SSS-Ranked Summoner: Only I Summon All Heroes And Heroines Of Legend-Chapter 41: Return To Normalcy

A few days had passed since Master Oz’s final test.

RINNNNNGGGG!

Altair’s alarm went off at seven in the morning.

For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling

Three months of training in Master Oz’s pocket domain had rewired his internal clock completely. Waking up at six for brutal conditioning, studying until his eyes burned, practicing magic until his mana reserves ran dry—it had become his new normal.

And now, after two days of actual rest, his body felt almost restless without it.

"You awake?" Finn’s voice came from across the room.

"I’ve been awake for a while now."

"Yeah?, me too."

Altair sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair. The dorm room looked exactly as it had months ago, but somehow it felt smaller now. More confined, maybe it was their time away, or maybe it was just because Altair felt way more powerful.

Finn was already half-dressed, pulling on his Academy uniform. "Feels weird, doesn’t it? Going back to regular classes after... all that."

"Yeah, kinda" Altair agreed quietly.

He swung his legs out of bed and reached for his own uniform, the familiar red fabric feeling strange against his skin after months of wearing training clothes. Indeed it was, smaller, three months of physical conditioning had left Altair more muscular than he was.

In truth, he was not looking like a typical First Year Student.

As he buttoned his shirt, fragments of the past few months flashed through his mind.

And Master Oz’s words afterward: "You all passed."

His system had already dropped a ton of personal achievements and their rewards, mostly just xps. His stash was looking really good now, but Altair had still not used any experienc points, he just kept amassing them, but what for?.

---

He was still lost in thought when he got pulled back to the present by Finn’s voice.

"You good?" Finn asked, giving him an odd look.

"Yeah. Just thinking."

"About the training?"

"That, and everything."

Finn nodded, understanding. "It’s a lot to process." He gestured vaguely at himself. "I still can’t believe how much my mana capacity increased."

Altair pulled on his jacket. "Master Oz wasn’t kidding when he said we’d be pushed to our limits."

"Understatement of the century."

They finished dressing in comfortable silence, then headed out.

---

The energy felt different, springing with life and buzzing with activity.

More students had returned over the past few days as the announcement went out that in-person activities were resuming. The hallways were loud with conversation, the dining hall was packed again, and the training grounds showed signs of recent use.

It was almost like nothing had happened.

Almost.

But Altair could see it in the way some students moved with maximum caution. The quick glances over their shoulders. The way conversations dropped to whispers when certain topics came up.

The Herald’s incursion had left its mark, even if most people didn’t know the full story.

Altair and Finn grabbed breakfast from the dining hall—simple fare, bread and eggs—and ate quickly. They had a mandatory assembly scheduled for nine o’clock, and neither of them wanted to be late.

Ryka found them on the way to the main hall.

"Morning," she said, falling into step beside them.

"Morning," Altair replied. "How do you feel?"

"Never been better." She adjusted the strap of her bag. "Although it does feel a bit strange being back in uniform."

"Right?" Finn said.

Ryka let out a slight chuckle. "Totally."

They arrived at the main hall just as the bells began to chime.

Students were already filing in, filling the rows of seats that faced the central stage. The atmosphere was subdued—none of the usual pre-class chatter or socializing.

Altair spotted Svenja already seated near the back, sitting perfectly still with her hands folded in her lap. They made their way over and sat down beside her.

"Hey," Altair said quietly.

Svenja turned her head slightly in acknowledgment but said nothing.

Some things never changed, although he was certain he was getting through to her, until that moment.

Still, he didn’t want to push things, he was sure the moment will present itself again.

---

They all turned their attention to the center stage as the hall filled quickly

Within minutes, every seat was occupied. Students from all four houses sat in their designated sections—Daeryion, Halo, Slykhar, and Berdania. The murmur of conversation was a low, tensed hum, filled with anxiety and expectations.

Then the stage lights brightened, and the conversations weathered down slowly.

Instructor Scathach stepped onto the stage, moving with ease and relief. She wore her instructor’s robes, dark green trimmed with silver, and her expression radiated calmness and security.

The hall went completely silent.

