Ever since I had gotten into A class, word had spread to other classes and higher levels that the weak commoner girl with 1 star had been placed in A class. Many students clamoured to see me and know what was so special about me.
To my relief, the training fight with Kai had removed some attention from me. Higher-level students had lost interest after hearing I got thrown around like a practice dummy. They figured I wouldn't last long anyway. Now all that was left was the attention from first year students.
Kai made it worse by constantly appearing wherever I was. In the library, outside my dorm building when I came back from classes and even in the courtyards. It was freaking me out.
I needed a break. I needed a way to get him off my back. I also needed a valid reason to be removed from A-class and placed in D-class. Fortunately, I had thought up a plan that might solve all three problems.
So I went to the library, the fifth floor this time, where they kept the older and advanced medical texts and magical ailment records. People rarely came up here so it was quiet. Most students researched on the lower floors where the light was better and the air didn't feel so heavy.
I walked between the shelves, running my fingers along the spines until I found some interesting books. Common Magical Illnesses and Their Treatment, A Comprehensive Guide to Magical Ailments and Healer's Handbook: Diagnosis and Care.
I pulled them down one by one, stacking them in my arms. Then I carried them to a corner table, one tucked away behind a shelf where nobody would see me unless they were specifically looking.
The chair creaked when I sat down. I opened the first book and started reading.
Common Magical Illnesses and Their Treatment had an entire section dedicated to conditions that affected students. I flipped through slowly, reading each entry with careful attention.
"Crystalline Flush. A condition that affects mages who absorb too much elemental magic at once. Causes their skin to literally sparkle. Like glitter is coming out of their pores."
Ridiculous. Who would believe that? I'd look like I rolled around in craft supplies. Plus it's too visible. Everyone would stare even more. Definitely not.
I turned the page.
"Verbal Cascade. A rare condition caused by disruption to the magical pathways that control speech."
Simply put, uncontrollable talking. The condition sounded made up but apparently it's real. A documented case of a student with this once describing her entire lunch to a professor for an hour straight was on the side of the page.
This one seemed more useful, it would definitely get someone sent out of class. But the symptoms were too obvious and unbelievable for someone like me. Plus, what would I even say?
I kept reading.
"Phantasm Bleeding... you see things that aren't there. Blood that isn't real."
This sounds scary. Definitely real though because I remember someone talking about it in first year and they looked traumatized. I don't want to fake something this serious. Also healers would watch me too closely. Can't risk that.
The next book covered similar conditions. Flux Tremors, Melody Poisoning, Color Blindness Curse, Temporary lag, Mirror Sickness...
None of these would work. They're either too weird, too dangerous or too specific. I needed something that happens to weak mages all the time and nobody would question.
As if the Universe was listening, I found a section titled Mana Exhaustion: A Condition of Depletion
"Mana exhaustion occurs when a mage pushes their magical reserves past their natural limit. This is most common in students who are still learning to gauge their own capacity, particularly those with smaller reserve pools (one-star and two-star ratings). The condition can also affect higher-rated mages who engage in prolonged magical combat or complex spellwork without adequate rest."
The symptoms listed were:
Severe fatigue, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, pale skin, sensitivity to light, temporary inability to access magical reserves, general weakness
This is it. This is perfect.
I read the section again, slower this time, making sure I understood every detail.
Severe fatigue... I can fake that. Just move slowly, act tired. Difficulty concentrating, easy, just seem distracted. Pale skin... I'm already pale from staying inside so much. Sensitivity to light, keep the curtains closed. Temporary inability to access magic... I'm already pretending to be weak so that's settled. It's the kind of thing weak mages get all the time. A one-star commoner pushing too hard. People would believe it instantly and then the school will have no choice but to remove me from A-class.
The next section covered recovery.
"Recovery from mana exhaustion cannot be accelerated through healing magic. The patient's reserves must replenish naturally, which requires time and rest. Healers can monitor the patient's condition and provide comfort measures such as pain relief, sleep aids, nutritional support but cannot cure the underlying depletion."
I made notes in my journal, writing down recovery timelines and treatment
Mild cases: 7-10 days of rest
Moderate cases: 2-3 weeks of rest
Severe cases: 4-6 weeks of rest, with possible long-term effects on reserve capacity
Treatment protocol: Bed rest in a quiet, dark environment. Minimal magical exposure. Light meals. Plenty of water. No magical exertion of any kind.
I glanced at the window and the light outside was fading. Evening was coming. I'd been here for hours.
