Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 235: First Test

In the original novel, Lyra’s elemental affinity was only at a good level.

Based on the five-tier evaluation system of Poor, Ordinary, Good, Excellent, and Superior, her six basic elemental affinities were:

Only fire element reached the excellent level, while the others were all good. As for the two advanced elements, light and dark, she couldn’t even find elemental particles that could resonate with her.

Others might think this was due to Lyra’s lack of talent. After all, Elizabeth Academy of Magic’s annual enrollment wasn’t without students who couldn’t resonate with specific elemental particles, and those with poor talent were often assigned to classes with weaker foundations.

As a transmigrator, Astrid naturally knew the reason for this situation.

Lyra’s light element affinity exceeded the range that humans could currently test, causing the crystal ball to fail to give accurate results.

The dark element was also temporarily suppressed due to her excessively high light element affinity, lying dormant for now.

"Class assignments determine different teaching contents. Lyra, give it your all and follow the pace you desire most."

Astrid picked up a napkin and gently wiped the corners of her mouth, her long eyelashes catching a few dazzling specks of light in the morning sun.

"After the entrance test, go to the academic affairs office to queue up for your student ID. Class assignments will be discussed by the professors of each department, and the final decision will be made by the principal. It will take one or two days to know the results."

Without her intervention, with two poor, five good, and one excellent elemental affinity, plus almost bottom-tier magic theory and poor practical combat results, Lyra would only be assigned to the class with the second-to-last overall strength in the original plot.

However, after a year of study, the current Lyra had not only grown in strength but also reached the top level in both theory and practical combat among the freshmen. At worst, she could enter a class slightly inferior to the top-notch class.

Thinking of this, Astrid pursed her lips, put down the used napkin, and looked at Lyra across the table.

Unconsciously, her influence on the original plot had already become so significant.

"After getting your student ID, you can go see the dormitory. The basic process of the entrance ceremony ends here."

The one or two days of free time before class assignments were also for out-of-town students to familiarize themselves with Elizabeth Academy of Magic, letting them know where the takeoff area, teaching buildings, dining hall, and dormitories were.

"That’s all I have to say. Does Miss Lyra have any other questions?" Astrid asked.

Lyra shook her head after listening and also placed the used napkin by the table.

"Reporting to Princess Astrid, no more."

What would her elemental affinity be like... And Princess Astrid...

I hope the next two tests won’t be too difficult...

Upon hearing this, Astrid nodded slightly, glanced at Elise and Amalia beside her, who had also finished breakfast and were quietly waiting.

"Let’s go, it’s time to attend the entrance ceremony," Astrid said.

Twenty minutes later, at the central square. Although Elizabeth Academy of Magic didn’t enroll many freshmen each year, most of the target group were young nobles, especially those from out of town seeking education.

These freshmen, accustomed to being served by servants at home, often brought a group of attendants when traveling, naturally causing the road in front of the academy entrance to be particularly crowded.

Looking at the men and women passing by with parasols under the sun, Lyra gently exhaled, carrying a suitcase with one hand and holding a card with the other, following Astrid towards the entrance.

"..."

"Miss Lyra Beckett, right?"

"Yes, it’s me."

"Take the enrollment guide. Also, if you have a scholar assistant, please fill out this scholar assistant list."

"Oh, okay..."

Filling in the scholar assistant’s name, Elise, and the old residence provided by the head maid, Lyra passed through the academy gate and continued accompanying Astrid to the rest area, temporarily storing her luggage.

"It’s Princess Astrid... She came so early..."

"Princess Astrid is here too? Did she also pass the entrance exam?"

"...She’s even more beautiful than in the monthly magazine, truly worthy of being called the most dazzling gem of the Valeria Empire by His Majesty."

Hearing the whispers of the students around her, Lyra unconsciously glanced around with the corner of her eye, noticing that almost all the freshmen had their eyes on the silver-haired princess beside her, as if she were the absolute center of today’s entrance ceremony.

