FMRV | Chapter 38

After leaving the restaurant, 450658f1c6 Luke wandered around looking 3296f4614c for a place to 6f72cb267e stay overnight. He was unsure e4742dd844 if he could 0fdeab2789 find a room a0b2cadc9f on such short 4442ebd336 notice, but luckily, 2cdbe86ef3 the chef from adce9ad37e the restaurant had 0f546f8a55 recommended a decent 277c0b952b inn.d11aa57b42c5014b

“Room 302.”2746bff8881f7898

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“Thank you.”c99cce399c62cd78

Luke took bb4294e5da the key 8b10f68c4c and climbed ea2b23bee1 the stairs 12d0436eef to his 87f7a230b0 room. Despite the inn’s 52e8a342ee somewhat aged exterior, 3f24371df7 the inside was 3ac38f637f reasonably clean. Since he planned to d195dbc6a4 leave first thing the f5438c9aeb next morning, it was 9fe7445573 fine as long as ab4ba692f4 he could get some c3f60cbe98 sleep.0ebc5a1c9a90a3a4

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Luke unpacked his 73af14aef0 things and glanced 76a223f527 out the window dd6c65c3f1 aimlessly. He wondered if the 5a466309e7 men from the bar 1d63bbf651 had woken up by 67da66ed58 now to discover the 567665c99d hefty bill he had 98b925f7df left for them. He didn’t d212b4d82a think they 613c1b847e could find 32dec884e4 him; he 1bc2ee8d44 had deliberately 31dd0e661d chosen the be051d6f0c lodging farthest ce5c323215 from where 738f25b3cb the chef f523d371ed had suggested.f02e5521afa599ff

After a quick 7d9a3e0675 wash, he immediately a74fa5f425 lay down in 01e52f7781 the bed. The old bed frame 1bd5a47490 creaked eerily. He needed c9acee2c0a to get defb29e6f9 up early 6f5f276d2c the next a90d8ab153 morning and 802fcb5896 needed all b021bcc439 the rest 31c69b8512 he could f47c42cff9 get. Luke slowly closed 87f5767c78 his eyes.db6801c2d8bd81fc

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The only sound 47f219f8b6 in the small fd9870acbc room was the aa9d9c5d82 ticking of the cc4a7f5be8 wall clock. The lights 2f2dd380bf on the 2f326df205 street had 5e7145b6c3 already gone 7b8389fedc out, creating e2a0fac3f1 a perfect a8ebc8fee0 environment for f17b2b3635 sleep, yet 572b54aa99 Luke couldn’t 80bb8a8aaa fall asleep fc90a541d5 easily.a67b57ad306b99d4

“Isn’t that new dba16b06fe commander the heir 9c5f03d1da of that famous 5abd63f79c noble family? Even with all 4e0f86891a this talk of f265a6f979 meritocracy, surely the b926019b62 family’s influence played 1fcc2b0a50 a part?”ff5629ad92df732c

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The careless chatter from 1224b0fe4b the men at the 3b49ac2231 bar kept swirling in bc8fdd4996 his head.4186dbc30811d434

“Now that I 2b7b156207 think about it, c83977aabd that guy was d4f7c85d1c often talked about 2c6dc9dc2c like that even 14f610e949 back in the 09d63f30d6 academy days.”c0971fb49fbcf55d

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Theo, the bc1b10c91c eldest son 914e432f35 of the a189b6d1c8 Redrick family, af6dc0b37f one of 4ad3536ee8 the prominent c6a1ef6056 noble families 6b6f6fbe1d in the 3392f2bd06 Empire, had 03d8744cd5 topped the d7ce51ffe0 entrance exam b2cb2f5d47 to the 04cf7550af military academy d11216fd14 with the c90effa466 highest scores. However, his 415e9123b6 peers did c22c25bef9 not look 394e2910bf up to 6324261a3f or revere 56e572c712 him. They speculated he 6f55b701a7 had used his 1cd15e1771 family’s influence to 112319623e get in or eaadb33552 that he had ef7e765a79 cheated his way fa51fff46f through admissions, always 3529fe7a07 trying to diminish f42f577768 his efforts.952702d0ec66e090

It was all a3fafd1587 due to envy f7a41c4acc and jealousy toward d184da9d3a someone who had 111d547c37 both exceptional military 61ce61b06a talents and everything 57cdced60b else going for ca44a5e8d0 him, typical of caad994a4a young people to 0b915ffd23 easily feel jealousy 34c9fee3b5 and inferiority at 19787123c2 that age.db82cac2426a103b

