Courageous Accomplishment

The trio has made it to the entrance to the front of the school. As Lila and Taro walk over the large pool of water, Haruto looks down and sees their feet strolling over it as if it were concrete.

“So cool.” Haruto says, unheard.

Passing by countless random students of varying species, Taro takes out his coin and starts to flip it. A few elves and lamias see him and his public showing.

“This guy…we get it, you completed your task.” One male lamia says as he rolls his eyes.

“To be fair, you guys made me do this since you mocked me. Just because I’m laid back doesn’t mean I can’t complete my tasks.”

Taro pockets the coin and glares at his mockers.

“No idea why all guys and girls have to act like judges 24/7.” Taro says.

Lila sees this and hugs her gold coin close in her pocket. Haruto recognizes her fist gripping as he looks sternly at all the other students that judge his friends.

“Taro definitely deserves respect, even if he rubs it in front of his mockers.”

The three of them make it to the grand hall where countless entrances open for student’s destinations.

“Let’s find a free wall to use to make it to Dean Azrael.” Taro instructs the other two.

With students busy entering and exiting the doorways of countless rooms of the school, the trio find a good empty space not being used to summon any doorway. Taro stands in front of the wall and closes his eyes. Haruto looks as energy forms from Taro, with a shiny blue rectangle doorway summoning.

“I guess the doorway usage is different, depending on the student and where to go. The nice building did summon that bathroom for Lila earlier. Maybe because of me?” Haruto says to himself.

“Okay, we should make it to the Dean now. Let’s go.”

After Taro tells the other two, he enters it. His entire body and form vanish as it becomes one with the light. Lila goes afterwards with Haruto as their bodies also disappear with the light.

Haruto feels a sense of hope, with his body coinciding with the energy being used. Tingling, his form shakes by the time all three are in it.

“Why does this feel so…comforting?” Haruto closes his eyes, imagining he’s laying on clouds.

Within a few seconds, the three of them fully form back on the other side as Haruto quickly opens his eyes again.

“Huh, the comfort is gone. Oh well, it did feel nice.”

Taro and Lila see the Dean, marking and scoring students as he waves his wand. Looking around, countless books and papers surround the Dean as some glow.

Haruto looks with shock, Azrael simultaneously grades 10 students at the same time and gives them various numbers upon their academics. He sees Lila and Taro, frozen in place by his skill.

“How can I help you two?” He says sternly.

Lila steps forward and pulls out her gold coin.

“Here sir. Both of us went through a lot of trouble to get our coins. Isn’t that right Taro?” Lila looks back at Taro.

“Yeah, I think I bruised my side but it got numb now.” Taro takes out his coin and tosses it to Azrael. Lila lays her coin more gently on his table.

Azrael looks at both coins. Gently feeling the metal and details, his facial demeanor becomes dumbfounded.

“Wow…you two certainly surprised me.” Azrael stares at Lila.

“Especially you Lila, I heard of how you struggled to conjure up spells and incantations from lacking hope.”

“That’s an issue of the past sir. I gained a boost from encouragement from friends.” Lila rubs her thumb on the top of her wand, unknown to Azrael about who is in it.

“I see. Whoever your friend must have been…had the effect on you.”

Azrael pulls out his files for Lila and Taro.

“I can pass you…but there’s an issue with you two.”

Lila, Taro and Haruto look confused with what Azrael has brought up.

“Um…what do you mean?” Taro asks.

“The entire school heard of your adventure with that troll. It yelled so loud it scared everyone here.”

Taro and Lila rub their own hands and heads, looking uncomfortable.

“I had to send out some security to see what happened and they found the troll frozen in ice, including over a dozen feet of frozen wildlife!”

Bang

A hit on his own table startles Lila and Haruto, as Dean Azrael gets up and approaches the two.

“You two were supposed to just get the coins undetected, not get in a fight with the damn creature!”

Eyes now veiny and turning red, shifting between the two.

“To be fair sir, we did it undetected. But that troll has some serious anger issues since it stalked us.” Taro’s fur stands up as he looks at the Dean.

“Silence! Because of you two, the guards had to unfreeze him and put a forgetful spell on him, after he assaulted them!”

He goes to Lila’s face.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t kick both of you out for disrupting the school and causing a ruckus!?”

Lila’s hand trembles, Haruto can’t stop staring at this horrifying man.

“Jeez…this guy makes my teachers and deans look like kindergarteners.” Haruto says to himself.

“I’m waiting for you, young lady.” Azrael stares down her soul.

“Sir…with all due respect, we completed our tasks.” Lila says shakily.

“Me and Taro both completed what you asked and have proven that we have what it takes to stay here.” Lila’s voice grows stronger.

“Fine, we both don’t have the best track record. However, we have shown you and the school we can use hope to defend ourselves.” Sternly looking at Azrael, Lila has stopped shaking.

“I’m tired of people telling me that I can’t do anything but guess what I proved them wrong!” Lila points at the gold coin on the table.

“You see that coin? I risked my life with Taro and even conjured up spells I never did before.”

Haruto looks on with happiness, seeing Lila stand up for herself.

“My friends have encouraged me to try and I did and guess what…it paid off. That’s all it takes sir to get anything done, to try.”

Azrael looks at Lila as he walks back behind his desk.

“Hmm. I don’t want any more events like this from either of you. You both understand?” Azrael says back.

“Yes sir.” Lila and Taro say in unison.

