*Oscar's P.O.V*

Slowly, I woke up in the infirmary bed. At first, my vision was blurred, and the outlines of the room seemed to merge into a single indistinct mass. I squinted, trying to focus. The rough stone walls, illuminated by luminous crystals embedded within, emitted a soft and magical light. I could hear the distant hum of some advanced equipment and the faint scent of medicinal herbs that permeated the air.

As my mind cleared, the details of the room began to emerge. A carved wooden chair was placed next to the bed, draped with a blanket embroidered with arcane symbols. A nearby table held a water pitcher and a carefully crafted metal cup. I also noticed a small, gleaming metal cabinet against the opposite wall, its doors tightly shut with a runic lock.

My gaze shifted to the window. Sunlight filtered through velvet curtains, casting shadows on the stone floor. The view outside was hazy, but I could make out the grand buildings of the academy, standing against the sky, interspersed with advanced technological structures that emitted metallic glows.

As my vision returned to normal, so did my memories, initially confused, beginning to resurface: I remembered Erwin's face, the sweat dripping down my forehead, the dull sounds of exchanged blows, and the pain I felt with each hit. The initial confusion gradually gave way to the realization of why I was there. I sighed, feeling a weight in my chest. I realized how difficult that fight had been, not only physically but also emotionally.

“So...I lost...” I whispered, with a sad look toward the window, staring at the landscape before me. When I stepped into the ring, I knew I had no chance against Erwin, given that, besides the huge gap between us, it was he who had taught me to fight that way.

Yet, losing like that, knowing that Erwin hadn’t even given his best, hurt me deeply because I knew my dream was now over.

“I see you’ve recovered, good.” - A voice from the entrance woke me from my deep thoughts; slowly, I turned my head and saw Professor Valentin, who, seated on the wooden chair, was observing me with his deep eyes.

“Professor... what are you doing here?” I asked, not expecting to find him in the infirmary.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” replied the professor with a neutral expression, sitting down on the wooden chair next to me. “You took so many hits that first aid wasn’t enough to wake you. So, we decided to bring you here.”

Indeed, Erwin had completely destroyed me. It was more like a fight between a lion and a small dog: no matter how determined the dog is, it will never have the strength to take down a lion.

[And to think he didn’t even use all his strength...] I thought with a bitter smile, feeling small stings as soon as I moved my cheek muscle, immediately stopping the smile; “Ouch…”

For a few seconds, silence reigned in the infirmary. I didn’t know what to say, and out of embarrassment, I tried not to look at him; meanwhile, the professor remained silent with a neutral expression, without saying or doing anything.

Then, however, the professor sighed softly and spoke again.

“I was impressed by the way you fought,” Valentin began. “I want to ask you, who taught you to box? Who taught you to move like that? I don’t think there are many kids who know that art…”

I looked at the professor with a puzzled expression; “Box? What’s that?”

At my question, the professor seemed almost stunned by my response, looking at me skeptically for a few seconds without saying anything.

“It’s impossible that you don’t know what boxing is,” the man frowned, not believing my words. “Otherwise, how do you explain the way you fought?”

At that moment, things became clear to me; initially, I didn’t understand the question, but now that he mentioned my fighting style, I finally understood what he was talking about.

“Oh that? Well, I didn’t know it had a name,” I replied honestly, scratching my head. “Erwin Eda taught me, telling me that the man who raised him had once shown him this fighting style. I’m not particularly skilled, so he only showed me the basics…”

As I spoke, the professor's face became more surprised than before; I didn’t know what he was thinking at that moment, but one thing was clear: the reason for that look wasn’t me, but Erwin.

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[Well, there’s nothing to be surprised about... after all, he’s special!] I thought, making another smile, this time genuine and not forced.

“Okay, I understand… Now I’ll let you rest.” - Professor Valentin then got up from the chair, heading towards the exit of the infirmary.

“Wait!”

Those words almost escaped my lips. The man stopped and, with a questioning expression, turned towards me. I didn’t want to stop him, I didn’t want to ask him, because deep down, I already knew the outcome of the test.

However, I knew there was a chance, albeit a small one, and if the professor was surprised by my progress, then maybe…

“P-Professor... What’s the result of my exam?”

