"When your name is called please step forwards. You will be handed a medallion that you will present to your assigned Professor tomorrow at noon, and it will be used to record your scoring during the duration of your trip outside of the Academy."

Standing at the front of the hall and sweeping her gaze across the dozens of us that had come to apply for the practical exams was an older woman that exuded that strict, no nonsense aura that quelled most troublemakers while also being a bit... provocative.

Long gray hair braided tight with silver pins keeping it in place, flowing white robes that made her olive skin pop, and sharp grey eyes that resembled storm clouds brewing on the horizon; brimming with power yet contained and distant, not a threat just yet... but more than capable of becoming one if you got too close.

The magical power that radiated off of her even from afar was stifling, while the confidence she had in herself and the belief she had in the Academy washed over us as another physical force that further cowed us before her.

"Taji!"

The first name shouted out belonged to the Hyenakin troublemaker, who popped up from somewhere behind me - when she got there I had no idea - and sauntered forwards with a grin, taking that medallion and thanking the Professor for choosing her.

"Don’t thank me yet. This practical exam won’t be easy for any of you." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Even still Taji just grinned, flipped her medallion a few times in the air, and sauntered back over towards me with a raise of her brow, showing it to me and murmuring "I bet you’ll get the same medallion I have~!"

It was a silver disc with a gemstone inlaid in its center, with Taji’s having a gorgeous topaz that matched her fur quite well, and as the next name got called we could see that topaz wasn’t the only stone being used.

The Aviankin had a ruby in hers, while the Orc that got called after her received a sapphire; from our group the next to be called was Lu’Shaki, and she came back with an emerald, causing her to smirk at Taji since the Hyenakin was crafting all sorts of stories about what she would do to any of us if we were in her group.

"Kha’Miero!"

When the Draconian got called she had more eyes on her than the rest, and seemingly because of that the medallion she got handed was one that had a diamond in it, something no one else had gotten just yet.

"You’ll be a part of a smaller group since your prowess is higher than that of your peers. If you find that to be disheartening and don’t wish to take that risk, you can withdrawal from the practical exams entirely without consequence. That goes for all of you."

Our black scaled friend stared down at her medallion for a few moments before shaking her head and saying "That only intrigues me more, Professor. Are the details being saved for tomorrow then?", which earned her an immediate "That is correct, Kha’Miero. Tomorrow shall reveal everything regarding your practical exams."

She nodded and stared at her medallion for a few moments longer before she returned to Lu’Shaki and I, her orange eyes still glued to it as she murmured "That likely means you won’t be with me, Natalie.", causing me to smile wryly as I nodded in agreement.

"I wonder what sort of exam you’re going to have compared to the rest of us? Think it’ll compare to that Wyvern we had to take care of?"

Kha’Miero just grunted at Lu’Shaki’s question, her eyes still lingering on the medallion before she grunted again and muttered "Likely comparable, though there is the likelihood that it will exceed even that... because it might have something to do with people instead of monsters."

"Ah, true."

The two nodded together at that while Taji helpfully reminded us "Remember that coastline I was telling you all about~? Coastline De Astrali, beleaguered by pirates and bandits~? No monsters, only people, so that right there makes for a wonderful practical exam~!"

"Why are you still here?"

With a snicker and a smirk tugging on her lips, Taji leaned forwards and wedged herself between Lu’Shaki and I as she said "Because~ I think Natalie here is going to pull a topaz instead of an emerald, and we’re all~ in agreement that she’s not getting a diamond~! That’s why~!"

"Even if I do, that doesn’t mean anything at all, Taji. It isn’t just you and I in that group, you know that right?"

"As sad as that is, the groups aren’t that large anyways, so~! Besides~! I’ll take any~ uninterrupted time with you over what we have right now..."

The way she leaned into me and murmured that right into my ear made me try and push her away, but Taji was determined to be a nuisance as she just giggled and attempted to wrap her arms around me despite that.

"Natalie!"

The moment my name was called though she just stepped back and gestured for me to go, so with a final glare at her I stepped through the crowd and approached the grey Professor, bowing slightly to her and trying not to shudder from her overwhelming presence.

"You’ve been a pleasant surprise, Natalie. High marks in all classes despite your ’socialization’, a keen mind and clear progression in all fields. The faculty has high hopes for you."

Her low murmur made me blink a few times in surprise as I accepted the medallion from her, and after she added "You’ll do well, I know it." I finally looked down at the silver disc... just to freeze when I saw that glittering topaz situated right in the middle of it.

She didn’t say anything else, just nodding to me and waiting for me to step back, so before I could make a fool of myself I turned around and stiffly walked back towards my group, who were all staring at the medallion curiously as they waited to see which group I got assigned.