Lingyang School
If early spring had Spring Banquet event, the mid-spring has Linyang Exams.
It was named so because it takes place in Lingyang School. There are three exams: The Entrance Exam, Admission Exam, and Certification Exam.
Entrance Exam is for the would-be students. Those who would become part of Linyang School. It consists of a Written exam for Imperial College, and Written and Practical Exam for the Eastern College. This Exam only lasts for a day, with Alchemist and Pharmacist Course take the longest exam time due to the nature of their work.
Admission Exam is for the students of Linyang School to see how far they have developed. This exam will be determined their aptitude, whether they go up or down a level. Deciding how close they are to graduation. Stellar students may skip a grade and graduate early, poor students may have to repeat a grade. That's for Imperial College. In Eastern College, one's cultivation level also play a deciding factor. Can't have a severely underpowered student attend harder class lest they will get themselves killed during sparring practice. In this exam, only Mathematic Class that only has a Written Test. The rest, Written and Practical! Especially Military Tactics and Mounted Archery.
Because there are so many classes and grades and there's only so much teacher, the test is held for days, as to not mixed the student's grades. How long it held, it depends on how many students Lingyang had. The usually never more than three days. The exam was held two days after the Entrance Exam.
Certification exam, like its name, was for those who need legalizing their status. It divided into two: Certificate Exam for Cultivators, and Certification Exam for Court Official hopefuls.
The Court Official Exam was an exam for those who wished to be Court Officials. Mostly those who had graduated from Imperial College and did not, or unable to, pursue additional lessons in Eastern College. It consists of a Written Exam, in which the jury will grade. Those who pass this stage will receive a letter when they have to come for their Oral Exam on that very same day. The written exam is held the day after the Admission Exam ended.
In the case of the Cultivation Official Exam, it was for officially updates the statuses of Martial Artist. It lasts much longer than Admission Exams... because there are MANY Cultivators who want to seek promotion in ranks. Not helped that it only held ONCE per year. First was an exam to determines Ki Level, it held together for all occupations. After that, people would head to four sections in Lingyang, depends on which Mastery one wished to pursue. For Warrior, it was a tournament-style battle, held per each level. For Summoner, it was Spell Performance and Mastery, then after Lunch Break, Battle. Again, held per level pursed. Say, a Four-star against Four Star, and so on.
For Pharmacists, they have Written Exam in the morning, and Practical Exam in the evening, like their Admission Exam counterparts. Except the Practical Exam is to create a difficult pill that requires fine control and in-depth knowledge of herbs. Not helping, the exam jury would prepare ingredients in surplus... but also slipped in the bad ones. This was to make sure those pharmacists know their way around the herbs and can recognize quality. The practical exam usually lasts from ten to eighteen hours, depending on which pill created.
For Enchanters, in the morning they have Spell Performance, the after Lunch Break, then crafting. They were given a table as mini-workshop and then crafted enchanted items using material they brought by themselves. Then after the enchanted item finished, it was put into a demonstration. Throughout the exam, some juries would be walking around and making sure the exam work smoothly. This was to prevent sabotage and plagiarization. Improvised already existing item is fine, but stealing a hard work was a big No-no.
Due to the nature of the Exams, and the fact some people have more than one Mastery, this Certification Exam can last up for two weeks.
It doesn't help that Summoner's Practical Exam has the Battle phase. A more powerful Summoner battle tends to wreck the arena. Depends on how bad it was, the exam might be postponed until the arena was rebuild.
Beiyue feels sorry for those poor sods who were responsible for fixing the arena... only for some battle-eager summoners to wreck it again. Those pitiful souls deserve paid extra for all shit they're made to go through. She hopes Zhonglei held back just enough to avoid collateral damage.
That's another reason why she picks up Imperial College. Being a Vongola means one way or another, she would end up causing massive collateral damage, whether intentional or not.
Her exam consist of Language, Nanyi's History, a what-if scenario type test, and math.
Language is easy, bless Fon's patient teachings, and Reborn's insistence for Tsuna to become multilinguistic. Nanyi's History got her stumped a bit. What if Scenario is another walk in the park for her.
Math, on other hand, is both easy and hard at the same time. Easy because one of Reborn's Mastery Degree is in Math and he pounds it to Tsuna's brain. Almost literally. Hard, because Reborn teach Western Style Math, not Ancient Chinese style, so Beiyue only uses basic Math that any elementary students should know. It would keep things simple without adding Modern Mathematical mumbo jumbo that no people here could ever hope to understand.
