"Yes! Just like that, Urtuoi-kischu!" I said to my friend as he carefully began to claw in his words. Having just previously given him a sentence to write down in Jhermonikran. Now, I was hoping we could move on to him writing with the actual tools next. But, he had been very assertive of the idea of him not writing like that.

His claws could not hold the tools properly and he had just gotten used to writing with his claws. I had warned against such a thing as a tablet from a magically denser region would leave him unable to write at all. But, I just could not get past his stubbornness regarding the tools. He was just completely unwilling to use them so it might be that we just have to stick with this.

And, in my frustrations over it, I looked over to Ayi-chira who was sleeping in Nin's bed while we worked. I just wish I had the abilities she had, that ability to influence Urtuoi-kischu and so on. He was like a puppet near her, she could influence him meaningfully so well. Yet, that line of thinking also made me sad.

For was it because of my prior, self-created problems regarding Urtuoi-kischu that led to me not being able to... Open him up like she could, was his unwillingness to listen to me perhaps my own fault? Or was he always like this and I was just blaming myself needlessly? I doubted it, there was no way my actions had not played a role.

"Clohniq show me the way..." Urtuoi-kischu then moaned in frustration as he leaned back into his seat. A seat which we had to get custom-made for him as otherwise, it would have just snapped. Even with the training he has been going through in order to control his magic better. Something he had made a lot of progress in!

"What's the problem, Urtuoi-kischu?" I then asked him after bringing my chair closer. Cautiously moving it so the scraping noises would not awaken Ayi-chira. I had even taken off my boots and was just moving about in socks! Something that made me feel weird, honestly.

I had gotten very used to high-heeled boots since I went shopping with Rossie-chira in that town.

"Just tired and frustrated. Nothing to concern yourself over." he simply stated before resting his head in his arms and sighing. My head turning towards the window shortly after as it was quite dark out.

"Do you think you can go on for a little longer or would you prefer to stop?"

"I'd rather keep going... I am not normally done by this hour with Lari."

I frowned, "Right... Perhaps we could go outside for a bit then? Maybe the fresh air would do you some good?" I offered to him. Mostly out of a selfish desire to get some alone time with him but also because I thought it might work. Maybe having him get a bit of blood pumping would actually help him learn better?

"Fine." was all he said before he left the room. My hand putting down my tablet and writing tools before I followed him. Not bothering to put on my boots before I followed him through the window he went through.

"A little help?" I called out to him as I held out my arm and extended each finger on my hand. A quiet yelp leaving me as he suddenly heaved me up with him. And a few seconds of stumbling about later saw us on the roof of our dorm. Yet, instead of feeling happy that I was up here with him, I felt bothered.

He was just so moody right now, he wasn't saying anything and he didn't even look like he was enjoying it! So, I thought I might as well try and at least act with some confidence... So I walked up to him. And I sat down.

"So... How was your day?" I asked him while I fidgeted about. I was very uncomfortable for some reason.

"Same as most." was all I got.

"Have I been able to help you well enough?" I then found myself asking, a red tint going across my face shortly after.

"Guess we will see the day after tomorrow."

"Is there anything I can do to help you calm down? I know you have been struggling to sleep these past few days."

"Try months..." he bitterly commented before I heard him move, my blush growing as he had turned to face me.

"Y-Yes...?" I asked him while moving away slightly out of nervousness. But, that glare of his showed me that I should not have done that.

"Why are you so easily embarrassed by me?" he then asked, something I was not expecting at all. So, I sort of freaked out a little and moved away some more before I calmed myself.

"I'm... Not... Yeah, I'm not easily provoked by you..."

"I said embarrassed, not provoked." he clarified with a faint chuckle.

"Same thing..." I told him with a pout.

"I guess so, I guess so indeed." he said before rolling back onto his back. An arm of his soon pulling me in close with my reaction causing him to snicker.

"W-What's this all a-about?" I asked as my soft front was pressed against his hard shell. That bracelet of his having been trapped on my thigh while his claw reached back to his gut.

"It was getting a little boring up here."

"I see, s-sorry..."

"Don't apologise, Einervaene. You're the reason I am not bored." he told me before he let go, snickers still leaving him. And while I slowly nodded at this, going up onto my knees as I did so. I found my gaze resting on that bracelet of his again.

"Would you mind if I had a look at it?" I asked as one of my gloved fingers began to prod at it. Nearly spinning it around his wrist as I did so.

"No, you can't have it."

"So I am not allowed to look at it?" I asked him as his laughter had me confused. Did he make a joke or was I not allowed it and he was just being cruel? I guess it must have been the first option as he soon handed it over to me. And, once again, that feeling happened, one of where Nin just seemed duller in my eyes.

"Why are you so obsessed with that bracelet anyway?" he then asked me as he brought himself closer. A very sudden surge of curiosity driving me to put the bracelet on shortly after. And, when I did, Nin moved back slightly, his eyes staring intently at my body.

"Is there something on me...?" I asked him as he was not one to suddenly stare at my chest, legs or rear. This embarrassment I was feeling only getting worse when his claw moved slightly closer before he then brought me in for a hug. He wasn't saying anything and neither was I, but, here we were. Me on his lap as he tightly pressed my body against his.

"Can I have my bracelet back?" he then asked in confusion as he let me out of the hug so I could stumble back a bit. The signs of a smile appearing as I nodded rapidly before giving it back to him. What was that all about? Seriously, he had just held me like how a pair of intimate lovers would embrace!

