She...she had failed.

Elaine didn't want to accept it, but to feed herself with self-constructed lies would prove to be detrimental to nothing else but her honor and pride as a sorcerer. She absorbed the room, counting each of them carefully, reassuring that she hadn't been mistaken.

There was Adeline at the front of the crowd, looking as calm and flawless as ever. Elaine imagined that Marsh's test wouldn't be all that difficult for someone like her. Someone as notable and powerful as she was. She spotted Simon as well, a bit worse for wear but otherwise okay. His glasses were missing, forcing the boy to squint his eyes unnaturally.

Had he lost them fighting a deathstalker ? Elaine wondered. 

It must have been tedious to navigate his way out of the Sunken Labyrinth with poor eyesight. Jack stood beside him. His uniform was a mess, covered in splotches of brownish sludge. Yes, their school uniforms were enchanted to "fix" themselves, however, they couldn't outright remove stains. He'd have to do the dirty work himself.

Sitting at a desk at the rear of the classroom was Mason, the silent giant himself. He had never shown her what kind of magic he specialized in. Even so, Elaine suspected he was a strong, capable mage. How did she come to this deduction? Well, for starters, where most of the others were exhausted, sweaty, and deprived of magical energy, by contrast, Mason appeared stoic and in control. He sat at his seat with his hands clasped before him, staring at her with his rockish gaze. A person chipped from stone.

Next to him, there was...Kliff Dresden. Elaine froze as he made eye contact with her, sitting slouched at the desk with his chin resting inside of a palm. He didn't look fatigued. That frown he brandished translated that he was bothered, or rather, frustrated by something. He exhaled out his nose and turned his head away from her, his glower blasting into a distant corner of the room.

"Elaine," Fearne called over to her left. She was leaning her weight into Custas, one of her arms slung over the boy's neck. "Are you alright?"

Elaine nodded. "Yes, I'm fine."

And from the looks of it, so were they. That light she'd briefly seen as she was attacked by the gargantuan deathstalker must have been them leaving the labyrinth. It definitely gave her peace of mind knowing that they weren't anywhere near her when her barrier detonated as unexpectedly as it did. They wouldn't be harmed by it per Professor Marsh's regulations on the pocket prison, but she still didn't want to risk it.

Speaking of Professor Marsh, the man stood in front of her with his hands in his pockets. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking behind his indifferent mask. But whenever he spoke in his apathetic tone, it always got the message across that he was constantly tired or disappointed by...well, everything that moved. This time was no exception.

"So, even after making such a bold declaration, you were still unable to complete Integrity's Rift. Interesting," he said.

If he was berating her, then he'd have to put more effort into sounding angry or disappointed. As things were, she felt like she was being lightly scolded for failing to bring her assignment to class on the day that it was due. Even so, Elaine hadn't forgotten the brief exchange she had had with the sorcerer. She knew what would be coming next.

Marsh sighed. "I suppose I needn't repeat myself on what happens to the students who failed to meet the criteria of this test."

"No, that isn't necessary, sir. I...I accept any punishment you give me," Elaine whispered, grimacing at the floor, each blink filling her eyes with more water. I'm sorry, everyone. I let you down. In the end, I couldn't keep my promise after all...

"Professor! Please, wait for a moment!" someone shouted. Elaine winced, and turned to Fearne who had pushed away from Custas and was balancing all her weight on the leg that wasn't injured. She'd both her hands raised in front of her as fists, and although it was delicate, she bore her glare directly at Professor Marsh.

The professor cocked his head at her. "Something you wish to add, Lavender?"

"Sir...I...she..." Fearne hesitated. "Elaine...she doesn't deserve this. She's a good student and a great sorcerer. The only reason she wasn't able to finish the test was because of me! She stayed behind to help me! That has to count for something."

Professor Marsh looked at her with a distant expression, tapping his chin with a finger. But he gave no response, his lips tightening a cemented line across his face.

"You know, Fearne does have a point," Custas said, hands swung behind his head. "Besides, the rules for your "test" were pretty challenging, especially for novices like us. If anything, Elaine should be given a second chance to prove what she can do, that is, if she didn't live up to your expectations. I mean, surely you would agree, sir, that her magic is somewhat of a rarity amongst us. To reprimand the sorcerer capable of casting it would be little more than an act of idiocy, wouldn't you agree? In my opinion, I think Elaine is a great sorcerer."

