Chapter 10: Finals

  The worst part of looking for travel cards was how specific they were. The greater the effect, the more rare the card was likely to be. Unlike combat cards, they didn’t come from binding so much as they just appeared naturally in the world. People had no clue why, but high mana areas tended to produce noncombat cards semi-regularly.

  That didn’t mean they automatically ended up at Rentan Academy. The school was in the center of a great, wide plain, and the card Ambrose needed was found most often in the mountains bordering the region. Even Gordo couldn’t help him.

  “I’ve got my ears open and I’m asking people who come in if they have one they’re willing to trade,” the nomad said, the day before their exams were due to start. His clothes were much nicer now, thanks to the ransom Ambrose paid for Jessica’s stupid new serpent. “But if anyone has it, they’re going to try to screw you over. Prices are universally high this time of year.” Gordo shrugged helplessly.

  “I don’t have anything I could offer to expedite things,” Ambrose admitted. “Unless you’re willing to loan me the cost, out of years of trustworthy deals and aiding one another. You know I’m good for it.”

  Gordo scratched his armpit as he thought. “I’ll see what I can do, but I make no promises. Especially not at your time limit. Three or four days is kinda insane, buddy.”

  Ambrose ground his teeth. “Yeah, you’re telling me. Just…keep your eyes open. Anything that will slow me down or keep me from splatting if I fall will be good enough.”

  It was amazing, how fast his hope could turn into despair. He’d been so sure that it would be easy to get this last piece, and be able to get into the office while Vanderborn was still away and unable to come back and catch him. At this rate, if it was possible at all, it would be cutting it a little close.

  Duels were coming, and while he knew how good he was, everyone had been improving. No one at this level stood still. His classmates, as much as he made fun of some of them, were all dangerous and worth taking seriously.

  Briefly, he marveled over how irritated he was at himself for spending so much on Jessica. It was stupid, and left him unable to supplement his own decks. And now his gamble might not pay off. It ate at him, but Ambrose knew better than to stew in his negative thoughts. It was great for cultivating grudges, and terrible for everything else.

  He went back to his apartment and surrendered to the need to study. For the next day and a half, he left only to go to class and check Gordo’s inventory. Time slipped away, and in just a blink, finals were upon them.

  For their written exam, the third years were brought into a wide lecture hall, where they were placed far apart from each other. Professor Bower oversaw them, checking his warding spells against possible cheaters.

  Ambrose didn’t need to cheat to succeed. That wasn’t to say he was above it, but the test did little more than waste precious time. To his lack of amusement, the first essay question tied directly into his little problem.

  Name and explain the differences between the four different types of noncombat cards, and where you are likely to find each one. Provide examples of each.

  It was one of the easier questions. With three hours to work before an hour break to stretch their legs and get a snack, he took his time and gave a complete answer. Everyone may have cared about the duels more, but placing first wouldn’t matter if his written results were mediocre.

  The minutes ticked by with only the sounds of pens scratching away at paper, and the occasional cough or disgruntled groan. Ambrose looked up several times to see Raeleq clutching his head and staring down at his test with horror and pain in his eyes. The wild wizard was one of the bigger combat threats, but would never be a scholar.

  Humming pleasantly to himself, Ambrose worked diligently until all fifty questions and ten essay prompts were filled. He got up and turned his test papers in with twenty minutes to spare. As he did, Jessica looked up from where she methodically gave textbook-perfect answers. He looked away and moved out of the lecture hall and into the classroom where Raeva and Kim waited after finishing early too.

  “Feeling confident, or not so much?” Raeva asked as he paced up and down the length of the room.

  “I’m fine,” Ambrose snapped. “Worry about yourself, or maybe your brother. I’m pretty sure the last essay question is going to break him.” He ran a hand through his dark hair and tugged on the ends. The pain helped ground him.

  “That’s really not called for,” Kim tried saying. She was one of the more academically gifted wizards, but also one of the ones he didn’t see as a threat. “Why are you like this?”

  Ambrose ignored her and stuck to his pacing. Eventually they ignored him back and chatted about Raeva’s home while he pretended not to listen. For all the crap he gave the siblings,it sounded like the tribes of the southern savannah knew how to party hard, and he couldn’t deny their famous hospitality. It had been one of the things to backfire badly and ended with them as vassals of Amaria just ten years ago.

  Jessica came in fifteen minutes later, looking frazzled and fried. She flopped into a seat near his pacing path. “I’m so glad that part’s over,” she grumbled.

  “Hrn,” Ambrose returned. He’d been avoiding her the past few days, and knew that she noticed.

  “I’ve been getting good practice in, though,” she continued. “If we are paired up against each other in the first round, you might be in trouble.”

  He stopped his pacing, hands twitching at his sides. “You’ll get to see first hand how much I’ve been holding back in our sparring matches. Don’t be too eager to get destroyed early.”

  That didn’t deter her at all. “Then I’ll learn from the experience and get you next year.”

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “If you rank high enough to even make it to fourth year,” he sniped.

  Her face fell, and he immediately regretted saying something. Jessica got up and moved to sit near Raeva and Kim. She joined their conversation, speaking and laughing loudly to distract from the hurt. It was stupid of him, and too late to fix it. Dammit.

  Luthor was next, and he looked as cool and collected as ever. Ambrose wondered if anything ever got under his skin. He wasn’t the best at anything, but he was relentless and worked hard. As much as it hurt to admit it, those were qualities that could take people far. Sometimes even further than talent and skill. The light wizard leaned against a wall nearby, but knew better than to try to talk to him.

  One by one, the other half of the class finished up. Molly ended up taking a nap in the corner, while David sat at a cracked window and smoked from a tiny porcelain pipe. No one cared enough to turn him in for it. Even after three years at Rentan, anxiety ate at them all when it came to end of the year tests.

