The restaurant seemed alive with a background of clinking plates, chuckling and murmurings of low talks. At the table, where all of them were sharing after days intense as they might be were an atmosphere flavored by roasted meat, fresh baked bread, along with the tiny taste of a spiced garlicky ale.

Just when the food was arriving, the door opened causing a blast of chill air. Melch caught himself mid-conversation and his gaze shot up toward the doorway, and widened in shock. Leif did not miss one such reaction. He smiled once more.

"Oho now, Melch what's with all this, blushin', Melch? Fell for someone?"

Melch's cheeks scorched a deeper shade of red. "I'm not. it's just not like that you know" he stammered in an attempt to avoid Leif's teasing grin.

Thomas turned his head to see who had entered. It was the earth magic tower mage and the elf mage from earlier. Their expressions were grave as they looked around the room and met eyes with Thomas. They walked directly toward him.

"We need a word, Commander Nicolescu." the earth mage said in a low tone. The elf mage stood beside him with her posture regal and her sharp eyes sweeping the room.

Thomas gave a slight nod. "Excuse me for a moment." he said to the table. Rising from his seat, he followed them outside.

The group at the table watched as Thomas disappeared through the door. Leif leaned forward toward Melch while lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know, I was just thinking. You should totally go to the elven kingdom. I mean, wouldn't that be a dream come true? A whole kingdom full of elves in there."

Melch rolled his eyes while trying to regain his composure. “First of all, Leif it's a no. Second, let’s focus on getting into the academy first, shall we?”

“But you’re considering it, aren’t you?” Leif pressed a playful glint in his eye.

Before Melch could open his mouth to answer, Devon who had silently watched laughed, "You dream, Leif. Elves do not take well to welcoming human invaders in their lands. Melch wouldnt even pass by the borders."

Leif looked shocked. "Not even Melch? The great apothecary child prodigy? They would surely make an exception for him!"

Devon was still shaking his head and laughing, while Melch sighed under his breath, "Can we just get this over already?"

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As the group finished their meal, the topic changed to lighter matters. Thomas returned with his expression unreadable. He sat down, signaled for another drink and began joining in as if nothing was amiss.

The evening passed with laughter and stories. Devon ordered more dishes than anyone else until Thomas raised an eyebrow. "Devon, are you trying to eat the entire menu?"

"Just enjoying a good meal while I can." Devon replied with a grin. "Who knows when we'll get another chance like this?"

They eventually returned to the inn, their spirits high despite the weight of the exams and the dangers they had faced.

The following morning, Melch woke early. The room was silent except by the soft snores of his friends. As he entered the hall, he heard a faint noise coming from Devon's room. Curious, he peeked in and saw his brother practicing his swordsmanship while his movements precise with complete focus.

"You up early" Melch commented leaning against the doorframe.

Devon paused the mid swing to turn towards him. "Now it had gotten to be more of a routine. It just helps clear up my head."

Melch nodded as he looked out his window. At the courtyard sat Thomas under his now favorite tree holding a odd cube in the palm of his hand, his face as far away and yet his eye fixed on his object as it seemed to hypnotize him from thought.

"What is this?" Melch asked.

"Probably thinking about how to save this world, as usual." Devon smiled. "Or maybe just figuring out how to get more medicine for you."

Melch's chest constricted at the mention of the medicine but he did nothing but keep quiet. He said something about needing to get more sleep and returned to his bed.

That day was a blur. When Melch woke again the next day, the inn was bustling with activity. After a hearty breakfast prepared by Patricia, the group split up. Galen and Kaiser stayed behind teaching the young girl from the inn about the world beyond Rakllan, while Leif and Melch headed to the library.

It was the librar with it's tall shelves filled to the brim with books in all sizes and colors. The usual scenario usually found Leif catching a few winks in one of the corners where Melch consumed book after book. Today the roles were somewhat reversed. It was Melch still being tired from previous days who began to doze off but Leif walked the aisles gathering books and actually reading some of them.

When Melch finally woke, he was surprised to see the pile of books Leif had collected. He picked one up and flipped through it only to realize most of them had nothing to do with the upcoming exam.

"Leif" Melch said holding up a particularly irrelevant book. "Why do you even have this?"

Leif shrugged. "Curiosity. You never know what might come in handy."

Melch sighed but couldn't help smiling. He took a few of the relevant books and settled down to study.

By the time evening rolled around, the group had reconvened at the inn. Patricia had prepared fresh bread and soup which they enjoyed together. The little girl from the inn now more comfortable around the group was chatting animatedly with Galen and Kaiser, her bright laughter filling the room.

Melch and Leif spent the rest of the evening preparing for the next day. To everyone's surprise, Leif was still engrossed in his books while Melch worked on improving his potion making skills.

The day of the exam came. The crowd moved toward the testing field, the fresh morning air circulating in their lungs. The examiners stated the rule: this test would last for three days just like the other one. The badge was given to every participant and told that they can start preparing now.

Leif was to take the exam first followed by Melch the next day. As they left the grounds, Melch noticed Leif was being unusually quiet. "Hey, you okay?" Melch asked.

Leif nodded. "Just. thinking. Don't worry about me."

Melch raised an eyebrow but didn't press further.

The rest of the day was quite uneventful. Back at the inn, Leif lost himself in his books while Melch worked with potions, fine-tuning his craft. Patricia's bread and soup provided a comforting end to the day and as night fell, the group found themselves feeling a strange mix of anticipation and calm.

The following morning, the first day of the last exam started in earnest. Melch and Leif were preparing themselves to face the last hurdle which was awaiting for them after what had already felt like a lifetime since the events from the first day of arriving in the capital Rakllan.