"Where did you even get that bracelet...?" I found myself asking once my embarrassment had gone. Well, that would have been a lie, it never really went. It just calmed down and I don't think it would ever go. Not until I spent some time on my own to process what had just happened.

"A friend..." he vaguely said as he put it back on after eyeing it. A shrug following shortly after he pondered a thought.

"Must be one special friend." I quietly muttered before I looked back at him as that sensation had returned. That one that made my stomach feel weird along with my heart and mind. A queasy sensation one actually wanted to carry on.

"She is indeed," he then commented before he headed back inside, "You coming?"I was then asked. But, I shook my head and gestured to the roof. He then came back to me which left me with a thundering heart.

"Ah..." I barely let out before he then left again, his mouth mumbling before he went back down. And, to my surprise, my lips had shaped themselves somehow. But, placing my fingers against them clarified to me what they had tried to do. I was prepared to kiss him?

Not only had I dreamed of such moments, but I had also tried to do it for real? That was a lot for me to take in, admittedly, and, if I wasn't scared of what Rossie-chira might do. I would have probably been able to come to the answer in my head instantly. Yet, I did not, I just sat there while rubbing my lips.

An odd heat suddenly filling my body before I just fell down with a smile. A small, sweet smile that was hard on the mouth as it made it all tight.

"Maybe I should speak to Ayi-chira about this when I can..."

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"Aim for her tit!" Ayi-chira nearly shouted as she cheered Urtuoi-kischu on from the sides of the chamber. Her choice of words causing me to stop which in turn caused Urtuoi-kischu to collide with me. His controlled aura having given him the means to get an actual grasp on my lightning form that I had been working on a lot. Specifically in order to make it more modest but even then, I still looked naked.

And, well, Ayi-chira's choice of words had made me exceptionally embarrassed as there was indeed a hand near my... As she put it, tit. But, thankfully, Urtuoi-kischu could not bear to keep his hand near me as the lightning was causing him too much pain. Yet, that also made me feel bad as I guess I just did not like the idea of scaring him off.

"Can you not encourage that behaviour!?" I found myself saying to the Ibenorrocon as she laughed while the Nomad shook his head.

"Perhaps you should not be so exposed then?" he said as his eyes stayed focused on my opponent. Urtuoi-kischu who was once again idle as he thought on what to do.

"Ninno! What did I say!" Ayi-chira then said before a small water orb smacked into his face. The sudden halt to his train of thought causing him to snap his jaws in the direction of the blow. Only for him to then calm down when he properly registered the water. My normal body soon appearing once again as I decasted the spell.

"Well? Do you think you are getting better?" I asked the towering bug as I passed him over a bottle of water. My body moving back slightly when he tore off the lid and just dumped it all down his throat. A lot of it spilling out onto his overalls while he smacked his jaw over and over.

"Bit hard to tell, little too much hyper-lethal voltage flowing through me when I do it." he sarcastically restored before shaking his hand. A hand that soon passed on its excess static on to me which caused me jump slightly.

"How is it you are still hurt by shocks and that?" Ayi-chira asked me as she came close. A series of giggles locked behind her closed mouth.

"How is it you can still be drowned despite being able to flood an arena?" I then asked her as my body straightened out before I moved closer to her. A slight mixture of my jealousy towards her and general national rivalry driving me to do it. That same smile she always had on being what I had to put up with.

"You're both pretty now break it up." Urtuoi-kischu then commented as he passed by before grabbing me. And while he just wanted to get back to training, I was left with a red face. He had just called me pretty, he had just declared that he saw me as pretty!

"R-Right." I said in reply as I prepared to cast my spell again. My body quickly transmuting back into lightning that was contained entirely in my near-naked form. His own magic warping and moving about as we did a repeat of what we had been doing. We would start slowly, with him prodding at me before then bringing it up into a much faster pace.

Both to make sure he was able to maintain control of his internal-magic, his external-magic and his aura too. And like how it went last time, he was unable to tolerate the pain he felt when his hands touched me. A task he was finding increasingly easier as I was lost in some other thoughts while we did this. His sudden roar of pain bringing me out of these thoughts.

"Shit! Shit! Undwote go away!" he growled out as he bounced around the room while waving his hand about. Ayi-chira laughing did ease my worries a little, however, Urtuoi-kischu had not shown this kind of reaction before during our training.

"Are you alright!?" I asked as I went back to my normal form. A sudden pain in my heart happening when he tried to avoid my touch when I went over to see if he was alright.

"Oh, you're back to normal..." he pretty much panted out as he continued to make sharp breaths while whipping his hand about.

"Sorry!" I said to him as I saw how badly his hand had been burned by me. But, it was soon getting better as this place was the only place in Suhurlodst that actually had unrestricted healing. I did not understand why the healing in this place was so restricted. I only knew it was essentially treated as a commodity and as a means to control.

"Do you even know how strong your voltage is!?" he asked me in a rather high-pitched tone, clearly shocked by how potent my magic is. And well, he was also shocked.

"I... I never found out, no... I just assume it is as powerful as lightning..." I mumbled in embarrassment as I rub a high-heel boot along the floor.

"Alright, alright. That's enough for today... Enough indeed." he then said before he began to walk away. Something that provoked me into following him so I could carry on speaking to him.

"Are you sure? Your exam is tomorrow. Are you sure you don't want to get everything ready? To make sure you are ready?" my fingers coming together as I asked this. I was very worried for him, he had been going nonstop this past week and now he just wanted to stop? It seemed a bit sudden.

