Published at 14th of June 2026 6:14 am

Chapter TWO HUNDRED NINETY TWO: When Wishing Was Having III

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

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Haoyu! Youre suspiciously quiet in there.

Alden rapped his knuckles against the door to Haoyus room a couple of times. A muffled response that sounded like mup was all he got in reply.

Alden had his doubts about that answer, but he headed to the kitchen anyway. He and Lexi had been awake for a few minutes. Aldens gym bag was on the floor by the table, ready to go. Lexi was searching through the fridge with feline assistance.

He says hes up, but it sounded like he was saying it from underneath his pillow, Alden reported, taking a cat treat tube from the drawer where he stored them. He added some to the food that was already in Victors bowl.

Well probably have to drag Kon out of bed, too, said Lexi. He sent his last message at one. Theres not much in here.

Those gross-looking brown nuggets are mini dark chocolate almond energy bars. Theyre not sure if they want to be health food or candy, but theyre a decent gym snack.

Lexi pulled out the plastic deli container full of bars. These?

Yeah. You can have some. Actually, we should just take the whole thing with us.

Lexi tossed the bars onto the counter, then bent to nudge Victor away from the fridge and toward his food dish.

Its not bugging you having him around? Alden said.

How many times are you going to ask that? Ive told you hes fine.

Now that Ive got him here, I realize hes more of a fifth roommate than I imagined. Hes obsessed with following people into the bathroomwhich is newand he sometimes sounds like hes fighting ghosts all by himself in here in the middle of the night. Thats not new, but I worry its more annoying to other people than it is to me.

Victors quieter than ninety percent of our neighbors. And you shouldnt have to lose your pet on top of everything else when you get selected. Hes fun to have around, but even if he wasnt

Youve gotten more sympathetic to my globie woes!

I was always sympathetic except for a couple of mistakes.

You were, Alden agreed. Youre pretty understanding about me bringing knights in through the window to eat leftovers with us, too.

I wouldnt say I understood that one. Lexi glanced toward the living room window like he thought a stray Artonan might be waiting to come in. By the wayyour friend over there

Im not sure if youre talking about Esh-erdi or Stuart, now, said Alden when Lexi trailed off. Or a human you associate with windows.

Your friend. Stuart. Do you two practice magic together?

Alden had been reaching for the shaker bottle he liked to carry on gym days. He froze with his arm stretched up toward the shelf. Huh?

I mean does he help you practice your skill? Lexi asked. Or does he tell you what talents might be good for you in the future? Ever since you said you wanted to volunteer for baby level chaos zone work, Ive kind of been hoping your friend knows what hes doingor worrying that he doesnt. Hes not a real summoner yet. He gave you those rings. Those arent the only protection you get before an enthusiastic Artonan kid puts you on a list to go be a human shield for his second cousin, are they?

Lexi was scowling and shrugging simultaneously.

Anesidoran Social Dynamic, he added, Ive never heard anyone try to pass off a chaos assignment as baby level. I realize you know more about that type of thing than me, butjust tell me you have plans and proper channels, and your friend is a solid person who wont do something like forget he signed you up for whatever it is a Rabbit does out there if you two drift apart in the future.

Of course hes talking about practicing my skill. Thank goodness I didnt jump into denials about wizard practice. Its way too early in the morning to scare a guy like that, Lexi.

Alden grabbed the shaker, the rest of what his roommate was saying registering as he set it down and scooped in some protein powder. He was wearing his armor rings right now. Hed take them off for class soon.

I know Lexi can be a worrier, but imagining that these will be all the protective gear I have after a flaky wizard unfriends meis actually not something I can criticize, considering how much time Ive spent coming up with doom scenarios in which heartless summoners just straight-up drop me into chaos with nothing but the clothes on my back.

Stuart had to talk me out of that. More than once. The only reason Im not still in that headspace is because of him.

Lexi, do you want to talk to Stuart? Hed like that. The next time he calls you could say hi!

Who said anything about that? Lexi protested. I was just checking on you!

Stuarts rock solid. Like stubborn stone. Were not going to have a falling out, but even if we did, hes not the kind of person whod ever forget a promise or a responsibility. Hed fight a more powerful wizard for me, and I know that for a fact. The memory of Stuart threatening to skewer Ro-den with the walking stick was still vivid and would remain so forever, he hoped.

Ill believe you.

Do. And he is the proper channels in this case. Or he will be. Hes not adding me to some list hell forget abouthell be on the list, too. Thanks for caring enough to check, though. And, yes, we do practice together when Im over there.

You do? Curiosity replaced some of Lexis awkwardness.

Alden popped the lid onto the shaker and carried it over to his duffel bag. Its not like he knows a ton of secret wizard hacks for my skill or anything. He has a different perspective and way more magical knowledge. But, mostly, practicing my Avowed abilities with him has been the same kind of stuff I could do with you guys. Only hes more likely to cast spells than throw a punch, and one time, he got me some disposable armor and this thing thats called a hazard mimic to try my shields and trip lines out on.

The wizard hacks Stuart did know were pretty difficult to explain without saying too much. The bolstering of Aldens authority when hed made the puddle shield and the recent insight into entrustment werent going to be helpful to Lexi in any way.

