On the week of the exam, all Hell seemed to break loose. The once fairly intense training sessions each teams had gotten used to set to by teachers suddenly converted to writing tasks balanced with team exercises and challenges set by the assistant headmistress herself. Though simple, emmense pressure was on each and every one of the students and the challenges proved overtime to be physically draining. Most consisted of what to do in certain situations, leaving no detail out. Other tasks were to carefully go through how to deal with certain beasts and threat levels. Not only that, but Black's exposure to the public put them all on edge. Not only to excel above the gifted flame-using shapefifter, but whether or not he can be trusted - some even went as far to lose trust in Headmaster for keeping him around. Lessons went slow, after-lesson training was recommended but didn't go so well as the exhausted teens could barely move their arms to raise a blade. Protector Grudge and other staff were taking time off also, there was a severe shortage of staff overall, Headmaster and Headmistress had been seen a lot more since the trial. It seemed all hands were on deck for both Protectors, teachers, and Protectors-in-training. On the fourth day of the week, the day before the actual exam, Headmaster reappeared in class, a simple cane in hand. The head of it was a carefully carved dragon head of pure diamond. After students settled down from their pondering conversations, he twirled the cane skilfully and scanned the room. "Can anyone tell me what this is?" He started the lesson with a loud voice to ensure all attention was on him. He browsed among the several hands that beckoned his attention. He pointed it to a short, blue haired girl in the front row, who hadn't put her hand up. "Miss May, tell me what is in my hand."
The girl scratched her head and answered unconfidently. "It's a cane, Headmaster?"
"Incorrect!" He stylishly tossed it to his other hand and thrust it to his left, pointing to another student who sunk down in his seat. "Master Martin, your thoughts?"
"Uh, is it a weapon?" He replied.
"Close. Shall we ask Black?" The Headmaster raised his brow to them, gently leaning on his item. The experienced man with a lesson to teac watched most the class pull disgusted or infuriated faces, muttering with hate in their eyes as a few glared down the boy at the back. He chuckled, holding in the rest of a hysterical laugh. "Black?"
His uneasy voice came out. "It could be anything?" He answered.
"Correct! Another answer I would've accepted is 'I don't know'. Because you don't. Lesson two: if one is accused of a crime, one has no reason as of yet not to trust them. If one has valid reason to commit crimes in future, be weary of them, but not grudging. If he came to cause trouble, he would've been gone by now, believe me." The adult began to pace, and the students that were sluggishly slouched sat up to here his knowledgable monologue. "Students, I confess to you that I allowed Black to enlist in my school knowing full well who he was. It's funny, when he came to me to tell me I almost choked on my tea - he thought he could hide his identity from me of all people. But I let him learn here for one reason: knowledge changes the most stubborn of individuals. The boy may have come to kill me initially - but the relationships he's made and the choices he's followed through scream 'reform' more than 'assassin', no? Faced with the two boys he grew up alongside, he fought tenaciously to protect his team. Faced with the exposure of his identity, he fought tenaciously within the law to prove himself. Faced with a choice many, many months ago, Black Crow chose to flee his home and in doing so, his heritage because he knew it wasn't right. Students, do you know what I would do if I was evil? Let the heirs kill my team, burst into flames as the most important government officials gathered to sentence me and burn them to the ground. Trust in me, trust in him. The boy is similar to you in ways you don't realise. By all means, raise your hand and I'll tell you exactly how. As I was saying, Crow is right; he may hate his past but it will always make him stronger and wiser as his determination will push him further to achieve higher. The higher he achieves, the more they shall forget his tainted blood. The higher he achieves, the less likely you are to stare daggers when you see him pass in the halls and the streets. But, back to lesson one," he gripped the cane and pulled it's body from it's head. A slender, dangerously sharp blade was hidden inside. Not only that, he tapped the body of the cane twice on the ground and both the sinister and dexter (right and left sides) of a shield shot out, ultimately turning the simple black dragon cane into a rapier and shield. The students were blown away at the sudden transformation, some looked to their own weapons for ideas. Jack furrowed his brows, frowning slightly that his hidden weapons within weapons idea wasn't entirely original. Headmaster looked around at them all for their reaction, smiling crafting as he got to Jack - of course he knew!

For the rest of the lesson he monologued about past life lessons he'd learnt and tricks he'd picked up; mostly useless at first glance. Throughout, he may throw in a demonstration or re-enactment including students. Time flew by, and before they knew it they were required to retire to their dormatories. As they all stood tall with respect for their teacher, he smiled pleased with the day and announced to them. "Toughen yourselves, ladies and gentleman. Tomorrow comes a physically challenging day for you all - one even the best of Protectors will be weary of. You must tackle it as a team, with your heads held high - but not too high. Stay strong together, stay smart alone. Be smart, mature, calm. Your physical exam will take you to Red Island, where you are required to cross a certain point of the island and survive the night. You will be graded on multiple aspects in your time there." Gasps and mutters blanketed the room at the revelation, he continued regardless, "I suggest you use tonight to gather your courage, because from the shore tomorrow morning, you will be on your own. You will not be helped, you will not be protected, and you will not be safe."