“You're Trey Lofit, aren’t you?” Jenyx remembered his name. It was the examinee who used Wind blade on the first day of the event. 

“Yeah! And yer that Throne guy or something, right? The one with no mana.” 

“Y-yeah.” Jenyx nervously replied.

“Nahahaha, no need to be so wound up. I ain't gonna hurt ya.”

“I see..?”

“How are ya feeling?” 

“I think I'm fine now. I'm sorry to have bothered you.” 

Trey shook his head, “No worries. My mom took care of you. I just brought you here.”

“…Right, I'm sorry for troubling you both.” 

“I told you, it’s cool. But man, was I surprised! Ya just fell on the street all of a sudden, ya know?” Trey sat on the chair beside the bed with a wide grin. 

“D’you have a weak body too or something?” 

“No, not really. My head just... started throbbing all of a sudden. Next thing I know, I woke up here...” Jenyx replied as he grabbed his head. 

“May I ask what time it is?” 

“It’s 9 in the morning.” 

“...I see, thank you.” 

He was late. 

No, to say that he was late would be wrong. Since it’s the Magic Ability Test, they don't have classes due to the preparations for the event. Jenyx breathed a sigh of relief.

(“The test starts later at 12… should I even attend? It’s not like I’ll get promoted. Should I just go home and rest? No, what about Rose’s problem..?”)

“Ya good?” Seeing him deep in thought, Trey spoke up. 

“Huh? Ah, yes. Thank you again for helping me. I'll be sure to repay this favor some other time, but I'd best be going now.” Jenyx hurriedly replied as he attempted to leave the bed.

"Whoa!" But as he tried to stand up, he felt his knees buckle beneath him, bringing him back to the bed. 

("Seriously... what happened to me...?") His legs were shaking. No matter how much strength he put into them, his legs could barely help him stand up.

“Doesn’t seem like ya can.” Trey stood up and marched towards Jenyx. He placed his hand on Jenyx’s shoulder and pushed down on it.

“Ya gotta rest up, man. Yer clearly in no condition to be running around.”

“That’s what I intend to do, but-- Wait, why are you here? Why aren’t you at the institution?” 

“Hah? I’ve already passed. I don’t have to take that stupid test anymore cuz I’m ‘bout to be promoted!”  Trey triumphantly declared.

However, Jenyx just gave him a puzzled look.

“What are you talking about? You have to attend all the exams if you want that slip to be acknowledged.” Jenyx tried to remove Trey’s hand on his shoulder, but was unable to even make it budge. 

“Huh? The slips I got ain’t enough...?” Trey had a grim look on his face as he spoke, undisturbed by Jenyx’s attempts at moving his hand.

“Yes? Didn’t they say so after the first test’s conclusion?” 

The Magic Ability Test event is divided into three parts. First, the magic prowess test, which gauges the student’s current level of skill with magic. Second, the written exam, where the students' understanding of magic and spells are tested. Lastly, the magic combat simulation, where students are pitted against one another and is the most highly anticipated part of the seven-day event. In order to ensure that all students who were able to get recommendation slips would attend, the headmaster made it mandatory for them to attend all exams, else their slips would be void. Additionally, the only ones able to join the magic combat simulation were those given red-colored slips and above. 

“Shit! I was asleep at that time! I thought just having these slips would be enough!” Trey removed his hand from Jenyx and clutched his own head. Now free, Jenyx attempted to leave again, when suddenly--

(“Ow!”) Jenyx felt a stinging sensation on both his shoulders. 

“Hol’ up, hol’ up! Does that mean I have to pass the friggin written exam to be promoted?” Trey slammed his hands down on Jenyx’s shoulders. Jenyx’s brows twitched as he felt the lingering pain.

(“Why did that hurt?”) Jenyx, who usually didn’t feel anything even if he was punched or kicked, was caught off guard by the pain. 

“Hey! Are ya listening!?” 

“W-what?” 

“I’m asking if I still have to pass the other exams so that I can get promoted!”

“I-I think? All I know is you have to attend all of them.”

“Damn it! I have to hurry. Good thing I already took a ba--” As Trey started walking, he felt something tug on his clothes. 

“Take me with you…” Jenyx held on to Trey’s clothes. 

“...Why do ya wanna go? It’s not like you can do anything there. Especially now.” 

“Please! I’m not letting go until you take me along!" 

With all his remaining strength, Jenyx clung to Trey’s clothes with both hands. Although it didn’t do much to him, Trey stood in place, blankly staring at him. 

“Ya know? I thought you were a masochistic freak or something for staying despite the treatment ya get, but... ”

Trey chuckled as he placed Jenyx's arm on his shoulder. In one breath, he hoisted Jenyx’s body up. 

“Looking at ya now, I guess yer either a total idiot or a gutsy one. I like that!” 

"T-thank you?"

"Sure thing. Ya have somethin' to do, right? If it's just taking ya with me, there's no problem!"

“W-wait! Can we first head to my home?” 

