Delicious…
"Wakey, wakey…"
No…
I could still taste it—the chicken. Tender, juicy, melting on my tongue. The spice, the thick gravy… I wanted to taste it again.
"WAKEY, WAKEY! LUDEN—!"
I jolted awake as someone shouted loud enough to shatter my succulent dream.
Rubbing my eyes, I looked up to see Rayleigh peeking over the edge of her bed. I'd been sleeping on the floor right next to her.
With a full set of mattress, pillows, and sheets, of course.
"Good morning…" I muttered groggily.
She peered at me with that gentle, sleepy stare. Rayleigh reminded me of a capybara.
"Morning, Lud. Today's the day, remember?"
What day…?
..."Ah."
It's the day of the Ascendant Trial.
And—we overslept.
I scrambled upright—and then—
Wait… is that…?
Is that beer I smell?
"Ray! Did we drink last night?!" I asked.
Rayleigh looked away shyly, avoiding eye contact.
"Well… after you fell asleep, Adelaide whipped out an entire case—"
An entire case?!
"So... we got wasted?!"
How the hell did they sneak in a whole case of beer inside campus?
"That's highly irresponsible! The night before the Ascendant Trial?! What were you thinking?!"
---
I overslept—it was for my mental. It was fine, in my opinion, since it restored my sanity. They overslept because they decided to get drunk!
"We can still make it, we just have to move fast," she said, standing up with a yawn and a stretch.
"I see... So where's Adelaide? Did she go home already?" I asked.
Honestly, I thought she'd be the proper, noble type. Didn't picture her as someone who'd show up with an entire case of beer.
Rayleigh pointed at the table.
And by the heavens...
There she was.
Adelaide—face down on the table, absolutely wasted, with six empty bottles surrounding her. Snoring similar to a car engine.
My perfect vision of her just shattered, but I find it oddly charming.
Rayleigh stepped up and gently tapped her shoulder. "Wakey, wakey, short-hair beauty."
Adelaide didn't respond.
"Wakey, wakey, cotton-candy hair!"
Still no response.
"Adelaide, wake up!" Rayleigh shook her harder. "We're gonna be late! This is all your fault!"
This is way more entertaining than it should've been.
Adelaide finally stirred. Her head snapped up with eyes unfocused. The hangover lingered.
"Rayleigh...? And you...?"
"It's Luden," I said, reminding her of my existence.
"Ah yes... Luden—" She glanced at Rayleigh's panic-stricken face... and then everything clicked.
"Oh no... What have I done?!"
"Rayleigh, we've gotta hurry!" she cried, scrambling upright.
They were in such a rush, they practically stormed off.
---
But before standing up and tidying my bed, I checked my mouth. I exhaled and sniffed my hand.
Not a smell of alcohol...
I didn't drink...
Meanwhile, the sound of hurried footsteps and panic erupted throughout this cabin-like room.
Rayleigh was pulling her red-black blazer from the closet along with her other clothes, clearly planning to bathe immediately, while Adelaide was still half-dazed.
"Why is everything spinning?"
"Because you brought an entire case of beer!" Rayleigh shouted, already in the bathroom and yanking off her sleepwear as she turned the shower on.
"We have thirty minutes!" she yelled.
Adelaide, upon hearing how little time was left, immediately realized her stuff wasn't in this room—it was in her dorm.
She panicked, picked up her things, and struggled to steady her steps.
"Banshee, you should stop watching and move as well," said the girl who brought the case of beer, somehow still having the audacity to lecture me.
I sighed.
"I know." I stood up as Adelaide rushed off to her room—on the third floor of the dormitory...
"Okay... Rayleigh's in the shower, and I don't have any spare clothes. What am I supposed to wear?" I muttered, suddenly realizing something dire.
I've been wearing the same semi-formal black shirt and pants for a week!
Rayleigh didn't even alert me!
I stink!
