Max didn’t watch the end of semester, qualifying competition. He’d been asked not to by the cabal of headmasters. Two days passed with Max just continuing to train. Luckily, working alone didn’t bother him and gave him more time to perfect his teamwork with his spirits.

After the end of the competition, all of Max's friends went to party in the woods again. However, in the invitation Max received, he discovered they’d gone to a different area than where they usually practiced, and this time some of them brought dates. By the time Max showed up, there were at least a good thirty or forty people in attendance, all drinking around a bonfire. Max had never seen anything quite like it at the Academy. The mood was festive, and some of Max's friends were celebrating harder than anyone else.

Nobody had really told Max yet what was going on, so he made a beeline for Lance. His friend was sitting on a log, watching everything with a half-smile. He glanced up as Max sat down and said, "Hey buddy, a lot happened. I kind of wish you would have gone to the competition, but I guess I understand why you didn't."

"Yeah, a few reasons," said Max. Despite the guidance he’d received, he’d been tempted to show up just to mix things up a bit but ultimately decided not to. After all, his goals didn't include trolling or petty vengeance. When Max's vengeance came, it would be anything but petty. So, dealing with the fallout that his presence could cause, for as little gain as he'd get from it, just wasn't worth it.

Instead of explaining all this to Lance, Max just shrugged. "So what happened?"

"Well, all of our friends did really well, but you probably could have predicted that. As it turns out, the top four in the Junior Division for the Summoner Academy looks like it's going to be Momo, Eolus, another summoner here, and some big woman I've never even seen before. In the senior division, Gantry is in the top two, and there are two seventh years and one sixth year that I don't know."

"Wait, what? Gantry is in the senior division?"

"Yeah, wild, huh?"

Max's friend hadn't told him that he planned on competing in the senior division, but it did make sense. "So what happened?" asked Max.

Lance waved a hand. "Basically, everyone we know cleaned up. At least in the junior division, it really wasn't even close."

Max smiled faintly at the news and held that expression as Lance gave an impassioned, if not entirely understandable, play-by-play of all the best fights. When his friend was done talking and took a sip of whatever he was drinking, Max said, "I'm glad everyone did well."

"They did more than well," said Lance. "And you know what's really crazy? I got the feeling that if I had participated, I might have had a shot too. But I know, I know," he held up his hands, "it would be really stupid of us, and by us, I mean me, to be showing off the fancy sword you got me. And since everybody uses real weapons in the match, I’d have to use my sword since that's like seventy percent of my combat potential."

"More like ninety percent, remember?" Max interjected.

"Thanks, dude, thanks for the vote of confidence."

"Anytime, Buddy."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. I’m just here to party.”

“On that note, where's Belle at?" Lance's face fell, almost too little to notice. Max immediately regretted the question.

With a different tone of voice than before, Lance said, "I don't know. I invited her, but things lately have been a little tense. I don't know what's in her head, man. I mean, I get it. I'm not really happy with everything either, but I felt like I needed to move on, or else I was never going to really accept this new life.

"I get the feeling sometimes that Belle says she's in the same boat as me, and she even pretends she is. Maybe she even tells herself that. But she talks about her ex a lot. Like, a lot. And dude, she wasn't even with him for more than a few months. That was years ago. Like, I have a kid with my girlfriend back on Earth, and I had a good relationship with her. I'm just..." He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "I don't even know if she's alive, you know? And if I were to be waiting for her the entire time I'm in the Quartet, I'd also be thinking about my kid and whether she's doing okay. And it's just too much weight. I have to think about other things.

“What's more, if I were to somehow just focus on them the entire time I'm in the Quartet, and in seven years go back and she's given up on me, or she found a new man, or worse, she's dead... I don't know what I'd do. Maybe I'd... unalive myself. I don't know, man. I mean, I've learned a lot about myself since we've been here in the Quartet. I'm a lot tougher than I thought I was. And when I'm backed into a corner, I guess I am a fighter. Wild. I mean, I guess it wasn't entirely a fluke that I killed a monster and ended up here in the first place. But I didn't sign up for all of this. I know nobody on Earth did, and it makes me feel selfish to say that. But I've given thought to the fact that by the time I get back to Earth, my little girl isn't going to be little anymore. She probably won't even recognize me. I'm going to be like a stranger to her. How do I come back from that?"

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"I suppose you'll just have to take it one step at a time," said Max. "It sounds like a cheesy line, but it's true. But I do agree with you that stressing about it before it's time to deal with it probably isn't good for your mental health."