"Einervaene, look at the clock." he then told me, and, I listened. I went and looked at the clock before looking back at him with a nervous chuckle as it seems like he did indeed have a point regarding it. It was nighttime now, we'd be having to go to sleep soon as it was an early start.

A quiet and brief laugh leaving me before I spoke again, "We really have been going at it for a while, haven't we?"

"Indeed. And, like you said, Execution Day is tomorrow." he said with a grim chuckle before he sighed long and hard.

"Urtuoi... Nin... We're going to get you through this, okay? I'll help you here and hopefully, you can pay me back later." I said with a smile as I remembered our prior talks regarding how I got here. How I ended up deciding on coming to this land and all that.

"Pay you back? Lari is doing it unconditionally." he said with a grin which caused me to pout.

"I don't care what that slime-covered desert stick does." I mumbled grumpily.

"You two don't get along, huh?" Urtuoi-kischu then asked me quietly after he moved a little closer.

I sighed before answering, "No, I get along fine with her... It's just..." I began to say before a hand touched my head. One touching his too.

"And under the gaze of the Equilibrium, First Amongst All. We declare that Motrtha shall come into your life this night!" Ayi-chira recited while giggling before she forced my head closer to Urtuoi's. And while I ended up slipping down and landing against his body, he had locked up when Ayi-chira did that. My face burning all the while as I knew what those words were. They were part of a marriage ceremony!

A marriage ceremony!

"Do you mind, Lari?" Urtuoi-kischu then asked of Ayi-chira as he took me off of him and got up. A giggling Ibenorroccon running about as she was chased after by the one who made my heart feel strange. And well, while I had some time to myself, I found myself getting up and leaving the chamber. A sullen expression developing before I left the building entirely, soon heading onwards towards the on-campus temple.

A tender grip from me forcing the door to the temple open once I arrived there. Silence greeted me, however, as it was entirely empty and devoid of caretakers and people expressing their faith. And once I was done staring uncomfortably at the large section dedicated to the fourteen moons, I moved. Going straight over to the Goddess of Mothers, the one who seemed to be connected to my feelings for Nin...

I may have not had much time with it, but, coming here every now and then has made me realise something. The runes and writing on that bracelet of his are most certainly ones that belong to this goddess. And there was most definitely strong magic internalised within that bracelet! Yet, it was a little pointless in a way to be here.

I could not exactly speak to the goddess of note to seek clarification. To get an answer as to why my heart fluttered as of late when I was near Nin, more so when he had that bracelet on. So, instead, I just intently stared at that statue of the Goddess of Mothers, the one who comforted a newborn Thunder. And then, I put my hand on the statue's face, cupping its cheek shortly after.

"Do I actually... Do I actually..." I began to say before I found myself being stumped over and over again whenever I tried to speak it aloud. I had known him for what must have easily been more than or close to a year... I have known of women older than me falling for men in a shorter period of time... Yet, I was just not sure if this is what I thought it was.

Rossie-chira had clearly already shown a major investment with Nin on a personal level. And he in turn had shown a great amount of interest in Ayi-chira. An interest that didn't seem to going anywhere soon. Yet, in my confusion, I found myself getting frustrated.

"There is nothing that condemns more than one wife or concubine, here or back home... So why is this so frustrating to think about?" I muttered before putting a set of spread out fingers onto my face. And then, I stepped back a little as I swear I just saw that statue develop a smile before giggles left it. Perplexion spreading about my features before I just shook my head and moved to leave.

"Keep going at it, he'll notice." a voice then clearly said to me as if it was right next to me. A frightened jump being my response before I then smacked the wall before getting stuck in a gap.

"Who... Who is there!?" I then demanded to know, trying my best to sound intimidating before I then saw a ghostly image. An image of my... Mother!? Why was I seeing an image of my mother!?

Pregnant no less!?

"No... Is that...?" I then found myself saying in disbelief as I finally got up again, the image becoming much clearer somehow. It was not my mother, it was a much older me! How I ended up figuring this out was rather simple as a mirage of Nin in his old outfit was now holding this woman. This future version of me was being held lovingly by Nin and she was also clearly pregnant!

And then it just disappeared, yet, I was not disappointed to see it go. I was just filled with joy and happiness as my bare belly was rubbed by my gloved hands. Me and Nin together with me clearly in the attire of a Ruling-Lady as they might get called here in this land. That is what I saw, I saw a future where my efforts proved true and these feelings of mine were made clear.

"Now if only I had the confidence to actually admit it." I then joked, proverbially cutting my wrist with that comment as it admitted my greatest problem right now. I just could not bring myself to think of it as or to call it what I clearly saw. That being love. I just could not do it, there was just something that bothered me and it wasn't Nin not being human.

"Don't you be going anywhere now." I then remarked to the statue before leaving the temple. Those giggles once again being heard before I got out of the building, a small smile on my face before I went away from the building. My intentions clear as I moved with haste to our dorm so I could hopefully speak to Nin some more.

And, hopefully, maybe... And this was embarrassing me a little... Hopefully, I would be able to find an excuse or reason to sleep in his bed again. As, while it was an embarrassing one for me, my first night with him and Rossie-chira was a fond memory.

Somehow.