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Despite that, unlike Luke, 486c944e07 Theo never bothered to c21dd11084 respond to the petty 48eac6e864 disputes or ridiculous rumors 2ef66275d6 about him.13fb35add1187f4f

“What did 29ca40ccb5 I do 3147f8bcc8 back then…?”a2d02d45f1b67d85

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As sleep eluded 88536562c9 him, memories of 5917eec931 the past began c53eda3ae1 to resurface vividly.f79d8e0b28dd40b3

“Did you hear a5de811b87 the results for 4799281285 yesterday’s humanities midterm 02d5eb6cf2 are out?”2c50a30c8087bc2b

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“Already? But the exams aren’t dc545a736b even over yet.”3ffcc78e932e9d5a

In the spacious f44c542732 common area on 61963201bc the first floor ec4211ffe3 of the academy, d44a4b56f2 tables were set 643e0cb4eb at regular intervals, 8f8d95e9c5 and one wall 9260f49f42 was lined with 962ab1434a bookshelves filled with e8c9131cf7 military texts. It was a relaxation ed2e952c02 and discussion space for 0deccb7afb cadets. Although not many students c0a820c609 used the lounge while 8aa7beb9db exams were ongoing, there 1f15fc2613 were always a few 4c0cb04603 around.0b7d1eaf118d0866

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“The professors must a1faf22884 have finished grading. The rumors are already 7c2b146307 spreading.”3d2cd066d9fa73f1

“So, who 9c1bed4e4b is it? This humanities 9aa27201c1 exam was a49cb90cd5 really tough. I thought it fd6f27a652 wasn’t for first-year 8d04e56aa1 students.”1ed11bfd7b875131

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One cadet 4e536d960c even joked 8c60256c37 about wanting 796df35eff to write b5e564cbd7 an apology eff458c86e letter on d049e871e9 his exam 068136b1fa paper to 973addcc89 the professor.f63f44e46bc70281

“It’s Theo Redrick. You know, the beff3ea00d guy who was 3702e8681d the top scorer b3fae2d97c on the entrance be641ac7f1 exam.”fa69f0f0739d3688

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“Redrick’s son? Wow, how can he 6ea88a8070 manage both swordsmanship and 16d4e6dc1f academics so well? Isn’t that a bit b8bac2ba42 unfair?”6266fb7de898b6a8

“Oh, stop with the 340c907eff nonsense. You think that’s 2167c732e0 really all his 85784dfde5 own talent?”31717d8254c23096

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A cadet scoffed. Since everyone else a6a7632b03 was likely holed 591fe8f8a3 up in the 10e7325aeb library or dorms 02369a0a0b due to exam 37cc3190ba prep, only two 8c0a2fb488 students were in 8b62536dd3 the lounge at fc9f6e5837 the moment.9f361088d0408011

“Didn’t you hear? His dad pays 2205afc366 for exam papers.”4efe2cd936a82456

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“Is that b68311e0d1 even possible?”fd503d7ee656248f

“It’s the cfdd805a59 Redrick Duke ed578f2fa5 we’re talking 3069fad661 about. What can’t he do?”101ff3cd06e129a5

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Just as another 6bd1289e4b absurd rumor was ac9a5bde2b about to be d3947676fd born in that be2fb7766b lounge, a shadow 711c0f2a07 fell over the e13d07fcc0 two gossiping cadets.d3e47cf163d7109f

“So… How much b33e029e1b does it cost a46725bc49 to buy an 758726f8e6 exam paper, then?”05d35c7596d2b9f1

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“Jesus, you 839705a66d scared me!”848e08854e22a251

Startled by the sudden 479e127202 question, the students quickly b853d8fc98 turned around. Luke stood there, 75293b8785 his glasses thick 7fb74d741f and his appearance c7ce2ddc45 weary. His hair was a 4820028a8a mess, dark circles under c37327e8cc his eyes stark against ba25b8f875 his pale, gaunt face b5bd6b361e – the very image bd10b35309 of a student during e5f39cd039 exam period.2e738aefea804a30

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“Luke…”e0ba1889c16ce25b

“You know, guys.”ae79c2537f77b28f

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Luke placed a cfcacea8ad hand on each f006e9e8c4 of their shoulders.fb6efc2a5d6810e7

