[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210505/2a9d9af6b732afe380e700aea286758d.png[/img][/center][hr]
Rudolf could think of a million better ways to start his day than exercise. In fact, he could plan his schedule for an entire month and not once include strenuous physical activity, and certainly not 'getting his ass handed to him'. This was just going to be a repeat of last week, except he was tired and the one shattering through his pitiful block would be an Archbishop-chosen veteran of demonic beast combat instead of some prick Adrestian yeoman whose experience only came from slaying a hay bale with a pitchfork. As if the wooden sword he'd inevitably be whacked with wasn't bad enough, apparently Professor Malathice expected them to dodge fireballs and 'probably' be healed afterward. Was the Leicester professor seriously the only sane one here? He would've expected her to be the most loony, with the way he'd seen her brandishing that stick of hers.

The diminutive teenager shuffled groggily toward the targets under Kaira and Tomai's purview before he stifled a yawn. If this was to be a regular occurance, he'd have to write to his grandfather for coffee sometime; Rudolf doubted the monastery bothered to keep imported goods stocked this far inland. On the other hand, the looming threat of mortal danger was sure to wake him up once the professors transitioned to the defense portion of the assessment. They might even let him leave if - no, [i]when[/i] - he got hit, unless they didn't even notice he was there, in which case he might actually survive the day without injury.

Professor Simeon said they didn't need to push themselves, so Rudolf could surely get away with some meager spell that wouldn't draw attention and allow him to blend into the background for the entire session. That ran the risk of him falling into the same treatment he'd gotten back home, though. So... he needed a showy spell that would garner everyone's attention and show his ineptitude plainly for all to see. Unless they assumed he was just very ambitious and took a display like that as a sign of unrefined talent rather than hopelessness. Better to mess up a simple spell. But... then they might not notice. Rudolf's posture shrunk even more than usual as his brain cycled through the same infinite loop a few more times; he just wanted to disappear already.

With deliberation getting him nowhere, Rudolf finally cupped his hands in front of his chest as if he were holding a ball. Between them, fell symbols flickered to life and aligned around a luminant bead of violet. After but a moment of channeling, the bead expanded into a turbulent orb of dark magic that fit snugly between both of the boy's palms. 

[color=b300b3]"Is- Is this good? Should I use a stronger spell...? Or, uh, is this just a test of aim?"[/color] Rudolf questioned aloud to make absolutely certain his performance would have witnesses as the miasma still buzzed in his grasp. The two professors seemed... oddly attentive to his presence, so he likely had no reason to worry, but he supposed frequently losing track of one of your students was embarrassing enough that they'd try to hide it even if they had no idea of Rudolf's presence most of the time. Props to Professor Michail for having the candidness to look at him like a ghost everytime they passed in the hall, at least.

Rudolf didn't wait for a response, only that he had an audience before he released the spell. He heaved away from his chest with both hands delicately, as if he intended to send the projectile listing along at a leisurely pace toward the target. Unaffected by the vigor of Rudolf's gestures, the miasma shot forward with typical haste instead to impact the target before him. To his chagrin, it didn't miss, but surely Tomai's icy demeanor would translate into a critical deconstruction of every flaw in his spellwork regardless. He messed up somewhere, surely; Rudolf was just too tired to see where yet.

[hr]
[center][img]https://fireemblemwiki.org/w/images/thumb/e/ed/FETH_Crest_of_Noa.png/60px-FETH_Crest_of_Noa.png[/img][/center]