I guess it had to do with that bracelet of his yet at the same time, I must have just been really happy to be in kind arms again. Having just gotten off of yet another ship and other forms of travel as getting here was so exhausting... That night was bliss once I was done being harmed by my own magic, it was. To just not have to worry about all the worries my travels put on me.

He even made me like the idea of travelling again as his companionship made it much more tolerable. Even Rossie-chira helped with that, actually, and Baltanthan too! Even if Rossie-chira often displayed intense jealousy when I was near Nin and even with her threats. Baltanthan was the same, those threats he liked to make and his seemingly never upbeat mood.

Despite it all, I enjoyed travelling with those two. And I hoped dearly I would get to travel with them more. Hopefully to my homeland too! So, as Nin came back into my sights as I got closer to the training building again; I just smiled.

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"You lot are looking happy." Nin said to the rest of our dorm who had just finished with their exams. Both practical and theoretical and while I was technically in the best position to help them, I did not. I just smiled, happy with the fact I did mine before as I was not interested in going through that amount of stress again. It even helped Ninno keep calm like my smiling always did.

"This better be worth it." my sister groaned before she threw a snowball at me which I had narrowly dodged.

"Don't worry! It will be! And soon, once Ninno is finished, we can all gather here once again to celebrate!" I said cheerfully while throwing my arms out and about the room as I danced. But all I got as a response was groans and moans as everyone puttered out. Quinshuu was even sat perfectly still as he had blinded himself in his test.

"I'd rather do it by the main entrance to this place. Preferably on top of it." Nin commented as he idly walked about.

"Why the main entrance, what's wrong with our dorm?" I asked him as I spun around.

"I have my reasons." he said before walking elsewhere with me following him shortly after.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"So," I then began to say, a more serious expression on my face, "Do you want me to go there with you or do you want to go on your own?"

He leaned on a nearby wall and sighed and moaned and groaned and made all kinds of noise, "I don't know... Just want it... Just want it to be done with." he said before he began to dig a nail into the wall. A small smiley face having been left in it briefly before the building fixed itself.

"Well, I guess I'll come with you, then." I said to him as I took ahold of his closest hand. Singing into my mouth gently so I could get his full attention. My smile growing when I saw his after his eyes found themselves staring into mine. A soft gaze once again being visible from my friend as we began to leave the dorm quietly. We might as well have gone now, while the Academy was somewhat dead as all the examinees calmed down.

But, to make extra sure that Nin himself had calmed down, I would take him across the roof. Let him enjoy himself and to ensure my joy distracted him from the paranoia he had. Something that seemed to be working quite well as he obsessively followed me across the roofs of various buildings. My laughter guiding him if I ever left his sight and a splash of water greeting him when he found me again.

"C'mon, keep up!" I told him before leaping a great distance away and spinning along the ground to land. A large splash of water coming out of the ground until I fully stopped myself in the freshly made mud. Then, he leapt after me, the concentration his magic just went through viewable even from here. And then, unlike me, he just landed with a booming thud.

"Help." he then squeaked as his legs had just gone straight into my mud. His mid-thigh being about how deep he went. At first, I just laughed at his predicament as this was something indeed hilarious. His magic just stabbed him straight into the ground!

"I-I-I-I'm s-sorry." I barely got out to him as I began to pull him out. My magic in the mud being redirected towards his legs so it could loosen him out. And then, he just slipped out and we rolled along the ground together before we stopped. His hand having just narrowly avoided my head when he stopped right on top of me.

A song in my throat as I lay there under him while he was so close to being on top of me. His usual signs of embarrassment being shown as his jaw made all kinds of rapid noises. And, as I was in a teasing mood, I began to guide his head forward towards mine, something he was letting just happen. Then, I giggled and brought his face straight down onto my flattened out chest.

Hugging him tightly while giggling some more before he shook me off. His expression showing slight hints of annoyance as began to blink and move around a lot. But, I brought him back to our original task as we really shouldn't have been messing around. Every lost bit of time would hurt how long he would have to show off how much he had learned!

This mud in his clothes and on his skin too... So, using some of my magic, I began to soak his lower half before extracting all the mud I saw. And frankly, I wish he had brighter clothes on as they were already dark and the water just made it darker. So, well, I probably ended up missing a lot of the mud.

"There! Presentable again!" I declared just before we reached a valley made by armoured men. Not even my efforts could keep Nin occupied now, there was just too much noise. There was just so many people here and it was completely contradictory to my exam. There was no love here, only hatred and I did not like it.

So, much to my shame, I began to wave at Nin as I moved away, slinking away so I could watch him go in elsewhere. But, I would not let him go in on his own so I moved some of my water off of his clothes and closer to his ear. Then, I tried my hardest to replicate my singing with captured air. And even if it was a bad replication, he at least calmed down as seen by his shoulders going down.

"Good luck!" I called out from my spot just as he disappeared behind those doors. A small nod coming from him just before the door closed with the crowd going away shortly after. I suppose they would be back, though. Where, however, was the real question, would we have to avoid our dorm later?

Yet soon it was quiet compared to before, at least, and when it became that level of quiet. I went into the building myself, hoping to get in with the staff so I could watch. I hoped Frihdeicalkbr had sorted this out and I could come in without issue. Yet, even then, with that in mind, I waited a little bit to see if he would show up.

And, thankfully, he did, "Ah, Student Larishazza, I take it you are here to observe our mutual interest in turn?"

I would have smiled having heard what he called me, but I was focused too much on Nin, "Yes, am I allowed to do so?"

"It has been, the price, of course, you saw before."

