukas said, his palms shaking. “I live in a small village just near one of the major universities. Five years ago, they hosted one of the first conferences for realm shifters.”

Dmitry nodded, before he continued. “And what were you doing five years ago?”

“Five years ago, I had been working on trying to get into university,” Lukas said. “I was seventeen, and I had just taken the entrance exam. I failed.”

“Oh,” Dmitry said. “And what were you trying to study?”

“Law,” Lukas said. “My father was the first person who wanted me to study law. He said that because of my new gifts, I should study interrealm law.”

The conversation would continue, where Dmitry would ask Lukas personal questions, and Lukas would respond in turn. Lukas kept fidgeting, although at this point, he would shift from fidgeting with a pen to tapping his foot against the floor. Dmitry noticed it, nodded, then he continued with his questions. They still had another twenty minutes to go, according to the clock.

“Now,” Dmitry said. “Tell me about your love life.”

Lukas’ would shrink backwards, sitting upright. Should he tell the man the truth, or was it better to lie? “Well, I met Irvin when I was eighteen and he was nineteen. He had the blessings of his family, so he has always been able to provide for the two of us. In recent years, he stopped being so supportive though. I once mentioned I wanted to get married with him, and then he shifted from the loving, protective personality to something vastly different.”

“Oh,” the man said. “I am quite sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“I have talked about these things quite a bit with my roommate,” Lukas said.

“He is on academic suspension,” the man said. “We don’t know everything about his position or what he was involved in, but we do know he has been called out for cheating?”

“Are there any other things on the line?” Lukas said. “What all did you find?”

“He was cheating at exams, although that’s all we would know,” the man said. He should be leaving later today, so if you want to say goodbye to him, I suppose you should do so later today.”

“Thank you,” Lukas said. “For the information, I mean.”

“It’s alright,” Dmitry said. “The extent of his cheating is yet to be discovered, but as far as we know, we can assume you’re innocent.”

Lukas flushed, wondering what to say. He did not want to incriminate himself, but he felt as though he had to say something. With these things in mind, he said. “I would hope so.”

“Naw, you’re alright,” Dmitry said. “Considering your academic record, and the nature of the witnesses, no one here has said anything.

No one had seen him with Lord Alik. Lukas gave the man a polite nod. “Thank you for such information.”

“As for the spoken portion, you have proven you do know a few things,” Dmitry said. “I am marking you as a pass. You have a few grammatical errors, but even native speakers make those when they haven’t been educated enough. Besides, you’re slated for art school, right? According to what Lord Isidor told us.”

Lukas filed out of the exam room and back into the main exam hall, just in time to pick up his graded exam. With his exam, and the rest of his coursework, he had earned the following.

At this point, most of the other students had been placed into their future classes, according to the proctor. This had been his chance.

Lecture grade: 92

Lab grade: 95

Exam grade: 89

Total Grade Earned:  92

Academic Standings: Admissions, under the condition the recipient will go onto the next entry-level course, studying the culture and the history of this new realm.