I walked closer to the bathroom door and spoke just loud enough to be heard, "Rayleigh, is there any clothes I can use?"
Behind the door, under the spray of the shower, Rayleigh yelled again, "I already washed your white clothes! They're in the closet!"
The clothes I woke up in...
"Exactly where in the closet?!" I yelled back, determined not to repeat my mistakes.
"They're on one of the hangers!"
With that, I thanked her. Finding my clothes was way less of a hassle. I gave them a sniff—it was the same detergent she uses. I'll have to thank her properly later for washing them...
Now... I do want to take a bath.
...And I just heard it—she's finished hers...
"Lud, I'm so sorry!" she said as she stepped out of the bathroom, fully clothed and drying her damp red-pink hair while trying to style it. She took exactly ten minutes in the bath.
I knew that if she hadn't been in a rush, that number would've been way higher!
"What time does the Ascendant Trial start?!" I asked.
"It starts at 7:00 AM! And it's currently 6:45!"
So I have 15 minutes...
That's enough time.
Without saying a word, I rushed into the bathroom and did everything I needed to: washed my hair, brushed my teeth, scrubbed my body, etc.
It only took me six minutes. This time, since I wasn't alone, I put on the same clothes I had worn before stepping out.
Rayleigh looked genuinely surprised to see me done so fast.
"Did you actually take a bath?!" she exclaimed, still putting the final touches on her look.
---
I let my hair dry and styled myself, too, but I heard the sounds of a plate and spoon.
Rayleigh, ever the considerate one, had still made breakfast—just bread with peanut butter.
"Let's eat quickly. We can't be hungry during the test!" she said as we munched. A shame we didn't have coffee. It would've been a blessing on such an important day.
After we finished, Rayleigh immediately started brushing her teeth.
"Is that healthy?" I asked. I wasn't exactly familiar with excessive oral hygiene routines.
"I don't know myself," she said. "But it eases my worry."
Fair enough.
We didn't waste any more time. It was time to go.
"You're not bringing a bag?" I asked. I thought students always carried one.
"No need," she replied. "The Phoenix Branch isn't like traditional schools. We don't need textbooks and notebooks."
Still, she told me to bring my wand. And she had her sniper rifle strapped to her back. They were necessary for the Ascendant Trial.
We stepped out of the room, and I was greeted by the vivid intensity of autumn—the deep golds, fiery reds, and fading yellows of the season bursting along the campus walkway.
"What a beautiful season... right, Rayleigh?"
..."Lud. It really is..."
---
We walked together, descending to the first floor. Only a few students were around—two, maybe four at most.
They ignored us...
"Everyone must have left early..." I muttered.
The golden-red pathway of the campus stretched ahead, and I followed Rayleigh's lead. I had no idea where the trial was being held.
"Hey, Luden—"
Full syllables. That's never a good sign.
"Do you know what the Phoenix Branch is for?" she asked. It was written in her notes. I searched my memory.
"For students who want to become an Ascendant?" I answered.
"Correct."
There was a long pause.
"What's wrong, Rayleigh?"
She looked troubled.
"Lud... do you remember what the king said? Not a lot of students pass to become an Ascendant. This test takes ten, sometimes eleven years to complete."
I see where this is going.
"Some students might ridicule you. They'll think it's unfair—"
I smiled. "It doesn't matter. The king himself permitted me to take the Ascendant Trial."
"No one can realistically stop that."
She seemed to ease up a bit. "I'm glad it's not bothering you."
I met her eyes and said, "I have the advantage. I intend to abuse it as much as I can."
Rayleigh kept listening quietly.
"You've changed, Luden," she said. "I don't know how to explain it... But you've changed."
Her words struck a chord. I couldn't blame her—I hadn't exactly done a great job pretending to be the real Luden.
Somewhere along the way, I think I just gave up trying.
"Rayleigh…"
"Anything to fulfill my promise to you."
» [System]: Liar...
Chapter End.