Once she was done, she uses a paper fan to help the ink dry faster before turning her answer in.
She was among the last ten to finish.
Eh. Whatever.
Now, should she go home first or should she wait?
...Nah. let's explore her soon-to-be school and find a nice lunch spot. That should kill some time.
~X~
The results came out in the last month of spring. Giving the students one month's time to prepared for school come summer.
Cue Beiyue grumbling about bad timing. She was not used to this new school calendar, ok?! In her old life, Japan's schooling system starts in April, Mid Spring, till June, early summer. Then summer break. The term started in September, early autumn, to December, early winter. Then winter break. Afterward, it will be January, mid-Winter, to March, early spring. No one wants to go to school in Summer. It was goddamn hot. Only those who had to take Summer Class who went to the school in summer.
Hell. Even Western school has a similar system. First-term is in Autumn to winter, Winter break, the second term is mid-winter to Late spring. Summer is basically no-school time.
And now she had to go to the School in Summer? C'mon. Who can focus on the lesson with those heat? Granted without the pollutions and machines the temperature is cool, but Summer is called Summer for reasons. Even if she was heat resistant, it was still uncomfortable.
At least she can wear her Riding Outfit during Mounted Archery Class.
"Nee, Beiyue. What courses you took?" asked Yingye.
Beiyue reading report from her counties till late night, as a result, she wakes up late and can't escape from pulled into the same carriage as her cousins. She and Jing have unspoken agreement to not addressed each other for the moment, so things are awkward.
"So?"
Beiyue sighed. "Mathematic, Mount Archery, Military Strategy, and Music." She answered.
"Geh?" Yingye gaped. "Why Military Strategy and Mathematic? I can understand Mount Archery, but why those two? Only men took those courses and even then they are reluctant to take Mathematic classes!" Her own course, was Painting, Mount Archery, Calligraphy, and Etiquette.
"Princess of two Fief, remember." Beiyue pointed out. "Those two classes are mandatory due to my occupation."
Mandatory, because if war breaks out, as a Landowner, she has the responsibility to protect her Fiefs and its people on top of aiding the nation. Sure, Vongola and the experiences gained do help, but people here were not used to Vongola Crazy Plans so she has to learn how military here works and the terminology. As a result, the Military Strategy is a must. Mathematics, on other hand, so she didn't slip using modern math instead of what used here.
"You take your duty very seriously." Commented Zhangye.
"Some harlots got their claw on my fief for four years." Deadpanned Beiyue with expression to match. "I'm dreading the extent of damage they had done."
She only halfway through Miyang's report for the first year, the year after Princess Royal die, and she had headaches.
Xue is a stupid bitch. She didn't manage Miyang! She just let people there worked and waiting for the damn results! Lazy bitch! A fief is not self-sufficient without support from the Landowner damn it! As expected of ex-maid who had ZERO education. Beiyue was really afraid of what kind of damage that vixen had done to HER Fief!
"Well, there's that."
No one can't fault her for that logic.
~X~
Her first class was mathematics.
True to what Yinghe had said, Beiyue was the only girl in the class, and it only has twenty students. As a result, there were a lot of empty seats.
Beiyue took an empty seat next to the window. Looking at outside while ignoring the other students who were whispering upon the sight of her. Or at least that was the plan until she felt someone took the seat next to her.
Blinked, she turned around. Pink filled her vision.
Ah.
"Was this seat empty? Can I sit here?"
"Of course." Beiyue nodded, using every ounce of willpower she had to not smiling brightly. It would be suspicious if she does, after all... "My name is Huang Beiyue, yours?"
"Oh! It's Luoluo. Bugiel Luoluo. Nice to meet you, Princess!"
'I know' Beiyue want to say that, but she replied with, "Likewise." After all Huang Beiyue never properly meet Luoluo. It was Yunque who did. It was Yunque who saved Luoluo years ago and struck an odd friendship with him.
However, it doesn't mean as Beiyue she can't tease him.
"You don't seem to be a person who willingly takes this course."
Luoluo's face fell. "I know..." he moped. "I actually want to go to Eastern College, but my family insists I'm not ready for it and sign me up to Imperial College. I'm not a sick kid anymore you know... I've had training and stuff..."