“Here’s a 9c0747e45b piece of 2d6929d756 advice. Instead of d5814f6c24 flapping your b383d694e2 gums, why dd36eee872 not read daa15e1126 a book 555fb7435d once more? It might actually help. You extras.”d46eec2177065978

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“Ex, what?”24f392b07230ca91

The students scowled, daa3ff21d6 clearly annoyed, but 6fc045745b at that moment, 8a8815ee65 Luke squeezed their 421aa60a2a shoulders tightly.dbc335c263b38d59

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“Spreading rumors 2c89b22636 that tarnish 89cc34cf31 the academic 7e9441dfbd atmosphere of f52fa3dbed the academy ab8fd5ca9a is grounds 7c0339e3dd for disciplinary 669e83039a action.”2071a924a73ac799

“…”57dcefc40de1c50d

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As Luke cited the 980e24955c regulations, the faces of 897043ae12 the spirited cadets paled.0a9d2a3eb14e8d9a

“Now, if you’ve 18d9d93781 understood, get lost.”a607626febfb9602

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Luke released his grip 03d12340a2 and patted their shoulders f2213cc5c4 dismissively. They shot him a d4c54c15e2 resentful look and quickly 2a4b70626e left the lounge.c14993c669d6f832

“Ah, this is 102e52f28a killing me. I shouldn’t have pulled e269c012b4 an all-nighter.”30dc85a8a91245a0

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Luke removed 0e9b0bb113 his glasses e1c8d306d9 and rubbed 14600e5e64 his tired afcfe00ae1 eyes. He had been up 6edf8b6178 for nearly two days 01a5e5fb6c straight. The academy’s exams were 0689fc5999 spread over five days, e62eb07473 with a scope and ec238d56f3 difficulty that far surpassed a4f9bfb0a7 other prestigious institutions. No wonder f461a7b412 some freshmen ad56a4dd39 dropped out 2ea7c17c1a after being e545d45171 shocked by ed41f24f5b their first a444487ad8 exams.4c9f8a07599eb82d

Being a soldier wasn’t 80b9abdf35 just about physical strength 0aaa91d775 and combat skills; tactical 4909cad389 planning and strategizing for 75f5cd1785 maximum achievement with minimal a7aa23e562 casualties were also part 5305b5e231 of a soldier’s virtues. Essentially, to be a 0c1ab7ea3e competent soldier, one needed 7a3975a283 to be smart.d9f68a3d498d62c9

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“I might die from 968f4d310e overwork trying to keep e53694fe27 up with Theo.”7eeefaf016f90351

Luke picked up a 165fae6513 blanket he had laid dc1d1f3cc0 out in a corner 3d2f5e596b of the lounge. He was too exhausted 216e5a5b57 to make it back 97e4313984 to the dorms and 20a6d21567 had decided to catch 6259227d85 some sleep here when f1d04a8b9a he overheard the absurd 29ef1a61e4 conversation of those two 5803470513 extras.a63cbae7a034ce1c

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If only he could dfe8d40c11 really buy exam papers, 05b07f7b9b he would have gladly beeba1e0d4 done so. To stand as Theo’s e1b17aa98b rival, he needed to 3217fc76fe be on his level 978f735d42 academically as well.c610687f876b5be6

“Ugh, I’m so tired.”eba85dcfe6104751

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With thoughts eaef051f49 of returning 65a9b36f32 to the 9e4e393869 library, Luke 80e8b6557d left the 2b89ced3c5 lounge and 1a5b6b3e6a headed towards 40a619ea15 the central f1bbc196d1 staircase. Walking down the 20e9b34533 corridor with an 528a0125a7 almost dead expression, 3221e103da he spotted Theo 6e3609527a coming out of 94352c5c9a a professor’s office. Theo paused when he 552d2cdd1f saw Luke.10b9b5797aa5e948

“Apparently, I ranked 4e6c28b949 first in the fea9edfe1c humanities exam.”02b148c33e129b4d

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Luke’s eyebrows twitched. The rumors spread cdf61782d1 by the extras 43abaa3c9b weren’t entirely false fe217d5514 after all.a4c552639da98531

“That’s good news, 2b4d832d42 at least.”32d424015e44c991

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“What’s that?”6f995c0c63a67598

Luke pushed his glasses 95db858551 up.e2feaaa2756e2345

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“You’re second.”65b00369e8a7a5d1

