Time continued to pass since Loren had returned to class, and the commotion caused by his seemingly miraculous increase in battle prowess eventually died down as the students began to prepare for the upcoming exam.
While Loren had easily passed any test given to him, the same could not be said for the rest of the school, many of his classmates were commoners who had learnt every aspect of life they knew from their parents and only joined the class to become knights, not expecting nor preparing to have arithmetic as a part of the curriculum.
The written exam wasn't the only test that the students were preparing for, each of them would soon face their first-ever experience in actual combat. No longer simply sparing with friends they already knew wouldn't truly injure them, but battling beasts hungry for their flesh.
It was only Saturday, the day that Loren and his group of friends would study together at Carol's home, that Loren realized he was missing an important tool he would need for the hunting exam... An actual weapon.
The students were required to prepare the weapon they would use themselves, Loren couldn't believe that he had forgotten such a basic task, feeling embarrassed that his eagerness to have a study group with friends may have distracted him. He could only go to Rito's home to ask where he should procure a sabre.
Only two stone throws away from the school lay Rito's home, which was far too modest for the only 3rd stage in town. Loren discerned that the entire house was the same size as his own, perhaps even smaller. Yet when finding the plain abode, Loren wasn't in the least surprised, it made sense to him that Rito would live a minimalist lifestyle.
Knocking on the door, Loren waited with slight awkwardness.
"Yes?"
Arriving to open the door, Rito came out to see his unruly disciple outside his home.
"What is it? You understand that I'm off work today correct?"
"I umm... don't have a weapon for the hunting exam."
"So?"
Loren perked his head upwards at Rito, he expected to be admonished not for his teacher to dismiss him.
"So? Where should I get a sabre for Monday? Shouldn't you want your disciple to be prepared?"
Keeping a reserved expression, Rito stared at Loren in wonder.
"Did you not think to go to a blacksmith?"
"Ah-"
With a look of realization, Loren's face turned a pale pink, not only had he forgotten to prepare a weapon until two days before his exam, he completely forgot blacksmiths existed in this medieval world.
"So you did forget. Well, another factor you may have forgotten is that while the school prefer students to bring a personal weapon, we can also provide you with one if you can't prepare one yourself."
"Oh. So, I came here for nothing?"
From pink, Loren's complexion started to turn crimson, he felt like an idiot at the moment.
Looking at his disciple become embarrassed, Rito felt amused. "Well, not necessarily for nothing. If you don't have a personal weapon I can give you an old sabre I don't use."
"Really?!"
"If you wish to have an older weapon, yes."
For the first time, Loren felt as though he was in an actual master-disciple relationship with the expressionless man, he'd always seen their dynamic to be more akin to a drill sergeant and an army recruit.
"I'll give you the sabre once we arrive in Galan. Now please leave, I need to prepare for a date."
"Alright, teacher!"
Loren left the home with a kick in his step, happy to no longer worry about buying a weapon.
"Wait... date?"
Of course, the 'date' in question was only referring to Rito's frequent gathering with the guardian beast.
***
"Woah... it's huge."
"Right, my jaw was on the floor when I got here."
When arriving at the front gate of Carol's home, Loren felt slight whiplash when comparing the large mansion before him with his teacher's humble hovel. With two stories, and a beautiful garden serving as a terrace, only the school matched the house's size, and in terms of extravagance, perhaps no building in Rito could compare.
Seeing his friends already outside the front gate, Loren understood he was the last to come.
"Loren, you've come."
Waiting alongside his classmates was Carol, a middle-aged butler standing behind her.
"Sorry if I'm late, I had something to do."
"It's fine, we're still waiting for the last to come either way." Carol shook her head, declining Loren's apology.
"Alright, thanks then for having me. Wait, I'm not last?"
Looking at his cohort of friends, Loren saw that Loot, Trina and Benson were all there.
"Yes, we're still waiting for Bort."
"...Bort?"
'When did we invite him?'
"Yes, but since most of us have arrived, let's wait inside. Open the gate please Rudy."
"Of course Young Lady."
The butler opened the front gate, leading the group into the home through the garden. As he perused through the plants near the entrance, Loren realised that not only were the various plants in the garden beautiful, but they were also valuable, he had seen some of the flowers in the textbooks he'd memorized.
"Your home is amazing Carol, I forget that you're the daughter of the Mayor at times."
Just like Loren, the other 3 stared at the garden in awe, now grasping how wealthy Carol's family was.
Carol kept a reserved smile as she walked forward.
"Haha, I think I prefer it that way to be honest Loot, it's nice to be treated equally at school. And if you believe my home looks amazing then you can only thank Rudy for that, he is the one who tends to the garden."
"It's nothing, Young Lady."
Upon entering the house, Loren and the others were brought to a large study room, the group sat down around a table covered with various snacks and desserts that had been delicately arranged.
