The Witch of Calamity

01

Headmaster Haythem could barely keep his expression straight as he watched Young Lord Burenhorn be hastily carried off the field by the medical staff that were on standby for the placement assessment. To many spectators, and many of the teachers and staff watching, the duel between Cecil and the grotesque student known as Adam was no doubt quick and strange. It looked like Adam had Cecil on the defensive for majority of the match until she suddenly stabbed her sword into the ground and a minor mana explosion caused the male student to lose consciousness to those who had a surface level understanding of magic and combat. But to trained eyes like Headmaster Haythem's own the duel was much more exciting than that.

"Who the hell was that girl?!"

As Headmaster Haythem had expected a woman wearing nothing but bandages across her chest, pants, and combat boots stormed up to him with an excited gleam in her sharp eyes. "Ah Professor Wyntry I see you're actually here to oversee the placement assessment unlike last year."

"Of course I'd be here after the pay cut you made me take after ditching this boring thing last year you old geezer," Professor Wyntry spoke roughly as she crossed her arms and sighed. "Anyways whoever that girl was I want her as part of my class!"

"Taking an interest in Lady Rosenthal I see, how strange since you've never taken an interest in a student before," Headmaster Haythem smiled as he rose to his feet and began to leave.

"Don't give me that crap you know why I'm interested in her! Now hand her over before that scrawny brat can get his hands on her," Professor Wyntry chased after the surprisingly quick old man.

As they rounded the corner a rather frail looking man who looked as if he hadn't slept in weeks lit up at the sight of Headmaster Haythem however, his mood turned sour the moment he saw Professor Wyntry beside him.

"Already trying to snag my student you muscle brained hag?" The aforementioned "scrawny brat", as Professor Wyntry had called him, took a jab at the woman.

Headmaster Haythem had an amused expression on his face as he watched the two banter, "Professor Estain thank you for finding me that makes my job much easier. Now if you two will follow me there is someone else we must collect on the way to my office."

-----

Cecil gripped the hem of her uniform's skirt to stop her hand from shaking as she did her best to listen to the announcer who was explaining the rules for the next part of the placement assessment. It was essentially just a standard caster assessment that one took when applying as a caster or going to reevaluate their rank. The only difference was that the students would not be assigned a rank and instead would be placed within a class befitting of their rank.

"The first part will consist of mana readings that will take place in those tents over there," the staff announcer gestured over to the tents that had been temporarily set up, "your score will not be made public for privacy purposes. After that you will be grouoed up and taken to one of the training fields where you will be tasked to demonstrate your casting ability at its best to the proctor. Those who have already participated in their duels will be guided to the dorms and those who have yet to participate in one will be taken to the arenas afterwards."

Cecil clicked her tongue in annoyance as she lined up with the rest of the students. She was already being forced to limit herself because of the restrictions her Master had forced upon the young woman. Now she was feeling the backlash of not protecting herself against the mana explosion she had initiated earlier. She would have at least coated herself in a thin mana shell before hand however she had felt the watchful gaze of Headmaster Haythem and two others. Cecil's master had made it explicitly clear to not get involved with Headmaster Haythem on anything more than a student to professor level and she was already regretting drawing too much attention to herself. Not only could she still feel Headmaster Haythem watching her the gazes of the two others were also much more intense than before. Cecil was sure that they all knew she was aware of their presence since people of their caliber were no doubt able to observe her without her notice. The only reasonable explanation was that they were testing her or something similar to that.