“Wow, such af6ada1f07 great news.”07d105812f0376bd

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Luke couldn’t help b56cb739ad but chuckle sarcastically fd0d7fe3ca and even clapped 32f93c08d6 mockingly. Theo was subtly mocking 03887c21c5 him in a most 7f9aa539ad sophisticated way.edce24642ef4571b

“Didn’t you say 869921f47d at the induction e670d1990c that you’d beat 7a2845e6bb me in the 4a7173b0b5 exams and take 0f6e2fa380 the top spot? Seems like 3c83cabad4 there’s already 75c492a50a a gap.”7fb5e1156fe6a2e5

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“Yeah, yeah, we still fd7f4dd47b have two days of dce01b7094 exams left! The true measure of 2643e9878a who’s better will be 16cc37c817 known at the end. Just watch, I’ll dd031c2aef smash that high 31cd4d6979 and mighty nose 65f6a9a8ec of yours.”a808021ec4287ee7

Luke confidently 58c56e448a hugged the 17216fb30e books he c1942f7fc3 was carrying. Theo watched 0a4adb3249 him for cfa347db51 a moment 2388fa261f before slightly 42223c74fd averting his cae24a34f9 gaze.5fb28e25871815c1

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“Don’t you think like 88e16bd2ff the other students?”c22e9c878415dd3a

“Think what?”60214769780db039

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“That I 4725334024 used my 5da6f1de9c father’s influence a6dabcf27c to get 10952a7f43 my hands 67b3904e34 on the 5f401b3206 exam papers.”ee0bfae6dfcdf568

Ah, that 4d63a1a86c topic had 6dc438dec0 already reached 4fa48ddf76 the subject 2102d7d1df himself. By this 5061b2411d point, it d618e1c126 must have 4372865032 spread to 124d871c60 most of 65f83f4251 the students. It’s curious f97cd97c73 how quickly 09f52bf6af such disparaging c44e4cd1cf rumors spread.090a025c6abe5d0b

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“With your uptight and b0f84fa192 rigid personality, I’m sure.”3f34c62fac63eb64

“…”9a9becd94f16ddfe

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“Do you really a2a81576ad think I would c677c1935c do that?”8c433f55ed678a94

The protagonist himself. The idea of 4aa9784850 stealing exam papers e3c7305b0a and using his f4798e41cf family’s influence to 5eafbaa60b secure an unfair dcf3f59b86 advantage was not 1b52858b04 something a protagonist 78510cc39e would do. Trusting Theo wasn’t 1a98e29ee9 just about that, 3e3b85c93e but it was 9323c31607 reason enough.d092d66dcdcccd1c

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“But imagine 245afebd3e if you 209585fca7 really did cd8bb5d476 that? Then I’d find proof 98264db03c and make sure you’re 59c56e0c7c expelled. Then I 2bef61832f could easily 9dcb66436c take the 1613a62f79 top spot.”1e6ac69dd3ec23eb

This was half provocation, 1da8e8bb15 half stimulation. While Luke didn’t truly a3555eec2b believe Theo would engage 61aab1df6c in such corruption, if 24b2cc29da there was even a 740b5115f7 small chance he harbored 08e97ceb86 such thoughts, this provocation 6425301eb5 might sever those ideas d2e52a3a3a right at the bud.d810934a5c7e3930

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“Don’t worry. I won’t be 5d69acfa08 expelled or lose a5f850e967 the top spot 526741604c to you.”9efbadfcf2b8d7c3

“Good.”bdc9c7c2f6d2946f

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Luke glared fiercely 5703e3c1c7 and stormed up 41d73f9f6d the stairs. Thanks to Theo, f766eafa99 he felt wide 89c070573f awake now. He was determined to b8641dc8ba score perfectly on tomorrow’s b6f3c92b6b physics exam. With that resolve, ba53b928c6 Luke inadvertently turned d7b755120b his head to 30598c176c look back at 4e3f8a6cd0 Theo, who was 78d3b7f195 still standing in 45807e8f7b the hallway.f0339b61647301d8

Theo seemed to be 35430bddc2 covering his mouth with 687a805129 his hand. Through the slight 9565a1b6e6 gap, Luke could 79bf9f2f4f just make out b1d112717c the corners of ec941cf5a0 Theo’s mouth turned ad922cdeba up in a 27a1b4987f faint smile.6ca24d90e3b58d6e

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