Before he could partake in any of the food, Loren felt a tug at his side and turned to see Carol next to him.
"By the way, since you said you only like to look at dresses, If we have time later I can show you my mother's wardrobe. She has a collection of many dresses popular in the capital."
Carol had a knowing smile as she gave Loren a subtle thumbs-up.
...
'...Will she ever forget about that?'
Salrie was now with Loren today, as he had given her a day to rest. But if she were, she would most certainly be holding back a chuckle at the moment.
***
Bort had finally arrived and the study session began, Loren spent the majority of the day helping his friends revise the subjects they had difficulty with, his knowledge of 21st-century education aided him greatly in teaching them. He formulated a small test for the group based on the curriculum they'd been taught, adding questions he thought would most likely appear in the actual test. He then sat with each of them, going through their papers and figuring out what exactly they didn't understand.
"..."
"Carol? Is something wrong?"
"No... it's just sometimes I can't believe you're 3 years younger than me."
"She's right yunno, I have no idea where you learned most of this stuff."
Loren almost stumbled as he hastily made up an excuse. "Oh, hahaha, I learnt a lot from Rito I guess. All things aside, he's a good teacher."
Carol tilted her head. "Really? I thought he believed more in practical experience than studious work."
Loren quickly tried to move the conversation forward. "Ahem... anyway. Carol, you shouldn't have any problems with the exam, the same for Loot and Benson. Trina, you're going to have to spend tomorrow focusing on how to do long division, other than that you should be good though. And Bort..."
Bort had come to the study session, but he was silent the entire time save a few pleasantries with Carol when he first arrived. It made it immensely difficult for Loren to help him, though he still tried.
"...Listen, I can't help you with the exam if you don't want to be helped, and believe me, based on the practice test we did, you need it more than the others."
Bort's expression immediately turned into a scowl. "And why do I need YOU to help me, you're one year younger than me!"
"Becauuuse, Loren has the best grade in the class. Come on Bort, there's no point in being prideful, even Trina is here." Loot incepted their conversation, trying to mediate.
"Hey!"
"Tsk- Fine."
Loren had started to get annoyed, he felt pity for Bort, but that didn't mean he wanted to help him when he was being so rude. He only sighed and wrote down the issues he found in his test, not willing to converse with him further.
Bort's small outburst made the atmosphere in the room silent, everyone feeling the tension.
*Clap*
Carol decided to tactfully break the silence and end the study session.
"Alright, I think we've studied for a good amount now, let's all take a break if any of you want to go to the bathroom just ask Rudy."
"Can I go the bathroom? I've honestly been bursting for a while now."
Loot swiftly shot up before being led outside by Rudy.
"If we're done with studying, I'd like to leave now. Thank you, Carol."
"S-sure Bort, It was good to have you."
After Bort had unceremoniously left, Loren decided to go outside to the garden for a stroll. As he passed by the various flora, he noted how truly valuable the garden in the Ruthess estate was, at least for a commoner like himself.
As he was about to continue further into the garden, he was stopped by Trina, who called out to him.
"Loren."
"Yes?" This was rare for Loren to see, Trina seldom ever started a conversation with him.
Trina had an absentminded demeanour as she spoke to him, finding it difficult to articulate her words.
"Did Bort bother you before?"
Loren tilted his head, a smirk coming onto his face. "Why? Were you worried?"
"W-worried? No..."
"He didn't bother me, I get why he doesn't like me, it's just annoying. But kids will be kids you know."
"Kids? You're the youngest out of all of us."
"Hahaha, I am? Sometimes I can't tell since I'm the 4th strongest in class."
"5th strongest! You still haven't beaten me."
Loren laughed as he stretched his back. He hadn't lied, Bort didn't bother him too much, he just found dealing with someone who didn't like him... difficult.
"Thanks."
"Huh?"
"I said thanks, I know my dad asked you to help me with my studies, that's why you organised the study session right? You didn't have to go out your way."
Loren scratched his nose, he hadn't known she realised.
"Yeah, but I wanted to help the others as well so it's fine. Plus, we're friends, of course, I'm willing to help."
Trina was silent for a second before she gave a slight smile in Loren's direction.
"Right, we're friends. I was worried that you only helped because my dad said you could wed me."
Loren choked on his saliva, he thought Richard was joking when he said he could wed her.
"COUGH, COUGH! NO! I, uh, didn't help you because of that..."
"I know."
Trina continued to smile as she walked back to the building, leaving Loren alone in a daze.
'What was that?! God, I hope that didn't mean anything. She's 12! Well, I am 9... but I'm also...'
Loren furiously ruffled his hair, he had no romantic experience to speak of and couldn't tell what Trina's smile meant. He only knew that at least until he turned 18, he shouldn't torture himself with the idea of getting into a relationship.