“Both of you pass the midterm and can stay. Albeit with barely passing grades.”

Azrael uses his wand and marks down Lila’s and Taro’s files for the assignment giving them a grade of 70.

“Both of you, head back to your dorms.”

“Yes sir.”

“Um…just a minute Lila. Can I see your wand for a minute?” Azrael extends and opens his hand.

“What for sir?”

“That unusual decoration you put on your wand. Why eyes?”

Lila stands still, with no option, she slowly hands Haruto to Azrael. Haruto is frozen and doesn’t move any inch of his eyes.

Azrael sees the eyes and touches them. Haruto feels no discomfort though and keeps his eyes still.

“Hmm…These eye decorations serve no purpose. Why do you have them on it?” Azrael asks.

“For encouragement sir.” Lila says, making Azrael confused.

“Encouragement?”

“I always have someone close to me looking out for me no matter what, that’s what powers my hope.”

Azrael looks back at her wand and hands it back to her.

“I don’t get you kids and your encouragement these days. Please leave my office.” Azrael points to the wall behind them.

“Also Lila, take your wand to the repair shop tomorrow. There’s a small crack behind it.”

Lila sees it and lightly rubs it. Brushing it off for now, they continue their way out and a rectangular blue door immediately pops up. The trio passes into it, with Haruto feeling the comfort for a few seconds before it disappears.

Lila and taro breathe as if they took a jog.

“You’re lucky he didn’t recognize Haruto. You can get expelled for conjuring up a hope enhancer like him.”

“I know. But at least I have my close friend by my side.” Lila hugs Haruto against her face.

“Okay, you two buddies can go to your room. I have to go to see the nurse about my side.”

“No problem, see ya Taro.”

“Same. Oh yeah, if you ever wanna reach me, I’m by the west wing of dorms. See ya Lila and feel better stickman.” Taro smiles at them as he focuses on energy to conjure up a passage to the nurse.

“Let’s go Haruto.” Lila says as Haruto wobbles.

Lila begins walking to her room as she passes by students talking about the yell from the troll.

“Can’t you believe they’re that loud.” A female Minotaur says.

“I heard some people got hurt trying to stop it.” Says a female halfling.

“Well I heard a few students were the cause of it. The moment these guards teleported back here, they mentioned how a young human girl caused it.” A female cyclops tells them.

Lila passes by countless other students talking about the event. Unknown to them that Lila was the one. Within a few minutes, they make it to Lila’s door.

Looking at it, there’s no hurtful markings. Lila smiles and enters her more expansive room than how it looks from the outside. She takes off her robe and gets Haruto ready at her hand.

“Telepathia.”

“Lila! I’m so proud of you. You stood up for yourself.”

“I know Haruto, it feels so good.”

“You should feel good Lila, you took on a troll and proved you have what it takes.”

“You’re the best Haruto, tell me, do your eyes hurt after what Dean Azrael did to you?”

“Surprisingly no. Although I kept my eyes straight to not get more attention. Hehe.”

Lila smiles.

“Excellent. How about the crack, does it hurt?”

Lila immediately turns him to look closely upon it.

“I didn’t feel anything strangely. I feel no pain, yet I feel hot and cold sometimes with the spells.”

“Oh you poor thing, I think that ice spell was a bit much. I shouldn’t have concentrated on a big spell and a big area effect.”

“Don’t blame yourself Lila, I focused all of my hope on it. I think I went overboard.”

“You’ll feel better.” Lila looks at Haruto’s eyes.

“Yeah, say did you feel anything weird when passing through that magic doorway?”

“What do you mean?” Lila responds.

“I felt a relaxing feeling like I was in the clouds.” Thinking about it makes Haruto blissfully close his eyes.

“For me I didn’t feel anything like that. Maybe it’s because you have a bunch of hope and you felt something similar.”

“Maybe, it felt nice though.”

“Also, how come some doors magically appear and others require focus.”

“It depends on the rooms and destination. Like bathrooms are available no matter what. But for certain offices, it requires concentration.”

Haruto’s eyes blink in astonishment.

“I see. Same thing for exiting right?”

“Sort of, people like Azrael can point and summon any doorway that can lead anywhere in the castle.”

“Can you lead a doorway to your personal room?”

“Oh no, thankfully. We all have to walk to our rooms. If any student can summon a passageway to a dorm room, others will.”

“Right, don’t want intruders or students causing trouble.”

Lila reaches into her pocket and takes out the third gold coin.

“How’s it feel to get your first treasure?”

“It feels great. Where should we put it?”

“For now, let’s put it in my drawer by my bed.”

“Nice, do you need anything else to be done Lila?”

“No, I have the weekend for myself now. Let’s get some well earned sleep.”

“Sure thing. Also, where should I sleep?”

“Got the place for you on the top of the drawer, I’ll make it comfy.”

Haruto blushes.

“Thanks Lila, you’re the best!”

“You’re welcome Haruto. I couldn’t have gotten this far without you. Finis Telepathiae.”

Lila proceeds to her bed and the table beside it. Holding the gold coin, she places it in her bottom drawer. She also grabs a thick cloth to put on top of the drawer.

Folding it, she places it and then Haruto softly on it.

“Night Haruto. We’ll see the wand repair office for you to feel better tomorrow.”

Haruto closes his eyes as Lila gets in bed and looks at Haruto happily. With his first day in this world over, Haruto gladly goes to sleep in his accepted form.