'Kid. You can't just go from terminally ill to a warrior in training, even if you are a Sun.' Beiyue thought. Sure, Cultivation is an easy pie for him, Bugiel is very wealthy and Luoluo is the only son from the main family. The Childe by default. Thing is, Luoluo had just finally recovered from his illness a year ago, after that kidnapping incident where his parents do anything to heals him and finally success. From limp noodle of a body to warrior in training is not easy. Eating healthy, doing warm-up and physical training every day, and then memorizing fighting form until it becomes muscle memory.
Beiyue's skill born from Tsuna's memories of Vongola Style teaching. The Do Or Die kind. No formal lesson. Only what should she do and then thrown headfirst into the conflict. Something that makes her insanely reckless to the point she lacks self-preservation. NOT recommended to anyone not a Vongola.
Plus, she had started earlier than him.
"Well, at least you pick up the right course," Beiyue commented. Bugiel is a Merchant family. No merchant worth their salt would be caught dead not knowing basic mathematic. That was asking for someone to scam them. "What's your electives?"
"This, Mounted Archery, Military Tactics, and Medicine. Go bored me to death, Painting and Music mostly taken by girls and I heard most girls took Music classes because Prince Liangyi was the Teacher Assistant." Oh great. Fangirling incoming. "I can just learn History, Calligraphy, Medicine, and Etiquette at home. How about you?"
"Same as you except substitute Medicine with Music... I wonder if we will share classes again."
~X~
To her amusement, they did in fact shared class again, when in the afternoon after the lunch break, both of them attend the same Mount Archery Class.
"I'm beginning to suspect the only class we don't share was Medicine for you, and Music for me." Commented Beiyue.
Luoluo got over his shock seeing Beiyue in her Riding Outfit and began laughing. "Really? Then great! Classes are more fun when you had a friend—"
"To share the misery." Cut Beiyue.
Both of them snorted in amusement.
Classes can be boring as hell. Having someone to commiserate the misery would not magically make it less boring, just more bearable.
Well... maybe if Beiyue's luck kicking in again... boring might be off the table.
"Let's see how the class was like."
To Beiyue's disappointment, Mount Archery is not as hyped as she thinks it was. Case in the point, it filled with young master and misses from a noble family who treat it as an open-air party! Ugh. And to think it was the only P.E. class equivalent she can find in the Imperial College...
"Don't worry," Luoluo said, noticing the clear disappointment in Beiyue's face. "I heard that the first day was like this. A meet and greet and basic introduction. The next lesson will be the actual class. Remember what happened in Math Class?"
"Oh."
Beiyue hoped the actual class is better than this. She has high hope for this class.
Then, "Beiyue!"
A pinkish purple blur filled her vision. No. It was not a blur. It was Yingye.
Right. She took Mount Archery class, too.
"It seems we're sharing a class, cousin." Mused Beiyue. Noticing that now the other students were looking at them, at her, with a wide-eyed expression. Come to think off, Yingye stares at her in disbelief. "Hm? Did I have something in my face?"
"Your Riding outfit..."
She was wearing a blue high-collared dress shirt that goes down to her knees and gray vest, with dark blue and silver obi wrapped comfortably around her waist. Just tight enough to keep her shirt in place without being too tight. The shirt sleeves were supposed to reach ber wrist, but rolled up to her elbows and secured there with white bandages. For the bottom, she wore dark blue pants, tucked inside knee-high black leather boots with armor at the knees. Her hair was tied into a simple high ponytail with a white ribbon.
Beiyue tiled her head. "Was it weird?"
"You look like... a boy."
Well, she did model it after MALE riding outfit instead of female one, much to Dongling and Zhonglei's exasperation.
"Is there any problem?"
Before Yingye could formulate a response, the teacher had arrived.
"Alright, everyone! Please gather here!" The teacher bellowed. He was a thirty-ish man with dark hair. "You all may call me Teacher Guo. I'll be in charge of this class."
Teacher Guo proceeds to start a lecture about the history and purpose of Mount Archery. It was the only place where Imperial College Students could learn anything Martial Artist, as their College was focused on being smart as opposed to Eastern College that embodies Strength.
Beiyue almost dozes off during the lecture.
Then Teacher Guo dropped a surprise on them. They will visit the Warrior Yard of Eastern College to see the real martial arts by the experts, in the hope to motivate these students. Cue the excited whisper from the students as they followed after him.
Beiyue's Intuition warned her to be cautious because there's an annoyance ahead.
Huh.
Luoluo is staring intently at her. What's his problem?
TBC