  Girard came next, annoyed and probably lamenting the fact that he spent more time flirting than studying. Raeleq came in last, a haunted expression on his face. Their final classmate, Cara, never returned. The next face they saw was Professor Bower, looking as tired as they felt.

  “Alright everyone, good job. All the tests are in, and you have an hour to go and do whatever you want. I recommend a bunch of water, and a snack of some kind. When you come back, we’ll start part two. It will last for two hours, and then you’re free until tomorrow.”

  Jessica raised her hand.

  Bower sighed. “Still don’t have to raise your hand, Jessica. What is it?”

  “When do we see our matchups for the combat portion of the exam?” she asked. A murmur of agreements went around the room. Everyone wanted to know who they had to prepare for.

  “Professor Dietrich will cover that. Matchups will be posted outside of the Pit tonight, and will take place over the course of the next week, starting tomorrow. But don’t worry about that for now. Focus on surviving the rest of the test. We’re going to present you with scenarios, and you will explain how you would handle each one. Be warned, we take this very seriously, and smart-ass answers and arrogance will not be tolerated.”

  Everyone looked at Ambrose with humorous accusations in their eyes. He shrugged sheepishly, though his reputation did boost his mood a little. “I’ve got no intentions of joking where my future is concerned,” he said.

  “Good. Now, go take a walk and refresh yourselves.”

  Ambrose was the first out of the door, and he immediately went to check with Gordo once more.

  “Still nothing,” Gordo said apologetically after his other customer left. “One guy offered up another high jump card, but I don’t think you need that, if you’re looking for fall protection.”

  “No, I don’t,” he said through gritted teeth.

  Thoughts of failure made his heart race and his mood worsen. One way or another, he’d get that Wildcard. More than anything, he wanted to see what the magic decided was in his best interest. There were too many different directions he could go, and he couldn’t afford to go down the wrong path.

  “Hey, I thought I’d find you here,” said Jessica, stepping into the tent. “What’s eating you?”

  “He’s broke and needs a couple specific cards,” Gordo answered for him.

  “If I wanted her to know that, I would’ve said so,” Ambrose grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m just stressed. Don’t worry about it, Jessica. Focus on beating me.”

  She brushed a stray strand of dark hair out of her eyes. “I am. But you did me a good turn, and I want to do one for you, if I can. I just got a small boost to my allowance. It’s not much, but maybe I could buy you a card for your deck, if you know what you want or need.”

  Jessica sounded so earnest, so passionate. If this was pity, then it stung a little less than usual. Ambrose almost smiled.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m going to be fine. Besides, do you really want to give an edge to your competitor?”

  “That’d be pretty stupid,” Gordo agreed.

  Jessica flushed. “Before I came here, I bullied Professor Bower into telling me about the first round. We’re not facing each other until round three, so I feel pretty okay about it.”

  “I’m not saying no, but I am saying not yet,” Ambrose said in surrender. “Let’s see what I need to worry about after the first few rounds. But if you’re paying, I wouldn’t say no to some wine before the rest of the test.”

  Two glasses of wine might not have been wise before taxing his brain, but it helped relax him. The two spent half an hour at Meli’s Place, chatting and de-stressing before it was time to go back.

  The second half of the test wasn’t nearly as taxing, in his opinion. If it didn’t take another few hours of his time, he might even have enjoyed it. Each question was tailored to the individual student, and it showed with some of them.

  You are paired with a Wild Wizard and are facing a Light Wizard spellblade contingent. How do you and your partner stay alive long enough for reinforcements to arrive?

  It was funny, imagining pairing up with Raeleq against Luthor and a bunch of identical clones. Ambrose wrote out a long answer about using the Wild Wizard’s superior creatures to buy them time while he picked off the spellblade’s summons as fast as they could keep them coming. The next one, about dealing with Primal Wizard artillery platoons, took him much longer.

  By the time the test was over, he felt the strain and almost wished for a day’s rest before pitting himself against the rest of his class. His main consolation was that everyone else would be as tired as he was. The thought cheered him up as he practically ran across the campus courtyard to get to the Pit.

  Outside of the class, the match-ups were posted high on the wall above the double doors leading into the combat arena. He scanned for his name, going down the list until he came to the bottom.

  Four pm: Ambrose Adams versus Raeva Ransa

  “Looks like you get your wish, Ambrose,” Raeva said, coming up beside him. “I get to watch my brother fight, and then I get to kick your pasty ass. It’s going to be a beautiful day.”

  He met her dark eyes, and flashed her a fierce grin. “Beating you early is going to break the wills of those already worried about me. I really should thank you, Raeva.”

  She laughed and nudged him with her elbow. “What do you say we make this interesting, then? Feel up to a wager?”

  Ambrose stroked his goatee thoughtfully. “What do you have in mind? I’m a little low on funds, obviously.”

  “Well,” she said, “if you beat me, then I’ll let you take me out on a date.”

  Ambrose schooled his face into an amused smile. “What makes you think I want one?”

  She shot him a look.

  “Okay, you got me,” he said. “And if I lose?”

  This time, pure malice filled the primal wizard’s eyes. She grinned, and looked like a true predator, about to go in for the kill. “When you lose, you’re going to go up to my brother and apologize to him for the way you talk to him. And then you’re going to go drinking with us. Without saying anything mean.”

  “Oh, that’s diabolical,” Ambrose said with a shudder.

  “But it’s not a problem, right?” Raeva nudged him once more. “You said you’re going to win. Unless you’re not as confident as you say.”

  “Kiss my ass, Ransa,” said Ambrose. “You’re on.”