It was a shiny, beautiful morning. Clearly, the summer was approaching. You could judge it by the temperature outside, and the green vegetation all around the city.

Liv waited for Trevor on the sidewalk in front of the school building. He got out of the car and waved at his mother, who waved back, as she drove off. The girl in the meantime got a few steps closer.

- So... You are really doing this? - she asked.

- Yeah - he nodded and threw his backpack over his shoulder.

- Are you sure it's going to work?

- You were the one who told me that they might do everything for me.

She rolled her eyes.

- Yeah, but I also said they would when you get up to seventy. You don't even know where you are at now - she argued.

- I'm close. I just know it. I feel like I'm close - he lied.

Since talking about anything even remotely in the neighborhood to the topic of 'The Grand Library' was a taboo for Trevor, he made extra effort to not drop anything that could lead her to ask inconvenient questions during their talks as he was on his break from school.

- The reality might be different - she pointed out.

- I'm definitely stronger than I was. That I'm sure of, and back then I was at forty-six.

She sighed.

- Do what you think is best for you... But it might not work - she added after a moment.

- Just watch me - Trevor replied with confidence and started walking towards the school.

She rolled her eyes again and followed him. They both joined kids pushing their way through the entrance, as the crowd slowly assembled with the people coming from all directions, not really carrying too much about the green lawn around the public facility.

It took them a while, but they finally made their way to the device, to do their daily evaluation. As usual, Trevor placed his hand on the swirling sphere of blue particles and got a number identical to the one in his overview.

- Sixty-one - he whispered to Liv, as he passed by her, and went further to the corridor.

He found an empty spot by the wall and waited for her.

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- I got one up - she said with a smile, as she joined him.

- Really? - he asked a bit surprised, but still with a smile on his face.

- Yes, sir! That breathing technique of yours might be working after all. Watch out - she said, and waved her eyebrows - I'm gonna catch up to you in no time.

- Yeah... Not happening - he said and just walked away.

She snorted in response.

- Really? - she asked, still standing in her place, but then rushed to catch up to him. - Don't be a dick, Trev.

- I'm not a dick. I'm just awesome - he responded.

She rolled her eyes.

Bickering they reached their lockers and then separated, as she went to her first class for the day, while Trevor headed straight to the principal's office. He stopped in front of the door, took a deep breath, and knocked.

Even before he heard an answer, he had already gone inside. This surprised the principal, who was by the cabinets on the left side of the room, searching for something in one of the drawers. A hint of anger appeared on his face as he turned to look at the intruder, but then it vanished and made space for a more surprised expression.

- Mister West? How can I help you?

- I need to talk with you, mister Belcher.

The man hesitated for a moment but then nodded, closed the drawer, and gestured for Trevor to sit, while he went behind his desk, to also sit down.

- What is so important? - he asked, with a bit of curiosity underlying in his voice.

- I did my daily evaluation today, and I reached sixty-one, while not too long ago I was still at forty-six.

- That's an impressive achievement - said the principal and a smile crawled on his face. - You are approaching seventy. If this continues, you really might even surpass that number.

- I will surpass it - Trevor stated without even a hint of disbelief. - I'm working very hard every day to get there.

The man nodded.

- That's admirable. Other students should take you as an example.

- I'm not so sure about that. Last week I asked my mother to call the school to say that I'm sick, but in fact, I wasn't. I wanted some more time to train my powers, and that's why my magic increased so quickly.

The principal didn't say a thing, but his eyebrows climbed upon his forehead. Trevor wasn't really paying attention, nor did he expect Mr. Balcher to say anything. Instead, he just simply continued:

- I came here today because I wanted to repeat what I said when we met last time. All my grades are basically there, and I'm wasting my time here, while I could be at home, surpassing the seventy. I could be reaching a hundred by now if I had enough time.

The principal's eyebrows frowned, but he still didn't say a thing. Trevor also went quiet, expecting some kind of answer.

The man pushed his chair back a little and stood up, then slowly walked to the window, and looked through it at the part of the school grounds. The boy just watched, giving him time to collect his thoughts.

- You really believe you could surpass a hundred? - he eventually asked.

- Yes.

- Hmm... Let's do it this way then... I'll give you a week of absence from school. I'm gonna talk with your teachers and inform them of this arrangement, but you have to return with at least seventy. Can you do that? - he asked, as he turned around to look Trevor straight in the eyes.

- I can - he replied with pure confidence.

- Very well then... Go home.

- Thank you, mister Belcher - said Trevor with a big smile on his face.

He quickly grabbed his backpack, and rushed outside, before the man could change his mind. The corridor was empty, so nobody could see as he dropped to his knees and punched the air with a gesture of victory. Then he quickly picked himself up and looked around, to make sure he wasn't seen by anybody in such an embarrassing position, he left the school.