Elaine swung her head rapidly at Custas once he had finished speaking. Did he really mean all of those things he'd just said about her, or was this merely a desperate attempt at trying to change the professor's mind? Either way, Elaine couldn't ignore the blush that scorched her face, and if she was being honest with herself, Custas was being far too generous.

His performance during the test was a lot more remarkable than her own. If it hadn't been for her casting that strange barrier spell, well, those deathstalkers would have gotten to her. Still, even if she didn't entirely agree with his wordy vindication, she was grateful that both he and Fearne were willing to come to her defense, even if it'd probably be pointless in the end.

"Mr. Cloude," Professor Marsh said curtly. "Use your charmspeak on me again, and I'll see to your immediate expulsion. Do I make myself crystal?"

Elaine shot open her eyes in surprise. Custas, he'd been using his magic just then? She hardly even noticed, and it only made it even more impressive that Marsh himself managed to detect it in the first place. Then again, he was a Professional Sorcerer. Distinguishing the magical components a mage engineered into their words must have been second nature to someone of his talents.

Nevertheless, Custas recoiled at his reckless mistake, lifting a hand. "Man, you're good, sir..."

"Guys, it's alright," Elaine finally said, hanging her head as she did. "The professor already made it clear to me that, regardless of the outcome of this test, I didn't have a place here. I was just being...too stubborn, I guess. And I don't want you guys jeopardizing your student careers over me either. You two deserve to be sorcerers, and shouldn't be dragged down with a common lowborn like me."

Yes, if they kept grating on their professor's patience, he might do something rash as well. Such as expelling two more of his students. Elaine wouldn't allow that to happen. She'd take her expulsion with what little remained of her confidence, of her pride. Even so, the disappointment and sadness spiraling deep within her like an anguished tornado made her want to crawl into the nearest pit and disappear.

She'd failed, she couldn't forget that she'd failed. She wanted to prove Professor Marsh wrong. More importantly, she wanted to prove to herself that her enrollment wasn't a mistake or an act of misjudgment. But just as Marsh had told them earlier, this world was a cruel one. It didn't care for one's ambitions or passions or dreams any more than he himself seemed to.

Honestly, what chance did an outsider like her, a girl who had barely any idea of what she was doing, have of becoming a Professional Sorcerer? This was a wake-up call she desperately needed. If she continued chasing this path, she'd only end up getting herself or others killed. But waned at her the most was the dilapidated revelation that she couldn't have been more use to her family, the ones that took her in, nourished her with their love, fanned the sparks that would, in time, roar as an inferno that was her fascination for magic.

Dwelling on it, standing at the front of the classroom in shame and silence, it became increasingly difficult to restrain the tears building behind her eyelids, each blink damper than the last. However, she managed to keep her composure much better than Fearne whose face had turned red as water streamed out of her soggy green eyes. She had broken free from Custas—who had unsuccessfully attempted to guide her to a seat—and made for a limp in her direction.

She only accomplished two tiny skips before she tripped over something, and Elaine had to rush over to the girl, catching her in her arms before she could fall to the floor. "Elaine!" she squealed, like an unset infant or a whining puppy. "It's my fault! It was all my fault! You don't deserve this!"

Elaine chuckled. "It's fine, you big baby. I already told you that—"

"But if you had completed the test," Fearne cut in, "maybe the professor would have reconsidered. Maybe you could have stayed. But because of me...ah...I'm sorry! Forgive me!"

Oh, Fearne. She never knew how emotional the girl could be. And her incoherent sobbing provided the opportunity for one or two tears to drip down her face as linear rivers. "Stop this," Elaine spoke softly. "I don't want you blaming yourself over nothing."

"But..."

"Just because things turned out the way they did, doesn't mean I plan to stop practicing magic," Elaine consoled her in a reassuring tone. "Magic is a part of me, I don't think I can so easily abandon it. Especially not after I've learned so much these past two days."

"...Yeah...yeah you're right," Fearne nodded in her arms. "Glyph Academy, it's not the only magic-teaching institution in Incante. One of the other schools will accept you. I'm positive they will. You'll go there and become a great Professional Sorcerer, won't you?"

Honestly, Elaine hadn't even considered applying to another academy. It had always been her dream to go to Glyph, but as fate would have it, that was no longer an option.

"Well, whatever your plans, I'm sure you'll excel," said Custas, trodding to them with a hand behind his head. "As you said, it's only been two days. Two incredibly challenging, mind-numbing days filled with near-death experiences. But they were fun, weren't they? We had fun."

