### Chapter 72: The Test
At the Young Dragon Department of Saint His Academy, as school was about to let out, Helena was packing her backpack while asking her desk mate Noia,
“Noia-chan, summer break is just around the corner! Do you want to come over to my house for the summer?”
Still buried in a sea of math problems, the little Sea Dragon girl didn’t even look up.
“Come to your house for the summer?”
Little Sea Dragon nodded enthusiastically, “Uh-huh! It’s super cool at our place during summer!”
Well, living underwater, how could it not be cool?
Just as Noia solved the last tricky question, she put down her pencil and pulled out a planner.
“Let me see my plans for this summer…”
Helena leaned closer, curious about what Noia had lined up.
“Learn three new offensive lightning spells. Tsk—there are so many stored at Dad’s place, isn’t three a bit low? Let’s make it five!”
“Teach Moon how to use Lightning Strike. She’ll need to practice practical magic next semester, so it’s a good idea to get a head start!”
“Recommend ten extracurricular books for Little Light for next semester. This way she won’t just be trailing behind me waiting for some fun!”
“Patrol the border of the Silver Dragon territory with Mom five times.”
“Complete the task Sherry gave me—steal the bell from her hands. Hmm… I spent an entire winter break on that, so I really hope I can get it this summer!”
“And also—”
Just before Noia could read the never-ending summer plan, Helena quickly interrupted,
“Ah, okay, okay! I get it, your summer plans are packed! So, no fun at my place, huh?”
Noia tucked her planner away and glanced at her best friend. The little Sea Dragon girl’s eyes sparkled with a glimmer of hope.
Noia’s scheming mind, inherited from the Silver Dragon Queen, began to ignite.
“Are you really hoping for me to come?” Noia asked.
“Of course! I’ll introduce you to my family; they’ll absolutely love you! Especially my aunt—she adores little kids!”
Noia struggled to suppress a grin, pretending to be troubled, “Ah, but I really don’t have the time…”
“Ah~ why not?!”
Helena shook Noia’s wrist, “Can’t you just push your summer plans back a few days? Just stay with me… for a week, how about it?”
“That’s too long.”
“Monthly payment group six nine four nine three six one three five, um… how about five days?!”
“Still too long.”
“Four, four days…” Helena was growing increasingly uncertain.
Just when she was about to lose all hope, Noia grinned and laid Helena’s hand on the desk, gently fiddling with her pastel nails, “Ten days.”
Upon hearing that, the little Sea Dragon’s eyes lit up, “Really?!”
“Yup, really.”
“Yay! You’re the best, Noia-chan!”
Helena leaned in closer and rubbed her cheek against Noia’s face.
Noia usually wasn’t fond of physical contact with anyone but her family, but Helena was a special case.
This sweet little Sea Dragon girl, five years older, matched her vibe perfectly.
So, Noia was willing to reschedule her plans just for Helena.
However, while they were in their cozy moment, Noia suddenly felt a chill creeping up her back.
Oh no.
Could it be Moon come to ‘catch them in the act’?!
Even though Little Moon’s enrollment excuse was “I want to catch up with my sister,” Noia had reason to believe there was more to it.
A sister-complex written all over the face could not escape Noia’s keen observations.
“Noia, Helena, no shenanigans during study time.”
Oh, it’s just the homeroom teacher.
Seriously, from the Young Dragon Department to the Youth Dragon Department at Saint His Academy, the most dangerous pair of eyes during study time was always those “glaring from the window.”
Deep, dark, all-seeing—
“No passing notes over there!”
No little antics could escape the teacher’s mystical eyes.
Especially when she stood behind the classroom door, her observation skills doubled.
Even Noia, quick-witted as she was, had been caught multiple times, utterly unable to predict it.
The homeroom teacher slowly walked up to the podium and tapped the blackboard.
“As summer is approaching, you all have worked hard this semester. Before the summer officially arrives, there will be an outdoor combat assessment. This will be included in the final evaluation for the Young Dragon Department.”
As her words sunk in, the little dragons below began to murmur.
“Outdoor combat? I heard about that; it sounds interesting.”
“But it’s outdoors… isn’t it dangerous?”
“Not at all! The assessment locations are arranged by the academy and are safe. It’ll just be a bit rougher than usual.”
