“Why are you staring?” Wide-eyed gazes were drilling into my head. “The spar is over, go deal with your own shit.”

  Their whispers were even worse. “So undragonlike, he has no honor.”

  “I don’t like Mitzi, but the human is worse.”

  “He’s insidious, that’s why he brought the geist.”

  These were just children… I refused to be moved by their words. My eyes descended on the bleeding girl. I sighed, lamenting the disappearance of my appetite. I put a handful of marshmallows into my pockets and grabbed Mitzi.

  Despite her being taller than me, I had no issues lifting her, especially with strengthening running through my veins. Tensing my legs, I ran towards the medical hall.

  It made my skin crawl to no end that here, you could just ask to beat anyone up and nobody would bat an eye. They would complain, but fighting anywhere was within the rules… Varaxis’s report claimed so at least. So long as they didn’t die, it was fine.

  The acrid smell of medicine entered my nostrils, and I strolled over to the counter. “She needs healing,” I said bluntly, dropping her on the table. “I also want some medicine to help with stress.”

  The restoration and healing student didn’t so much as flinch. She grabbed a vial from under the counter, gave it to me, and started healing Mitzi. The vial was filled with a glowing liquid similar to mercury.

  Willpower Tonic

  Type: Potion

  Affinity: Diamond

  Rank: Knight

  Description: Gives the strength to go on for another day. Nourishes the soul and fills with determination.

  It was too convenient. I left the medicine hall and headed towards my room, grasping the tonic. Glancing at it from time to time. I considered leaving it for the next morning, when I had to go to ELEVATE and torture myself.

  In the end, my exhaustion won, and I poured the contents into my mouth. Menthol and alcohol. The damned taste made my head buzz, and my toes curl. When the liquid was squarely in my stomach, I breathed a sigh of relief.

  I didn’t feel any different. “Fuck…” I slammed the door to my room open and dropped onto the bed. My skin felt clammy. With nothing left to do, I broke my promise not to do anything and got to reading and playing with forms.

  Dispelling Form learned at Initiate rank!

  Liquefaction Form learned at Initiate rank!

  Aerosolization Form learned at Initiate rank!

  Even if I was covered with magic turned to liquid and all the paper on the ground became wet, I was happy. I played in the sand, built a little castle, and put my worries in the background. It was nice that I could turn the liquid and mist back to starpower with the dispelling form.

  I slept like a baby and woke up like an adult – sulky and tired. Starpower solved those issues. It didn’t solve the fact that I had to go to the ELEVATE…

  __

  The ornate door was ajar, and sounds of arguing spilled out.

  “…he’d cause a disaster and y’all didn’t listen to me!” Ocoz was slandering me again.

  Inside Mousei, Ocoz, Louize, and Ivaldie stood in a circle with rays of starpower flowing between them.

  “Hello,” I said, giving the offenders a glare. “Why are you so hell-bent on killing me? I didn’t do anything bad!”

  “The kid has a point,” Mousei said.

  “No, he doesn’t! He brought an actualized geist! Do y’all understand how strong that thing is?” Ocoz rubbed her three eyes.

  “Oh, come on! I didn’t even know it was in me.” I shook my head, approaching the circle. It radiated heat.

  Louize chuckled, a wide grin spread across her face. “You didn’t know? Geists can’t give traits if you don’t agree to them! You made a mess, human. That’s how you made that drawing.”

  “I think it’s nice,” Ivaldie said, her eyes moved to the wall… Fucking Siege put the drawing there! In a damn frame and all. Louize opened her mouth wide. A second later, her brows furrowed as she frowned.

  Leaning against the wall, I clapped my hands, taking in their glares. “Listen up! I don’t want to be enemies with any of you! I just want to learn starpower and get strong! What did I personally do to you? I was trying to be friendly, but every day it’s – we should kill Magnus, we should maim Magnus, we should hang his intestines on the wall.”

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  “I didn’t say that!” Louize shouted.

  “Well, I for sure know you wanted to say that! All I ask is that you stop trying to kill me. Is that too much? I’m on my last legs here.” I breathed a sigh of relief. The heaviness in my stomach was gone, yet the silence was deafening. The magical lightshow happening between them suddenly ceased, and the circle disappeared.

  Mousei erupted in laughter. “You hear this guy? ‘I just want to be friends, ’ say that to the Source and let your soul cry!” Her tail thumped against the floor. “And he wants to ‘learn starpower’? You want to be like the mad wizard! In the school for dragons.” She panted from laughing. “This guy is gold! We should keep him.”

  “Yes, everyone deserves a…” Ivaldie glanced at the painting. “A third chance.”

  I scratched my head. “Thank you, I guess.”

  Louize sneakily glanced at Ivaldie. Pursing her lips, she raised her hand. “While he did make a deal with a geist...” She gulped so loud I could hear it. “He isn’t a terrible person.”

  Ocoz clenched her fists. “So, I’m the only sane one? Yo?! Anyone? Source to soul speaking – he put the entire school at risk!”

  “Well, I don’t like the geist either! So instead of trying to crucify me, maybe help me become stronger so I can take accountability? I swear on my soul that I hate geists more than all of you do.”

  “I knew this was going to happen! I literally predicted he’ll sway you to his side! T-that’s textbook manipulation. H-he must be using a compulsion trait.”

  “Ocoz, listen to yourself. I am the victim here. You think I wanted to get a geist trait? I was barely three when something spoke to me in my dreams. I couldn’t even talk properly! Nobody explained to me a thing about geist traits! I’m just trying to make the best out of my life, so please, give me the benefit of a doubt.”

