M.I.C.E.

“You sure you don't want to eat more, son?”

“I-I’m sure, ma’am. It was very tasty, but I’m full.”

“Well, whatever you say, but you're way too thin. You’re not going to build any muscles unless you eat well. What about you, ladies? Would you like seconds?”

“I’m also fine, thank you.”

“I wouldn’t mind another roasted potato. And a bit more sauce if possible.”

Ms. Juliette offered Nona a wide, approving smile before returning to the kitchen, happily humming to herself.

“Are you feeling better?” Vesper asked Adish sitting next to her at the table. The mage nodded.

“Yes.” Adish looked at Nona sitting in front of him and at Vesper. “I’m surprised that you didn’t start interrogating me when we were reunited.”

“Ah, I think I already talked about my third bigger brother, Septimus. He is very timid and when he was little, the worst thing we could do was to try to ask him questions when he was sad or upset. We soon learned it was better to simply wait until he was willing to talk about what worried him. Which normally was to wait until the next meal, since my father’s cooking never fails to lift everyone’s mood.”

“I can vouch for that,” Thorny said from his invisible spot on the table. “Actually, when we come back, you better ask him to do those chicken wings again. I’m going to steal so much of them that your mother will threaten me with ending up as pig feed.”

Nona and Vesper burst out laughing. Even Adish couldn’t prevent a small chuckle from escaping him.

“By the way, how is it that we are the only guests in this inn? I mean, the food is very good, and the prices are incredibly low–” Adish shut up, noticing Nona and Vesper gulping at the same time. “Oh no, there is a catch, isn’t it? Something you are not telling me, right?”

“W-We can talk about that tomorrow morning,” Nona said with a dismissive gesture, talking with a faster tone to prevent Adish’s further questions. “Right now we should focus on more relevant things like the reason you were crying.”

Adish snorted softly while adjusting his glasses with embarrassment. “Yes, definitely that kind of straightforward comments suit you more.”

“Come on, four-eyes, stop creating hype and spill the truth: we wanna know why you were crying like a baby.”

Adish’s heated protest was never delivered because at that moment Ms. Juliette appeared to bring Nona her potatoes with sauce - and also a big new ration of chips despite them saying they didn’t want anything else.

After the innkeeper left, Thorny decided to reveal himself - since they weren’t going to order more. Then, Adish finally spoke - while distractedly grabbing a chip.

“Alright, have you ever heard of M.I.C.E.?”

“Of course! They are–”

“I’m not talking about the animals.” Adish rapidly added. Nona shut up confused. “It’s the acronym for the Magic Institution College Exams. Basically it’s the mandatory exam that any mage has to pass to be able to teach.”

“I think I’ve heard people in the settlement mentioning them a couple of times,” Vesper commented, also reaching for a chip. “They have a reputation for being quite difficult, right?”

“Yes. And very expensive. The registration fee is 25,000 coins.”

“WHAT?!” It wasn’t the first time that Vesper’s natural deep voice escaped when she was shocked. The druid cleared her throat before using her trained voice. “I-I mean. That’s quite a lot of money.”

“Actually, that’s more money than the one we have right now,” Nona muttered in disbelief.

“And on top of that, which is the reason why I was…uhm…so disappointed…”

“And crying like a baby.”

“...is that there is an extra test for this year’s exam with an extra fee of 15,000 coins. And that’s not the worst part.”

“Wait, so there is something worse than having to pay 40,000 coins for an exam?” Vesper said with incredulity. Adish nodded solemnly.

“There is.” Adish exhaled a deep, defeated breath. “Until now, the exam was just theoretical. But this year, the extra test is practical.”

Silence reigned on the table, just interrupted by Thorny’s uninterrupted munching of the chips.

“Practical?” Nona repeated with confusion, just before realization sank in. “Oh. Oh. That’s…”

“Pretty bad/A total shit.”

Adish exhaled a self-mocking laugh.

“This time I must agree with the imp.” Adish reached for another chip, but there was none left, so he clicked his tongue with the new disappointment and crossed his arms on the table. “It's total shit. Especially because I spent the entire afternoon waiting in line to be able to fill out the paperwork, and the extra test was announced after paying the participation fee. Which means that I’ve wasted 25,000 coins for a test that I’ve been preparing for four entire years just to fail it.”