Usually traveling either in the palace or by carriage, the third princess was rarely exposed to the public eye, so these foreign nobles naturally hadn’t seen her in person.

Princess Astrid’s charm... is indeed not to be underestimated...

Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Lyra looked at the black-haired little girl held by Astrid’s hand, who was clinging to her sister’s body, her eyes downcast, her expression unreadable.

As the focus of everyone’s attention, Astrid’s expression was calm, her crimson eyes silently gazing at the teaching building not far away, where the elemental affinity test would take place.

Although Lyra, after her training, no longer had issues keeping up with the learning pace, her actions had also altered the entire plot.

Once the story deviated from its intended path, the future would become even more difficult to control.

If Lyra didn’t enter the second-to-last class, she would inevitably find it hard to get along with her classmates there.

Without this emotional foundation, it would directly affect an important plot point at the end of the academy arc, students needed not only to pass their grades but also to complete a graduation project to graduate, and the so-called graduation project could be split into three tasks, completing one of which would suffice.

First, use knowledge involving three-dimensional compound spell structures to create a unique spell of your own.

Second, simultaneously defeat a Grand Knight and a Sorcerer in combat, explaining the offensive and defensive strategies.

Third, go to the fiefdom of Duke Charles for a six-month practical activity and write a related activity report.

The risks of these three tasks increased in order. Top students could often complete an impressive graduation project through the first or second tasks, while the third task required taking significant risks.

Astrid remembered that in the original plot, Lyra’s graduation was because her bottom-tier classmates were going to Duke Charles’s fiefdom to complete their graduation project.

At that time, the Kingdom of Velys had already been at war with the Valeria Empire, and the once peaceful border had become a war zone.

Lyra, who was worried about her companions, chose to continue with the third task after completing the first two.

It was also during this military life that Lyra completely transformed from a student to a Holy Knight, becoming the shield of the Valeria Empire in the mouths of the nobles.

Taking fewer detours is good, but without some external factors to temper her, the destined heroine wouldn’t grow either.

Astrid rested her chin on one hand, silently thinking, when she soon heard a commotion from the surrounding crowd.

"Miss Astrid, it’s time for the elemental affinity test," Elise softly reminded.

Astrid nodded slightly and, holding Amalia’s hand, walked towards the teaching building where the test would take place.

.....

In the spacious classroom, a row of tables was set up, with three stern-looking mages in robes sitting at the seats. In their center, a transparent crystal ball placed on black silk emitted a faint blue glow.

A prepared freshman stepped forward, gently touched the crystal ball, and the scene inside the ball immediately changed.

Charlotte, watching the crystal ball, gently crossed her fair legs, the feather pen in her hand close to the paper, ready to write at any moment.

As an Arcanist and magic circle professor, Charlotte didn’t need to do these basic tasks, but with Astrid among the freshmen today, she decided to actively participate in the on-site elemental affinity test.

"Rose Relin, ice, water, earth, wind, thunder—good; light, dark—average; fire affinity—poor. May not be suitable for using fire magic in the future."

After recording the relevant information, the person beside Charlotte transmitted spiritual energy, engraving the corresponding magic patterns on the card representing the student’s information.

"Next student."

"Lyra Beckett."

Hearing her name, Lyra quickly stepped forward, saw the familiar face on her left, and politely greeted.

"Good morning, seniors, and Professor Charlotte."

Charlotte returned the greeting, softly indicating that she didn’t need to be overly nervous, just place her hand on the crystal ball’s surface and wait for the results.

Lyra obediently nodded, then gently placed her palm on the crystal ball.

Magic began to flow.

The solid earth, the flowing water, the wind rustling the leaves, the occasional thunder, and a thin layer of ice covering the lake.

Then, the fire burning the earth devoured the dry grass, and waves of heat surged inside the crystal ball.

Seeing this scene, Charlotte’s lips curved slightly, her fingers gently tapping the feather pen’s shaft.

