"speaking"
"thinking"
On with the story
The holiday was soon over as school began for the final semester of the year
Minerva walks to the school, as she holds her bag by her side
Nearby students were chatting around as they were mostly talking about the coming Rank Advancement Exam that was today
"that Headmistress has no mercy for no one" Minerva muttered out sighing as she feels that it was unfair that after the holidays that the students would face the Rank Advancement Exam soon
As she walks to school, she sees Natsu with Lucy walking ahead
"those two" Minerva said before she speeds up her pace
"Oh, it's Minerva-san" Lucy said, catching sight of her from behind
"good morning" Minerva greeted politely while bowing a bit "how was your holiday?"
"it was fun in the first week, but it was hell at the rest" Lucy said before letting out a long sigh "can't even relax because of the exam"
"that's why it's called the Rank Advancement Exam, they have to make sure that students train exceptionally for it" Minerva said before looking to Natsu "what of your holiday…."
Minerva dragged her words as she sweat drops when she looks at Natsu's face and sees that the man had bruises on his face with the addition of many bandages
"w-what happened to him?" Minerva asked while looking awkwardly to the man
"l-let's just say that he trained r-really really hard for the Exam" Lucy said with a sweatdrop behind her head
The school bell soon rang as it signs the start of the school
"let's go" Natsu said "they'll start the written exam first"
He walks ahead before Minerva and Lucy followed behind
The Exam had begun as every student was in class and monitored by the teachers who walks around the seats row, checking to make sure that no one was cheating
Natsu writes down his answers for the exam as he answered them all very fast
"exams are always so bored" Demonic Natsu said as he appeared in the reflection of the windows "haaaaa, I might die of boredom"
"then go and check some girls or whatever, you're annoying my concentration" Natsu told the spirit who looks at him
"for once, he wanted me to check girls…must be because of the seal" Demonic Natsu thought before he disappeared
Natsu focuses on his test as he had to answer 100 questions in just one and a half hour
As Natsu was doing his test, he heard a loud echoing thump from a very far distance
"a thump?" Natsu looks to the window as he squinted his eyes to look at the very far away distance, away from the town
The written exam was soon over as every first year student now gathered in the auditorium hall
"thank good, I studied hard for the written exam" Lucy said sighing as she was tired from the written exam
"you and me both sister" Cana said as she took a chug from a bottle of beer to which who knows where she had obtained from
Natsu stood in front of his class's line as so did the other class ranks
He took a glance to the side and sees Éclair and the others in their class lines as he was sure that they passed their written exam, well he was sure of the rest but not for Mira who may or not able to pass the exam
His eyes soon set sights on Kyria who was in her class line
Natsu was curious on where she went to since last month as she hadn't shown herself in school ever since her defeat against him
His nose sniffed the air a few times before his eyes glowed red in anger
"this bitch! You allied with him!?" Natsu growled angrily in his mind as black marking slowly climbed up his skin
Kyria felt his raging gaze as she took a glance at Natsu before smirking and licks her lips
Natsu glared at her before turning his attention away as Irene stepped up to the stage in front of the students
"you've all did a well done task of completing the Written Exam, but as you all know that there is also the Practical Exam which your skills and magic will be tested and ranked accordingly" Irene said on the mic with a smile "test your strength and test your passion for you own magic, and be rewarded in the new ranks of your future capability"
Everyone except Natsu clapped their hands for the motivating speech, Irene had given out to them all
"what are you planning now, witch?" Natsu looks at Irene as she steps off the stage before he turns his attention to the shadows near a corner. He took a glance and sees glowing red eyes
At first, Natsu thought that it was Sayla but he soon realized that the glowing red eyes held….a dead and lifeless stare unlike Sayla's which was filled with nothing other than Lust and Temptation
"who….who are you?" Natsu looks at the glowing red eyes before they disappeared into the darkness of the shadows
"attention, we will now begin the Physical Rank Advancement of the C Rank Students, other Ranks please standby in the provided seats while waiting for queuing" a teacher spoke out in the mic as the Magic Arena soon appeared and all the C Rank Students were on the arena's field while the other Ranks were at the crowd seat
Natsu and his friends all gathered in their seat row, as they watched Éclair's class take the first line in the exam
"so, it's Éclair's Class Rank first, huh?" Mira said while crossing her arms "I wonder what kind of Physical exam that they will get?"
"could be a Magic Power Ranking check, combat, or even elimination? two of which are a bad match for Éclair" Erza said as she rubs her chin "this choice is all about luck"
"it's starting" Kagura stated as a teacher came to the arena while holding a piece of paper and had a floating orb near her
"isn't that an MPF?" Mira said seeing the orb
"a Magic Power Ranking Test then" Ikaruga stated "but this might prove to be a challenge"
"why? If it's a magic power test, then Éclair should be able to do great, right?" Lucy asked confused
"she will do great in it, but will her magic power pass the border points?" Erza stated
"every test has a borderline point, meaning a passing score." Kagura explained "if the score is not a passing score, Éclair might be ranked down from her class"
"the passing score is 698, any lower than that…" Kagura said before pausing
"it all comes to her magic concentration training" Ultear said as the teacher had begun the exam and had explained the rules
"Éclair Feniks" the teacher called out her name as Éclair stepped forward
"she got called out first!?" Mira exclaimed in surprise
"talk about no mercy!" Lucy said in surprise
"don't worry" Natsu said as everyone looks at him. Natsu had his arms crossed but he had a smile on him "Éclair isn't alone after all"
Everyone looks at Natsu before to Éclair as the Priestess holds a hand to her necklace
"give me strength, Natsu" Éclair holds the necklace as it began to shine bright in a crimson color
"begin" the teacher said as the orb glowed and started to check on Éclair's magic power
Éclair closes her eyes and took a deep breath before exhaling
The Rising Phoenix mark on her back began to shine as flames soon rages around Éclair's surrounding in a circle
"f-flames!?" Mira and Lucy exclaimed as Natsu chuckled
"dance….Phoenix Priestess" Natsu said as he smiled in seeing the flames around Éclair
Everyone on the arena was bewildered as the flames rages around Éclair
Éclair opens her eyes as metallic wings spreads out from her back and ignites in flames
Her hands soon waved to the side as Éclair's eyes glowed red before dimming
The flames soon rage around behind her and formed a flaming dragon that roared out loudly
A huge gust of wind blew out as the MPC Orb cracked before shattering into pieces and the number 990 appeared
Irene watched the scene from her throne as she gritted her teeth while clenching her hands into a fist
"brat…" she muttered out in anger as the flames rages around Éclair before disappearing
The flaming wings on Éclair's back soon shined as they disappeared into her necklace
"n-nine h-hundred andninety…you p-pass" the teacher stuttered out while looking in disbelieve to the amount of magic power that Éclair possesses
"thank you very much" Éclair said bowing to her teacher before going to the exit tunnel
As Éclair walked to the exit, she looks to where Natsu and the others were as she waved a hand to Natsu while smiling
"w-what a surprise" Lucy said looking surprised with the others while Natsu just smiled and did a small wave in return
Natsu soon felt a presence as he took a glance behind him and sees the glowing red eyes again
"again?" he thought as the glowing red eyes soon disappeared
That's a wrap!
Bye bye
