ILIAS PAYNE
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On Monday, Erina and I paired up, asking the other participants if they had attempted the previous years’ second phase and what the tests were. According to the majority, they didn't even make it past the first phase—it was a physical and a team test so not only did they have to be strong, but their party members had to at least be on the same level. A few said they passed, but weren’t willing to share any other information.
“I’ve attempted the exam six times,” Asher said when we asked him. He was on his way to the bar. “I did phase two’s mental test twice.”
“What were the tests?” I asked.
“You do realize that the tests in each phase are different every year?”
“Of course we do. We just wanted to know what the last years’ were to prepare for the upcoming one.”
“Let me ask you something,” Asher said as we walked with him. “During the preparation week for phase one, did you ask other participants what the other years’ tests were?”
“We did and we got answers,” Erina said.
“Did any of those participants pass phase one?”
Erina stared off ahead, her silence was more than a valid answer.
“I told Ilias and Thaddeus this, but I don’t recall giving the wisdom to you. Information wins battles. It’s about what you know and don’t know. Knowing what to expect gives me an advantage, do you think I’m willing to give that up?”
Erina answered with silence once more.
Asher ordered a cocktail when we arrived at the bar. “I enjoy giving advice to rookies—to anyone actually. But not at the expense of lowering my own chances.”
The bar that had always been filled the week prior was quite dead. Aside from the three of us that just arrive, only Thaddeus was present. He was in the corner of the bar arguing with a bartender.
Earlier, Erina and I asked him if he wanted to accompany us. He declined, stating we were just making ourselves anxious and he’d rather use this week to relax.
“Sir, I’m not allowed to give you any more drinks,” the bartender apologized profusely.
“Why not?” Thaddeus asked, thrusting his reddened face right up the bartender’s face. “Everything here is free as long as you’re still in the exam, right? I passed phase one two days ago! I want a drink.”
“Sir, you are too drunk and you are being bothersome to the customers and staff. We have a right to refuse service. You can come back once you’re sober.”
“Ludicracy! Do you know who I am, Mrs Bartender? I am Thaddeus Mobley! A descendant of the great Minerva Mobley! And Thaddeus Mobley demands a drink!”
“Sir, let’s get you to your room. I’ll accompany—”
“I know! To enter the exam, the bartender lady from Tally Hall offered the jynxist special. Does that drink truly exist?”
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“It does, but—”
“Excellent! I want one. With the same number of gates as that lady—thirteen!”
Erina and I agreed that Thaddeus’ logic according to Ivan’s testimonies was true, but neither of us wanted to risk it. We wanted to be prepared at any time. Thaddeus, however, saw this as a chance to let loose. He stayed up late last night with the other participants gambling the money he got back (and stole) from Jay Geils. He lost half before Erina confiscated his purse for safekeeping.
“Let’s get you back to the room,” I said as Erina and I each grabbed one of his arms. “You’ve gotten too drunk.”
“Ilias, Erina are here too? Mrs Bartender, get them a drink also!”
“Nope, it’s the middle of the day. We’ll get drinks later.”
We apologized to the bartender and dragged Thaddeus back to our room where he was scolded by Erina.
“Do you know how embarrassing that was? You were so loud that people in their rooms peeked out into the hallways to see what was up with you! Do you have any shame?!”
Thaddeus sat on his bed the entire time, giggling and nodding with his eyes semi-closed. “I’m sorry.”
But even after Erina unleashed a fury of words onto him, she still helped him change into sleeping clothes and tucked him in, making sure to turn him on his side with a bucket directly in front of him.
“He’s such a handful,” she complained.
“It’s surprising seeing you take so much care of him now.”
“We’re teammates.”
“Not anymore. It’s just funny how you hated the guy at first but you’re now babysitting him.”
“I misjudged Master Thaddeus’ character and this is the least I could do after how I treated him.”
That night, Chris and Zwergin came by our room and asked us if we wanted to watch the midnight play. Roswaal wanted to spend the night at the bar and Thaddeus was still passed out so Erina and I accompanied them.
We wanted to be prepared at any time which meant we didn’t want to take our chances of being drunk and hungover. But a couple of drinks was fine. We stopped by the bar and hung out with Roswaal before going to the theatre. Since the only thing Erina drank was wine, we convinced her to get a couple of cocktails and take shots. Everything was free after all and it would be a waste to not try new things out.
Thaddeus was still drunk the next day and Erina had to guide him to wherever he wanted to go. He sobered up by dinner and revealed his plan. “Ilias, remember that librarian I told you about?”
“The one with the list of books?”
“Yeah. I can’t wait any longer. I’m visiting her tonight.”
“Are you still drunk or what? We’re not allowed to make contact with the outside world. Just wait after the exam.”
“I just said that I can’t wait any longer. I’ll only get disqualified if I get caught and I know how to sneak out without being seen.”
When he and I went to the bathhouse that night, he waited until no one was at the baths to lift the giant tiles using Stone Free. He then turned the ground underneath into quagmire and swam through.
He’s an idiot, but he’s one crafty kid.
Erina questioned where he was when I returned to the room. I told her it was best she didn’t know. Thaddeus snuck in through the window a couple of hours later stinking of alcohol.
“I’m so stupid,” he giggled to himself before passing out on the floor. “The library is closed at night.”
I was about to go help him, but Erina reacted first, guiding him into his bed and tucking him in.
The alcohol coming off him is so strong? How much did he drink?
His hangover was worse the next day. He refused to climb out of bed which resulted in me levitating him to the cafeteria.
As we finished breakfast, a portal opened up on the ceiling. Leroy hopped out, hovering himself right as he touched the ground.
“Participants, the current day is Wednesday and it is currently half past nine in the morning. Your test will be at ten, so please follow me.”
Even though the theory made sense, it looks like Thaddeus was wrong.
It was evident that the entire room of hungover and unprepared participants wasn’t expecting the test to be today. The silent stares directed towards Thaddeus cut deeper than any blade.