Such intense fire element fluctuations indicated that Lyra’s affinity with it was high, reaching the excellent level.

Glancing at the two examiners beside her, the one closer to the crystal ball nodded slightly, clearly aware of this.

One excellent wasn’t particularly genius, but it had the potential to become a mage, which was a decent talent. Next, it was time to see the two advanced elements.

Charlotte shifted her gaze back to the crystal ball itself. The flames extinguished, and the transparent sphere continued to release magic.

One second, two seconds, three seconds... ten seconds...

The inside of the ball remained motionless, all elemental particles ceased activity, leaving only the clear, transparent crystal ball as if it had never been touched.

How could there be no reaction at all...

Charlotte felt the surrounding elemental particles move for a moment, but then they fell silent again, as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, outside the teaching building, the sunlight filtering through the leaves became slightly brighter, so subtle that even the mages basking in it didn’t notice.

Thousands of miles away, in the Kingdom of Velys, a nun in a habit opened her eyes, looking in surprise at the statue before her.

Was it her illusion... that one second...

She seemed to truly feel the holy light shining upon her.

Inside the teaching building of Elizabeth Academy of Magic, Lyra looked at the unresponsive crystal ball, her blue eyes slightly dazed.

"...You can take your hand back now."

Hearing the man behind the table speak, Lyra slowly raised her hand, turned her wrist, and her gaze lingered on her fair, delicate palm.

Her light and dark element affinity... was it really that bad...

She felt quite comfortable chanting spells usually.

Unconsciously curling her fingers, Lyra looked up at the countess, who still sat upright with dignity, but with a hint of complexity in her eyes.

Charlotte vaguely felt that this evaluation wasn’t simple, but the displayed results clearly indicated that Lyra indeed didn’t have such high talent.

"Lyra Beckett..."

A deep male voice echoed in the classroom, and Lyra bit her lip, listening to his voice as if it were announcing her judgment.

"Fire element affinity—excellent; ice, water, earth, wind, thunder—good; light and dark elements..."

"Poor."

As the last syllable fell, Lyra slowly handed over her card.

"...Thank you, seniors."

One excellent was already quite good. At least she heard that many of the previous freshmen were all good, occasionally mixed with a few averages, and not many had excellent evaluations, with only one exceptional.

But these two poors were too glaring. She thought there would at least be an average.

Looking at Lyra’s slightly disappointed eyes, Charlotte brushed her black hair and spoke softly.

"It’s already quite good, Lyra."

"Elemental affinity only affects the speed and amount of elemental particles you can guide after reaching the spellcaster level, it doesn’t represent everything."

If all else fails, specializing in fire magic in the future would also be a good choice.

Hearing Charlotte’s gentle comfort, Lyra nodded.

"Yes, I understand, Professor Charlotte."

She had just had unnecessary expectations of herself under the influence of certain emotions.

Not having such high talent was normal, nothing to be discouraged about. At least she had achieved her desired fire element specialization. novelbuddy.cσ๓

"Next student."

"Astrid Calli..."

The man paused, realizing it was inappropriate to call her directly, and coughed lightly, adding a suffix.

"Princess Astrid, it’s your turn to test your elemental affinity."

Watching Lyra pass by her and hearing the respectful tone when the tester addressed her, Astrid slowly approached, softly saying as Lyra was about to leave.

"Wait for me after the test, we’ll go to the next one together."

After speaking, without paying attention to Lyra’s reaction, Astrid walked to the crystal ball and extended her hand to Charlotte.

"Good morning, Lady Charlotte."

"Good morning, Princess Astrid."

Looking at Astrid in her luxurious dress, Charlotte’s eyes softened involuntarily. She shook hands with her, then repeated the test instructions according to the procedure.

"Just place your hand on it."

Astrid nodded upon hearing this, then placed her hand on the spot where Lyra had just rested.

In an instant, a powerful magic fluctuation erupted inside the crystal ball, and the tester, as if realizing something, leaned forward slightly.