The Boy Who Walks Beyond The End-Chapter 74: Yearly Exam: The Partner Dilemma

Grandovale's Arcanist Academy's courtyard bustled with excitement. Posters hovered mid-air, glittering letters announcing:

[Academy Partner Exams: Form Your Bonds!]

Groups gathered, everyone buzzing. The Academy had one rule for the exams: Choose your partner before sunset—or be assigned randomly.

Random assignment.

Zen's eye twitched at the phrase.

---

Inside the courtyard

Nex floated invisibly next to Zen's ear.

[Nex]: [System: Partner Exams. Romance. Drama. Betrayal. Despair.]

[Nex]: [System: Also, free snacks for winners.]

Zen exhaled. "What a mess."

Behind him, Lyra waved, threading through students. Her blue hair shimmered under the sun, a vision of calm...until Kleez bounded past like a wild squirrel.

"Lady Lyraaaa!" Kleez called, skidding to a halt in front of her. "Have you considered partnering with destiny itself? I come equipped with... enthusiasm and mild survival skills!"

Zen's brow furrowed.

Lyra smiled awkwardly. "Thanks, but I already have someone in mind."

Zen stiffened.

Did she mean him?

She better mean him.

Kleez dramatically clutched his heart. "Another rival! Betrayed... by fate!"

He spun on one foot and immediately turned his attention to -

"Love, my dear Sylv—oh wait, wrong girl," he said, skidding toward Arisella.

"My sweet wind princess! Shall we partner for the exam and ride victorious into the sunset?"

Arisella just conjured a gust of wind that knocked him fly.

"Next!" Kleez popped back up without a scratch, wobbling toward Fiora with a rose between his teeth.

"My lightning queen, electrify my soul—"

Fiora fried the rose with a casual zap. Kleez just sniffed dramatically.

"So beautiful..."

[Nex]: [System: Is he immortal? Or just too stupid to die?]

Zen shook his head in disbelief.

Gathering for Announcements

Professor Veylon, the stern magic instructor, clapped once, his voice booming:

"Students! Partner exams will test your synergy, strategy, and spirit. Choose wisely. Winning teams will receive prestige... and privileges."

Students murmured in excitement.

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Prestige meant promotions.

Privileges meant access to secret libraries and legendary spell manuals.

Zen glanced at Lyra, who gave him a quiet, soft look under her lashes.

An unspoken agreement passed between them.

But before he could step forward—

Kleez threw an arm around Zen's shoulder.

"My tall, brooding friend, shall we partner and show the world how beautiful male bonding can be?"

Zen stared at his hand. "Remove it before you lose it."

Kleez pouted. "So COLD... Even after I shared half a sandwich with a crow today."

Lyra chuckled into her sleeve.

Zen definitely saw it.

He definitely hated it.

---

Later, in the Assignment Halls

Partner signups were everywhere, magic papers floating in the air, names connecting by lines.

Royal Class students gathered on the left.

Aetherion Class students to the center.

Verdant Class students stumbled in, mostly chasing runaway papers.

Kleez zipped around like a man on too much sugar, tossing flowery lines at every girl in sight.

"Fair Maiden! May your battles be as fierce as your smile!"

"Enchantress of frost! Strike me down with your beauty!"

Lyra giggled when Kleez attempted to bow and tripped over his own feet, narrowly missing a potted plant.

Zen: (internally screaming)

[Nex]: [System: Jealousy levels critical. Commencing sass upgrade...]

Zen approached Lyra, finally pinning her down near the signup scrolls.

"...Partner with me?"

His voice was lower than he meant. A little rough.

Lyra's cheeks flushed pink, but she smiled warmly. "I'd love to."

Behind them, Kleez wept dramatically into a handkerchief he had pulled out of nowhere.

"So... it's true... She loves another...!" he sobbed.

Sylvia muttered under her breath, "You knew her for three hours."

Kleez placed a fake rose on the ground. "My heart... broken yet again..."

[Nex]: [System: Should I fry his boots with a small explosion? I can pretend it's a feature.]

Zen smiled thinly. "No. I'll do it manually."