"So that's why they were all there..." I muttered with him nodding in confirmation.

"Yes, in exchange for Examinee Nin to be let in to watch, I had to make the entirety of Oddity House come too. This time, however, it will just be you coming to us, no one else."

"That's good..." I said while nodding over and over.

"We will, however, need to wait for a short period as Examinee Nin will have to do the written exam first."

"Yeah, reading, writing... Spell describing..." I began to say as I remembered what I did. The first two were boring but the last bit was somewhat enjoyable. However, I still worried for Nin, his spells were not complex. So I worried he would lose points here because of the likely simple descriptions...

"That last one is where most of the points come in. So, let's hope he can explain a few in-depth or so many he just nets many basic sets of points." Frihdeicalkbr said before he began to gesture me to his front.

"That's what I am worried about. We've had a lot of trouble getting him to learn magic. It's like he has never touched it before."

"Yes, I have been observing your actions in the All-Purpose Magic Development Centre."

"Is there anything you might have noticed we can help him with later?"

"Outside of him actually attending the lectures once he becomes Student Nin, rather than Examinee, no. I am afraid not. His magic may have origins in wind-based magic but he has also adopted a very rigid form to it. I assume it is due to his osibin-"

"Nin is human." I then corrected him after otherwise listening politely. A small nod coming from him before his eyes stared intently at mine.

"Of course." he then said with another nod.

"As you were saying?"

"Yes, his magic, to put it as simply as I think I can. Is well, not wind magic if that makes sense. It's the external application of his internal-magic reserves. I have a few theories as to why, but my favourite is that he suffers from Sudden Induction."

"What was that again?" I asked with a frown.

"It is when a low to non-magic holding entity is suddenly exposed to high concentrations of it and survives. And due to a few details that I won't describe. Its power goes far beyond the average natural magic user and their body is confused."

"That might be it."

His brow rose, "He has admitted to it?"

"He has said some kind of blast happened before when he was stuck in a hive with bugs." I said before shuddering at the thought. So many small creatures with little legs going all over you.

Our House Head then began to laugh openly, "Oh, this will be good when he finally becomes Student Nin!" a smile of my own appearing as I heard his joy.

"Does this information perhaps help him pass?"

"It might, it might. If I can prove it to them, then maybe. Being a beneficiary of Sudden Induction does alter how we score our students, see. I won't give you the details due to you being non-staff but know that it gives Student Nin a firm leg to stand on score-wise."

"Would me explaining what happened to him perhaps help?"

"I think it would clarify some things, but as a whole no, you would need someone who was there during the incident to testify. Or, even better, what inputted all that magic into him. Because whoever did must have been strong as despite his lack of wind characteristics. What is in him is very pure, far beyond even some of Exceptional House's intake."

"Well, that's going to be hard then..." I then quietly muttered as the one thing Nin didn't tell me was that. He mostly focused on what happened to him specifically, what he went through and that. He mentioned people but never said their names. Not that it mattered I suppose, the odds of them being here would have been something.

"Either way, we best get seated, wouldn't want to be late."

"Has the practical started already!?" I then asked in surprise. Had we been talking for however long!?

"No, no, no," he clarified before he held the door open with an outstretched hand, "I just want to get my spot." he told me as sat down in an unmarked seat. A cushiony, velvet-covered chair with lengthy armrests and many hidden parts. Magical and mechanical.

"I'll be over here if you need me." I told him before I then sat against the large, what I assumed to be a glass panel. Leaning my head against it so I could stare intently at what was in the arena this time. Not only was the arena itself a different shape this time, but a lot more physical related items were also present. It even had a centrepiece to it.

A large dark and likely metal bar surrounded by thick logs on either side. It looked heavy, very heavy, I was not even sure if I could lift it and I was stronger than Nin in both magic types! Then again, I also did not lift heavy object often. But, my inability to sense the internal-magic of that item worried me.

It could have been very deceptive in how heavy it was, yet, the sudden appearance of more items took my attention away, "Why are objects still appearing and... Disappearing...?"

"Remember the spell describing?"

"This is all being custom made to what he is describing?" I then said with widening eyes as I saw what Nin was making. Even if he was likely unaware of what we going on in this place. I guess that even explained why the ground was so well-suited to my dancing when I did my practical...

"Indeed it is," he said as he came over, an arm resting on the glass, "And going by what I am seeing he is going for the Excessively Manly approach as it has been nicknamed."

"How so?" I then asked as I turned away from the glass.

A small smile on his face appearing as he thought on the answer, "Because males of all magic-capable species have an easier time with internal-magic compared to a female. Just how biology is. So, as such, a lot of the less spell-confident examinees just treat it as a weightlifting competition." he explained before laughing briefly.

"There's so many men in my dorm that I sometimes forget witches are mostly women." I said with a laugh of my own as I remembered my old lessons. The ones that clarified the more biological aspect of magic.

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.

"Well, Undwote, nice seeing you again." I quietly mumbled as I put down the various writing tools I had been forced to use. My claws having been used as a weapon against me should I have chosen to use them. Imagine that, me, the only osibindah in the world capable of human emotion and thought and I die because... Because I used my claws to write!

And it frustrated me to be entirely honest, I just wanted to write in the easiest manner. Yet, I was hampered in my attempts and forced to write like a normal man might. As such, I had to drastically simplify my descriptions to almost baby-like levels just to get it done in time. I even just threw the dice as it were and made crude doodles to accompany it.

