Chapter 21: The Written Exam

Aoroi tapped his stylus anxiously against the smooth surface of his desk, the rhythmic clicking echoing in the tense silence of the classroom. All around him, his fellow students sat rigidly at attention, some fidgeting with their writing pads while others stared straight ahead. The air was thick with apprehension as they awaited the start of Miss Sasha's written exam.

The classroom door swung open and Miss Sasha strode in, her heels clicking sharply on the tile floor. She stood at the front of the class, hands on her hips, surveying them with her piercing eyes.

"I trust you have all prepared accordingly for today's assessment," she said, her voice crisp and authoritative. The students nodded mutely.

Aoroi swallowed hard, his throat dry. He could feel sweat beading at his temples as his stylus continued to beat out a frenzied tempo against the desk. To his left, Vanessa Helsing sat with perfect posture, cool as ice, while on his right, Bombshell fidgeted endlessly with the embroidered edge of his uniform jacket.

This was it. The day of reckoning was here. Aoroi took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies raging in his stomach. He thought of the long hours spent studying with Lily in the library, pouring over dusty tomes and quizzing each other late into the night. He had to trust that those efforts would see him through.

The exam had begun.

Miss Sasha cleared her throat and began explaining the exam instructions in her signature no-nonsense tone.

"You will have exactly one hour to complete the assessment. It consists of 50 multiple choice questions covering a range of topics from this term's lessons. Each question is worth two points, for a total of 100 points possible," she stated matter-of-factly.

A few students gulped audibly at the mention of the strict time limit. Miss Sasha's piercing gaze swept over them.

"I expect complete silence and no attempts to cheat, is that clear?" Her voice allowed no argument. The class murmured their assent.

"Very well. You may now turn on your writing pads and enter your details on the first page."

There was a chorus of electronic chimes as the students switched on their devices in unison. Aoroi tapped in his credentials with shaking hands, squinting at the bright display.

The first question loaded, waiting to be answered. He could feel beads of sweat forming on his brow as the timer in the corner of the screen began counting down.

This was a moment of Deja Vu, right back in an exam right right after graduating in his world. Aoroi took a deep breath and poised his stylus over the pad, ready to begin. The answers were locked away somewhere in his mind, he just had to remain focused. You've got this, he told himself. It's time to show what you're made of.

The exam had begun in earnest. Aoroi steeled himself and started reading the first question, determined to do his best.

Aoroi's eyes scanned over the first question on his exam pad:

"Describe in detail the events that transpired on the infamous 'Day of the Blood Sky,' including the causes and aftermath."

He took a moment to gather his thoughts. The Day of the Blood Sky was a major historical event they had studied extensively in the library.

Aoroi began typing out his response, making sure to touch on the strange red auroras that filled the sky, the eruption of Mount Xixi that spewed ash across the land, and the ensuing chaos as communication networks failed.

The next question covered the basics of viral epidemiology:

"Explain how viruses spread through populations, including concepts such as massacre rates, reproduction numbers, and herd immunity."

Aoroi had reviewed these in his study sessions with Lily. He defined key terms like 'basic reproduction number' and 'effective reproduction number,' and discussed factors impacting transmission such as population density and countermeasures.

Glancing at the timer, he saw 45 minutes remained. The middle questions ramped up in difficulty, covering advanced concepts from class. Aoroi's stylus flew across the pad as he delved into the nuances of viral mutation rates.

Stay focused, he told himself. You've got this. Question by question, he made his way through the exam, mustering all his knowledge. The final section covered Emoji Academy's history. He wrote about the school's esteemed founders and their vision to educate future generations.

Before he knew it, the clock chimed - the exam was over. Aoroi set down his stylus, flexing his cramped hand. A wave of relief washed over him. He had given it his all. Now, it was up to the fates to decide his score.

As the clock chimed signaling the end of the exam, Aoroi let out a deep breath he didn't realize he had been holding. Looking up from his desk, he glanced around at his classmates. Some appeared just as relieved as he felt that the challenging test was finally over. Others had expressions tinged with doubt, perhaps worried that they had not done enough to pass this all-important exam.