Vesper sighed before hesitantly placing a hand on Adish’s shoulders.

“I’m sorry, Adish. It’s logical you feel so frustrated. I guess it’s not possible to recover that fee?”

“I will try. But probably I’ll prefer to keep my sanity instead of getting involved in gathering the hellish paperwork to request the refund.” Adish snorted again. “I guess I need to be grateful that the extra fee for the practical part is paid the same day of the test, or otherwise–”

“When does the mouse take place?”

Nona’s sudden question caused Adish to blink in confusion.

“You mean the M.I.C.E.? In four days.”

“I’m starting to get worried by your inability to remember names, goldfish leader.”

“Hey, it only happens with institution related stuff. I have a great memory for people’s names. But anyway, my point is,” Nona looked at Adish again, “that it’s too soon for you to give up. It’s not like the exam is taking place tomorrow. We have four days to find a solution so that you can pass the exam.”

“Nona, there is no solution,” Adish said with a defeated calm that made a frown appear on Nona's forehead. “Allergy to magic and practical tests are incompatible. And the moment the examiners realize that I cannot throw a simple spell without being affected by it, it will be over. So there is no point in participating in the exam.”

“Okay, I’ll rephrase it then.” Nona pointed her thumb at her chest while still digging her eyes on Adish, her expression now deathly serious. “It’s too soon for me to give up on you. So I plan to spend these days searching for a solution to your problem.”

Adish opened and closed his mouth several times before exhaling a humorless laugh.

“I don’t understand. Why are you so stubborn? I thought you had a very important mission to fulfill. The Dawn Rift should be your priority.”

“And it is, but this is also important. So I can multitask and do double research.”

“Oh yes, because helping in a magic exam is as important as fulfilling the Wish of a Goddess.”

“Thorny, not helping.”

“It may be important, but it is important to me.” Adish and Nona were so focused on their discussion that they didn’t even register Thorny and Vesper’s exchange. “This is my problem. It has nothing to do with you.”

“Yes, it does.”

“Why?”

“Because we are not just on the same team: I also want to be your friend. And friends are there to share their burden so that it’s not as heavy to carry.”

Adish gulped before shaking his head and averted his eyes.

“You are losing with this deal, Nona. I hate to agree with the imp, but among all the mages out there, you stumbled on a pretty lame one. You are supposed to search for the strongest allies so that they help you with–”

Nona interrupted Adish’s frustrated speech by reaching forward to rest her hand on the top of Adish’s crossed arms.

“Adish, I don’t want the strongest allies,” Nona said with her usual gentle tone. “I want allies that I can count on and have fun with, and I already have them. That is enough. So I’m totally winning with this ‘deal’.”

“Well, technically it would be better to find a third companion to fill that empty spot in the team, but…”

“Thorny, not the time.”

This time, Adish and Nona were aware of Thorny and Vesper’s exchange, and the druid’s resigned tone made them start to chuckle.

“Damn,” Adish gulped again before talking with a light trembling tone. “I’m not winning this argument, am I?”

Nona smiled, stood up, circled the table, and enclosed her arms around Adish’s shoulders from behind.

“No, you are not.”

The next chuckle Adish exhaled was a bit trembling. He removed his hands from the table and awkwardly patted Nona’s arms embracing him.

“Thank you,” he muttered with a raspy tone.

“Tsk, all this cheesiness is making me hungry again. Hey druid, can you order more chips?”

“Yes, only if you use the magic word.”

“Sure: can you order more chips, abracadabra?” Thorny shrugged when Vesper threw a reproaching, patient look at him. “Come on, it’s against the imp’s nature to be polite!”

Vesper hummed before an innocent smile appeared on her face.

“Yes, I guess you broke enough character after setting that shop on fire on our behalf.”

“W-What? I already told you that I didn’t do it for you!”

“Wait, did you burn a shop while I was out?! What did I miss?!”

“You missed our oblivious leader not being able to recognize the Princess of Thieves even if she was in front of her nose?”

“I knew that you were going to tell that anecdote. You are so mean, Thorny!”

“Princess of Thieves?! But, what the hell have you been doing in my absence?!”

That night they remained awake until late.

And they also ordered more chips.