Volume 8 Chapter 17: Mistakes Are The Mother Of Success

"Can you guys not look at me like this?" They were right; Keith was about to get chewed out by the two girls. Well, it didn't start. The two were sitting at the table, sipping on some tea. He, on the other hand, was still tied up and kneeling on the ground.

"..." Are they charging up? Wetting their lips so they could yell at him like madwomen. Just the thought was enough to make him shiver.

TINK! The glass cups made such a loud sound. Keith closed his eyes and prepared for their lecture.

"Would you tell us why you didn't tell us anything?" Sakura questioned.

"Eh?" Keith explained, "It was one of those things that can't be said." It was impossible. This was the matter of the Solis Kingdom.

"But you could have told us you were leaving earlier." Angelica pouted even more, "I missed you so much."

"..." Senior Ange, if you have said this to another person, they would cry.

"I'm sorry." Keith quickly bowed down. But when he did this, Angelica and Sakura could only sigh, "Fine, but make sure not to do this again."

"Indeed, we can't have the representative leave like that," Sakura warned.

"Don't worry, this isn't like an every-time thing." There was no plan; there was no way he planned to jump around like a madman.

"But I'm glad you returned. It was really different without you here." Angelica sighed. Keith tilted his head, "Is it because of the food?"

"No, it's because it's more fun with you around." Angelica grinned. Food was a secondary matter.

"It's really nice to have someone to talk with."

"Indeed." Sakura nodded to that as well. There was no way this wasn't a fun day without him around. It was enjoyable since Keith was so calm and free. Others would flinch at whatever they said.

"I see."

"But will you be fine with your studies?" Sakura questioned.

"I'll be fine. I'm actually a good crammer. But-" Keith paused as his eyes shined! Idea!

"Can I ask for a favor from the two of you?"

"Hmm?" The two girls tilted their heads when they heard that.

What's with the look?

...

Keith headed to his next class after eating with the two girls. Krystal and Jack were waiting for him there. But he could only give the stink eye to one of them,

"I tried to do something," Krystal muttered.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"You raised your hand and watched me get taken away." Krystal had her arm up. But that was it; Angelica and Sakura dragged him away as they watched.

"I feel so betrayed!"

"Well, you survived. So it wasn't anything bad." She was worried over nothing.

"Pff." Jack laughed, "To think you were lassoed and dragged away by the president and captain." The thought of the two girls doing something like that was just surprising.

"...Shut up. You didn't help me at all!" He wasn't dragged out of S-class; he was dragged through the hallway for everyone to see! Jack and Sarah saw him and looked away!

"I'm not touching that. And I couldn't save you." Angelica and Sakura would have destroyed him!

"Hmpf!" Keith slapped his back! That sent shockwaves of utmost proportions!

"Good afternoon, class; I will be frank, the midterm exam that I'm going to give you is going to be a course running within a certain area and a combat-related assessment." Tennol was straightforward as he added, "That's why you guys will be practicing right now with your horses."

"Understood!" The students shouted.

"Then we'll begin a course drill!"

"Ngeh!" "Knight, you look energetic?" Keith asked Jack, "Did you not bring him out to run?"

"Of course! This guy ran circles around the training ground!" Who was he kidding! It was actually quite the opposite. The horse had been running circles as exercise.

"And you should pay me! That horse dragged me all the time!" Jack was the one who suffered the most. Even when he tried to stop him, Knight dragged him around!

"...Pff!" "Don't laugh!"

Keith chuckled as he jumped on his horse. The other two did the same as they were ready to go. Tennol stated, "You guys will have to blow away the targets."

"Let's do this, Knight!" Keith shouted as he was prepared to go; so was Knight. The two of them dashed forth. Instantly, they destroyed six targets.

"They are really going at it," Jack muttered.

"I have to do my best."

"…" Forget I said anything. There was another brawler in this class. These two were monsters ready to take down anything in their path.

After some time,

"Good job, everyone. That will be the end of class," Tennol stated as he walked. As Keith brought his horse away, "Can you not be so pouty?" Krystal was pouting as they walked.

"I couldn't beat you." Keith dominated the training course like it was any other day.

"Keith,"

"Ah, hey, Carolyn! Are you done with your general courses?" Carolyn had chosen general studies. It was on a different wing than the training field.

"Mmhmm, class ended earlier than expected."

"I see. But make sure to study more."

"Are you my mother?"

"Ugh, big brother would be the best. I don't have a daughter like you."

"…" Carolyn paused before sighing, "I don't want a big brother like you either."

"But what's there in general studies?"

Carolyn thought, "Hmm, there would be a discussion about the land formation and basic trade routes."

"Speaking of which," Keith turned to Krystal, "Shouldn't you be taking general studies instead of the knight course?" General studies were for those who would become the next head and such. Krystal was none other than the next Grand Duchess of the Rustchil estate. He never questioned it until now.

"Don't need it. I can learn from home."

"I see." Keith thought about it; real-world experience was more important than books. Some things couldn't be taught by reading.

"And the amount of real-world experience you obtained also helped out,"

"I still can't believe you used that as a teaching moment."

Carolyn paused, "Don't tell me he did one of those rare you make your own mistakes and then he comes and solves it later."

"Yeah. That's what Keith did." Krystal nodded. From how Carolyn said it, it seemed she had gone through something horrible.

"This guy did it so many times." Carolyn glared.

"Mistakes are the mother of success. You have to fail a bit before you grow." That was something that Keith understood a long time ago. He had made so many mistakes that he rose back and grew from it.

"Am I right, Jack?!"

"Don't bring me into this!"

"But to do that in a national incident?" Krystal blinked. I think there were times when you couldn't do so.

"Say what?!"

"…" Carolyn glared at Keith, "Are you serious?"

"Hey, it was alright." Keith patted Krystal's head.

“…”

"We're going to go to the island. Do you want to come with us?"

"No, there's something I have to do."

"Okay! Please be more careful."

"Mmmhmm." Carolyn nodded. Keith entered the gate. Before Krystal could enter the gate, she gave a slight glance over at Carolyn. It was a subtle glance but she entered soon afterward.