  She groaned. “I’m not listening to ya. You’re a liar, a real liar.”

  “And I thought you were the nice one…” I sighed. “Sorry for existing.”

  Ocoz glared at me. Then she took a deep breath, and a relaxed smile returned to her face. “Whatever. I don’t care.” She stared at the ceiling. “By the time ya cause a disaster, I’ll get the source out of here.”

  The atmosphere of the room became tense. The others remained on the floor, looking awkwardly amongst themselves. Mousei jumped to her feet. “Alrighty, arguing’s fun and all, but we have elevating to do. Did anyone learn a new form from the knowledge transmission?”

  A choir of no-s resounded through the room. “It never works without Gretchen. Why did we even try?” Ocoz said.

  “Where is Gretchen? And where’s Siege, for that matter? Is he being a bum again?”

  “I was right here all along!” The voice resounded from up high. Siege stuck to the ceiling like some kind of gecko or a spider-themed hero. “Gretchen is helping to solve your mess, little human!” Like a leaf, he glided down to the ground. My mouth was wide open. “Nice to see you in good health, kid. Now go into the tribulation altar. You’re ready.”

  “I won’t even question your bullshit anymore.” I tried cracking my neck, which didn’t make a noise. “I’ll breeze through the tribulation.”

  “That’s the dragon spirit everyone says you don’t have!” He chuckled. “Go, go! I have some ‘wisdom’ to impart.” His eyes glinted menacingly as he looked at Ocoz. “What did I tell you about paranoia?”

  “To solve the root cause?”

  “Wrong! Keep it to yourself, my little knower.” He winked.

  “Okay, prof.” Ocoz shook her head.

  “This fucking place is driving me even more insane.” I took a step into the altar, and it all disappeared.

  I was back into the cold embrace of space. Yet, this time I was an adult. Worse yet, I already accomplished everything. Beneath me stood an army of dragon-women, all wearing maid clothes… Above and below, fleets of starships flew in space.

  “My, Lord. I anticipate at least ten Overlord geists. In your hands, our victory is assured.” The closest maid spoke to me. She was very pretty – tall, with elegantly tied silver hair, an athletic physique, and piercing serpentine eyes.

  This time, the tribulation didn’t try to make something convincing. This was an illusion, and to break it, I had to do something unexpected. Something I would never even consider doing normally,

  I didn’t bother scouting her name. “Fuck this shit.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. Our lips collided, and the heat broke through the coldness of space. The world shrank to the base sensations and then disappeared entirely.

  I was back in the classroom. My heart rang like a drum. Warmth burned in my cheeks. With a growl, stomped at the altar and shouted, “That was bullshit and you know it!”

  Your SE has increased by 2. From 31 to 33.

  “Two fucking SE?! What has my life come to?” The lingering feeling burned through me. I sighed and marched to the exit.

  Siege grabbed my shoulder. “Where do you think you’re going?” The voice was squeaky.

  I straightened my back. “Meditation… Can I skip meditating on this one, please?”

  “No can do! Get to the mat, or I’ll inject you with meditation drugs.”

  I swatted away his hand and got on the mat. Everyone else was meditating too. The classroom shifted too fast.

  “Magnus. Don’t waste time.” Siege’s grin brought shivers down my spine.

  I closed my eyes and returned to the memory of that tribulation. Just thinking of it made me embarrassed. The maids... Dragoconic maids. Was I really that kind of person? “Fuck my life.” I sighed.

  Of course, some bullshit like that had to happen. I wasn’t going to dwell on it. I really didn’t want to dwell on it. I was just frustrated and annoyed. There was nothing deeper to it.

  Something hit my forehead. On top of Siege’s finger, there was a black ball. “I know you’re not doing it right, kid. Until you accept the tribulation, you’re not leaving. Heh.”

  The urge to sob was getting to me. I closed my eyes again. The tribulation meant one thing. I was lonely and tired of being stuck in a child’s body. I wanted freedom... But there was a duty to fulfill. It wasn’t just a promise.

  Freedom can wait. Power cannot. Not in this world.

  Your SE has increased by 1. From 33 to 34.

  “I hate this place.” I pressed on my head. “Hey, Ivaldie. You’re not even listening...” Everyone but me meditated. How were they so immersed?

  “Good job, kid! You did a mediocre job, and my job’s done. You’re free to live now.” His proud grin made my face contort.

  I stood up and ate one of the marshmallows in my pocket. “Are you going to become the curator of the unripe class?”

  Siege nodded. “In five days, we’ll be meeting again!” He giggled… Ew.

  “Can you give me permission to dungeon delve, please? I need an onyx core.”

  “I’d be glad to throw you into a dungeon, but Varaxis is processing the paperwork, so it won’t work. You know, bureaucracy and stuff. Now, have a good day, little human or else…”

  “Yeah, bye.”

  I escaped ELEVATE, returned to my room, grabbed all the needed things, and then headed out to the biocrafting classroom.

  “Hello, Simona!”

  One of her eyes looked at me, and she waved. “Hi, Magnus.”

  For the first time, I felt like smiling. The professor was back to her usual business of messing with a hologram. I preferred her to Ivaldie; she was much more beautiful. If only she wore a maid dress…

  Your SE has increased by 1. From 34 to 35.

  My eye twitched, and I decided to throw out the implications. “Professor, I’m going to make my first trait. Can you help me?”

  She gasped and made a gesture. Her hologram froze. “Of course! What did you want to do?”