Elaine nodded at him, wiping her damp cheeks with the back of her hand. "We did."

"Just, do be sure to keep in touch, yeah?" he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Let's not forget, we made a promise, didn't we? We're going to be Professional Sorcerers someday. All of us. And when that time comes, why, I imagine this embarrassing memory would only serve to make us laugh."

That's right. She couldn't let this blunder keep her down. No matter what came of this day, her family needed her help, and she still had yet to discover the kind of sorcerer she wanted to be. She had held Fearne in an uncomfortable position at first, but she eventually managed to wrap her arms around in her a tight hug, Fearne's tears dampening her uniform, as well as the sleeve of her shoulder cape. 

She was still crying "I'm sorry." or a measly "It's all my fault." between her gasps and sobs, however, Elaine wasn't as sad or defeated as she'd been moments prior. If anything, and for reasons she couldn't deduce, she felt resolute. Determined to make her dream a reality, no matter what obstacle lay in her path, no matter what hindrance threatened to knock her down into the mud and grime. She was stronger than this, and the world would soon come to realize the sorcerer buried deep within her radiant soul.

Professor Marsh cocked his head, raising a brow as he inquired in a mutter. "What in Aeris' name are you three brats doing?"

Elaine gave the professor an anguished grimace. "Saying our goodbyes, sir."

"Goodbyes?"

"Yes, that's right," Fearne replied, teary-eyed. "You're kicking Elaine out, aren't you? For being the last to finish Integrity's Rift?"

The crow on his shoulder turned its head to the side, glancing at them all with one glassy eye. So it seemed it was just as bewildered by their behavior as its master, who was now slathering a palm over his face.

"Oh, right. The expulsion thing," Marsh said with a grunt. "Yeah, I lied. None of you are going home."

With that single sentence, the entire classroom had grown still and quiet, not a sound to be heard. In fact, the silence was so overbearing that Elaine's own breathing howled as furiously as the gales of a cyclone.

A wide sneer appeared upon Allan Marsh's face; the second smile Elaine had seen the man make. "That was nothing but a rational deception to ensure all of you weren't phoning it in during the test. Worked like a charm."

Elaine winced as more than half the class angrily roared in unison. "YOU LIED?!!"

Marsh shrugged nonchalantly. "Pretty much."

"Professor! What's the matter with you?! You can't toy with your students' emotions like that! You'll give us gray hair before we're even fifty!" Rayla shouted, pointing a finger at him.

"I couldn't focus properly because I kept worrying over whether or not I'd be expelled!" Jack growled. "It totally messed up my game! If you really are grading our performances then I demand a redo! A redo, dammit!"

"And just how do you expect us to have faith in your word if you're more than capable of deceiving us as you've so done? I thought that a master and his novice were supposed to maintain a mutual level of trust. Hallocks, you should be ashamed of yourself, sir!" grunted Simon.

In spite of the verbal backlash he was receiving—justifiably so—Marsh didn't seem too bothered by it. He patted his crow on the head as his students continued to bicker and curse his name. Then again, this was more than likely a common occurrence for him. 

He taught his lessons in an...untraditional sort of manner, but if the higher-ups allowed him to remain as a professor at the academy, then it must have meant his methods were working. But at what cost to his reputation and relationship with his students? Well, he must have come to terms with the fact that he wouldn't be the most popular professor on campus long ago if his indifferent demeanor was anything to go by.

Custas folded his arms as he grunted. "Stupid, crow bastard. Keeping us in the dark like that."

"But wait, if it was all a lie," Fearne shot a hopeful look up at her, a relieved and bright smile fixing itself between her blushing cheeks, "then that means you don't have to leave, doesn't it?"

Elaine snickered. "I guess not—"

"Oh! Elaine, I'm so happy! Praise Aeris and all her glory, we won't have to say goodbye!" Fearne exclaimed, and Elaine spat out a startled gasp as the girl's arms constructed a strangling, vice-grip of a hug around her waist.

She was happy, honest she was. But more than anything else, Elaine felt relieved. Relieved knowing that this wasn't the end, that she didn't have to leave this castle atop an island floating in the clouds just yet. Even so, she couldn't help a doubtful look at the professor as he started getting the class to calm down, though most of his commands fell on deaf ears as her classmates had yet to finish their ranting over the professor's blatant deception. And Elaine squinted at the Abyssal Sorcerer, wondering to herself if that hadn't been the only lie he'd made.

