The classroom was suffocatingly quiet. The air felt dense, like an invisible weight pressing down on every chest. The tick of the wall clock echoed louder than usual. Tension crackled in the atmosphere — a silent storm ready to break. Students sat frozen at their desks, their faces pale with anxiety, heads bowed over exam papers like warriors before battle.
At the front of the room, Magnus Sir sat with arms folded, his cold, hawk-like eyes scanning the room. His expression was unreadable — not angry, just... severe. The kind of look that made students forget how to breathe.
Finn sat near the window, hunched over his paper. He clutched his head in both hands, eyes glassy, jaw clenched. His fingers trembled as he wrote. His skin was pale, his eyes hollow — not from lack of sleep, but from fear. The fear of failure.If I don't score at least 50... they'll expel me...That single thought ran on loop in his mind, dragging his spirit down like an anchor.
Then a memory broke through the fog — Leon's voice, from just last night.
Finn had grabbed Leon's hand while they were studying in the library. His voice had trembled.
"If I fail… don't wait for me, bro. Just focus on your training. Become strong."
Leon had stared at him, stunned. There were tears in Finn's eyes — not the kind that came from whining or jokes — real, heavy tears. Leon felt something twist painfully in his chest. There was sorrow in Finn's voice... and something else. Resignation.
Before Leon could respond, a chair scraped loudly.
Fanny stood up.
Leon frowned, puzzled."What is she—?"
Without a word, Fanny marched up to Finn — and slapped him. Hard.
SMACK!
The sound rang through the library like a gunshot. Even books on the shelves seemed to flinch. Silence fell. Leon and Isla stared, stunned.
Isla shot up, grabbing Fanny's arm.
"Are you crazy?! Why did you slap him?!"
Finn sat frozen, a red mark blooming on his cheek. His eyes slowly met Fanny's — confusion swirling with pain.
Fanny yanked her arm from Isla's grip and grabbed Finn by the collar, pulling him up just enough to look him in the eyes.
"You idiot. You think I'd let you disappear from this school that easily?"
Her voice cracked slightly — not from anger, but from holding back tears. Her eyes burned with frustration.
"Every time we talk about a fight, you're the first one charging in. You love a good fight. But now? Just because it's an exam, you're giving up?"
Her words hit Finn like blades. His lips parted, but no sound came out. Guilt coiled inside him. He had fought in every battle... except this one.
Fanny pushed him gently back into his seat.
"You've always been a loser. But at least you tried. This time... you're quitting before even stepping into the ring."
She turned to Isla, her voice softer but still bitter.
"Come on. I'm not studying with someone who's already given up."
Dragging Isla by the hand, Fanny walked away.
Finn sat in silence, eyes on the floor, a flush of shame creeping up his neck.
Leon approached quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't think about passing or failing, man," Leon said with a small smile. "Just give it all you've got."
Finn looked up at him, something shifting behind his tired eyes.
"Right... give it all I've got."
He took a shaky breath and picked up his book.
"What are you smiling for?" he said to Leon, a weak grin forming. "Tomorrow's the exam. We should be studying."
Leon chuckled.
"Now that's the Finn I know."
Back in the exam hall.Finn stared at the paper, Leon's words echoing in his head: Just give what you have.
He exhaled slowly, hands still trembling, but now from determination.
Okay... just write what you know.He picked up his pen and began to write.
Across the room, Leon and Isla were already finishing up. They walked to the front and placed their papers on Magnus Sir's desk.
The old man glanced up, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
"Done already? Not surprised. You two always get everything right."
The class gasped softly.
Magnus Sir... smiled?
Whispers began to spread.
"They're monsters… they finish training, top exams too...""How are they even human?"
Sir's sharp eyes darted across the room. The murmuring stopped instantly, like a spell had been cast.
"Silence."
Everyone stiffened. Silence reigned again.
"You two may leave."
Leon and Isla nodded and left the classroom. As he walked out, Leon turned briefly and gave Finn a thumbs-up.
Finn smiled faintly and kept writing.
Only a few minutes remained.
Most students were done and had begun leaving. Fanny also stood, walking to the front to submit her paper. As she walked past Finn, her eyes glanced at him for a moment — not angry, but... worried. She didn't say a word, then walked out.
Now, only a few students remained. The clock ticked louder.Magnus Sir's voice rang out.
"Five minutes remaining."
Finn was almost done. Just one last long question left. He took a breath — but a small sob from the side interrupted him.
A student nearby was crying softly.
"Please... do you have a pen? Mine broke..." the boy asked, eyes filled with tears. "I'll fail if I don't finish…"
Finn hesitated. He looked at the clock. Five minutes.
His mind spun. If I give him my pen…But then, he stood up.
"Sir, can I go grab another pen? Mine broke."
He handed his pen to the student, who accepted it with trembling hands and a breathless "Thank you."
Finn rushed to the back, rummaging through his bag.
No pens.
Panic surged. His heartbeat thundered. Three minutes left.
Then — a glint. On the floor. A pen. Someone must've dropped it.
He grabbed it, tested it. It worked.
He ran to his seat and began writing furiously. His fingers cramped, his handwriting messy, sweat dripping down his brow. His muscles screamed, but he didn't stop.
Two minutes left.
He kept going. One line after another. Halfway done—
DING.
The bell rang.
His eyes widened. His pen froze mid-sentence.Magnus Sir walked toward him, expression neutral.
Finn wrote faster, desperately trying to finish, but—
The paper was gently pulled from beneath his hand.
"One more minute... please," Finn whispered.
His voice cracked.
Sir looked at him.