Yet again, my brain hurts. It hurts a lot. Numbers, dates, theories, and names rush through my mind at an alarming rate. This weekend, I basically went through one of the hells. I knew Penelope was scary, but I didn’t realize she was that scary. It’s what I imagine the military to be like. Thankfully, that is over. Tomorrow will be the exam, and I won’t have to worry about studying… for a while. So, as an excus- treat, I’ve decided to take Mateo out for another ‘brotherly’ outing.

  Mateo munches on the hotdog while we sit on a bench.

  “So, how’s the cathedral treating you?” I ask in between bites.

  “Well, the Holy Maiden has been visiting me,” he says in a nonchalant manner.

  “Oh, that’s nice. Wait, no, it isn’t! Why is she visiting you?”

  Mateo’s eyes focus on a single snowflake as he answers, “It’s not exactly that she’s visiting me. It’s more like she’s visiting the children in the cathedral. Although she does come and talk to me from time to time. It’s nice, considering I can’t talk to anybody else.”

  “She’s not asking anything weird, is she?”

  He looks at me with a sad look. “Listen, Horned One, I hate to break it to you, but I don’t think you’re her type,” he says with a shit-eating grin.

  “Very funny, Kid. You know what I mean.”

  Letting out a sigh, he takes one last bite out of the hot dog. “No, nothing weird. Just the general things. ‘How is everyone treating you? What [Blessing] do you have? Do you know how to draw?’ It took everything in me not to snap at that last one. I mean, I’m twelve, not six. I know how to draw,” he says with a hint of indignation.

  “I thought you were eight.”

  He gives me a glare that could kill. “I’m twelve. I’m just malnourished and tiny. That’s not my fault, now is it?”

  I could poke fun at him right now, but that seems unwise. Unwise, but funny. Which is why I’m going to do it anyway.

  “I don’t know, have you considered just being taller?” I ask with a devilish smile.

  “If we weren’t in public, I’d thrash ya. Also, these hot dogs were terrible,” he says as he perfectly throws the trash into the nearby bin.

  “How dare you. I paid for those with my hard-earned money,” I [Lie].

  “I saw you steal them!”

  “Lets not worry about the finer details. How’s the homework I gave you going?” I ask, deflecting the subject.

  Shaking his head, he stands up and gives me a cocky smile. “Why don’t you check your pockets and you’ll see.”

  Reaching into my pocket, I pull out some lint. “Well, this was underwhelming,” I say with a condescending look.

  “I… I could’ve sworn that… I put some rocks in your pocket-” he says with utter confusion.

  “Are you sure? Maybe they’re in that pocket,” I say, pointing at his breast pocket.

  “Why would they-” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a couple of rocks, “How’d you do that?”

  “Come on, Kid. Did you really think a week of tricking some nuns was going to be enough to catch up with me? I respect the gall, but not the execution,” I say as I grab the rocks and make them disappear from my hands.

  “So, what? That whole week was wasted?” he asks with a dejected look.

  “No, Kid. You did really well. In fact, you progressed so well that I’m going to have to add some more tasks to your homework,” I say as I hand him some bracelets that I ‘found’.

  Mateo looks at the gaudy bracelets and gives me a worried look. “These aren’t really my style,” he jokes.

  “Well, get used to them, because you’re going to be wearing them for the rest of your training.” I gently click the bracelets in place around his wrists.

  He moves his hands, causing a jingle to sound. “How am I supposed to do anything sneaky with these on?”

  “That’s the point. Once you’re used to those, we’ll talk,” I say as I [Throw] the garbage into the nearby bin.

  “This is going to suck.”

  “You think that sucks. Try studying for exams.”

  Taking a deep breath, I look down at my desk and wonder where did life go wrong? Was it when smelly Doug dared me to eat a live snail, or was it when silent Pete caught me trying to steal his dog? One of many life's mysteries. The other one being, why didn’t anybody tell me that I would be doing four back-to-back exams today? I thought it was just one big exam, but no, it’s four. Do you believe it? Four!?

  “If there are no further questions, we will begin to pass out the first exam. Remember, we will be watching. So, no funny business,” the Proctor reminds us as he begins to pass out the first exam.

  The first exam is placed on my desk, and I immediately want to cheat. I mean, I haven’t even seen the first question, and I’m already itching to cheat. Ok, remain calm. You can do this. In fact, you can excel at this. You’ll do so well that you’ll put Penelope to shame. Yes. That’s right. Who The Chosen? I’m The Chosen. Let’s get this party started.

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Question One: Magic circles are used to do what? Ah, wait, we actually went over this. Uh, they’re used to enhance the… duration, intensity, and/or range. Did I just answer that correctly? That must’ve been a fluke.

  Question Two: There are two types of [Skills], Active and Passive. Explain the difference. Hopper actually explained this one to me yesterday. Active means that you have to use MP to activate the [Skill]. Passive means that the [Skill] is always on without the use of MP.

  Question Sixty: [Leveling Up] is what exactly? Explain in detail. Hahahahah. It’s the act of taking the life force of something else and adding it to your own. This act requires the death of the other creature by your hands, actions, and/or by a [System] recognized way. The life force is then added to your own and is shaped by your [Blessing] into [Attributes]. If you do this enough, you will eventually [Level Up].