“……”
“Quiet!”
The homeroom teacher knocked on the blackboard again,
“This time, our Young Dragon Department’s outdoor combat assessment will take place in the Red Tree Forest beneath Sky City, lasting one week.”
Upon hearing the location, the little dragons breathed a sigh of relief.
Sky City was an absolute neutral zone for dragons, and nobody dared to cause trouble within its jurisdiction.
As for the Red Tree Forest, it wasn’t some terrifying wasteland.
Doing a combat assessment there shouldn’t be too tough.
“Wow, we get to visit Sky City too! I’ve heard grown-ups often go there for dates,” Helena said, slightly excited.
Coming from the reclusive Sea Dragon Race and being young, it was only natural she hadn’t been to Sky City before.
Then Helena turned to her best buddy, “Noia, I remember you’ve been to Sky City before, right?”
Noia’s little face expressed something unique, but she nodded, “Yeah… I’ve been a few times.”
“Are there really a lot of people dating there?” Helena asked curiously.
“Ah… yeah, quite a few.”
Helena blinked, noticing Noia’s mood seemed to dip a bit, she immediately asked, “What’s wrong, Noia? I remember you told me you were really looking forward to this semester’s outdoor assessment, but now you look kinda down.”
Noia lowered her gaze to the desk,
“I’m indeed looking forward to the outdoor combat assessment. But this location seems a bit… too easy.”
Helena blinked, confused, “Easy?”
“Uh-huh. Compared to the assessment, this feels more like… a spring outing.”
After a pause, Noia added with a smile, “Ah, I understand; the school prioritizes the young dragons’ safety, and they surely wouldn’t choose a tough spot.”
Helena finally got it; she patted Noia’s little head, “I’ve known you for so long, and you haven’t changed an ounce—always looking for the tougher challenge.”
Noia scratched her head humbly and grinned,
“Because difficulties are an effective shortcut to self-improvement. That’s what my dad told me.”
“Uncle Leon always surprises me,” the little Sea Dragon praised.
“Haha~ that’s just how he is, always keeping you guessing.”
“Quiet, quiet!”
The homeroom teacher was cracking the whip again.
Once the little dragons settled down, the teacher continued,
“This assessment will be conducted simultaneously with the Youth Dragon Department, whose location is in the Extreme North Land.”
“However, two seniors cannot attend due to clan affairs, leaving two spots open for the Extreme North Land assessment.”
“Principal Aulete has specially approved that our Young Dragon Department can apply for these two spots.”
“Keep in mind that the conditions in the Extreme North Land are very harsh, only suitable for youth dragons. While younger dragons have applied in previous years, they all ended in failure.”
“They were all outstanding students at the top of their class, but still lacked the experience and maturity to pass.”
“So, teachers remind everyone, if you’re not confident in your final evaluation, it’s probably best not to apply for these two spots, or it might delay your graduation.”
“Alright, back to your studies.”
After explaining the combat assessment, the homeroom teacher left the classroom.
Noia watched the teacher’s back with her big, beautiful eyes blinking.
“Hey, hey, Noia, you’re not really thinking about applying for the Extreme North Land assessment, are you?” Helena anxiously tugged at her friend’s sleeve.
But she sensed it was a silly question.
Knowing Noia, she was likely set on it already.
“The conditions there are terrible, and didn’t you hear what the teacher said? Younger dragons have applied before but failed. For your end-of-term scores, think it over, Noia-chan.”
“You’re right… I’ve thought it over, Helena.”
“Quick thinking, huh?”
Little Sea Dragon was slightly stunned, then asked, “So… you’re not going to apply, right?”
Noia slowly turned to face Helena.
And in that cold, stern little face, Helena seemingly saw the answer.
Helena silently covered her face, “I just knew it…”
The next second, the bell rang, and Noia snatched her backpack and bolted out of the classroom at light speed.
Leaving Helena sitting there in utter chaos.
Coming to her senses, Helena dashed to the door and shouted at Noia’s retreating figure,
“Where are you going?!”
“Gonna ask the teacher for the Extreme North Land spot! If I’m late, someone will snatch it away!”
“Who else would apply for that stuff, you idiot?!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Helena froze a moment, staring at Noia’s small silhouette as she softly muttered,
“I will.”
