6. Truth about Villiam's enterence exam

AT THE SAME TIME

XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:

I crossed my arms, the questions swirling in my mind. I had to ask. I couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Headmaster, with all due respect." I started, trying to keep my voice steady. "I still don't understand why you allowed him to stay. He stole my sword, even took my title—yet you let him in. Why?"

Caelan Vermund, our headmaster, looked at me for a moment, his face softening. He didn't look angry or dismissive, just understanding.

"Xavier." He began, his tone measured. "I know you're frustrated, but there's more to the story."

He motioned to the board beside him, and glowing text appeared.

"Villiam's entrance exam results:

Archery Skills: 98/100;

Survival Skills: 95/100;

Combat Skills: 92/100;

Magic Skills: 45/100;

Knowledge of ancient history: 75/100;

Creativity & problem solving: 90/100."

I blinked, my eyes scanning the results. 98 in archery? 95 in survival? 92 in combat? The numbers didn't lie, but still, he had stolen my sword. My title.

"But he's still a thief."I said.

The headmaster gave a slight nod, acknowledging the truth in my words.

"Yes, he did take your sword and your title. I don't condone that, Xavier. But look at his scores. Look at his potential. His skills in archery and survival are exceptional. His combat ability is nearly unparalleled for someone his age."Headmaster said.

"But… his magic skills are terrible." I said, pointing to the lowest score on the list.

Caelan smiled faintly.

"True. But sometimes, a person's strengths in other areas are worth more than what they lack in one. Villiam's not perfect, but his talents are rare. That's why I decided to keep him here."He explained.

I stared at the list, my frustration still simmering beneath the surface, but it was mixed now with something else. A sense of confusion. Understanding, maybe? Was that it? Villiam had done something unforgivable, yes. But could I really keep holding that against him if his skills were as impressive as this?

"I get it." I said quietly, my voice a little more resigned. 'You're giving him a chance based on his skills, not his past mistakes."

The headmaster nodded.

"Exactly. I believe you'll learn a lot from him, Xavier. And he'll learn from you."He said.

I stood there in silence for a moment, my gaze still fixed on the glowing text. I had to admit, I didn't expect to feel… this conflicted. I knew Villiam had skills, but it was hard to shake the feeling that something wasn't right. Still, maybe this was an opportunity, both for me and for him. I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of envy and curiosity creeping up my spine. Maybe I would learn something from him after all.

"I am leaving to next lesson, sir."I said and left.

"Good luck, Xavier." Headmaster said.

The air was thick with the scent of earth and growing things as we gathered in the clearing for today's herb lesson. The teacher, Miss Iris, had laid out a variety of herbs on wooden tables in front of us. The green foliage, earthy smells, and bright sunlight were all supposed to be soothing, but I couldn't help feeling a little bored. Herbs. Seriously? I had better things to think about than plants.

"Alright." Miss Iris began, her sharp gaze sweeping over us. "Today, we're going to focus on identifying and harvesting useful herbs. Some of these can be used in healing potions, others in poisons. Some might even have magical properties."

I glanced around at my classmates. Most were already eagerly examining the herbs, but my attention drifted to Villiam. He was sitting quietly to the side, as usual, but this time, something seemed... different. There was a level of concentration in his eyes that I hadn't seen before. He was picking through the herbs with a careful, practiced hand, selecting each one with a confidence that didn't quite match his usual demeanor.

"Xavier." Miss Iris called, her voice snapping me out of my thoughts. "You're up. Pick a plant and identify it."

I sighed inwardly, stepping forward with little enthusiasm. I looked down at the herbs laid out before me, trying to remember anything I'd learned in class about their properties. Suddenly, Villiam's voice broke the silence. 

"That's Eldeer's Root." he said, pointing at a plant with broad, leathery leaves. "It's used for pain relief. One of the most common remedies in healing."

I froze. He was right. How did he know that so quickly? I looked at him, confused. The teacher seemed equally stunned, her eyes narrowing as she turned to Villiam.

"Villiam, you're... correct." She said, clearly impressed but trying to keep her composure. "But how did you know that so fast?"

Villiam didn't look up from his work as he continued to pick and identify herbs. 

"I've had to learn these things for survival." He said simply. "When you live alone in the wild, you need to know what's useful."He explained.

The words hung in the air for a moment. Surviving in the wild? I blinked. That didn't sound like something I'd expect from someone like him, someone who'd only been here at the academy for a short time. Miss Iris raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting such an answer, but she didn't press further. She turned to the rest of us. 

"Alright, let's see if you can identify the next plant." She pointed to a small, spindly flower with delicate blue petals.

I hesitated, unsure. But, before I could say anything, Villiam spoke again. 

"That's Windblossom. It's rare, but when brewed correctly, it can be used to enhance wind magic for a short time. It's very tricky to handle."He said.

He didn't look up from the herb he examined as he said this, but his words hit me like a slap. How could he know all this? Miss Iris looked at him, her brow furrowing slightly. 

"Windblossom? How do you know that, Villiam?"She asked.

He finally glanced up, a faint smile playing on his lips. 

"I lived for a while in the highlands where it grows. It was one of the first things I learned to identify. Not much else up there."He said.

There was a silence that followed his words. The class looked between Villiam and Miss Iris, clearly trying to understand why someone his age would have such a wealth of knowledge. I knew I was still confused, but I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at how naturally he seemed to know everything about the plants. One of my classmates, Alan, nudged me and whispered.

"Where did he even learn all that? I didn't even know half of these plants existed."Alan asked.

I couldn't answer him. I was just as puzzled as he was.

"Xavier." Miss Iris called again. "Your turn."

I took a deep breath, reaching for the closest plant, trying to seem confident despite my growing frustration. As I examined the small, fragrant leaves of a green plant, I felt Villiam's eyes on me. He didn't speak, but there was something in his gaze that made me feel like I was under a microscope.

"Um..." I stammered, glancing at the teacher for help. "This is... Lavender?"

Miss Iris nodded slowly, but I could tell it wasn't the correct answer. 

"Close, but no. It's actually called Nightshade Lavender. It's often used for sleep potions."She said.

I flushed with embarrassment, wishing I could hide under the table. I knew I was being watched, watched by Villiam, who was probably the one with all the answers. He didn't say anything as I struggled through the lesson, but his presence alone made me feel like I was falling short. After the lesson wrapped up, Miss Iris walked around to check our work. She paused by Villiam's table, where he was expertly preparing a bundle of herbs. 

"You seem to know these plants inside and out." She remarked, raising an eyebrow. "More than just theory, huh?"

Villiam shrugged, a small, humble smile on his face. 

"You could say I've had some... hands-on experience."He said.

There was a note of finality in his words, and Miss Iris didn't press further. She nodded, clearly impressed, but also a little uncertain about how much he was actually willing to reveal. As the class began to wrap up, I found myself staring at Villiam in confusion and awe. It was clear now: He wasn't just another student here. He was... something else. Something different.