After the neural exam, students were granted a one-hour rest. Outside, three professors huddled together, intently observing Xurien from the shadows. "Look at that student's stats. Her capacity level is only 61%. I always thought that dual stellar affinity usually granted at least 80% capacity," noted the stout Professor Aevengel.
"Indeed," Professor Sheron added, stealing glances toward Xurien. "And worse, her tool ability is only 50%. By all rights, she should have failed, but because her healing ability is 90%, the system qualified her."
"Could it be that the Crown-System is favoring the Cyprioxians?" Aevengel mused.
"Don't worry," Sheron replied with a snicker. "Remember, she is forbidden from using religious healing in our nation. This is where we'll see how far her luck really goes." The professors chuckled in front of Professor Alen Makel, but they fell silent when they saw another student approaching Xurien.
Gaeia watched as the other students ate to regain their strength, though most were busy whispering about Jarven's tragic fate.
"Ha! That's what happens to cheaters," Gaeia muttered while listening to the gossip nearby. "Serves him right." Her eyes scanned the crowd for Xurien, finding her sitting alone on a bench. She also noticed the three professors who had suddenly stopped their conversation. What are those three whispering about? Are they targeting Xurien?
"Xurien!" she called out, hurrying over. "I got fresh coconut juice! It's on me today." She held up two coconuts like trophies. Xurien swallowed hard, staring at the smooth green skin of the coconuts, still beaded with cold moisture. She also noticed the enticing yellow umbrella and the cluster of red grapes tied to the side.
I'm sure Xurien will love this, Gaeia thought with a smile.
"Here you go, Xurien. I know you're exhausted from the neural exam." Gaeia's green eyes sparkled as she handed over a coconut filled with fresh, fragrant juice.
"Coconut? Did you buy this?" Xurien immediately grabbed one, which was brimming with sweet nectar. The cold liquid soothed Xurien's parched throat, and she took a long, deep sip. "Where did you pick these? The skin looks freshly cut. Wait, I haven't seen anyone selling these around here, have I?" Xurien's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she drank.
"Well, no, you haven't." Gaeia grinned, her eyes squinting. "In fact, this has been preserved in my magical cabinet for 300 years. I know coconut is a natural medicine, so I thought I'd share some."
"300 years?" Xurien's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you serious? You're just pulling my leg, aren't you?" Xurien took another loud sip. "You weren't even alive back then."
"Oh, come on! That's my Tool ability." Xurien's eyes grew even wider as she listened. "I can conjure a cabinet and store items within it to preserve them. My Tool ability is an inheritance from my ancestors, designed to preserve herbal plants that went extinct ages ago. But it can preserve fruits or food for a long time, as long as the owner is alive or the ability is passed on to a successor."
Gaeia raised her hand, green celestial energy crawling across her skin until a small box appeared. It was wrapped in green astral dust and popped open, releasing a warm puff of steam as if it had just come out of an oven. Inside were two herbal biscuits.
Xurien's eyes lit up with joy. "Wow, they're real biscuits!" She smelled the savory sweetness, and they were still warm.
"Eat them. They aren't boosters, but they do strengthen stamina and mental ability. I know the final exam will be tough, so I wanted to help you however I could." Xurien took one and bit into it, leaving a satisfying crunch.
"Gaeia, thank you so much!" Xurien said, her mouth still full of biscuit. She hugged Gaeia tightly, overcome with gratitude. But then, she pulled away, sensing something off in Gaeia's demeanor. "Wait a minute... why are you being so kind today?" Xurien peered into Gaeia's soft eyes. "Don't tell me... you're planning something?"
Gaeia hooked her arm firmly into Xurien's, like a cat that had finally caught its prey. "And since I fed you my herbal biscuit, you're going to explain everything about that man—what was his name again? The one who's your boyfriend."
"I knew it!" Xurien tried to struggle free, but Gaeia's grip only tightened. "So there is a catch! Can you please stop calling him my boyfriend? He's not my boyfriend!" Xurien's cheeks flushed crimson as she remembered Martheuw's face. Gaeia's grip was like a python squeezing its prey. "Ouch, Gaeia!! That hurts! Let me go!"
"Just admit it. He's your boyfriend." In the commotion, Xurien's coconut slipped from her hand and rolled across the ground like a human head until it stopped at the feet of the three professors. Gaeia froze, quickly adjusting her posture as she saw the professors' smiles—smiles that felt like daggers pointed at Xurien. Those three again? Gaeia whispered.
"Xurien Wrez. A Cyprioxian," Aevengel's voice rasped, cutting through the silence like broken glass. "Why do you insist on forcing yourself to become a Thallerion healer?"