Right on schedule, however, the metallic ring of the school bell sounded somewhere in the distance, bringing to close another eventful day at Glyph Academy. Through some act of divine intervention, the professor had managed to quell his class' anger, and distributed sheets of paper that further detailed how they performed during the test. Much like Jack had complained, Elaine had been so preoccupied with the lingering threat of expulsion that she'd all but forgotten that she would, indeed, be receiving an evaluation on how she had fared.

The results...were as she expected. Although, when taking into account how the lesson transpired, she wasn't as nearly as disappointed or frustrated with her C+ as she otherwise would have been. If anything, it would in time serve as a symbol of progress. 

If she started with a grade as unabashedly average as this, then how might she improve once she obtained a much firmer grasp of her mysterious powers? Speaking of, Elaine still hadn't informed anyone of what was going on with her pertaining to the spells she'd randomly begun to cast. But one problem at a time, lest she drive herself mad.

Students streamed out of the classroom at a steady pace, though she imagined each of them was more than happy to be freed of the figurative and literal prison they'd been trapped in for the past hour and a half. She spotted her desk neighbor Mason conversing with a limping Fearne near the exit. She looked to be flustered by something he'd said—her cheeks were engulfed by a rabid redness—and she let out an embarrassed squeal as the boy picked her up off her feet in his massive arms, all the while Custas stood nearby laughing.

"Wh...What are you doing?! I told you I'm fine! Put me down!" Fearne complained, and for all her flailing, she couldn't push away from the gentle giant that was Mason.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Mason said patiently, even as Fearne shoved one of her hands over his nose. "As a Medical Mage yourself, you should know that it wouldn't be wise to strain your ankle any more than you have to."

"He's right," said Adeline as she approached them, Simon tailing behind her. "I escaped the pocket prison before yourself, and saw when the deathstalker attacked you. That looked to be a nasty fall."

Fearne's loud abashment molded to muted defeat. "It was..."

"Fret not. As class president, I'll see to it that all of my fellow classmates are properly taken care of." In spite of her kind sentiment, she was awfully strict with how she spoke, almost as if she'd resolved the matter without poor Fearne's consent. Adeline started out the classroom in a confident stride. "Come, Mason. We shouldn't delay. The sooner Fearne's back to normal the better off she'll be."

"Wha...What?! I assure you, this isn't necessary. I'm fine with..." Elaine hadn't caught whatever else Fearne had said as Mason had already carried her through the doors at that point.

"Yo, Elaine," Custas called. "You coming?"

"In a sec. I have to do something first."

Custas shrugged, and sauntered behind the others, humored snickers following him.

Now there were only two people remaining inside the classroom, herself and the Abyssal Sorcerer of Grayrock. She felt a shard of reluctance stab her as she made for him, the man showing her his back as he fiddled with something on his desk. Exhaustion drained her; the over usage of magic was starting to take effect. What most she wanted was to grab a quick bite to eat from the cafeteria, and then retire to her dorm for a good night's rest. Praise to be to Aeris the weekend had arrived.

Even so, she couldn't let this matter rest so easily, the dissatisfaction pestering her like an annoying mosquito in the bogs wouldn't allow her to. She brought a fist to her mouth and forcefully grunted to clear her throat, hoping that that would have been enough to usher the professor's attention. 

It wasn't, although she had succeeded at alerting the crow on his shoulder. It glanced back at her with one eye, ruffling its feathers in what Elaine hoped was delight. But Marsh hadn't noticed, that or he wasn't interested in speaking. So preoccupied was he with the sheets of documents he profusely analyzed in his hands that he didn't even bother to turn around.

Elaine contemplated trying again, and this time she would cough much louder than she had done before. But as she was about to release it into a closed fist, she paused, and chose to use words instead. "Professor? I...I need to discuss something with you."

Marsh grunted. "Can't this wait until next week?"

"No, sir. I...I don't think I have the patience."

"And I don't think I have the energy," Marsh muttered, swiveling around so that he may face her with his pair of sunken eyes. "So whatever this is, do be certain to make it quick."

"With all due respect, sir," Elaine started with a gulp, "I don't believe what you said. You were planning on expelling me, weren't you? So, then, if I could ask, what made you change your mind?"

