Chapter Seventeen: Tested | Part 5
Thirtyx left Azirenne’s office free of expulsion threats and cleared to take his Law Comp. The twins, on the other hand, each got two days added to their suspension for dismantling school security systems.
“This is why no one’s buying your claims that you aren’t behind the attacks,” Benn breathed, gaping at Thirtyx like he’d sprouted a portal in his left palm. “How in the universe—”
“No one knows how to properly interrogate Veriths these days.” Rhea played at nonchalance, but her eyes were also round as saucers. “You and I might have known what to ask, because we’re used to it, but everyone else…”
It was either that or a Twins-blessed miracle, Thirtyx reasoned. Possibly both. But he didn’t want to press his luck, so he asked for the third time that bar, “You’re still sure you’re not mad about me throwing you under the carriage wheels?”
Benn pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “Thirtyx, your entire education and your Competency exam were on the line. Of course we’re not mad! Besides, with everything we’re dealing with around these attacks, five days off of class might be exactly what we need.”
“Ooh, we could work more on that tracking sigil,” Rhea said. “At this point, I’m pretty sure we can tailor the spell toward isolating a Verith essence. We even have a Verith we can test it on!”
Benn snorted. “And which one of us were you planning to make Thirtyx stab with bloodfire to see if the spell works? Don’t we have enough going on without the threat of death by magical experimentation?”
Rhea tapped her chin. “If we got our hands on some antidote—”
“Nope.” Benn stood suddenly. “Get out. Thirtyx has a Comp in 25 bars, and he doesn’t need to worry about you plotting to poison yourself.”
Rhea stood with a haughty huff. “For the record, I was going to poison you. I’m the heir.”
To his credit, Benn didn’t take the bait, pushing his sister toward the door.
“Oh, fine. Good luck, Thirtyx. I’ll see you at breakfast!”
***
While Thirtyx felt nothing like going to breakfast the next morning, Rhea and Benn had promised to walk him from there to his Comp. And despite how nauseous he felt from the stress, he knew testing on an empty stomach was a terrible plan.
Seerla appeared to be fighting the same battle, staring ahead with dead eyes while she turned her eggs over and over. At long last, she gave up and let her fork clatter into the bowl. “Sorry we’re not great company this morning.”
Benn gave an encouraging smile. “You should’ve seen Rhea the breakfast before our Comp. She was a nutcase.”
“I was a nutcase because those elitist jerks from Royceton tried to get in my head,” she snapped. “Like it’s a competition or something. We’re all just trying to pass the test, aren’t we?”
The absurdity of the statement dredged a smirk up from the depths where Thirtyx’s emotions currently resided. “Right, because you’ve never been competitive about your testing scores.”
Rhea’s retort was cut short by a group of muttering, scoffing ninth-years who hip-checked the table as they passed. Water sloshed out of glasses onto clattering silverware. Rhea’s fingers clenched against the edge of the table. Benn gave his eyes a weary rub.
“We should probably go,” Seerla sighed. “I’d rather be there early than get held up because someone makes trouble.”
On the way to the testing room, they passed plenty of students heading to class. That meant everyone under the moons saw Thirtyx trip over a cobblestone in the courtyard, then again over his own shoelaces on his way into the academic building. He slammed into the doorframe as he tried to get up.
A group of Troll girls made no effort to drop their voices. Amidst their giggling, one said, “I feel bad about the Grimmary twins’ suspension, but maybe now they’ll realize hanging out with Venmagalion has consequences.”
Calley Jones 