Libritz Magic Academy, Late Autumn, Sunny.

"I say, what activities are there today?"

"Well, it seems to be something related to the monastery..." During break time, even noble girls wouldn't miss the chance for a noisy chat.

Upon hearing about the activity, Turing lifted her head from the book buried in front of her and asked the girls beside her, "Um... may I ask what exactly the activity is?"

The two girls exchanged sly glances and simultaneously replied, "We don't know. You should go and ask the class monitor."

Turing glanced in the direction of Diana and let out a light sigh. [How could I go and ask her?]

Unknown to Turing, while she was looking at Diana, Diana was also secretly watching him.

The psychological assessment examination was an annual mental health test conducted by the church for various magic academies. Regardless of the size of the academy, as long as it belonged to the Magic Academy, such a project was mandatory.

On the surface, it was to test the mental health of the students and prevent psychological issues during their teenage years.

In reality, even if any psychological problems were detected, the church wouldn't care at all. What concerned the church was whether there were any heretics or rebels. They used subtle methods to identify those seeds of corruption and eliminate them before they had a chance to develop.

Therefore, on the day of the psychological assessment examination, the teachers would have a day off and the authority to teach, judge, and administer the academy would all be under the control of the church.

To put it more seriously, on this day, the church even had the power to arrest people on the spot. However, such severe situations had not been seen for a long time.

[I still have to go and ask. Even if the whole class has been informed about the activity, she probably won't tell me unless I ask.] With much reluctance, Turing finally approached Diana.

Diana had changed a lot since the last time Turing saw her. Her previously intricate updo and peach-colored twin ponytails had been replaced with a simple ponytail. Her eyes now had tear-like smudges, possibly from frequent crying, and her eyebrows, like her mother's, were dignified and charming.

Surrounded by four or five other girls, Diana was calmly smoking and reading a book in the midst of their conversation. She didn't speak much.

Turing quietly approached Diana's table, who seemed to pay no attention to her.

"Diana, what's the activity?" Perhaps thinking that Diana wouldn't have a pleasant attitude, Turing didn't bother to put on a brave face.

Diana's gaze shifted from the book to Turing, and she took a deep puff from the pipe in her mouth. Then, she exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, enveloping Turing's face.

"Get lost. Go to the art room and find out for yourself," Diana said, and continued to lower her head to read.

Without expressing gratitude or anger, Turing didn't even spare a glance at Diana after hearing her reply; she hastily ran away.

As Turing completely left the classroom, Diana suddenly spoke to the person behind her, "You haven't picked up the test form yet, right? Hurry up."

"Oh, I completely forgot about you guys talking. Thank you, Diana," another girl, as if remembering something, followed Turing and rushed out of the classroom.

At this moment, a few very young men in the art room were chatting while looking at a piece of paper.

"I say, isn't this the last paper for the child from The Altria Family?"

"I told you so. How could I not have seen that legendary child and still run out of papers? This last one must be hers."

However, the speculations of the two were refuted by the third person.

"No, this paper has been reserved by a child who just came. She was supposed to wait in line, but it seems like she was suddenly called away by her companion."

"What about Ochia? Didn't the legendary figure from the Eastern Courtyard come? This will affect our grades. Ah, I've been looking forward to it for so long."

Just as they were talking, Turing pushed open the door and entered the room. [What? Will this affect our grades?]Turing immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He hurriedly took the paper from the men's hands, his words of thanks and apologies coming after he had gained possession of it.

"Turing, don't push it too far!" The girl had a bad feeling the moment she saw Turing, and she used magic to accelerate her steps.

Using magic to catch up, the girl, whose face was already red, couldn't even catch up to Turing who was not even out of breath at the front.

Her voice, with a hint of sobbing due to her unstable breath, made Turing hesitate for a moment as he took the paper.

"Do you think you have privileges for everything? I made the reservation first."

"Is that so!"

The girl walked straight to Turing, but she couldn't meet his gaze. Instead, she looked at the men who were pretending to shout.

"Sorry, child. It is indeed this student who took it first. We were just keeping it for her."

A seemingly upright man stepped forward and said to Turing.

[It's just a piece of paper, why not just take it directly?]

[...But I am indeed in the wrong]

"McNewdeau (Macanudo), you didn't even write your name on the paper and you came later than me. Even if you greeted first, do you have the right to have whatever you want whenever you want it from others?"

Turing clearly didn't want to give up this opportunity and replied sternly.

