Calder wasn't a fan of testing. It wasn't a form that he was familiar with, being river-schooled. Competition is what he was more familiar with, and he saw this as a completion. If you didn't get a top score, you failed. You failed yourself. You failed the school. You failed your friends and everyone else who counted on you. Calder wanted to do his school proud, but he also wanted to know that in the end, was staying in school, all friends and amazing personal experiences aside, showing results? If he got a good score, he could tell Murchadh that he was improving by leaps and bounds. Then again, if the school didn't stay open, he'd be picked up and never returned to any educational facility ever again. This was a one shot deal, and after that, their would be no looking for replacements.

As if anything could replace Amityville.

But as far as the tests went, he didn't feel confident in many. Physically, he had failed too many times to count, both during field trips and in other misadventures. As for writing, he was usually very good, but he had done a test before just to get in his clan and failed that. It had still made him feel lacking and he didn't feel that ...smart compared to the other students. He doubted how to make a mean turtle-leg stew would be asked in any event or a ABC option for which scarf matched what blazer best. As for magic, well, he was powerless in that regard. In the end, he stopped at healing and defensive magic. A rather personal subject considering his mother and her art. He knew he wasn't good for the actual healing, but defensive....he could give it a try. If he had any chance, it was here.

Defensive it was. He waited for a meter and prepared to take a test right on the spot. He just needed a good score. A decent score.....a score that wasn't zero.

It was horrible to look at a little box with a small meter display and know that this was what was going to judge you. Pass or Fail, no do-overs or begging on your knees for a grading curve after. The box would shed no tears and offer no mercy.

Inanimate objects were so cruel.

Taking a breather and shaking his hands to loosen up, he finally stood pretty, chin up, and closed his eyes, summoning his fear up and getting ready to target with hsi Baby Greens. Then, when he felt he was at his best, he opened his eyes and looked with purpose at the box.

The meter gave a small jump, a 'eh' blip on the dial that suggested it has felt better. Calder narrowed his eyes harder, but the arrow did not move, and then the score was recorded. Was his fear still recovering from all the battles? He hoped not. He glanced around and noticed a few Boogeymen lingering by to discouraging cheating. Yeah. That was sure to help their school by cheating on a standardized test. Still, it was worth a idle thought.

Calder sighed and accepted his score, like it or not (that would be a not), and took his form to fill.

Using: Headlights
Score: 3.5