“3 points!”
“2 points!”
The three officials were busy evaluating the samples and announcing the results quickly. Unlike the previous ones, they were acting swiftly.
“5 points but what a shame! If the final component of the 18th blend had been hammered a little more, it would definitely score 6!”
Hearing this, a boy hurried forward. Apparently, it was his result they were talking about.
“Sir, if I get 6 points, I can enter the Academy. Can you not breakpoints for such a small detail?”
Normally Louise Gloove was explaining the results. But after the young boy’s words, Grumpy Hanry spoke.
“What do you mean if you don’t breakpoints? If your concoction ruins an alchemist’s potion or does not have the desired effect on the wound of a fighter who got out of battle, how can we preserve our dignity as Herbalists?”
The boy who objected to Master Hanry also came from a common family. When looked from outside, it might be considered normal for Hanry to favor him, but it seemed that the master held professional honor above everything else.
“Let’s continue!”
Not looking at the tear that dropped from the young boy’s eyes, Hanry said his last words. Cold air blew in the hall because of this stiff attitude.
“4 points!”
“3 points!”
“10 points!”
A huge exclamation of amazement rose from the silenced lips and occupied the air for a few seconds. Everybody’s eyes were on Master Louise.
“Mel Malcom scored ten full points!”
The young master declared the result, albeit with a slight stutter. Not only his voice was affected but the color of his face had changed. His hands and feet began to twitch as if he could not fit where he was.
The children, who studied in the forest with Mel until the morning, applauded him. The laughter poured out of the building amid the sullen faces of the nobles and the astonishment of other children coming from the common families.
“Silence!”
The Head of Department spoke and everyone shut up. Only the weak tone of the old man could have such an effect.
“Mel Malcom, you qualified to enter the Academy by getting full points in all three of the proficiency tests. Your name will be remembered for many years.”
When his words were finished, the old man remained silent for a while. Then as he started walking, he began to talk again.
“Tomorrow, with the rise of the sun, we will set out for the academy! Make your final preparations!”
After the Head of Department and the two masters left the crowded building while nobles following them, only the children of the public left inside. Some of them were joyful, others were weeping with the sadness of not being able to realize their dreams.
“How did you do it? You definitely cheated! Why didn’t you tell us?”
The kid, who missed the academy with one wrongly done blend, seemed to have not yet overcome his anger. His eyes turned to Mel as he walked over the crowd of ten.
“What are you talking about, Hanso?”
“We studied and we did it!”
Although the necessary answers came, the dazed child could not contain himself.
“What could you have studied overnight? Almost all of you got ten points. You cheated and hid it from us. Be ashamed of yourselves!”
Hanso slammed the sample jar in his hand to the ground. As the herb blend in it was thrown into the air, the others who could not enter the academy began to move behind him.
“We should e ashamed of ourselves, ha? These words were undoubtedly the number one among the most ridiculous things I have ever heard until this time!”
Nalt came out of the group of ten and stood before Hanso. His eyes were glowing under his crooked fringes.
“You went to the forest at night. You not only returned unharmed, but you also gained enough experience to pass the test. Who believes that?”
“I don’t care who believes and who doesn’t! We are not accountable to those who are afraid of risking their lives. Yesterday evening, you were scared. But I see that you are like lions today. Come to yourselves!”
After hitting his fist on the edge of the table next to him, Nalt moved forward two steps and made eye contact with Hanso. Although he was four fingers shorter than Hanso, he did not seem to take a step back.
“Let’s go, guys, no need to listen to this idle conversation!”
Nalt started walking towards the exit with his future Botanical Scientist friends. Mel was also walking at the end of this group, but a hand grabbed him by the wrist.
“Everything was your doing. You will give an account of this situation!”
The presence of dozens of people behind him made Hanso quite daring. He seemed that he wouldn’t be satisfied without finding a scapegoat today.
“Would you let go of my hand?”
Mel called out to the boy, who was gritting his teeth, with a big smile on his face.
“You can’t get out of this business that easily. You helped us all like saints, but at the most critical moment, you let us down. It is not clear who you are. Maybe you are someone the nobles hired to make fun of us!”
“Hanso, you are being ridiculous! Leave Mel’s hand!”
Hanso was holding Mel’s hand like clinging to his last hope. Not only that, but the crowd that gathered behind him seemed to have caught Mel all over and wouldn’t let him go.
“Your name is Hanso, right?”
Although the ten people on his side were tense, Mel remained calm. He placed his free hand on the shoulder of the boy, who was shorter than him with a head-size.
“I know how you are feeling and I’m also aware that you’re looking for someone to blame. But don’t do it. There is something inside of you that constantly hurts you and doesn’t leave you alone. You can’t blame me for forgetting the decision you made yesterday!”
“Neither blame yourselves nor feel shame for this. You have made a choice and you have to bear the consequences. The courage you show to block my way now should have shown last night as well. I hope you make the right choice next time!”
He slowly pulled his hand from Hanso’s shoulder, but the other boy didn’t let him go. Despite the tears running down his eyes, he was holding his hand tightly.
“No, no, you will be held accountable!”
After his words, the crowded party grabbed the cutting tools standing on the tables. There was no need to be an oracle to realize that their intentions were not good.
