Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 49

To the Teacher, From Vanessa – Chapter 49 (49/146)

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The exams stretched on for a full week.

They covered not only the upper-level classes I’d chosen but also required courses like history, literature, and art.

Mage Bam Vandalu was such a fervent patriot of the Kingdom of Friva that he wanted students to absorb every facet of its culture and history before graduating, ensuring they would become valuable assets to the nation.

Naturally, the students collectively cursed Bam Vandalu for his lofty ideals.

Everyone gazed at the portraits of past headmasters lining the central hall, forever etching Bam Vandalu’s face into their memories.

Brown hair, a booming laugh, and deep-set wrinkles around his eyes.

They swore never to become adults so out of touch with the student experience!

However, once the exams actually commenced, a sense of grim resignation settled in. It was the attitude of, “Well, the damage is done. What can we do now?”

“Whether we fail or not… what’s done is done, right?”

Lina said, sprawled out on a blanket on the grass.

The rain had finally ceased after a long spell, and the warm sunlight drew many exam-weary students to spread out mats near the lake and relax.

Daloise, who had come to see Vanessa, stamped his foot on the grass.

“That’s right! If we have to retake them, we’ll just graduate later!”

Chevati, however, remained oblivious to such talk, completely engrossed in his book. His eyes burned with intensity, and he muttered incessantly under his breath.

“Vanessa, if you’re aiming for top honors, you need to eliminate Chevati first….”

*Lock him up somewhere,* Lina mouthed, earning a glare from Chevati.

“I can hear you perfectly well.”

“Oh, you heard that? Just keep your nose in your book.”

In the distance, Evan came skipping over. Vanessa watched him approach with a mixture of emotions. Thankfully, Evan seemed to be holding up okay.

“I might actually fail to graduate.”

Evan was unusually cheerful, considering. He’d confessed to pulling an all-nighter, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Evan casually plopped down next to Vanessa and immediately lay back.

“Ugh, this sunlight is amazing. Vanessa, you definitely aced it, right?”

“I think I did well on magic theory, but I’m not sure if it was as good as I wanted it to be,” Vanessa replied honestly, prompting a groan from Evan.

“I wish I could tell my parents that. *Father, I’m so sorry!*”

“As good as you *wanted* it to be?”

Daloise interjected.

“Is there something you’re aiming for?”

“Top honors, I guess,” Vanessa said.

Evan shielded his eyes from the sun. But Vanessa shook her head.

“That too, but I really want the teacher [referring to their mentor or professor] to be satisfied enough to attend the graduation ceremony.”

Chevati looked up from his book, and Lina choked on the candy she’d been sucking on. Everyone hesitated to speak, but Vanessa remained composed.

“Once I graduate, it’s over. I want to see him at least once before that. If I do exceptionally well, maybe he’ll come.”

“Hey, Chevati.”

*Put down your book, quick. Hand over the top honors,* Evan mouthed, earning a poke in the side from Vanessa.

“Ouch! What was that for?”

“I’m going to earn it with my own skills! Why are you bothering Chevati?”

“Don’t worry, Vanessa. No one really cares about me anyway,” Chevati said.

Chevati smiled brightly and closed his book, but then he scooted closer and rested his head on Vanessa’s shoulder.

“I really hope he comes. I’m so curious about the teacher, too. He’s the one who brought Vanessa into my life!”

Lina nodded thoughtfully. Sadly, Lina barely remembered the roommate she’d had before meeting Vanessa. She felt like her academy life truly began after they met.

Still, worried that Vanessa might be disappointed, she carefully added, “Vanessa, remember, whether he comes or not, everything he did for you shows how much he cares.”

Vanessa simply offered a wry smile and nodded.

In any case, what they needed to do now was bask in the warm sunlight and gentle breeze, and then prepare for tomorrow’s exam again.

However, since the remaining exam was ‘Realization of Magic,’ there wasn’t much they could actively study.

“I’m going to take a nap. Hit me if I don’t wake up.”

Vanessa wriggled, nudging Evan and Daloise aside, and the two of them shifted to make room.

Evan grumbled, feeling the pressure of Daloise’s sturdy legs.

“Hey, who brought such a tiny blanket anyway?”

“Why didn’t *you* bring one? If it’s too small, leave,” Lina retorted sharply, causing Evan to immediately change his tune.

“No, the blanket is lovely. So luxurious.”

Lina scoffed. Eventually, all four of them, except for Chevati, lay down and drifted into a light sleep, shaded by a large tree.

However, when even Chevati succumbed to the gentle breeze and closed his book, there was no one left to rouse them. Sleep deprivation continued to accumulate.

Finally, Moshwi Jin, passing by, startled them awake by announcing, “Guys, it’s almost dinner time.”

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In the end, Vanessa only managed to skim through a book before falling asleep. She woke up the next morning regretting yesterday’s leisure, but there was nothing she could do.

Vanessa, buttoning up her uniform, was so nervous that her face was pale. Lina clicked her tongue at her bloodless lips.

“Vanessa, Vanessa!”

“Ah, yeah. What, what?”

Seeing Vanessa fumble with her tie, struggling to knot it properly, Lina finally laughed.

“If you’re this flustered, how are the other kids even managing this exam?”

The exam Vanessa was taking today was the ‘Evaluation of Magic Realization Ability.’ Not all students took it; only those pursuing a career in magic did, making it particularly important for Vanessa, who was interested in the Magic Department.

“I, I don’t know…. I’m just so nervous. I still haven’t figured out the graduation requirements.”

Vanessa neatly tied her hair with trembling hands. Lina chuckled but soon grew serious as she contemplated her own upcoming exam.