Aoroi's gaze settled on Vanessa Helsing, who was calmly setting down her stylus with an air of confidence. Of course she would breeze through an exam covering the history of viruses - it was practically her destiny with a surname like Helsing.

Aoroi felt a pang of envy at how effortless academics seemed for someone like Vanessa. For him, success never came easy. He had to work hard, study diligently with Lily's help, constantly struggling against self-doubt.

But he had given his all today. Now, he could only hope it was enough. As the students transmitted their exam answers and powered down their pads, a tense silence hung over the classroom. They had survived the challenge of the written test, but their fates would not be decided until the results came in tomorrow's class.

Aoroi packed up his things, his mind already leaping ahead to the anxious wait overnight, playing out both the agony of failure and the triumph of success in his anxious thoughts.

Aoroi took a deep breath as he tried to slow the swirling storm of thoughts in his mind. He knew he had to stay focused in the present moment if he was going to get through the rest of this exam day.

As the clock tower chimed, signaling the end of the allotted hour, Aoroi set down his stylus and flexed his cramped hand. The questions had been as challenging as expected, covering obscure details about the day of the blood sky, the properties of different viruses, and even some tricky math problems related to calculating mutation periods.

Aoroi had relied heavily on the study sessions with Lily in the library to work through the more difficult questions. He visualized the pages of notes they had pored over together, Lily patiently explaining concepts again and again until Aoroi could grasp them. Her encouragement and belief in him had given Aoroi the confidence to make it through this exam.

Now, glancing around at the other students transmitting their answers, Aoroi felt he had given it his very best shot. There was nothing more he could do but wait for tomorrow's results. He took comfort knowing that he had prepared thoroughly and worked hard - now he had to try and quiet the storm of "what-ifs" raging in his mind.

As Miss Sasha dismissed the class, Aoroi headed for the door, ready to clear his head with some fresh air before his next exam. He had made it through the first big challenge - the rest was up to fate now.

Aoroi stepped out into the courtyard, the bright sunlight momentarily blinding after the dimness of the classroom. He took a deep breath, trying to release the tension that had built up during the intense exam session.

Around him, other students from his class were also emerging, some gathering in small groups to dissect the exam questions. Aoroi caught snippets of their conversations as he walked past.

"That question about mutation periods was brutal!" exclaimed Vanessa Helsing to her friends. "I think I mixed up the formulas for bacteria versus viruses."

Her friends murmured in commiseration. Aoroi felt a glimmer of hope hearing even the top students found it challenging.

Lost in thought, Aoroi wandered over to a stone bench beneath a weeping willow tree. The gentle swaying of the branches and rustling of leaves soothed his mind.

He replayed the exam questions, analyzing where he felt confident in his answers and where he had to make educated guesses. All things considered, Aoroi felt he had managed well, relying on the knowledge he had acquired with Lily's help.

The school bell rang, jolting Aoroi from his reverie. It was time for his next class. He gathered his things and hurried off, hoping the physical exertion would distract him from dwelling on the exam. The results would come tomorrow - until then, all he could do was carry on and hope for the best.

The rest of the day passed in a blur for Aoroi as he went through the motions of attending classes and completing assignments. The looming exam results cast a shadow over everything, making it difficult to focus.

During his last class, Aoroi found himself staring out the window, watching birds flit between the trees instead of listening to the teacher. His nerves were getting the better of him.

Finally, the last bell rang and Aoroi shuffled outside with the other students. Small groups had already formed, rehashing the exam and making predictions.

"I bet the pass mark will be super high," fretted a vampire student. "Miss Sasha looked ready to fail us all."

"Don't psych yourself out," his friend replied. "We studied hard. Now we just have to wait."

Aoroi saw Lily waving at him from under their usual tree. He waved back half-heartedly and went over.

"How are you holding up?" Lily asked, her eyes full of concern.

"Honestly, I don't know," Aoroi sighed. "All I can think about are the questions I struggled with."

Lily gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "You've got this. Just try to relax tonight and get some rest. Worrying won't change anything now."

Aoroi nodded. As anxious as he felt, he knew Lily was right. The results would come tomorrow no matter what. All he could do was hope the studying paid off.

With a mix of nerves and anticipation, Aoroi bid Lily goodbye and headed to his dome room. Tomorrow would bring answers, for better or worse.