I closed the books and stacked them neatly. My journal was full of notes, every page covered in my cramped handwriting.
This has to work. It has to.
I gathered my things and left the library. Time to fake an Illness...
---
The next morning, Pearl was at my door before breakfast.
She knocked three times and I heard her voice through the wood. "Amara! Come on, we're going to be late for breakfast. Des is already downstairs."
I opened the door slowly, like the movement cost me too much energy.
Pearl's smile faded when she saw me. "Whoa. You look terrible."
I was still in my pajamas. My hair was messy and uncombed. I'd made sure of that.
"I'm not feeling well," I said quietly. My voice came out rough, tired. "I feel dizzy," I finished, swaying a little for effect.
Pearl grabbed my arm to steady me. "You really do look bad. Like, your skin is so pale right now."
I leaned into her touch, letting my body go slack for just a second. "I think I pushed too hard last week. During combat training."
It wasn't a lie. Not really. I had been training. Just not in the way Pearl thought.
"Come on, let's get you to the infirmary. You probably just need rest," Pearl said, already pulling me toward the door.
I shook my head slowly. "Not yet. Let me try to eat something first. Maybe I'll feel better."
The lie tasted bitter but necessary.
Breakfast was harder than I expected. I picked at my food, moving things around my plate without eating much (which was difficult for me because of my love for food). Pearl kept watching me with worried eyes. Des joined us halfway through and immediately noticed something was wrong.
"You good?" he asked, shoving bread into his mouth.
"She's not feeling well," Pearl answered before I could. "Probably stress from class and trainings."
I nodded weakly. "Yeah. I think I overdid it. But I'll be fine."
Des made a sympathetic noise and went back to eating.
After breakfast, I headed to the training grounds for combat training.
I showed up because missing it would be suspicious. But I moved slowly and sickly. When we warmed up, I stood at the edge of the group, swaying slightly. A few people glanced at me but said nothing.
Professor Ginsberry paired us up for drills. I was matched with a girl who looked nicer than most girls in A-class.
"Ready?" she asked, taking her stance.
I nodded, moving into position but keeping my sluggish appearance. The girl caught on quickly and went easy on me, which made it easier to stumble and miss blocks.
Halfway through the practice, I let my knees buckle slightly.
"You okay?" the first-year asked, dropping her hands.
"Yeah. Just... dizzy."
Professor Ginsberry called a break. I sat down on the bench, putting my head between my knees like I was about to pass out. When I looked up, people were staring.
Kai was walking toward me and he looked concerned.
"You okay?" he asked, kneeling down beside the bench so he was at my eye level.
I shrugged, trying to look weak but unbothered. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just tired."
"You sure?" He wasn't buying it, his eyes searching my face.
"Yes, I'm sure," I said, turning away slightly. "Really, I'm okay."
He stayed there for another moment, like he wanted to say something else. Then he stood up and walked away, but he kept glancing over at me.
***
The final class before lunch was History of Astra with Master Kaine.
I sat in the back, resting my head on my desk. Master Kaine was talking about the founding of the kingdom, his voice boring and slow.
This was the moment.
When Master Kaine turned to write on the board, I let myself drop. My chair fell backward. I closed my eyes and lay still on the cold floor.
"Whoa!" someone shouted.
Kai was out of his seat in seconds. He dropped down next to me.
"Amara!" His voice was worried. "Can you hear me?"
I stayed still.
"She just collapsed," Kai said to Master Kaine. "She was fine a minute ago."
"Step back," Master Kaine said, moving over to us. "Give her space."
"Move," someone said.h
I felt him before I saw him. His presence was different from Kai's. More commanding.
Malachi.
"What happened?" His voice sounded distressed.
"She collapsed," Master Kaine explained. "We're not sure why."
"Then she needs the infirmary," Malachi said. He wasn't asking.
Kai's jaw clenched. "I was about to—"
But Malachi was already lifting me into his arms. His uniform was smooth against my cheek. He smelled like expensive cologne and warmth.
"I'll take her," Malachi said.
The whispers started immediately.
"I can't believe the prince is carrying her.."
"Lucky.."
"He's carrying the commoner girl..."
Master Kaine looked confused. "Yes, Your Highness. The infirmary is—"
"I know where it is," Malachi said, already walking toward the door.
As he carried me out, I caught a glimpse of Kai's face. His eyes were fixed on us and he seemed angry, his hands closing into fists.