"We did use methods like tossing a coin to decide ownership. Isn't that fairer?" Turing said.

Although the girl named McNewdeau had already walked up to Turing and was tightly clutching the test paper, Turing didn't budge.

"I came here first, why should I let you have it?"

Seeing that Turing showed no sign of backing down, the look in McNewdeau's eyes flashed with disgust.

As the two girls confronted each other, several men discussed solutions, but no one dared to step forward and mediate.

With a "tear" sound, the test paper was torn in half.

"Even if I score zeroes on the test, I won't give you this opportunity!"

Discarding the other half of the torn test paper, the girl uttered a harsh remark and left angrily.

[Do you really hate me that much?]

Turing stood there, feeling bitter and at a loss for words.

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The girl arrived in the classroom and sat down in her seat, pulling out the chair angrily.

"What's wrong?" Diana asked her.

"There are no more test papers left," the girl replied irritably.

"I accidentally took an extra one. Here, take it," Diana said, taking out a sheet from the desk drawer.

"Eh, Diana, how do you have it?"

Though the girl was surprised, her young mind didn't think too much about it, and she gratefully took the paper.

--------------------------------------------------

Turing stood in place, still reminiscing about the feeling of being so detested by others, his heart feeling chilled.

[Diana has completely isolated me.]

[What should I do? It's not easy to obtain paper. Will they print more as backup?]

Although Acadia was not without the absorption of foreign scientific technology, technological products were still relatively unwelcome in this land of magic.

The prices of various technological creations were surprisingly high.

"What's going on? Why is everyone gathered together?" A warm and low-pitched boy's voice sounded nearby, and the monks immediately quieted down.

"Xixi? What are you doing here?"

Merka stood there with one hand on his waist, relaxed.

Although Merka, an average-height boy measuring 1.7 meters, his special black hair and deep and chaotic black eyes always left a deep impression on people.

If Oedipus is a great river, then Merka is a mountain brook. Standing next to him for a long time can even give one an indescribable sense of security.A man walked up to Merka and said a few words, causing Merka to laugh lightly.

"You, you're so clueless. How can you instruct the person from The Altria Family?"

"Come with me."

Merka waved at Turing, and the familiar scent of Oedipus enticed Turing, who unconsciously followed along.

The October autumn breeze burned like fire, full of passion.

The two of them gradually walked along the path outside the Magic Academy, with quiet red maple trees standing on both sides like gods of autumn.

The path beneath their feet was covered with fallen maple leaves, cut off by the wind. Although they had lost their vitality, it was like a kind of warning or rebirth —

It was moving.

"Do you still have the test paper?" Turing asked.

"No, I don't."

"Do you want to go back and get it? If we hurry..."

【I can probably reach the monastery in this distance.】

"Silly, the monastery is far from here."

"What can you do then?" Turing was called silly and seemed a little angry.

"Come on, follow me."

Merka naturally took hold of Turing's arm, not exerting any force, not squeezing tight, but Turing felt as if he were being grasped and unable to break free.

Maybe he didn't want to break free?

Since that night of repentance, Turing used the same method to go to Westminster Church several times in the night, returning before the servants discovered him, thanks to Wednesday.

Turing was no longer as afraid of the night. Going to church had become something no longer boring and heavy.

Although he couldn't see Merka every time he attended Mass, Turing always anticipated, secretly guessing whether Merka would be singing on the platform or reciting hymns by Maria's side.

Whenever their eyes met during Mass, Turing would think to himself.

【He must be making progress with me.】

"I always like to write articles, so I secretly keep some paper."

They arrived at a simple carriage, and Turing boarded with Merka.

"But there's no questions or grid for typesetting on the blank paper," Turing said.

"I'll draw them on, I remember them all."

Sure enough, the frames drawn by Merka with a pen on the paper were just as neat as the ones printed.

"Um..., your student number is 13, right? Okay, now I'll ask you a few questions."

Merka pulled Turing to sit in the carriage, and the desolate red maple forest suddenly had a hint of warmth because of the two lively young lives.

"We're asking here?" Turing said.

"Yes, here is fine. Otherwise, you would be questioned by many men in the literary room. Many of them don't often see girls because of their rigorous studies."

"So, it's better for me to ask you so you can relax a little, right?"

"After all, we're just giving you a grade, and then we'll let superiors review it."

"So, leave everything to me."

"There won't be any problems."

The calm tone was as melodious as the autumn breeze, but the young Turing wouldn't know what kind of guarantee he was accepting.

What kind of fate was awaiting him?