By the time Tiyi changed into pants and returned to the training ground, the chubby candidate had already begun his test.

Feege, grandson of a high-ranking bishop, was a notable figure in the Imperial capital. His bulky frame packed considerable strength, and his agility wasn’t poor either—after all, securing a spot at Holy Academy required more than just connections.

Tiyi watched from the sidelines as Feege charged back and forth like an unharnessed ox cart. He’d skid to sudden stops, pivot around posts, and dodge softwood pellets fired from red-marked targets. His massive body rolled heavily through clouds of dust, each footfall thudding *thump… thump… thump*.

At first, he managed well. But as laps mounted and stamina faded, his dodges grew perilously close. Soon, pellets began striking him.

Each hit deducted laps—a crushing blow for Feege, whose heavy build already strained his endurance. Suddenly, he rolled clear of the course, crashing into a weapon rack covered in dust. He’d abandoned the test midway.

Josef shook his head. Though no rule explicitly permitted early surrender, examiners often made allowances based on a candidate’s status.

"Feege: fourteen laps. Score: two," Josef announced after exchanging a glance with the bald examiner.

Truthfully, had Feege continued, more hits would’ve slashed his score below twelve laps anyway.

"*Ugh!* Should’ve quit at eighteen laps!" Feege slammed a fist into the dirt, frustration boiling over.

With a maximum score of twenty, fifteen points were needed for admission. Losing three points on the first test put Feege in serious danger.

"Next: Jolowi."

Though arrogant and spoiled, Jolowi had undergone rigorous elite training far beyond ordinary civilians. His lean frame made the test effortless.

"Jolowi: twenty-six laps. Score: four."

He’d stopped at twenty-six laps, knowing the remaining time couldn’t secure four more. The examiners accepted his decision.

"Alandiye. Your turn." Seeing Tiyi in fresh pants, Josef nodded—then frowned slightly. Those tight trousers drew too many male gazes. *She’ll only cause trouble at the academy*, she thought, despite being a woman herself.

"Hmm, okay." Tiyi secretly loved how snug the senior’s pants felt. *Women’s clothes really are comfortable*, she mused, glancing toward Qingruo, the Student Council judge standing across the field. The warm air suddenly felt charged with energy.

"Begin." Josef flipped the hourglass dismissively. *Better she fails. Saves us future headaches.*

*Whoosh!*

Tiyi shot forward like the wind.

Even Qingruo’s eyes flickered with surprise.

*So fast… Could this girl match my speed?*

Tiyi weaved around posts with liquid grace—sharp stops, pivots, accelerations—all perfectly optimized. No wasted motion. No excess strain.

True, her new female body carried less raw power. But her innate talent remained, enhanced by newfound flexibility. Her physique naturally compensated for every shift, even calculating how her chest’s movement affected balance.

Before she knew it, she’d completed seven laps. Her black pants stayed spotless—*wouldn’t want to anger the senior over dirt*, she joked inwardly. (Though Qingruo would never scold her for such a thing.)

*Uh-oh. Am I going too fast?* Tiyi slid to a halt, hair whipping as she checked the hourglass.

*…A perfect score is enough. No need to draw attention.*

"*That woman!*" Jolowi, still panting at the sidelines, ground his teeth. He longed to sabotage her—kick a rock onto the course—but with the Student Council President watching? He wasn’t that reckless.

Tiyi eased her pace, moving with casual elegance. This test was child’s play.

*After all… I was once the Empire’s strongest Holy Temple Knight. Speed hasn’t faded with strength.*

The softwood pellets? They crawled like snails. She dodged them without visible movement—making each miss look like a misfire.

"*What’s wrong with these pellets?*" Feege grumbled from his seat. "*Why won’t they hit her?*"

"President… this girl—" A tall, handsome Student Council member started beside Qingruo.

"Our duty is to record hits and violations. Nothing more," Qingruo stated calmly. *She’s reading the mechanisms’ movements*, she realized. *Predicting trajectories before pellets even fire.*

Before anyone noticed, Tiyi finished twenty-five laps. She slowed smoothly. "Examiner, may I stop now?"

Though the first two had quit early, the rules weren’t explicit. Best to ask.

"Ah… well…" Josef hesitated.

"Examiner Josef," called the tall council member, "since the first two candidates ended early, shouldn’t fairness allow Alandiye to stop too? Especially with a perfect score already."

Josef and the bald examiner nodded in agreement.

Tiyi stepped out of the course lightly, her pale skin dewed with a faint sheen of sweat.

"Alandiye: twenty-five laps. Perfect score!"

"*Heh*, Master Jolowi," Feege chuckled from the ground. "She’s only one lap behind you."

"Shut up," Jolowi hissed under his breath.

After a short break came the weapon power test.

Imperial soldiers cleared the field, placing three thick wooden posts under the open sky.

"For the weapon test," announced Morton, the bald examiner, his calloused hand sweeping toward the posts, "choose a weapon you’re comfortable with. Strike these posts three times. We’ll score based on cut depth and technique. Your best strike counts."

"Alandiye: left post. Jolowi: center. Feege: right." Morton pointed.

Watching from afar, Qingruo’s expression turned icy.