  Placing down my quill, I have an odd sense of satisfaction. It was like cheating, but using my brain. To think I’ve been missing out on this special way of cheating. Now, all I have to do is three more exams, and I’m golden.

  The Proctor slams his ruler down on my exam and gives me a sneer. “To think that The Chosen One would be caught cheating,” he says with a spiteful tone.

  “Excuse me!?” I say with genuine surprise.

  The entire room shifts its attention towards us. Much to my delight. This asshole thinks he can get away with accusing me of cheating!? If I were cheating, he wouldn’t have the slightest idea that I was. That’s just insulting my skill.

  “It is truly sad to see that not even being The Chosen One can save something like you,” he says under his breath.

  Oh, that’s how he wants to play this? Ok. This is going to be fun. He’s probably planted some sort of cheat sheet on me. No, it wouldn’t be on me, I would’ve noticed. Then on the desk, or rather under it. Slamming my hand on the desk, I stand to meet him.

  “Those are serious accusations that you’re making. I hope you have something to back them up,” I say.

  “The evidence is right here!” he yells as he reaches under the desk.

  “Well, where is it?” I ask as I tuck the cheat sheet in my sleeve.

  The Proctor looks around at the students and stands back up. “You’ve obviously hidden the evidence. I will personally search you,” he says.

  Putting my hands out to my side, I give him a devilish smile. “Please, help yourself, Proctor.”

  The Proctor begins to pat me down. He’s probably going to plant something on me. More than likely, another cheat sheet or even a magical item if he has one. How can I make this extra embarrassing? Ah, I know just how to do that.

  “Uh, Proctor, please do be careful when you look in that pouch. I have some personal stuff in there,” I say with a wink.

  A slight smirk appears on his face as he instantly reaches into that pouch. This should be good.

  “I have you- AAHHH!” he yells as he recoils from the pouch.

  I watch as his hand is enveloped by one of the Carnivorous Bramble seeds that I carry. “I told you to be careful,” I say as I grab his hand and carefully coax the bramble off his hand. I then lift the bramble in the air. “Anybody got fire?” I ask.

  A bolt of fire flies through the room, vaporizing the bramble. I look over at the source to find Garus. I give him a slight nod and turn my attention back towards the Proctor.

  His slightly shriveled hand shakes as he holds a small note in his hand. “Try as you might. I have found the evidence that you are cheating,” he says, holding the note out for everyone to see.

  “That’s my grocery list,” I say as I pocket the other cheat sheet he tried to plant on me.

  “Yes, exactly this is your cheat- Grocery list? That can’t be. I was… You’ve tricked me. I don’t know how, but I know you’ve tricked me,” he says, venom lacing his every word.

  “I didn’t realize that Sylvian University had a policy of harassing its top student. I really think you should quit before you make a fool of yourself. Oh, wait. You already have,” I whisper the last part to him.

  Anger rushes through him as a red glow of mana begins to coalesce in his hands. “I will not be spoken down to… by a…. Damned Devil!” he yells.

  I know I was goading him, but I really didn’t think he would outright say it. This was easier than I thought.

  “That’s enough! I will not have you besmirch this exam!” Professor Stargazer says as she enters the room.

  “Finally, someone who will see the truth. He cheated!” The Proctor says.

  “I was talking to you! Leave of your own accord, or I will do it for you. Save at least some face,” she whispers to him.

  The Proctor goes red in the face as he storms out, but not before whispering something to himself that I can’t hear.

  “Apologies, Chosen One and the rest of the Class. I will personally proctor this exam to make sure that no other interruptions occur,” she says as she heads to the front of the room.

  Sitting back down, I let out a sigh. I think I handled that perfectly. Not even a single doubt in my mind that it’ll come back to bite me in the ass. None at all.

  As I exit the exam room, I let out a long groan. This reminds me of when I slept in a box that one winter. My back was all fucked up after that. Eight-hour exam days are terrible, but at least they’re over. I can be happy about that.

  The sight of Penelope comes into view, and that last sliver of happiness just disappears.

  “Hello, Penelope. How did your exams go?” I ask as we wait for Hopper to finish.

  “Well, as expected,” she says and then just stares at me.

  “Is my horn crooked?”

  “Did you cheat in the exam?” she asks with a serious tone.

  A large devilish smile crosses my lips. “I thought you would’ve been sure if I cheated or not. What, can’t tell?” I whisper.

  She rolls her eyes. “Forget I asked.”

  “Already did.”

  As we stare each other down, Hopper bursts through the door and runs down the hall.

  “Think we should follow?” I ask.

  Penelope lets out a sigh. “Yeah, we probably should. After all, the Class War has officially started.”

  Racing after Hopper, we eventually catch up with him as he goes up to a solitary Lupin.

  “What are you doing here, Bunny? Didn’t I already tell you I wasn’t going to fight you?” he says with anger boiling beneath every word.

  Hopper takes a deep breath and looks Lupin in his eyes. “I, Hopper Lightfoot, challenge you to a duel by the rules of the Class War! Do you accept?!” he yells out for everyone to hear.

  Lupin stands a good foot above Hopper and smiles. “I accept! You should’ve taken my mercy when I gave it, Bunny.”

  Hopper's hand begins to tremble. “We will see who will be asking for mercy,” he says as he clenches his trembling fist.