“Huh? Why? Ya wanna take a bath or somethin?”

“Well... yes, and my parents must be worried about me.” 

“Oh, right. Ya didn’t come home after all. Alright then, I’ll tell the uncle outside!” 

**

“I’m home.” Jenyx casually opened the door to their home. While he was resting in the carriage, his strength gradually returned. Though he could finally move around, he still wasn’t feeling like usual.

“Nyx!” Maya's voice resounded from inside the house. Jenyx could clearly hear her even though she was nowhere in sight. It was only natural that she was yelling. He didn’t come home last night after all. Jenyx thought they must be worried sick, waiting for him. As he contemplated, Maya emerged from one of the rooms and approached him. 

“Hey Mom. Sorry for... worrying you last... night?” For some reason, his mother had a smile on her face.  

“Oh, not at all! So… how did it go?” Maya’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“W-what are you talking about?”

“Oh, you! Don’t play dumb! You spent the night in Rose’s home, right!?” 

“What!?”

Jenyx finally realized what his mother was talking about and why she had a smile on her face. He thought it was weird she was beaming despite his son not coming home last night. 

“Oh, you’re so daring! I didn’t know you had it in you! Ahh, now we can finally be sure you won’t be alone in life!”

“Haaaaah... I wasn’t with her last night. Now I feel like an idiot. I thought you guys were worried sick or something…”

“Huh? Then where were you last night?” 

“...Nevermind that, I was just at a friend’s place. I’ll take a quick bath and go to school.” 

Maya snickered as she let Jenyx pass. He figured she might still be having the wrong idea, but decided not to correct her. Jenyx stripped himself of his dirty clothes and entered their bath.  As he felt the warm sensation of water on his body, he closed his eyes.

(“You're nothing but a spineless coward!”)

The mysterious voice’s words echoed in his mind. 

*Thud!*

Jenyx punched the wall without thinking. His heart seethed with anger. Yet at the same time, a part of him believed that the voice was right. Despite his frustrations at being treated like dirt, not once did he ever take action. He simply stood there, enduring as everyone mocked him.

It can't be helped. I can't do anything about it. What's the point? Jenyx was well aware that these were nothing but excuses. Things that he told himself because he was afraid of making things worse. When the truth is, he was already in the worst situation. 

"The reigns of my life, huh...?"Jenyx muttered to himself in the bath as he remembered the entity's final words. 

(“No, this isn’t the time for this…”) He can think about what the voice meant at length later on. Once Rose’s issue was resolved.

Jenyx's face contorted into a frown. He didn’t like it. He felt like he was running away by using Rose’s situation as an excuse to dismiss his own problems. Exactly like every other time. Jenyx sighed and withdrew a towel from a cabinet, wiping himself with it. 

(“Calm down… Rose should be my priority right now!”) Jenyx mentally reminded himself.

Once dressed up, Jenyx hurried downstairs. While descending, he noticed that his mother was talking to someone. The person wore the same uniform as he did and spoke to his mother casually like they were long time friends or something. 

“Oh, I’m so thankful our son has a friend like you!"

“Please, ma’am. Call me Trey.”

“What are you two doing? And why are you here, Trey? I thought you were going to wait in the carriage?” 

The two then looked towards Jenyx, “Oh, well, ya know, I thought ya were taking too long so I thought I’d check up on ya, then yer mother saw me.”

“Oh honey, I’m so happy you have a friend aside from Rose!”

Maya’s eyes had a glint to them, eerily similar to how her eyes were when he talked to her earlier. Jenyx simply disregarded it, along with the fact that Maya had taken out the luxurious treats that they only bring out when talking to close family friends and the like. 

“Yeah, me too. Well, we’ll be going then, mom.” 

“Ah! Thank you very much for the warm welcome!”

Maya nodded to them as Trey stood up and walked alongside Jenyx.

“Yer mother’s so kind! I think she and Ma would get along real well.” Trey closed his eyes, nodding his head as he imagined them interacting with each other.

“Really? That sounds nice.” Jenyx listlessly replied to him as they reached the carriage. 

“What’s wrong? Something on yer mind? Don’t worry, I’m also worried about the exam for later so ya won’t be alone!” 

“...It’s not that. Don’t worry about it. Also, shouldn't you be studying?"

"Oh yeah, for the test!" Trey scrambled as he pulled a book from his bag behind him. But as soon as he flipped through the first few pages, his expression turned into a frown.

“Uwaaaa... there's so much in here. Where do I even start?"

Jenyx looked over at Trey, staring at him for a while. Before long, he looked to the sky and quietly sighed.

"If you'd like, I can help you study while we're here in the carriage." 

"Seriously!? That'd help tons. Thanks!" Trey enthusiastically replied 

(“It's just for a little while anyway... Besides, I'd like to somewhat return the favor since he helped me out.”)

Jenyx reached out his hand, prompting Trey to give him the book. For the entirety of the carriage ride, Jenyx spent the time discussing with Trey the topics they tackled during class.