Aethernea : Soulbound [Book 1]

Episode 41 - Urwin

In the previous Episode:

While Elaru is waiting for Deora and Zerel to resume the exam, she meets Arion Urwin, who unlike the other examinees, holds no hostility towards her.

Deora's clothes have been burned away leaving him naked. Before he can resume the exam, he needs to be clothed, and a replacement speedometer needs to be found.

* * *

After a while of bickering, Zerel left to the madam Rosling's place in the tailoring department of the university to get a new uniform for Deora. Luckily under the guise of lack of time, he managed to get away without being forced to change into his own uniform.

After getting Deora clothed, Zerel elaborated the next part of the disaster recovery plan:

"I think we should have some backup devices in the storage. Just in case our equipment ends up being defective, or an accident happens, such as this one. Little Dei...go fetch."

"Why me?" Deora whined, not noticing the tone Zerel used made it sound like he was talking to a pet.

"Because you can accelerate and thus are faster." Zerel explained convincingly.

"Ah...that makes sense" Deora nodded, completely oblivious to Zerel's ulterior motives.

And so, Deora set out on a quest to find the replacement for their destroyed apparatus.

In the meantime, Zerel took the remains of the wooden objects and transmuted them into two tables and a chair. After that, he sat on the chair, leaned on the table replacing the teacher's desk, and took a nap.

* * *

Just before Deora walked through the door, Zerel's keen elibu ears picked up his footsteps. He quickly straightened his back, took out the grading sheets and a plate that he had stored in his pocket and pretended to be doing something useful. Definitely, not sleeping.

As Deora entered the room, the first thing he noticed was Zerel writing "25/25" next to an examinee number corresponding to the number written on the exam pass in his other hand.

"Why??" Deora complained. "The equipment was defective. We need to test her again."

Zerel glanced at Deora and smiled mischievously. "The equipment wasn't defective."

Deora's brows furrowed. "It must have been. It was designed to be able to take the theoretically fastest casting speed into account. Even if she were the fastest mage in the world, the hourglass wouldn't have shattered."

Zerel's smile widened. "Yes. But the calculated max theoretical speed was calculated with our trigger spell in mind."

Deora's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"