Angry it made me, all the other ways these people have used to break me down was just not enough. I also had to humiliate myself in an effort to pass a test meant for adults. But, given my treatment here and some of the insults, well. They might not even consider most people here adults, just children with beards and breasts.

It was over, though, this part of the exam was now over so I could relax somewhat. And I had a lot of emphasis on somewhat as I was not breathing properly. I was stuttering out breaths and I was trembling with anticipatory fear. I did not feel well at all.

I would say I felt sick, but I was not, I was just terrified, terrified of what was most likely going to happen. Originally I went into this room with confidence, Lari having helped raise my spirits a little. But this one test had broken and ground me down into fine powder. Just waiting to be blown about by whatever plan these green-breathers had.

"Make your way to the following arena, creature." the Examiner told me with a sneer as they chucked some kind of tablet at me. A wood-rimmed object with a reddish centre made of what I assumed was glass. I would tap it harder to confirm it, but, I did not want to break it. I had already briefly lost control of my magic in that test just now.

Nearly broke my chair and fell to the floor while being stared at by hateful guards and staff. People who would most certainly begin laughing so hysterically if I was to have done that. Children when it suited them, mature adults when they wanted it another way. I had dealt with people like this before, but, not with so many guns pointed at me.

Not with a risk of death being associated with them.

"Floor two, portal eighty-nine." I mumbled as I finally arrived at the portal I had been assigned or something. The small tablet briefly being held before my left eye just prior to me slotting it inside a machine. The portal lighting up brightly and openly near-instantly after I did that. With some wonder returning to me when that had happened.

These portals still got to me, I had to admit, a door so strange and alien and seemingly complex. Yet, it was so common, the only place to my knowledge that had none were our dorms! Everything had these magical constructs somewhere. A room of many possibilities lying beyond each portal.

But, no wonder was waiting for me beyond this one, no unguessable secret. It was my next test, the arena I would use, just like Lari had done. And this time instead of dazzling a crowd, I would fight for my life. Presumably showing off all I knew about my magic and hoping it impressed them enough.

However, it did not even impress me, my magic that is. It was simple and crude compared to everyone else's. Quinshuu shot light from his fingers like a gun at the expense of his sight, Lari's sister made icy mist! Einervaene could turn into lightning and shoot it out as well! And Lari, well, Lari sang and danced and enhanced her beauty to new heights...

What could I do? I could make a means to poke something further away or to support a heavy load. I made poles of magic... Gods damned poles!

They manipulated elements and constructed things with it and I made unseeable extensions of my limbs. Lari had told me she could indeed see my extensions and that, but I could not see them. If I could not even sense magic properly unless it was blowing something up then what chance did I have!? There was no hope and I was a fool to try...

Maybe I should stop being so cynical, though, the practical had started and I was doing it. As such, I was worried these thoughts were crippling my will to carry on. That they were going to make it much harder than necessary to do this. After all, why bother when the voices just keep saying I was and will fail?

"C'mon, sing for me..." I nearly cried out to Lari who I knew was watching. My hand wiping away any tears before I then moved on to the next part of the exam. And then the next and so on and so forth until I was nearing the end. A monotony of physical exertions that used very little magic to my knowledge.

Now, I know they did say internal-magic influenced all physical actions, yet, even then, I was just running! Just lifting weights and throwing heavy objects or rapidly moving about heavy objects while guiding another. It all seemed so dismissable until I finally reached the last thing my last test had mentioned. The spell that would truly define what you would bring to this cursed place.

This cruel and hostile academy...

And what I had chosen was a repeat of my most defining memory that was not about my death or hive stay. That time I lifted dozens of logs a side bound together by iron poles with it all being around a greater pole. And like last time, it made me nervous as I stood before it with the judgement of others on me. I do not know if I had gotten stronger, but, last time I barely lifted it.

I even nearly died until that magic blast save me, and this time, well... There would be no vague saviour. Vapooliar wasn't here and there were no aelenvari witches adoring me to do it. It was just me and me alone.

So if I screwed up then that was it, I would die once more and this time it would not have its moments. No games with the God of Expression, no watching the God of Thunder make things at dinner. No Goddess of Technique wanting a compliment or a Goddess of Pleasure ruining my tastes forever. And there would most certainly be no Goddess of Mothers to comfort me and love me unconditionally.

And as I slowly moved my bracelet about, I thought of him, the one who was denied my soul. Undwote, the God of Death. The one who walked the misty limbo that copied our world. He who found all dead with his pack of seven, the ones who gave us his holy number of seven.

I did not want to see him again, however, despite fond memories of him and his pets. I did not want to see him just to know I would be going to wherever he put souls away to. I wanted to carry on living and speak to Lari more and all the others. Especially Lari, however, because since coming here I have realised one thing.

I actually liked her, not like how I would a friend, but rather, it was the one thing that made me grow tired of Rose. What I felt for her was love and I would like to tell her about it, I wanted to actually be loved. Not lusted after or just cared for. I wanted to tell her that even if I was unsure about it...

That at one point I would be able to tell her 'Lari, I love you.'

So, with a little smile on my chittering jaws, I moved towards that old memory brought back again. I stretched my limbs and looked up at what seemed to be a glass panel. One that was surely see-through and have her behind it. So, just to relax a little, I then chose to wave at it.

Maybe, just maybe, I was getting one back too, "Examinee Nin, move on to your final display. And be done with it." the voice in the speakers said at first professionally. Until, well, they made their wishes clear with that final clear.

