For a moment after Maximus stepped through the arch, everything was still. Unlike the usual, the pavilion beyond the arch vanished with him inside the moment he crossed the threshold. Was this what all tests were going to be like in the future? Cassandra felt a thrill of nerves at the idea that it might be her disappearing soon. Alvis had said it would feel like two years, but only moments would pass in the real world. This proved to be true as Maximus stepped back out of the arch less than a minute later.

  He was different. Cassandra wasn’t quite sure how to describe it. The sparkly fae standing before them was certainly Maximus, but he had a different aura to him. From the way he walked, to the way he stood, and even the way he sparkled was more refined. He had lost the playful boyish charm that even memories of Tethia’s fall hadn’t taken from him. Instead, Cassandra felt what stood before them was a leader.

  “Maximus?” she asked, despite herself when his attention didn’t immediately latch onto her.

  “Hello, Princess Cassandra… No, wait, you aren’t a princess yet are you?” he asked with a bittersweet smile, “I am going to miss you scolding me for not using your proper title.”

  “You will be pleased to know that you passed,” Alvis broke in before Maximus could get any more lost in memories of his simulation. The poor fae was startled by Alvis’s sudden interjection, as if he had forgotten the man existed. “While you presented impulsive behavior at first, you were able to quickly find and identify allies. You used the information you had in the best way possible, even if it meant putting yourself at risk. Most importantly, you were acknowledged by the Heart of Tethia.”

  “Is being acknowledged by an artifact in the simulation significant?” Nero asked with interest.

  “It is,” Alvis confirmed, “As the simulations are formed from my memories as much as the testee’s, any artifact created by me will be the same as the version in reality. Since the Heart chose Maximus the moment he touched it, I recommend not leaving it laying around in the future.”

  Nero proceeded to pretend to fumble with his crown, earning a glare from Maximus. “Not a chance,” he scolded, “I may be better at wielding the artifact, but you were always the better strategist in times of battle.”

  “That is true,” Alvis agreed, “Even if Maximus has passed, it is too soon for him to become king. Starting off as the tenth prince should be enough for now.”

  One test later and Maximus was suddenly a prince? Cassandra glanced around at her group of friends to see similar expressions of shock. All of them must have assumed there would be more steps involved. More than that, the drastic change in Maximus was concerning. Cassandra had to keep reminding herself that he was still just sixteen. Seventeen at most. The most surprising change was his sudden familiarity with Keane. Keane wasn’t sure quite how to react to it, but he didn’t reject the fae’s sudden bombardment of trust.

  “Since we are all gathered here, would anyone else like to take the opportunity to try their hand at the test?” Alvis asked, looking right at Alois.

  “Absolutely not,” Alois denied immediately, “If this is how things work, I need more time to prepare. We haven’t even held Osmond’s funeral yet.”

  “Very well,” Alvis backed off easily.

  “I have a question,” Cassandra asked, a bit nervous, “Is there a way to do a practice simulation? Something smaller, and shorter than the actual test?”

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  Alvis again looked at Alois and smiled. “Only if my apprentice is willing to run them. If he asks me, I will be more than happy to teach him how they work.”

  The subject was naturally dropped at Alois’s extremely unwilling expression. Before Nero and Maximus left, Caleb did a quick check of Maximus’s jabber jewel, giving another to Nero so he could join in on their discussions. After all of this, there was no point in trying to keep him out of the loop now. Alvis did not receive one, but Cassandra was of the opinion he could probably listen anytime he wanted with or without a special jabber jewel.

  After some time to relax, Cassandra and Alois filled the others in on what had happened with Osmond, the Blood Cry, and Michelle. If Nero was listening, he kept silent, but Maximus had a lot to say on the matter.

  “That explains it,” he commented when they mentioned Osmond would never be able to appear in the Pavilion again, “Despite being the Headmaster during my simulation, I never saw him even once. I was even able to track down Alois and Marcus who I never knew existed in the past, but I never saw him even though we have met plenty of times.”

  This was certainly interesting information. The Blood Cry extended to simulations as well. That meant that Cassandra wouldn’t be able to meet Michelle that way either. If that was the case, how was she meant to tell her all of the stories, and give her all of the cookies she had mentioned before?

  “You can summon her at my place,” Yuki offered, playing his usual role as a living fox scarf on her shoulders.

  “Right, she could be summoned outside of the Pavilion,” Cassandra realized, suddenly feeling foolish, “That can wait. We should prepare for the funeral.”

  As expected of a funeral involving the entire student body of Nobility as well as many of Tethia’s other important roles, the venue arranged was massive. While technically on the grounds of Nobility, it was a place Cassandra had never seen before. Knowing Alvis, it might not have even existed until that moment.

  The funeral was a sombre affair with speeches recognizing Osmond’s life and achievements, with everyone carefully avoiding any mention of suspected betrayals. The truth of his death was also twisted slightly as a heroic tale to hold off a great threat to Tethia. Well, it wasn’t an untrue statement considering that Osmond had been that very threat’s access point to Tethia.

  It was after the funeral when everyone was mingling and chatting about the bizarre year that the problem arose. That problem came in the form of a familiar face Cassandra had all but forgotten. The obnoxious Dusk, Nathan.

  “Such a shame for you to lose your apprenticeship like that,” Nathan sneered at Alois after making a beeline to him the moment the funeral ended, “He died a hero but left his apprentice at square one. Are you finally going to leave Nobility now? If you want you can stay and watch as I become the real Headmaster’s apprentice.”

  Alois sighed. “I wish it were that easy,” he muttered, “Unfortunately, the founding Headmaster shares Osmond’s strange tastes.”

  “What does that-” Before Nathan could even get the rest of his question out, Alvis himself appeared.

  “I would appreciate if you did not compare me so easily with your old foolish mentor,” Alvis told Alois, ignoring Nathan’s very existence, “My choice is based on everything I know about your future and your past.”

  “Sir, you should be careful of him,” Nathan butted in, desperate to make himself known, “Alois is a klepto and a snitch.”

  Alvis finally turned his attention to Nathan. “I know,” he replied calmly, “Minor habits that are easily dissuaded in the grand scheme of things. Unlike you, he has enough redeeming qualities to make up for his shortcomings.”

  Nathan sputtered as Alvis handed him an envelope, and paled once he realized what it was. “Expelled?! You can’t do this! You haven’t even been Headmaster long enough to learn anything about me! Surely you must know my family-!”

  “Family connections are irrelevant in the Tethia I created,” Alvis interrupted, “You would do well to keep that in mind.”