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ALTHOUGH Oriana had put a little more effort into studying thanks to Vincent’s influence, there was no way she would see a huge difference overnight. Nonetheless, as she gripped her report from their most recent routine exams in her hands and saw that all of her grades had improved, she breathed a huge sigh of relief.
“How about you, Yana?” she asked.
“Not bad. Although, not good either.”
“What about you, Azraq?”
“I always give everything my full effort.”
“Ahaha…” She couldn’t help but giggle at the way he put it.
Azraq was dedicated to his position as Yana’s bodyguard, so he only ever put in enough effort to achieve the same score as her. Part of the issue was that he likely didn’t enjoy studying to begin with, but if he had proper motivation, he could aim for the Special Class. Oriana had overheard Professor Quicee saying as much to him.
The atmosphere in the classroom following exam week was mixed. There were some who were relieved, some who were indifferent, and others who were overcome with despair.
“I guess that means only three of our group have to attend remedial lessons. Good luck, Edda, Constance, Lucian.”
As the three representatives of the final category, they were all slumped over on their desks. A darkness loomed over them, as if any minute now a funeral procession might start.
“This wasn’t…how this was supposed to go…” Tears welled up in Constance’s eyes, her lips trembling as she glanced again at her scores and collapsed on her desk.
“I can’t do this…” Edda lamented. “Why am I such an idiot? I even studied before the exams!”
“It’s precisely because you only study before exams,” Kai pointed out.
“Ugh, right where it hurts!” Lucian groaned. “As usual, you’re right, but that doesn’t make it any less painful.”
“Hey! I’m already basically taking my dying breaths over here. Could you not try to land a killing blow on me, please?!” Edda joined him in complaining, ironic since the two were always fighting. This was the one time they could actually join together and comfort each other.
Kai plucked Lucian’s report from his fingers and glanced at it. Exasperated, he said, “Not that I actually care, but if you keep this up, won’t you have to repeat a year?”
At Lagen Magic Academy, if you received four or more red marks during an exam period, you were obligated to retake it. If your grades didn’t improve enough during the retake, you would either be demoted down a class or you would have to repeat the year.
“R-Repeat a year?!” Lucian went pale. “That’s out of the question. I wouldn’t be able to go back home. My parents would be so ashamed…”
“Wait. I’d be in big trouble, too…” Edda mumbled. “If I had to repeat a year for being an idiot, my dad would end up using me as part of a science experiment!”
“My dad would have my head, I just know it. I suddenly don’t want to go home during the next long holiday!” Constance shrieked.
They had it hard; a regional lord’s son, a scientist’s daughter, and a knight’s daughter. Each one of them cried pathetically.
“Yikes. You actually have more than four bad marks,” Heidemarie commented, glancing over Kai’s shoulder to get a peek at Lucian’s report. To make it easier for her to see, Kai passed the report to her.
“Don’t tell me all of you are in the same boat,” Heidemarie said with a gasp. “Are you guys actually stupid? Oh, that’s right. I guess you are.”
The three accused were appalled.
“You’re the stupid one, stupid!”
“I never dreamed an actual idiot would call me out for my intelligence,” Heidemarie shot back.
“Meanie! I can’t believe you’re acting this way just because your scores were a teeny-tiny bit high!”
Heidemarie huffed. “My score is twice what Constance’s is. No, I actually mean it.” After looking at everyone’s reports, her face paled and she finally (reluctantly) said, “I guess I have no other choice. I’ll tutor you, but you’d better study like your lives depend on it.”
Since she was always in the top five of their class, the three idiots immediately lit up at her suggestion.
“H-Heidemarie!”
“I knew you were the best!”
“I might actually fall for you at this rate…” Lucian muttered, tears in his eyes as he gazed at her.
“No, anything but that,” Heidemarie replied instantly, cutting him to the quick.
Beside her, Kai was already getting ready to pack up and leave.
“Kai, come on! Help teach us!” Lucian whined at his friend, who was coincidentally also in the top five in the class.
“It’s none of my business. Learn to clean up after your own messes.”
“Heartless jerk!”
“Shut up, moron,” Kai snapped back at him. “Heidemarie, if you need some extra hands, feel free to call on me.”
“Thanks, Kai. And what about you guys, Oriana?”
Oriana shook her head. “I’m nowhere smart enough to join you, so I’ll bow out today.”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to refrain as well. You don’t need any more students than you already have, do you?” Since Yana refused to participate, that of course meant Azraq wouldn’t be joining them either.
Heidemarie smiled and nodded. “Got it. Well, guess I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Okay, my three idiots, open your textbooks!”
“Urgh. I can’t even argue with that nickname.”
“Reality is brutal sometimes…”
Even as they sniffled dejectedly, they pulled out their textbooks and answer sheets and placed them on their desks. After bidding her four friends farewell, Oriana and the rest stepped out into the hallway.
“Your grades were pretty good this time, weren’t they? Is that thanks to the study time you have been spending with Mister Tanzine?” Yana asked.
“Hardly. There’s no way a student from the Special Class could waste precious study time before an exam tutoring someone from Class 2.”
Even though they had studied together in the past, their classes were covering completely different material. Oriana could hardly ask him to tutor her under the excuse that they were friends during such an important time. She’d rather reserve that for when they didn’t have exams looming ahead of them. Besides, the other students at Lagen weren’t yet accustomed to seeing Vincent together with a commoner, so every time they studied together, it attracted a crowd. That was why Oriana decided against studying together recently. She knew he probably wanted to concentrate, and the added attention might only disturb him.
“I don’t want to get in the way of his studies,” she said.