Ermand's face slammed against the floor causing him to cry of pain.

"Finally, you passed, Chisel. I'm hoping you can walk to the Healers' department without assistance."

Ermand scanned his surroundings and sighed.

"Don't bother Professor Chestnut. I'll be fine even without going to the Healers' department. It reminds me of the earlier tests," Ermand replied, getting on his knees.

"You wouldn't be in the casualty if you had passed the first test," Professor Chestnut replied, noting something on the parchment in his hands.

Ermand pretended that he didn't hear him and walked to the exit of the Trainor's hall.

"Ermand!" A familiar voice called him from behind and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Maybe it's because of the help from both my Aslehm and the Preparer that I didn't have much trouble in the test. The Ficklefolks were quite a task although. How did it go for you?"

"I passed somehow. However, those ruthless people almost tried to skin me and also plunged some sharper material into my leg. It's hurting still."

"They're beyond ruthless. I can hardly believe that I almost thought they were good people after all what they tried to do to me."

"How did you escape from them?"

"I hid myself safely and ate the Preparer during the beginning of the test. Although, it went a little risky when I was near to grab my crystal. A Griffin got in the way and I slashed him to death with my Aslehm. You know that we can keep the crystals for ourselves. Isn't it cool-"

"You slashed the Griffin?" Ermand asked, pausing to take a step ahead.

"Why yes of course, or else how would I get my crystal? It's a savage beast."

"But why did you slash it to death?"

"Are you crazy? If I hadn't killed that Griffin, it would feed me to its young ones."

"Are Griffins that bad? Also, won't the Professors drag us out before we're fed to its babies?"

"Of course the Professors would take us back but by then, our conditions would be adverse than Edwin. I might lose a hand and a leg in the least. And you'd be the only one asking whether the Griffin's are bad or not."

"Because the Griffin kind of saved me," Ermand whispered as he continued walking to their dorm.

"Saved you!" Charlie gasped, his mouth open.

"Or else things would've been worse for me and I'll definitely fail the final DCT. I'll tell you once we get to the dorm."

"Why are stranger things happening to you?"

"What?"

"Timothy told me the other day after that incident in Candlewick."

"About the protective shield spell?"

Charlie nodded, and walked along with him to their dorm. He didn't ask much about it later.

When all the classes were over, Timothy, Emile and Edwin rushed to their room to know about Charlie and Edwin's test results.

"How did it go?" Emile asked.

"Pretty well. We passed," Charlie replied, collapsing on the bed. "Now all I have to worry is about the finals."

The scene reminded Ermand the day of their interview to be selected in Agledon. Their friendship had started back then, when Ermand heard that he was selected to be a Defender.

"It's time for bad news," Timothy said, sitting on the chair near to his study table.

"What?" Charlie asked, collapsing on the bed and resting his head under his arm.

"Damien has got his Aslehm."

Charlie wrinkled his nose in disgust. "He must've made a huge announcement with the drum rolls and stuff."

"With that we come to a conclusion," Emile intervened. "All of our doubts about Damien's dark magic were all our misconceptions," he chortled.

"What? So what was he doing?" Charlie got up from the bed.

"He was focused on gaining his Aslehm. He was just searching for dense information on the teacher's shelf."

"Well, there's something you don't know about Damien."

"He practised a weird spell he obtained from the stash of spell books in the teacher's shelf that will enable him to give a pellucid idea to find his Aslehm. It seems it worked out in the end," Edwin explained.

"So what with staying alone and all that?" Charlie protested, unable to believe his wasn't up to anything wrong.

"He was deeply concentrated with his work that he didn't keep company with the high grades for a long time. Now they've merged. And as for choosing that room and all of that, one should require a small candle lit room and some other requirements to do the procedure. It gives hints on achieving the Aslehm."

"How did you know all this?" Ermand asked, pursing his lips.

"We did a search on the teacher's shelf after we came to know about the news. It took a long time to find the right book he used though. I guess our investigation went paltry and useless," Timothy answered, casting his gaze on the floor.

"I guess everything is set now. We just have to concentrate on our finals."

"Only you, Emile. I'm going to sleep," Timothy fell back on the bed.

"Our finals is just a month away-"

"A month?" All except Emile gasped.

"Edwin and Ermand, you both are still left to find your Aslehm. We'll help to our greatest extent for that," Emile mentioned before exiting the room.

"I don't understand how he will ever learn to survive," Timothy mumbled, pulling his blankets and dozing off.

"I wish I could sleep like him. But I need to go to the Healers' department," Charlie said, taking a look at his injured hand.

"To the Healers?" Timothy sprang up from his bed. His eyes gleamed with delight. He was received by odd stares from the three boys.

"I mean. I'll go with you."

"Why?" Charlie raised a brow.

"To take you there, of course."

"I can walk and so do Ermand. We're fine," Charlie said, getting up from the bed.

"I will come. It's my responsibility to take care of you guys till you reach there," Timothy intervened, jumping from his bed.

"Now I get it," Ermand whispered, rubbing his chin.

"Hey, Charlie, doesn't Lucinda Grottin belong to the Healers department?" He said, raising his brows playfully.

"Oh, yeah!" Charlie replied, trying to bring an amused tone in his voice.

"Alright, alright. Let's go now," Timothy muttered, walking ahead of them.

Ermand and Charlie chuckled and followed him. On their way, Charlie was busy sharing his experience with them but Ermand's mind was elsewhere. He was thinking of the Griffin's rescue. If it weren't for the Griffin to help him out, he would've lost the final test too. Charlie told him that a Spellcaster would be the perfect lunch for the Griffins and its Gryphlings. Still, it helped him out. Moreover, he was invisible to everybody, how did the Griffin find him when he was lying unconscious on the ground?

He was in a more state of dilemma when the thought of to whom should he share all of this occurred to his mind.

Who would help me? The High Professor maybe? After all, he was kind of friendly with me and had once helped me escape from the excruciating pain. He could definitely answer me. Maybe, he's the right person to approach for an answer. I should go to his office.

"Hey, I'm not that injured. The wound will heal within a matter of a few days. I need to go elsewhere. See you at dinner time," Ermand said.

"Where?" Charlie asked. But Ermand had hurried off to somewhere before Charlie's question could be heard.