The man observed me for a few moments. My heart raced; it was strange, I expected the worst news, yet a part of me truly believed I had a chance. His penetrating gaze seemed to scrutinize my soul, as if he was evaluating every single fiber of my being. Those seconds of silence, for me, were long, very long, so long that it felt like an eternity. I felt the sweat trickle down my back, my breath becoming more labored as I tried to stay calm.

Then, finally, the professor cleared his throat. The sound made me jump, bringing me abruptly back to reality. He looked at me for another moment, then took a deep breath. With an indecipherable expression, he began to speak.

“The result of your test is…”

End of Oscar's P.O.V

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A few hours later, in the cafeteria...

"I hate all of this..." Claire thought as she sat alone in the cafeteria.

She wasn't talking about the food. No, it was the fearful glances around her. People were so scared that they didn’t even dare to walk past her.

[All this… and it’s not even my fault…] she sighed. Since that "incident," everyone avoided her as if she had the plague.

She hated it. Hated being ignored for something that wasn’t her doing. But there was nothing she could do. Everyone at the academy was quick to judge without knowing the full story.

For a year now, she had no friends, no one to talk to. Even the freshmen who were nice at first avoided her once they heard the rumors.

She hated it, but at least – Claire thought – no one would get hurt because of her. [So, even if it’s awful… maybe it’s for the best…]

She hurried through her meal, wanting to escape the cafeteria and those terrified looks.

As soon as she stepped outside, her path was blocked by someone.

“Huh? Who are you…?” Claire asked, though she felt she’d seen him before.

“I’m Oscar, Erwin’s friend… Can we talk for a moment?”

[Oh! I remember him!] Claire realized, remembering the day she apologized to Erwin, Oscar was with him in the training room.

But why was he here? And why was his face bruised, and why wasn’t he in academy uniform? Still, she had nothing else to do. Talking to someone, especially now, might not be so bad.

[Besides… He’s not here…]

“Sure!” Claire exclaimed with a smile. “Go ahead!”

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They walked away from the cafeteria to talk privately. Claire couldn’t help but notice Oscar’s limp and wondered if he was a victim of bullying. She regretted following him, feeling the shocked stares of the whole school.

But Oscar seemed unfazed, walking with determination despite his uneven gait.

After a few minutes, Oscar stopped. Claire was puzzled to find themselves at the academy’s main gate. Behind Oscar were some suitcases. Claire understood.

“Don’t tell me you’ve—”

“Yes. I’ve been expelled,” Oscar interrupted, grimacing, a sharp pain in his heart at the thought that his dream of becoming a mage was over.

Professor Valentin had admired his effort, saying he showed something more than the others who failed. But it wasn’t enough; he didn’t see the talent needed to continue at the academy. Those words hurt deeply, making him initially resent Erwin, blaming him for everything.

But as hours passed, his anger subsided, replaced by acceptance. It wasn’t Erwin’s fault he was weak; it was his alone.

As they stood in silence, Oscar heard the distant approach of a steam car he had called to pick him up.

“You know... I wanted to talk to Erwin, but I couldn’t... In my heart, I knew if I saw him, I wouldn’t be honest…”

Oscar pulled an envelope from his jacket, handing it to Claire, who remained silent, finally understanding why he had called her there.

“Please, give this to him for me—”

“I can’t!” Claire exclaimed, handing the letter back. “I don’t know you, and I barely know Erwin!… Wait! What about his roommate? I’m sure he—”

“No, I can’t,” Oscar insisted, picking up his suitcases and turning away. “He and Erwin aren’t on good terms. Erwin trusts you, and even though it scares me, you’re the only one who can do this.”

Oscar headed towards the gate, which opened automatically. Claire wanted to say something, but before she could, she stopped. With a smile and tear-filled eyes, Oscar looked back at the academy one last time.

Claire stood silent, watching.

“Goodbye, Veras…” Oscar whispered, turning back to the exit, never looking back as he climbed into the car and left for good.

“Ahhhh… what a mess!” Claire groaned, running her hands through her hair. She didn’t know what was in the letter, but it had to be important. A message she didn’t feel right delivering to Erwin.

But after seeing Oscar’s look, something changed inside her, making her accept this difficult task, albeit reluctantly.

“Ahhh… fine…” Claire decided to head to her room, hoping to find Erwin nearby. But before she could go to the male dormitory, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar silhouette wandering the academy streets; it didn’t take long for her to recognize him.

“...Erwin?”

END OF CHAPTER 44 – AFTERMATH