"Oh, leave her be, Aevengel. Let the girl embarrass herself during the final exam," Sheron sneered, eyeing Xurien from head to toe. "But let me be clear: that 50% tool ability of yours is only fit for Will-forgers," Sheron said, followed by a mocking laugh. The professor with the thick black hair stepped forward.
"Don't tell me you're planning to use your religious healing ability during the exam to trick the panelists. That won't work!" he chuckled, hands in his pockets. "If I were you, I'd go back to Cypriox and prove your 'divine healing' there."
Gaeia's forehead creased, but she felt a pang of sadness seeing Xurien drop her head like a bird surrounded by hyenas. Gaeia tapped her friend's shoulder. "Don't listen to them, Xurien," she whispered before glaring at the professors. "If you're only here to belittle Xurien, then you're no better than common bullies."
"What's wrong with that? We're just stating facts. She's only making it harder on herself, trying so hard to be a Thallerion healer when her body clearly isn't up to it," Alen Makel retorted, head held high. The system bell rang loudly, causing even the doves to scatter from the academy. "In Thallerion, we don't wait for prayers—we act with precision."
Xurien felt the blood rush to her cheeks, but she realized that reacting would not help. Instead, she picked up Gaeia's untouched coconut and took a sip, louder and more deliberate than their insults.
The trio frowned, gritting their teeth. "Hmph! Come on, everyone. We're getting nowhere here. We'll see what happens later. Even if she combines both her stellar affinities, it won't be enough to impress the panel," Aevengel spat.
"Xurien!" Gaeia beamed. "That was brilliant! You insulted them with nothing but a coconut! I never realized coconut juice could also be a remedy for the bad air those three carry around!" she laughed.
"Stop it, Gaeia. Let's head inside."
Head Minister Gaverdric Hetitze
Inside the circular hall, the examinees gathered as trumpets heralded the arrival of the panelists. The students stood on the sidelines, watching as three panelists took their seats. One of them was Gaverdric Hetitze, a 67-year-old widower with no children. Gaverdric sat in the high chamber reserved for panelists, chin held high. He tightened his ring, twisting it slowly on his finger. This year, the weak must be cast out to where they belong. But there are always fools who insist on crawling toward a profession they aren't meant for, he muttered, scanning the room.
Gaverdric's eyes sought only one face among the examinees—Xurien Wrez Hetitze. Instead of a smile, a dark cloud passed over his eyes. He clenched his fists until his jaw tightened.
Xurien Wrez, he thought with bitterness. You are a curse upon our lineage. Why did you try to return to Thallerion? If you dare to shame the Hetitze name, I will be the one to personally send you back to Cypriox. He watched Xurien's movements from afar, tracking her like a hunter aiming at an unsuspecting deer.
His silence was broken by the three professors, their approach sounding like dry leaves crunching underfoot. "Minister, that girl is truly stubborn. No matter how much we insult her, she remains unfazed," Aevengel reported.
"She is stubborn," Alen Makel agreed. "But Head Minister, her tool ability is low, and she lacks significant weapon ability. It's only that 90% divine healing ability that likely gave her this luck... or perhaps the Crown-System is just favoring her because she's Cyprioxian?"
Gaverdric narrowed his eyes. "Favoring her? Then, at this point, I will ensure that her luck runs out during this exam." He faced the three, and an ethereal screen appeared from his ring, visible only to him. To the professors, it appeared as though he were merely rubbing the air.
"In that case, go and procure patients from the healing camp—those bitten by biopunks." The trio's eyes widened, and they recoiled, feeling a faint tremor in their bones.
"But the patients at that camp are heavily guarded by Cyprioxian religious healers. Their condition is critical. We cannot agree to this," Aevengel objected, but they all gasped as their personal ledgers chimed, 3,000 Astral coins deposited into each of their accounts. They stared at their palms, where blue screens glowed with the influx of wealth.
"That is a small sum compared to the promotion you will receive after this examination. This job will be easy if you handle it correctly. Do you truly refuse?" He stared at them one by one, counting every second of their silence. "Very well. If you refuse, I will give it to others."
The three exchanged panicked glances, but Gaverdric merely smiled, as if reading their thoughts.
"We will do it," Alen Makel stepped forward, his face serious but his voice trembling. "The three of us. And the promotion." Gaverdric stared into Alen Makel's soul, a grim satisfaction washing over him.
I want her to fail this exam and return to Cypriox, Gaverdric thought, his jaw locked. I refuse to have a relative with Cyprioxian blood.
"As you wish, Minister. We will ensure that the patients with the worst conditions are given to her during her actual performance later." Alen Makel grinned, while his two companions remained silently anxious.
"We shall see how far her luck carries her. Now, go. I still have a speech to give before this celestial wielding exam begins."
Gaverdric watched them leave and looked back at Xurien. "What will you do, Xurien, when this exam itself is what destroys you?" he whispered.