Part 4
Today’s the first full day of our third term. With finals drawing ever closer, the whole class is really buckling down.
“Apparently, that stuff we learned today about the theory of mana control shows up on the test every year,” Skel says.
“Dang, Skel,” Po replies. “You really know your stuff.”
“It’s about time I started getting serious. If I have to repeat a year, my parents’ll kill me.”
“Yeah, I should start getting serious, too. I’ve been letting myself get a bit sloppy.”
“Once I actually start getting serious, this’ll be a cinch.”
“Yeah, it’ll be dead easy once I start getting serious.”
Their eyes are bloodshot.
“You’ve got pretty bad grades, too, right, Cid? You’d better start getting serious.”
“Yeah, good call,” I say. “I’ll start getting serious, for sure.”
I’ve been keeping my grades at just below the middle of the class. To be honest, I spend most of my classes training my magic, so I’m always at a total loss when test time rolls around. That’s never a problem for me, though. When I need to get serious, I’m the best cheater around.
I haven’t been paying any attention in class today, but during the course of my training, I’ve proved the theory that compressing your mana can make it a thousand times stronger. Practicing like this is a key component in becoming an eminence in shadow.
Here I am, secretly refining my mana like always, when the door loudly slams open to reveal a silver-haired girl on the other side.
It’s Alexia.
“Nice weather we’re having today, huh?” I say, nonchalantly looking out the window.
It’s overcast.
I can feel every head in the room turn my way. I dunno why, but everyone always looks at me whenever Alexia shows up. It’s weird, considering that I’m just your average forgettable guy.
“Hey, you!”
“Oh huh, a bird just went by.”
The sky is uneventful. It’s as ordinary as can be.
“Eyes over here, Fido.”
“Man, just look at those clouds drifting by.”
And today’s just an ordinary day. Surely, nothing strange or eventful will happen.
“Don’t you ignore me.”
I feel someone grab my jaw, and my neck makes an alarming crunching sound as it gets forcibly twisted to the side.
Alexia’s red eyes stare back into mine.
I try giving her the most unremarkable greeting I can. “Oh, hey, if it isn’t Princess Alexia.”
“Hello there, Cid Kagenou.”
“I’m afraid you’ve wandered into the wrong class, Princess Alexia.”
“I assure you, I’m exactly where I need to be. I have business with you, Cid Kagenou.”
“Ah, sorry, class is starting soon. We’ll have to continue this chat some other time.”
“That’s irrelevant.” Alexia turns to Skel and Po as she grabs me by the collar. “I’m going to be borrowing him for a bit.”
“G-g-go right ahead!”
“H-h-he’s all yours!”
I hear their traitorous voices as Alexia hauls me off.
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