"No joke. So, it kind of sucks that it's not working out with Belle, but it's not the end of the world. Who knows, she might come around. It's weird that despite so many hot women in the Quartet, there are so few that I feel I have anything in common with," said Lance.

"Well, if you date within the Summoner Academy, at least you have being a Summoner in common," Max pointed out.

Lance waved at him. "Dude, that's like a job. It's not the same thing. That's like having a colleague at work. But enough about me. What's going on with you and Amy?"

Now it was Max's turn to hide his facial expressions. Lance noticed and didn't press, but Max decided to tell his friend what had happened. When he was done, Lance was quiet for a while. Then he said, "I don't know how to say this because you were just really nice to me and actually gave me good advice, but I just got to come out and say it."

"What?"

"You are an idiot, Max."

"Why?"

"Dude, you are not me. I have to go on epic quests just to find a woman who will talk to me, much less date me. Sure, back on earth I guess a lot of women thought I had good looks, but it’s a little more competitive in the Quartet with so many people walking around looking like Greek gods. Do you know how much effort I had to put into just getting to the talking stage with Belle? Meanwhile, you can throw a rock somewhere in the Quartet and probably find some good-looking Challenger to hook up with. You are fucking famous! Kung fu Summoner action Jesus. And on top of that, you don't even have any baggage back home.

“But the absolute most insane part of all of this is every other day you see a gorgeous girl who's crazy about you, who I have overheard wants to go with you back to your world, who's waiting for you despite you being a dumbass, and who's probably one of the only people in the entire Summoner Academy can keep up with you now and will be able to in the future, too. I'm not blind, dude, I know that Momo has a thing for you, and everyone here knows eventually Momo is going to completely overtake Gantry, power-wise. All of us in the junior division classes, like first, second, and third years, figure that in one or two more years, the three untouchable summoners in the academy will be you, Gantry, and Momo."

"Really?" asked Max.

"Really.” He sighed. "This freaking guy, I swear. You may be a genius with a blade, but you're kind of a dumbass when it comes to people."

Max felt like he'd been hit between the eyes with a hammer. He shook his head and chuckled. "I wish I could say it's the first time I've heard that. But it's not people that confuse me, or even women, to be honest."

"What the hell are you talking about?" asked Lance.

Max spit. "Sometimes I just don't know what to do with myself."

"What the hell are you talking about? Are you gay? If you're gay, just find a nice dude or something. But not me, not my speed."

"Shut up and listen or I’ll take the sword back.” He pretended to reach for the blade, and Lance comically jerked it away with a hiss. Max continued, “What I mean is, I feel I have so much pressure to do so much, and I have so little time. And honestly, I haven't told you guys everything, but you can probably read between the lines that there's more going on behind the scenes."

"Yeah, that's pretty obvious," said Lance. "Every time I get that feeling from you, I think, better him than me. You're the sweaty tryhard. I just want to get out of here with my mind intact and some power so I can actually be useful back on Earth."

Max laughed at his friend's brutal honesty. "I respect that, man, I do. I just…”

“I know your problem," said Lance.

"What's that?"

"Your problem is that you take everything seriously. It's probably a double-edged sword. It's one of the reasons why you're doing so great, obviously, but when you take everything seriously, it's hard to prioritize what really matters over what doesn't. And what's worse, the things that really truly do matter, you might approach the wrong way and actually be less efficient in the long run."

Max's jaw dropped. Despite all his years of living, he had never heard anybody sum up some of his issues that efficiently. Lance seemed very pleased with himself as he took another sip.

Max closed his jaw and said, "That was actually pretty good."

"I know, right? Maybe I can moonlight on the side as a fortune teller or an advice giver or..."

"Yeah, don't quit your day job," said Max. "I can't give you a magic sword that's going to help you sound smart to other people."

"Ha, very funny, dude,"

Max laughed and got up. "I can't hang out much longer tonight, but Momo's been giving me looks. And although I'm not ready to start anything with her, she is a really good friend, and I'm not going to ghost her. Especially tonight when she's celebrating her win."

"That's the smartest thing you've said since I've seen you today," said Lance. He waved his drink in Max's general direction and then turned to watch the fire.

Max shook his head as he walked over to Momo. She was pretending not to notice that he was coming. He didn't plan to make this conversation very long because he still needed to get sleep before his special event the next day. The letters he'd been getting from Headmaster Mong Hao Han had been very explicit in their instructions.

He’d given the headmaster another heads-up that he might mix up his exhibition matches a bit. The Summoner headmaster wasn't entirely on board, but that didn't matter. One way or another, Max was planning to force the issue the next day.