“Even the kids who *do* know the requirements can’t easily beat you in incantation magic or magic circle construction. The professors predicted that your magical power would be enormous. Now that I think about it, this isn’t the time to laugh….”

Lina grumbled, carefully smoothing her uniform sleeves.

“To have an exam with a debate. And the fact that I have to debate with the professors? I can already see myself getting completely torn apart.”

“You debated with a professor last year. About your practical score. You argued for a full 30 minutes that it was an unfair system…. You’ll do well….”

“Is that supposed to be comforting?”

Lina rolled her eyes. If there was one defining characteristic of the graduation preparation class, it was the wildly fluctuating mood swings.

“It’s not comforting, it’s a little teasing.”

Vanessa shook off her nervousness and poked Lina.

“Do your best. And don’t be nervous. It’s really funny if your voice trembles during the debate. You sound like a goat.”

“Seriously.”

Lina pouted and then laughed. The two bumped fists and left the dormitory.

The magic realization exam was administered individually, so each student had a designated time to enter the classroom where the professors were waiting.

Vanessa exchanged glances with Evan and opened *The Book of Incantation Magic* compiled by Jenien, which was lying on the desk. Silence filled the classroom as the students frantically flipped through pages.

Vanessa was no different. The book was riddled with underlined passages, and the reason was clear.

*Jenien… couldn’t you have written it a little easier?*

Last time, she’d encountered a passage she couldn’t decipher at all, so she’d sent a letter to Jenien. Jenien had responded by sending her a single sprig of dried herb, with a note saying, *’Blame your own head.’*

It was an herb supposedly known for its mind-clearing properties, but there was only one sprig.

*What’s the point of knowing the author?*

As students disappeared one by one, Vanessa’s nervous fingertips trembled. When even Evan entered the classroom, her lips felt parched.

When Evan emerged and mimed slitting his own throat, she couldn’t even manage a smile.

And finally.

“Vanessa Rose.”

Upon hearing her name, she felt her mind sharpen again. Vanessa walked in with a composed posture.

Usually, magic classrooms were quite chaotic. The professors would alter the interior to match the theme of the day’s lesson.

When learning about water magic, a stream would flow gently through the classroom, and when learning about fire magic, the room would be filled with smoke and charcoal, often leading to students dozing off with soot-covered cheeks.

But today, the room was ordinary. Three professors sat at the front, smiling at Vanessa.

“You’ve worked hard to get here, Vanessa. You’ve been a truly excellent student. You’ll do well no matter what you do,” Professor Apher said, offering words of encouragement. Vanessa smiled awkwardly.

“It’s thanks to the professors.”

“Oh, come on, what are you saying? It’s thanks to your hard work.”

As they exchanged compliments, Professor Guido snorted.

Professor Guido abruptly peppered her with questions about elemental magic theory. They weren’t particularly difficult, and Vanessa calmly answered to the best of her knowledge.

Professor Apher then asked Vanessa to demonstrate a few incantation spells, and fortunately, she found nothing too challenging.

*Jenien, I’m sorry for cursing you in my mind earlier. You’re the best.*

“The realization speed is remarkable. You’re truly like a practicing mage. Shall we adjust the range a bit?”

Professor Apher asked her to narrow the area in which the magic manifested.

“Your innate magical power is considerable, so even simple spells tend to manifest on a grand scale. It seems it would be difficult to narrow it down.”

Vanessa tensed up at Professor Apher’s sudden pinpointing of her weakness.

Professor Apher was right. Vanessa sometimes experienced uncontrolled bursts of magical power if her concentration wavered.

Vanessa calculated the formula and focused intently on a point in the air, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She meticulously controlled the flow of magical power to minimize the realization range.

Soon, the cluster of light that appeared flickered like a distant star before vanishing.

Professor Conrad clicked his tongue.

“It’s a shame you don’t know the conditions, really.”

Then Professor Conrad presented a hypothetical situation and asked her to describe how she would construct a magic circle. Vanessa paused to consider, then outlined the language and magic to be inscribed, as well as the placement of the lines and magic stones. Professor Conrad laughed heartily, reminiscent of the day Vanessa destroyed the stone ‘Nana’.

“Well done.”

Vanessa felt exhausted despite the relatively brief question-and-answer session.

Finally, Professor Guido requested that she combine two or more spells and realize them simultaneously, which she had fortunately practiced beforehand.

“You may leave, Vanessa Rose.”

Professor Guido nodded with a subtle smile. As Vanessa turned to leave, visibly relieved, Professor Apher called out to her again.

“Vanessa Rose!”

“Yes?”

Vanessa turned back, her expression wary, as if anticipating another question. Professor Apher chuckled at her apprehension.

“Innate talent combined with effort means there’s nothing you can’t do. Do you know whose words those are?”

Vanessa replied hesitantly, wondering if this was another test.

“Bam Vandalu’s.”

“Yes, Vanessa Rose. Innate talent combined with effort means there’s nothing you can’t do. There are many powerful mages, but few who truly dedicate themselves to hard work, because they believe everything is innate. But I disagree.”

As if to reassure Vanessa, who hadn’t yet met the graduation requirements, Professor Apher spoke gently.

“You will become a mage loved by everyone in the future.”

“Getting old and meddling,” Professor Conrad muttered, picking at his ear, but Professor Apher continued to smile warmly as she watched Vanessa leave.

“Ah, I gave everyone a word of encouragement, so don’t think you did the best! I’m telling you not to be relieved.”

Vanessa finally smiled brightly.

“Yes, Professor. Thank you so much for your guidance until the end.”

Vanessa walked out energetically, bumping fists with the student waiting for their turn and wishing them luck.

Vanessa exited the academy building through the central hall and took a deep breath of fresh air.

The sunlight was particularly warm today. Vanessa loved Bamberg Academy more than anything in the world.