We Are a Newlywed Couple Who Entered the Academy

I didn’t know.

Even if I stared hard enough to burn a hole in the test paper before me, what I didn’t know remained unknowable.

Around me, the only sound filling the room was the scratching of pen nibs on paper. I finished the parts I could write ages ago, but why did everyone else have so much to write?

The large test paper practically covered the desk. At the top center was written, . Differential Phase — what kind of subject even was that? Suppressing the sigh that threatened to escape, I turned the page.

Flipping through the test paper from start to finish multiple times, I realized I’d only answered a handful of questions on each page. Occasionally, there were questions requiring predictions and calculations about the practical effects and scope of magic. These were the only ones I’d confidently answered.

Since they just required writing down the answer.

On the other hand, questions filled with incomprehensible symbols and terms instructed me to prove indecipherable propositions or classify the topological structures of magic under magiomorphism…

What even was magiomorphism?

Stretching my stiff neck, I glanced around the room.

The exam hall was an indoor space with forty desks spaced apart. This building’s lecture hall, located near the far end of the first floor, was hosting the test for twelve different groups.

My exam number was 20013423.

Arwitch Academy, Faculty of Magic Entrance Exam Hall.

It was the name of the place where I sat.

***

“Entrance exam?”

The shocking news came two weeks ago.

“Yup, they say it’s something new starting this year.”

Venisha, her red hair cascading over one shoulder, tilted her head as she spoke. Her emerald-like eyes sparkled as they fixed on me.

“Here, ah.”

Pop.

“An entrance exam? That’s the first time I’ve heard of it —”

“Azyan, finish chewing before you talk.”

Gulp.

“An entrance exam?! This is the first time I’ve heard of it!”

“I just found out this morning, too.”

Venisha, unperturbed by my loud outburst, nonchalantly plucked another grape.

The city of Elwood, nestled in the heart of a lush forest, was under the care of the Rose family. To the north of this region lay a grand mansion surrounded by vine-covered walls. Through the front gate, a blue pond reflecting the clear sky and a fountain greeted visitors. Crossing the gently curving bridge by the pond led to a door of topaz glass, the same one we had passed moments ago.

A splendid mansion befitting the Rose family name, where I had recently sought permission for marriage.

On the terrace nearby, sitting on a white chair gleaming in the sunlight and gazing at the sparkling water of the fountain, I emphasized to Venisha the gravity of the situation once more.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of it!”

“I told you, it’s the first time I heard, too. Now, ah~”

Venisha remained calm as ever.

“Why does it have to start this year?”

“Dunno…? Father said it’s been in the works for a while and just got implemented this year.”

“Unbelievable. And with only two weeks to prepare…”

“Didn’t you want to be an Ohms First? You should breeze through an entrance exam, no?”

With a mischievous smile, she looked at me and chuckled.

“That’s what I planned to do after getting in. Who’d have thought getting in would be the problem…”

What should I do? How could I prepare for something when I didn’t even know what was on the test?

“Don’t stress too much. It’s a magic faculty exam, right? Then it’ll be about magic.”

Plucking another grape, she slipped it past my lips. The cool, sweet grape touched my tongue briefly along with her soft fingertips.

“Magic…”

“When it comes to magic, Azyan, you’ve got nothing to fear, right? Whatever they throw at you, it’ll be a piece of cake.”

I didn’t know the first thing about this test.

Her words rang with confidence as she licked her finger thoughtfully and popped another grape into her own mouth.

Magic.

Her calm demeanor seemed contagious, and I felt a little reassured.

“Without any info on last year’s exam, there’s really no way to prepare, right?”

That was true.

“More importantly, Azyan.”

Venisha called my name, drawing my attention.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit warm here?”

“Huh? No, I’m fine.”

The weather was rather cool. It wasn’t warm enough to be uncomfortable. But Venisha, apparently too hot, shrugged off the coat draped over her shoulders, revealing only a fluttering camisole underneath.

“Venisha, we may be inside the mansion, but this is still technically outdoors.”

“It’s fine. I’ve sent all the servants away. It’s just us here.”

“Still……”

“And also.”

Venisha’s adorable tongue peeked out, sweeping across her lips in one swift motion.

“My father and mother are out for the day.”

Why was she suddenly bringing this up? I already knew that from earlier.

I unconsciously fumbled my hand over the dish, feeling only a rough texture. Looking down, I realized the grapes had been picked clean, leaving only the bare stem behind.

“Do you want some grapes?”

Venisha asked as she raised her hand, holding what seemed to be the last grape.

“No, Venisha, you go —”

Before I could finish my sentence, Venisha slid the grape between her lips. Tilting her head slightly, she raised her eyebrows and spoke, her delicate collarbones accentuated as her head moved.

“Want some?”

I didn’t retort to something unimaginative like, “What are you talking about?” I had been trying hard to look away, but at this point, there was no resistance.

I grabbed Venisha’s arm and pulled her down onto the lawn of the garden. With her now perched atop me, shadows fell across her face, but her emerald eyes still gleamed like jewels.

From her lips to mine, the grape rolled down, carried by the tip of her tongue. Perhaps because it was the last one, it was the sweetest grape I’d ever tasted.

Recently, I’d been feeling as though my very bones were crumbling, and it was not just in my imagination. But after tasting such a delectable grape, there was no going back.

Well, everything would work out. It was just the entrance exams, after all — and for the Faculty of Magic at that.

Afterward, with no servants around, we wandered through the garden, pond, and various places for a while.

***

… and yet, having fallen for Venisha’s schemes, here I was, two weeks later, facing a massive crisis.

Suppose the following structure equipped with a Zariski topology is given an ether transformation as described below. Prove that the modified lattice structure is unique under magiomorphism.
Explain why the second homology group of a three-dimensional space is a non-trivial group.
On an electric phase topology, the triple-form dual tensor structure always……

‘What on earth is this supposed to mean?!’

It seemed related to magic, yet it didn’t. In hindsight, I should’ve realized that someone like me, who cast spells without much thought, wouldn’t understand all these principles and theories.

Question 4 was a specific scenario problem. It asked about the effective range of an