Nathaniel stopped supporting me, and I continued running at a slow pace. Honestly, he had done well up to this point. Despite carrying me, his rank hadn't dropped too much. I was lucky. A luck that wasn't granted to me—he had given it to me. I owed Nathaniel a great favor for that.
A few minutes later, I finally reached the end of the valley. There was no finish line ahead. So, I slowly looked down. Yes, the line was below. At first, I hesitated, but when someone behind me jumped without a second thought, I didn't hesitate either—I jumped.
As I descended, the cold yet humid air rushed into my mouth, making it harder to breathe. I closed my mouth and fell straight down, crossing the finish line in a vertical position. The moment I crossed the line, the simulation ended, and I found everyone lying on the ground in strange positions. The simulation had been so realistic that, judging by the shape of their open mouths, I could tell that they had also jumped.
My eyes immediately searched for Alice. I scanned the area with my head, but she was nowhere to be found. I didn't care much, but there was something I needed to ask her. After all, this was our final year—our last moments together. I had to hear Augustus's request from her as well.
Just then, the instructor announced the end of the exam. Some students ran straight to him before even catching their breath—those who had been disqualified. Some were crying, some were furious, and some were even happy. I didn't understand why, but it wasn't my problem.
The instructor gathered everyone around to make an announcement.
Minerva S.: "Alright, students, another academic term has come to an end. Each of you has spent six years in this school, through the good and the bad. Here are the students who have passed the exam:
Alice and Augustus
Nathaniel
Mariana
... 5. ... 6. ... 7. ..."
I wasn't on the list.
As the crowd dispersed, I approached the instructor and called out to him. He didn't respond, so I slowly walked up and touched his shoulder. The moment I did, an unseen force suddenly threw me backward, twisting my leg in three places.
Minerva S.: "HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME, YOU FILTHY COMMONER?!"
She looked at me as if she was looking at the most disgusting thing in her life. Finally, her true colours were fully revealed. After graduation, I was relegated to the status of an outsider in the school, and she instantly reacted against me, the status-addicted bitch.
Her disgusting expression was as if she would vomit if she looked at me for another second, and at that very moment, a purple-black mixed aura came out of her hand.
The pain in my leg drowned out the rest of his words. A burning rage filled my vision as I looked back and forth between my mangled leg and the instructor.
"I-I-I just wanted to ask about my ranking..."
Minerva S. responded with anger:"Even though you cheated in the exam, some of our instructors decided to pass you due to your marginal performance. So, you barely made it."
A wave of relief washed over me—but at that exact moment, the pain in my leg intensified. Tears welled up in my eyes, leaving a metallic, salty taste in my mouth. My leg slowly began to return to its original shape, sending unbearable waves of pain through my body.
I needed to pull myself together. I kept telling myself to stop, to calm down, but the tears wouldn't stop. They had to stop. No one would come to my aid if I cried—I knew that. But please… it hurts so much.
After what felt like an eternity of silent cries, my leg finally returned to normal.
Minerva S.: "Consider it a small graduation gift from me," he said before walking away from the exam grounds.
Sweaty and limping, I dragged myself to the rest area. I collapsed next to the nearest vending machine and, with my last remaining one-dollar bill, bought a cold tea.
Curling up next to the machine, I slowly sipped my drink. Gradually, the pain started to fade. When I finally composed myself, I looked down at my leg. My sock was soaked with blood, but it had already dried. The wounds on my leg looked as if someone had tried to patch them up like molding clay.
That bitch… I will make her suffer the most excruciating pain imaginable. And no one will stop me.
At that moment, a light pink, slightly wavy strand of hair entered my field of vision. A pleasant perfume scent mixed with a hint of sweat. It was almost… mesmerizing.
She approached me, holding a drink in her hand, and spoke.
Alice: "Hello. You know me—I'm Alice."
As I pulled my drink away from my lips, a bit of it spilled onto my clothes, but I didn't care. I turned to Alice and saw a faint smile on her face. If someone were looking at my expression right now, they would probably see a goofy grin on my face, despite the pain.
I quickly responded.
"I'm Esteban. Nice to meet you, Alice."
Alice asked if she could sit beside me, and without waiting for a response, she sat down. She opened her drink and took a sip. For a while, an awkward silence lingered between us.
Then she asked, "So, do you have any plans for the future? What do you intend to do? Will you go to Upper School, or will you join one of the Research Guilds?"
At that moment, a harsh reality hit me. What was I going to do with my life?
I had never thought about it. If I looked back at my ten-year-old self… Back then, my mother paid a little attention to me. I never knew why, but at the time, I was more of a priority to her than the men she slept with. One day, she randomly found a flyer about an entrance exam for the Institute. It mentioned scholarships and a monthly stipend. Without hesitation, she took me to the Institute, and I took the exam that same day. I don't remember how I performed, but it was the happiest day of my life because my mother bought me a burger afterward.
So up until now, I had never really thought about the future. I just did whatever someone told me to do. If someone had a dream, I followed it as if it were my own.
Alice, noticing my long silence, spoke again.
"I will probably abandon my career and join the military."
My eyes widened in shock as I turned to face her.
"But… the military? I mean, sure, you'd do great, but why would someone from a family like yours choose that path?"
A strange mix of longing and sorrow flashed in Alice's eyes. She was about to answer when Augustus suddenly appeared.
Loud voices echoed from the other end of the corridor.
"SOMEBODY HOLD THAT CRAZY BASTARD AUGUSTUS BACK! HE'S GOING TO KILL ESTEBAN!"
Before I could react, Augustus grabbed me by the collar, his face twisted with rage.
"YOU FILTHY COMMONER! STAY AWAY FROM MY FIANCÉE, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"
What?! Fiancée?! But no one knew about this!
Alice gently tugged on Augustus's sleeve and pleaded, "Please, Augustus, stop."
But Augustus didn't listen. His fist, infused with El Aura, smashed into my face. My head slammed against the wall, cracking the tiles behind me. The vending machine beside me toppled over from the impact.
Alice whispered, "Please… stop…" her voice barely audible.
But Augustus was blinded by rage.
I tried to explain myself, but before I could, Augustus grabbed my leg and hurled me across the corridor. Alice just stood there, silent, tears welling up in her eyes.
I looked at her, as if begging, "Please… do something. Stop him, like you always do."
But she simply closed her eyes and lowered her head.
Augustus's friends stood nearby, grinning. They pretended to be uninvolved, but deep down, they were enjoying the show.
Augustus kept swinging me around, slamming me into the walls. Blood splattered across the corridor. Where were the cameras? Why wasn't anyone stopping this?
I tried to straighten my spine and resist, but an invisible force held me down.
And then—Augustus grabbed me by the leg and hurled me through the bathroom door.