Marsh absorbed her with his hard glare, and then, the man swung back his head, and diffused a sigh at the ceiling. "You're sharp, a useful quality to have. But before I tell you anything, I've got somewhat of an inquiry of my own. Tell me, Harwood, do you know what makes a true sorcerer?"

Elaine glued her mouth into a line. She thought she had a response for him, but...

"I was taught this lesson when I was around your age. Back then, the world made a lot more sense to me, and the thought of conscripting into the military hadn't so much as crossed my mind. But I cherish this memory, keep it close to my heart, away from the scrutiny of history. Honor. Power. Qualities such as those, while imperative, aren't what makes a true sorcerer, kid. Its resolve. And today, you proved to me you have a lot of it."

"'The most important step a sorcerer can take," Elaine quoted, "isn't the first but the second.'"

"Oh? Been conversing with Raze, have you?"

"It was something he told me on the day I entered the academy. I don't think I quite understood what he meant back then. I do now. If we were so weak in spirit that we could allow ourselves to submit to a challenge before actually trying it, then you're incentive to teach us would have dwindled away. In truth, all of us had already passed the test before we were even cast into the pocket prison. Your threat of expulsion, of destroying our dreams, that was the real test, wasn't it?"

Marsh didn't say anything, and he carried on as if she hadn't either. "I won't play games with you, kid. Yes, I originally intended to see you expelled. When news finally reached me of what the headmaster did, and how he planned on having a student who wasn't even in our records join my homeroom, why, Lyra here can attest to how livid I was."

The crow on his shoulder—apparently its name was Lyra—ruffled its wings at the mention of its name, stray, black feathers dancing to an invisible rhythm as they floated to the floor.

"I'm no stranger to Valerian's, let's say, controversial decisions, but even I was intrigued as to what made you so unique. No, I had to find out for myself," Marsh continued. "You weren't entirely correct in your assessment. When nobody left the class after my lie, all but one of you had already passed the real test."

"Everyone...but me," Elaine concluded.

"Yours was a delicate case I had to tackle from a particular perspective. And so I appeared to you inside of the Sunken Labyrinth, half expecting you to blindly heed my warning and renounce your studentship then and there. It has happened before. For some stupid reason, students find it challenging to speak with me, much less place forth a sound argument. Even the other instructors grow wary when I'm around, sunder them."

Jeez, I can't imagine why, Elaine thought to herself, and her professor genuinely looked like he was upset by his reputation, adopting a stern frown.

"In any case, from what I've seen of your performance, you aren't the best when it comes to controlling your magic. In fact, you were responsible for making a slew of careless mistakes. Mistakes that could very well lead to your demise had this not been an exercise."

Elaine imagined her disappointment wasn't well camouflaged. Yes, she already knew she needed to improve. Although it was sort of difficult to do that when she'd find herself casting a random spell that she'd never even been taught. Was now the time to mention it? Her...dilemma, if she could call it that. She considered it for ten clicks of the clock's second hand, ultimately deciding against the notion as it looked like Professor Marsh still had more that he wanted to say.

"I suppose, if you were to set a goal for yourself, it would be to finetune your spellcasting and Essence regulation. Knight will be of use to you in that regard," Marsh said. "As far as your fate in this class is concerned, well, you've got a resolute heart. That's something I guess. Devote yourself to your training, follow my instructions to a T, and don't slack off. Promise me these things, and I don't see an issue with you staying in my class. For the time being, anyway."

Elaine illuminated with joy. "I will! Thank you, professor, for giving me a chance!"

"Don't mention this to anyone else, but you remind me of another student I used to teach, way back when."

"R...Really?"

"Yeah, he used to be a pain in the you-know-where. Haven't heard much word from him these days, however. Ah well. But if you've got the makings of a true sorcerer in you, just like he did," Marsh reached a hand forward, and Elaine's cheeks ignited in astoundment as he gave her a soft pat atop her head, whittling a smile as he did, "then maybe there's hope for that dream of yours after all."

Elaine beamed a smile of her own back at him. "Thank you, sir. It means—"

"That being said," Marsh cut her off, squeezing his grip, causing the sides of her head to flare in pain. Liquid darkness sheathed him in a smoggy embrace, and his long, black hair floated in the air, obscuring fragments of his scowl, almost as if he'd been submerged underwater. "If you're ever late to my class again, I'll lock you inside a pocket prison for a week as punishment. No excuses, young lady."

"You see?!" Elaine squealed within his grasp. "This is exactly why people think you're scary, sir!"