"Good morning, students," Scathach said.

She paused, sweeping her gaze across the crowd.

"Welcome back. It is wonderful to see our halls filled with energy once again. We’ve missed the momentum of our shared work, and I want to thank you for your patience during the time away. ."

A few students shifted uncomfortably.

"I know some of you are worried about the security situation," Scathach continued, "But it pleases me to say that all security measures have been significantly reinforced. New wards have been placed all around school grounds. Additional monitoring protocols are in effect. And I can assure you, the incident that occurred will not happen again."

She gave a moment to let the reassurance settle in their minds.

"Now, we’re officially back in business. Classes and training are resuming exactly as scheduled.. And most importantly..." Her eyes hardened. "Your final examinations are around the corner."

A wave of nervous energy swept through the hall.

"You have exactly two weeks," Scathach said, her voice cutting through the tension. "Fourteen days to re-acclimatize to your student workload, and make sure youre up to speed with your curriculum"

"Use this time to sharpen your focus and refine your technique. We aren’t just looking for memorization; these exams will push the limits of everything we’ve covered—from the nuances of summoning theory and the fine print of contract mechanics to the split-second decisions of live combat and practical demonstrations."

She crossed her arms.

"I expect all of you to take this seriously. Your performance will determine not only your academic standing but also your placement in advanced courses next term. For those of you aspiring to join specialized tracks—combat divisions, research programs, diplomatic corps—your scores will matter."

Altair felt Finn tense beside him.

"Your instructors will provide specific guidance over the next few days," Scathach continued. "Use your time wisely. Study. Train. And do not underestimate the difficulty of what’s coming."

She paused one final time.

"Dismissed."

Outside the hall, students filed out in a subdued mass, breaking off into smaller groups as they dispersed across campus.

Altair, Finn, Ryka, and Svenja walked together, none of them speaking immediately.

Finally, Finn broke the silence.

"Two weeks. That’s... not a lot of time."

"It’s enough," Ryka said, though she didn’t sound entirely convinced. "We’ve been training for months. We should be fine."

"Should be," Finn emphasized. "But the exams are different, you know it’s in two phases."

Altair said nothing, his mind already working through the problem.

After three months of intense grinding under Master Oz, his mana capacity was finally cracked. He’d moved past the basics and leveled up to actual high-tier magic, with four summons now sitting in his back pocket.

On paper, he was totally set.

But exams are always a wild card, and the Academy is notorious for making them a complete nightmare.

"We should definitely squad up and study," Ryka suggested, leaning in. "We can pool our notes and help each other cover our blind spots."

"I’m down," Altair said, checking his watch. "We can lock in a spot at the library and set a real schedule so we don’t slack off."

Finn gave a quick nod. "Count me in. I need all the help I can get."

Svenja didn’t say a word, but she didn’t walk away either—which, as they have grown to understannd , was basically an enthusiastic ’yes.’

"Alright," Altair said. "Let’s meet tonight. Seven o’clock. Library, third floor."

They all agreed.

As they walked back toward their respective dorms, Altair’s phone buzzed.

He pulled it out and glanced at the screen.

A message from Master Oz.

---

"Your real training is just beginning. Do not relent now that classes have resumed. The exams are nothing compared to what’s coming. Stay sharp."

---

Altair stared at the notification for a second before sliding his phone into his pocket.

Master Oz wasn’t wrong.

For those who knew the truth, these exams were basically just a formality—a glorified checkpoint. The real threats were still out there, lurking in the background: The Watchers at the apex, the Summoner’s War-a lethal tool for self annihilation, and whatever else was moving in the shadows.

But right now, he had to focus on the immediate hurdle. He had two weeks. And honestly? He could get a lot done in fourteen days if he put his mind to it.

He turned back to the group, his expression serious. "Let’s make these two weeks count."

Ryka flashed a confident smile. "Agreed."

Finn grinned, already looking fired up. "Let’s show them what we’re actually capable of."

Even Svenja gave a barely perceptible nod, which was as much hype as anyone was going to get out of her.

Together, they headed back toward the Dormitories, ready to handle whatever the next two weeks threw their way.