Chapter Text
Finals. My least favorite time of the year. Which is tragic, really, because it lands right next to winter, my favorite time of the year.
You’d think telepathy would make this a breeze. Just read someone’s mind, copy their answers, and ace the test, right?
Wrong.
It’s a complete war zone in everyone's head. One person's wondering what’s for dinner, another person’s daydreaming about their crush, at least six kids are mid panic attack over question seven, and me? I’m just sitting there, completely dumbfounded.
I’m used to it though. Usually, I just guess my way through each question and pray for the best, except in Classical Language. That’s the one class I’m actually good at, for reasons I don’t even understand. I’ve loved it ever since I can remember.
I hate being dumb. I don’t think anyone likes it. I don’t have any friends in my other classes—being in the lowest level for every subject will do that—but at least I get to see Becky at lunch or during third block (which, conveniently, is Classical Language).
Anyway, I try not to stress too much about exams. All I need is a sixty percent to pass, and it’s not like the stakes are high anymore. Stella Stars, Imperial Scholar, Operation Strix, all pointless now. No dramatic finale either. Donovan just retired. No plots, no tension. Just… nothing. Everything just continued the way it’s always been.
The exam room itself? I don’t even want to talk about it. Each question felt like a riddle without an answer. I don’t know if it was from lack of sleep or what, but my brain was completely fried.
And telepathy? Useless, for reasons I already explained. I even tried cheating the old-fashioned way by peeking at the kids’ paper next to me, but his handwriting literally looked like ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Oh. My. God.
“I’m cooked,” I whispered to myself. Three more Tonitrus Bolts and I’m expelled. Less than fifteen minutes left. At that point, I just wanted to disappear into thin air.
Lunch time. Finally. I practically ran into the dining hall, making my way through the crowd, eyes scanning for Becky. The second I spotted her at our usual table, I dropped into the seat across from her and started unloading my trauma.
“Becky, oh my god—you don’t understand. That was literally the worst exam of my life. I want to crawl into a hole. You might as well say goodbye now, because I’m not coming back after winter break. And you should’ve seen the handwriting of the kid next to me. It looked like it came off an ancient scroll!”
Becky let out a long-suffering sigh. “I told you to study ages ago. What have you been doing these past two months? Seriously girl, I don’t know how you haven’t gotten expelled yet. You really need to start taking my advice.”
“Ugh, I know, I know…” I muttered, snatching a carrot off her tray. “It’s just… hard for me, you know?”
“Come on, it couldn’t have been that bad.”
“I guess…” I slumped forward, chewing half-heartedly.
Becky’s expression softened. “Cheer up. Only two exams left, and one of them is Classical Language, your best subject. You’ve got this. Trust me.”
We parted ways after lunch, and, annoyingly, she was right. The Classical Language test was actually easy, and even Biology wasn’t as bad as I’d feared.
When I got home, I didn’t even hesitate. I changed out of my uniform and collapsed straight into bed, my brain still buzzing from all those exams. Deserved or not, I took the longest nap of my life. I’ve never been happier that it was Friday.
On Monday though, the results would go up in the courtyard. That’s when I’d find out just how bad the damage really was.