"Indeed, let me be done with it." I replied back with before I then went under the centre-bar. A glare forming as I made sure my feet were spread far and apart yet still firmly placed. And as my claws flexed about on the iron bar, I filled up with emotion. So many kinds and all of them ones that would help me lift this bar.

Anger, fury, rage, joy, happiness, want, desire, good or bad... They were all there and I would use them to make my mind ignore the pain and the rest of it. I would lift this object once more and I would prove myself triumphant! I would see Lari's smile again and put up with her forevermore!

So, with a start-up roar to encourage me onwards, I began to exert my strength. Straining almost immediately with my legs and arms trembling as I went up. My eight knees in particular feeling the strain badly as they did not seem to agree with this weight at all. Yet, I kept on going up and I kept on pushing it up.

A grin of sorts making its way onto my distorted, pain-filled and blood-flushed face as I did so. But it did not come because of that, the fact the ground was cracking made me grin like that. Then, with a single triumphant heave, I lifted a leg up and slammed it back down with the ground fracturing further. I then did it again and again until I had waddled a short distance.

But, then, it suddenly felt much heavier and I could feel something was wrong. Had someone tampered with the magic in this thing!? Were they trying to crush me or make me break my legs!? By the first three Thunderstrikes, I would not give them the satisfaction.

So I moved on to what I had been learning with Lari and put my body into the best state it could be. One that utilised my internal-magic to its fullest extent while my external-magic also helped out. At first, it was minor and not noticeable by me, but then it grew to greater heights and became very seeable. The weights felt lighter and I now had supports!

For I had shot out my magic and was now using it to create structural supports! My drive to get home, like Lari had told me, would win this day for me. For I was using all I knew about Tobaballe's towers to help out with the weight. I spread it out along my arms and legs more evenly and even made rests to use!

And just before my magic felt like it would go out, I tried to recreate what I did back at the flower. I would successfully throw this thing away this time and I would be standing at the end of it! But, this one slip up had me roaring in pain because I had to suddenly put my magic into a single pole on my back. Or, rather, what it might as well have been, a pike.

"Ah! Ah! Ah! DAMMIT!" I screamed out in pain before I then got back into it after stumbling back. I then threw it away once I had mustered all my remaining arcane strength. And I watched it crash into the dry earth of the arena with a tremendous boom. Its form collapsing as it could not hold itself together like this.

"Did you see me, Lari!?" I then called out to the glass panel while panting in pain. That burden now no longer putting itself down upon me. I was free of it and now all I had to do was be like her. I needed to hope for a future where I lived for I had given it my all and was pleased.

Now if only I was not full of the urge to flop over and scream.

.

.

.

"And are we all done scoring what has just been displayed by Examinee Nin?" one of my colleagues asked the rest of us. My legs tapping the floor ahead of me while I waited for everyone to give their answers. A series of nods, brief speaking, hand gestures and other forms of acknowledgement coming from everyone at this table. A quick finger going up being my response.

"Good, now, let's get this creature out of the Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding and go back to normal." a different staff member commented, his opinion clear to me. And, unfortunately, not enough of my equals, lessers and superiors held my opinion. They did not want Examinee Nin here and were in full support of our legal compromise with our neighbours.

"And as is my role, I will present his scores on their own before we transition on to the average." I then explained as I stood up. This being my job as he would be a student of my House should he succeed. His success was not wanted by some, but I maintained a firm belief in its likelihood. Student Larishazza had put together quite the safety net for him so that should get him through.

As, unfortunately, without those shared scores, he would not pass. For the results he himself got were very disappointing as we could not rate him highly at all even with nit-picking. No amount of pondering the meaning of the scoring outline would get him higher. His descriptions and writing were crude and simple and his magic was basic and unrefined.

There may have been no magical education level below our own but this did not mean we took on the blatantly unskilled. It was a travesty pure and simple. He may have used magic but he failed to get even a few points in entire scoring brackets. The lack of complex spells, signs of exceptional expertise in a particular magic type, nothing!

We just got displays of basic magic distribution and the usage of internal-magic to lift an impressive weight. Well, impressive for the average magic-capable man of the outer to near-middle of the continent. If this was an armed forces training centre then he might have done well, but we were not one of them. This was a magic training academy, we needed our potential students to show the ability to cast spells!

"Enjoying the results, Oddity House Head Frihdeicalkbr?" I was then mockingly asked as a fist formed on the table. An annoyed tint in my eyes as I looked on over at the man who just passed comment on my beliefs.

"And how does it feel knowing an osibindah showed better magic usage than you?" I then bit back with, knowing full well why so much of our staff was men. They were pen pushers and data-handlers. They weren't witches for the most part. Just feeble creatures passing judgement on the quality of their betters.

"Better magic usage? Hah! If he had shown that he'd not be going to the execution wall!" a wave of laughter erupting out from him while he pointed at the display.

"This is not his final score, you know that, right?" I informed him as I rolled my eyes with a few buttons being pressed shortly after. The scores of all but one of the students contributing to Examinee Nin's final score being shown. A greater display forming as they all came up. Their names and a few basic details as well.

Student Einervaene Bosphama of Eusorochi was there contributing what her transmutative spells got her. The Sl'Ayiysab sisters who dazzled their examiners with their fine display of aquatic magic of the liquid and solid variety. Quinshuu Wuun whose skill with his magic, despite his casting methods, won him a few useable points. Then, finally, Omb Ur-Nace who did the most to help, even with his limited display as he was insistent on using little effort.

