Xavier plopped down in front of the Fragment of Goddess Astrea, his fingers drumming excitedly against the cool stone. "Guess what? I got myself a sweet ride!" he announced, practically bouncing with enthusiasm. "A proper bike, and I'm over the moon about it!"
The goddess's voice chimed in his mind, warm and amused. "Oh, my dear boy, you really shouldn't get too attached to these material trinkets. They'll all fade away someday, you know."
Xavier grinned, undeterred. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But hey, they make me happy right now, and that's what counts!"
The goddess let out a soft, melodic laugh. They chatted for a good ten minutes, the goddess's presence wrapping around Xavier like a cozy blanket.
"Five tasks down, five transactions complete," the goddess announced proudly. "You're already halfway to your next big milestone - $100,000!"
The goddess's laughter echoed like wind chimes. "Oh, but you can convert those credit points to cash, one-to-one!"
Xavier's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, really? How does that work?"
"Simple!" the goddess explained. "Just make a payment of 250 or less, and your credit points will cover it like money."
Xavier's grin could've powered the city for a week. This was perfect! He'd been blowing through his full balance daily, stuck with that one-transaction limit. But now...
"Now, I can make other small payments too."
"Hey, quick question," Xavier said, rubbing his hands together. "If I convert credit points, do I still get that sweet 0.5% cashback?"
The goddess's laughter rang out, rich and warm. "Oh, you greedy little thing! Always chasing those pennies!"
Xavier just grinned wider. He had a plan brewing - one that would let him spend more, do more. The goddess might warn against getting attached to material things, but Xavier knew better. Money was power, and he was ready to wield it like a pro.
Xavier's bike roared through the city streets like a predator on the hunt, the engine's growl echoing off the towering buildings. He'd filled the tank using 50 credit points, and the machine purred beneath him, responding to his every touch like a well-trained beast. As he pulled into the academy grounds, the usual morning chatter died down, all eyes turning to him like flowers following the sun.
The girls' gazes lingered, their eyes widening as they took in the sight of Xavier astride the sleek machine. He looked different today - confident, powerful. The bike suited him perfectly, and he knew it. He could feel their eyes on him as he parked, the weight of their attention like a physical touch.
"Hey, Xavier!" one called out, her voice high and excited. "That's a sweet ride!"
Xavier barely glanced their way, his mind already focused on the day ahead. He wasn't here to impress anyone. He had a mission today, and he wasn't going to be distracted by fawning girls or gold diggers.
As he strode toward the exam hall, the girls trailed behind him like eager puppies, their chatter filling the air. Xavier's mind was elsewhere, though. He remembered every face - those who had watched and laughed as Lucas and his friends bullied him day after day. He was going to teach them all a lesson.
And then there were those who had turned away, their faces twisted in discomfort. He wasn't going to thank them for their pity, but he wasn't going to do anything to them either. They didn't deserve his attention.
The exam hall loomed ahead, its doors standing open like a challenge. Xavier stepped inside, the girls' voices cut off abruptly as the invigilators stopped them. A few minutes later, the exam began, the scratch of pens on paper filling the air.
The exam wasn't conducted on a device where there could be miss-touch and other possible problems. Although the exam only had multiple choice questions, it was conducted in the old traditional way.
Meanwhile, across the city, the bus driver scratched his head in confusion. Where was that Xavier kid? He always took this bus. The driver checked his messages - nothing. Strange. He'd been paid good money to ensure Xavier didn't make it to the academy today, but the boy was nowhere to be seen.
Back in his office, Darius was about to celebrate his victory when he saw Xavier's face on the live feed from the exam hall. His blood ran cold. How? The bus driver had been paid to ensure Xavier didn't make it. And yet, there he was, sitting calmly at his desk, the exam paper before him.
Darius's fingers tightened around his glass, the crystal creaking under the pressure. The boy was supposed to be gone, eliminated from the game. And yet, here he was, defying all expectations.
The exam hall was silent except for the scratch of pens and the occasional turn of a page. Xavier's mind was focused, his hand moving steadily across the paper. He wasn't going to let anything distract him today. Not the girls, not the memories of bullying, not even the knowledge that someone had tried to stop him from being here.
He was going to pass this exam, and then he was going to make sure everyone who had ever wronged him paid the price. The bike outside was just the beginning. He had plans, big plans, and nothing was going to stop him now.
The exam hall buzzed with quiet intensity as students bent over their papers, pens scratching furiously. Ten subjects, each with ten questions - one point per question, four and a half hours to complete it all. The air was filled with concentration, the only sounds the occasional turn of a page or the soft hum of drones patrolling between the rows.
No one had the liberty to look around or even stretch their hands.
Xavier sat at his desk, his eyes scanning the questions with laser focus. His pen moved with precision, answering each question with confident strokes. Around him, students shifted uncomfortably in their seats, their brows furrowed in concentration. The supervisors and invigilators watched like hawks, their eyes sharp and unblinking.
One hour in, and Xavier's pen stilled. He double-checked his answers, his lips curling into a satisfied smile. He stood, the scrape of his chair against the floor echoing in the silent hall. Every head turned to watch as he walked to the front, his paper in hand.
The supervisor blinked in surprise as Xavier handed over his completed exam. "You're... finished?"
Xavier nodded, his smile widening. "Yes."
The supervisor's eyes narrowed. "You're sure?"
Xavier's smile didn't waver. "Quite."
The supervisor took the paper, his eyes scanning the answers. His eyebrows rose higher with each question. This... this was impossible. No one finished this exam in an hour. No one.
As Xavier left the hall, the whispers started. The other students exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.
"He must have just guessed," one muttered.
"Yeah, no way he actually knew the answers," another agreed.
The competitive students, however, weren't so quick to dismiss him. They remembered Xavier's entrance exam score - first rank, a scholarship. They watched him go, their eyes narrowed in thought.
"He might have only answered the questions for the subjects he's interested in," one mused.
"Or he might have actually finished it all," another replied, her voice hushed.
The supervisor's eyes were still wide as he stared at Xavier's paper. This... this changed everything. The boy was either a genius or a fool. And he was about to find out which.
After leaving the exam hall, Xavier texted Oliver that he had something important to talk to him about, and asked Oliver to meet him in the washroom.