Def snorted. "Def not say Def worry for a moment, but Def not say he not worry for a moment."

Troma blinked. "So what Def saying? Troma confused."

As modest as ever, Ain turned away from the attendant and began heading towards the exit. He couldn't get far before Senon walked up to his side and grabbed his sleeve with the tips of his fingers.

Ain glanced at the demon and waited in anticipation, but no words came. The demon just held Ain's sleeve, and followed at his side. Like a child.

Ain chuckled.

Def glared at Senon. For many reasons, no doubt.

As they left the gym, the smaller demon finally spoke. "You cheated."

Def growled. "My master doesn't cheat! Our Lord and Savior is supreme. Bow down and worship at master feet, kid." The final word was spoken with considerably more venom than usual.

Ain's smile was ever present. "I did. A little bit. That is why I was disqualified."

Senon nodded.

Def frowned. "It only cheating because little demon don't comprehend Master true power."

Senon glanced at Def, who appeared to be in the bargaining stage of grief.

"Master," Senon said, using the word awkwardly and in a different meaning. "Please help me comprehend. How did you do it?"

Ain pondered the question, tapping his lower lip with his index finger, unaware that even now, rumors were going around the Academy about precisely the same issue.

"It is easier to explain if you help me confirm something. You are not a demon, are you?" Ain asked.

Senon shook his head. "Half."

Ain nodded. "Your other half is..."

"Don't know," Senon replied.

"It is a spirit," Ain said.

Senon looked up at Ain. "A spirit?"

"Not an ordinary spirit either. A spirit created from a prayer. There is a powerful tradition in that," Ain explained. "A tremendous folk-lore. Do you know why?"

Senon shook his head. "I was told Spirits can't be born from prayer."

"Not ordinarily, but they can if the prayer is a wish. Only spirits that reincarnate can become prayers. That is your other half; a reincarnated spirit. A prayer."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Prayer for what?" Senon asked.

"That is for you to find out. Excellence or fame, who knows. But in that itself is how you cheated. You are not supposed to use magic power in the physical exam, however, your physical power - your skill - comes from your Link; your magic power is already bound into your body and your skill."

Senon stared at Ain for a moment longer than was polite, and then fixed his gaze on the floor of the corridor. "So how did you cheat?"

"It is called Pneuma," Ain said. "That is my Link."

"Pneuma... breath?"

Ain nodded. "My breath is my Link."

"I saw it clearly," Senon murmured. "The rock's soul flickered and disappeared. You blew it out with your breath?"

Ain nodded. "Although I didn't use any magic power. It is the same however; when you wield your sword, your Link connects your Gates. When I breathe, the same thing happens. That is cheating."

Troma smiled, elbowing Def in the ribs in order to cheer him up. "So Master not cheat. It just conscience?"

"Coincidence," Def corrected Troma and sighed. Acceptance. "Who care if Master cheat or not. Master is Master. Master make rules now. If he say he pass, then he pass. Who say no to Master? Def want to see, so Def can pick through their pockets."

Troma added: "While they det, yes?"

"Dead. Yes." Def nodded. "So what faction Master join?"

"Don't know yet," Ain said. "Maybe the Commoners."

Def went pale. Extremely so. He was as white as a sheet. Then he chuckled. "Master good joke. Nearly give Def heart attack."

Troma smirked. "Def no have heart."

"Do too," Def said.

Troma shook his head, smirking. "Def only have a little heart. One night Def sleep, and Troma so hungry, he eat piece of heart."

Def stared at Troma, as if Troma was the biggest idiot in the universe. "Then how Def alive? Idiot. If Troma eat Def heart, Def be dead."

Troma nodded. "Def not wake up for long time, so Troma find wanderer for help. Wanderer make Def wake up."

"Hold up," Def said. "Troma no joking?"

Troma shook his head.

"Def zombie?"

Troma shrugged. "Troma not know what Def is, but if Troma not get food soon, Def need help again."

Def cackled, while tears streamed from his eyes. Then he hugged Troma. "Troma, you genius."

"What Troma do?"

"If Def is dead, then no legal obligation to pay debt anymore," Def explained and then laid both his hands on the other goblin's cheeks, and kissed his gnarly lips.

Troma spat on the floor. "Eww, Def taste like sewer. But Def forget one thing. Maybe Def not have to pay debt because he det; but debt-collector still kill Def, because he not det-det."

"So Def die for nothing?" Def asked.

Troma nodded. "Sorry."

"It ok," Def said. "Consider it even. Troma one night sleep, and Def sell his kidney."

"My kidney?"

"And part of liver."

Troma looked despondent. "That why when Troma eat spicy food, he pipi from his booboo?"

Def nodded.

"Troma commit hate crime now." The goblin reached into his robe and withdrew a club, slamming it into Def's head before the other goblin could react.

Perhaps because Def was dead, this didn't knock him out immediately. The goblin ran and Troma followed him in the laziest manner possible. Troma didn't even look like he wanted to catch Def, but somehow managed to keep up with him. Before long, they were gone around the corner.

"I'd like to ask you something, Master," Senon said.

"Go ahead," Ain said, smiling at the goblin's antics.

"If I pass my tests, will you take me as your disciple?"

"I am a human; my magic is different from yours," Ain said.

"But I can still learn it, yes?"

Ain nodded.

"Will you take me as your disciple, then?"

"Sure," Ain said. "I would love to."

Senon smiled and nodded. "The magic theory test is next. You don't have to take it," - Senon pointed at the insignia on Ain's shoulder - "But I'd appreciate it if you came with me."

Ain nodded. "All right. Let's go."

"One last question, if I may?" Senon asked.

Ain nodded.

"Why are you so powerful?"

Ain chuckled, pondering Senon for a moment. "I am like you."

"Like me?"

"I am also a reincarnation."