For some reason.

Yet, as I looked up higher to the final tally, I was a little worried. Examinee Nin was now just two points away from going beyond the finish line and the final student was not here. He had insisted on handing the results in personally but what if his results were not good enough? He was attempting to get into Traditional House and they had by far the highest failure rate.

Them being the House for the average student after all.

"We didn't get enough points...?" I then heard a heartbroken voice say quietly behind me. My attention going to the woman behind us while the table went into a state of uproar as arguments broke out. One side determined to enjoy Examinee Nin's failure while the other displayed issues with law and disappointment.

"I am afraid so, Student Larishazza, you did not get enough." I told her flatly as she began to tear up before rolling up into a ball.

"No... That can't be right... Everyone was cheering when I did mine... Everyone liked it and we got all this help and it still wasn't enough?" she exclaimed before her red face left her legs, watermarks all over her cheeks.

"I made sure to recount several times. I'm sorry, Student Larishazza, but if something doesn't happen then he will be executed."

"Then I'll just stop them!" she said to me in defiance as hints of anger began to appear on her face. Frustration just dripping out of her every time I looked at her before going back to the door.

"C'mon, hurry up." I then muttered impatiently at the door to this room.

"Why do you keep looking at the door...?" I was then asked by her, something I did not answer as it began to move. A little bit of excitement spawning inside of me as that must have been him! No member of staff would be bothering us at this time so it must have been him!

"Yeah... This looks like the place." the man behind the door said before he walked in. The loud tap of his staff making everyone quiet down before he came to a stop before the table.

"Why are you here? Who is this?" one of the members of staff asked as he shot up. His gaze, like nearly everyone else's, being intensely focused on those tablets he held. For they all had the necessary parts on them to be inputed into our table's circuitry. He could upload something, that something being his scores!

"He is Student Baltanthan of Traditional House." my fellow House Head, Ttonis clarified as he too stood up.

"House Head Ttonis," Student Baltanthan greeted with a small nod before he looked about, "Where can I put this in...?" he then asked before I went over and showed him. The signs of a smirk on my face as I looked at this young man. Did he offer us not only enough points to pass but enough to get us beyond the passing minimum!?

"Wait! Hold on!" someone then interrupted, his brow sweating as he realised what this meant.

"What is the meaning of this!?"

"We can't add in scores now!"

"Yeah! It's against the rules of Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding! Rules we swore to uphold!"

"We have broken no rules!" I then declared to them firmly, shutting them all up instantly as I threw out another tablet. It being a document on our laws and rules and codes of conduct.

"As some of the students like to put it..." one of my supporters began to say with a smile as he rolled his tongue, "Read it and weep." he then said firmly.

My smirk fully coming out as the scores were added on to Student Nin's. Now he sat on a safe score of seventy-one. He would not be executed by our neighbouring mountain-state because of dubious legal twisting. He would no longer be put through what he has been experiencing since he got here!

"You traitor!" one of the teachers then accused Student Baltanthan of which made him incandescent with rage.

"Traitor!? I have betrayed no one! If anything I have freed myself of the burden that damn bug put on me by taking me here! I had a dream growing up you know, a dream that involved being a witch who came from this place. Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding is where I wanted to learn! But, until he came along I may have not had that chance too! Yet, here I am, Student Baltanthan, no longer Shop Clerk Baltanthan! No longer Ravineer Baltanthan, but Student Baltanthan!"

"Be quiet!" someone then said in an effort to interrupt him.

"No, I will not be quiet! I will make my point clear! A point of how I will repay this debt I owe to a bug. I have just started a dream that was only possible because of him and I intend to thank him for it. And if helping him survive your shambles of a deal with Thrurstradtur then so be it!" he explained to them. Repeatedly dipping in and out of the likelihood of just shouting it out at the closest of Student Nin's detractors.

And then, he was thrown to the floor by a grateful woman, "THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" cried out Student Larishazza over and over as she hugged the floored Student Baltanthan. Laughter coming out of me as the disappointed law-twisters left the room in droves.

"Student Baltanthan," I began to say as Student Larishazza finally let him go, "As someone has just made perfectly clear to you, thank you for what you have done."

"Yeah, whatever, just glad I am not going to be dealing with this any longer. No more disturbed nights because of my debt to him." he sighed out in annoyance before he rubbed his eyes.

"If it helps, I can make your upcoming nights very easy to rest in." Student Larishazza then giggled out as her foot twisted about after she went against him. His arm having been pressed against her mostly bare front before he pulled back.

"Ehhhhhhh... No thank you, I'd rather just say hello to him and the other two and gloat." he explained with a gesture before he went to the glass. A common gesture used for swearing coming from him as he began to tap the glass.

My attention returning to Student Larishazza after I finished enjoying Student Baltanthan's antics, "Now, would you like to hand Student Nin this or would you like to prepare something more special?" I asked her.

"Special? What do you have planned!?" she asked me as she hopped about cheerfully. Her tears now having been long gone as Student Baltanthan had been soaked by the rest.

"Well, join us and we'll go over the details." I tell her as I point to the table where my supporters were still seated. Be it either because they held issue with Student Nin's treatment or had my opinion of the situation. They were here and they had helped me get Examinee Nin into the annals of history. To be replaced by someone else entirely.

And, I was overjoyed, for now... I could enjoy Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding's first osibindah student!