I can ask him for his thoughts on Mind Writhers if you want. Or you could ask him. Or if you wanted to ask an adult wizard instead, we could invite Hntyon Esh-erdi over for dinner agin, and Lind-otta this time, too.

Im not inviting Artonan military over for dinner to ask them for weapon advice! Lexi said. Youre joking right now, arent you?

Im not trying to force you, but I think its an option you should consider before they leave Earth. Esh-erdi really enjoyed it. Kon could come.

No dinner guests!

But if we did invite them, Im sure they could help you with

A knock on their apartment door interrupted him before he could make a serious case for hosting knights at their kitchen table.

Ill get it, said Lexi. Dont do or say anything weird.

Do you imagine the normality police are out there ready to arrest me for putting protein powder in a cup at four thirty in the morning? Its probably just

Lexi opened the door.

Good morning, my brother! Are you ready to whip our enemies?

Why is this apartment so much better than ours?

Its probably just our team, Alden concluded.

Kon was already slipping under Lexis outstretched arm, and Mehdi ducked after him. It was like the body language suggesting that they should stay out in the hallway was completely meaningless to them.

You have carpets and good furniture. Mehdi gasped. And a cat!

None of that came with the room, said Alden. You could have it, too, if you bring it in yourself.

He watched the Agility Brute closely to make sure he didnt do something that would scare the crap out of Vicor, but Mehdi just moved to look down the hall toward the bedrooms.

Didnt you see our place when you brought food for Matadero Thanksgiving? Lexi asked. It hasnt changed except for the cat.

You wouldnt even let me use your bathroom that day. Why does the polar bear wear sunglasses?

Your own toilet is upstairs.

Wheres Haoyu? Kon asked Alden. Jeffy and Ignacio are waiting down in the community kitchen. Were all walking over together, arent we?

I thought we would. I talked to a uni student about Ash last night. Got some advice. I dont know how much itll help but I thought Id share it with all of you.

Exciting. Haoyu?

He says hes up. But

Understood, said Kon. He needs my help. He strolled toward Haoyus room.

Alden and Lexi looked at each other.

Shouldnt we stop him? Alden asked. Kons got a worthy cause, but hes a trespasser. And Haoyus a liar, but hes our guy. Huntski Lodge loyalty?

You have a point.

Scuffling sounds came from Haoyus room. They were followed by Kons voice saying something about sunshine and Haoyus saying something about death and blankets.

We took too long to decide, said Alden.

******

They picked up Jeffy and Ignacio from the community kitchen, and the whole team was on their way to the MPE building within five minutes.

It was chilly, and Alden was glad hed thrown on a sweatshirt instead of something lighter. Haoyu was chewing tooth cleaning gum while they walked. Ignacio had a piece of toast with tomato on it that Alden wanted.

Jeffy reported that Vandys team had left Garden Hall twenty minutes earlier.

Well leave even earlier than them next time, Mehdi said. We cant let them get ahead of us.

They probably just wanted a warm-up since they know theyre running today, said Alden.

Doesnt matter. Kon turned around to walk backwards. You have insider knowledge to share with us and give us an edge.

I wouldnt go that far, but its more than nothing, at least. Last night, I talked to this guy named Rahul about Ashs personality, and he said

He told them all of it and finished up as they were passing the Wong building. A few people who he thought were also members of the Coursing class were way ahead of them on the walkway. They hadnt seen many other signs of life.

Mehdi was the first to speak when Alden was through. We cant let any of the other teams know these things. We have to use them to our advantage.

Use what to our advantage? Lexi asked. Instructor Ash is a six-year-old? Thats not something you can form a strategy around.

It might be, said Haoyu. Im willing to go with it.

It doesnt sound real. Im not saying Aldens lying or anything

What kind of lie would this be? Alden asked, amused by the suggestion. My nefarious plan to sabotage my own team by giving you wrong impressions about an instructor who we already seem to have wrong impressions about?

That is villainous of you, Alden, said Kon.

I try. Curse you, Lexi, for foiling my scheme.

Im just saying maybe your Wright friend gave bad advice. Ash likes to not be bored and see new magic? He likes fighting other faculty members and sugar?

He does like sugar, though, said Jeffy.

Maybe thats proof Aldens Wright is onto something, said Haoyu.

What are we supposed to do with this information? Bribe a grown man with pudding cups?

For a few seconds, none of them said anything. Then Kon cleared his throat. All right. Lexi thinks pudding cups are the way. I think something more exciting and dangerous would be better. Mocha brownies with just a hint of some illegal potion added. Lets vote on it. He raised his hand. All in favor of brownies?

They almost all laughed.

Lexi was too busy huffing. Ignacio was finishing the last bite of his toast with a frown.

What about if its right? he asked. I think he likes watching my knives. In Superlatives. But that could be <<Leading Knife isnt what most Meisters of Knives choose. I think Im better than most Meisters my age, but he has talked to me more than a couple of times about how my skill works. Details. What if hes not interested in how well Im doing but just what my talents are capable of?>> Not what Im trying. Only the magic.

Alden nodded at him. I know what you mean. You want people to care about your efforts to do well with your affixation more than they care about the novelty.

Yes. I practice. I think. Instructors should see. He sounded bothered by it.

And now Kon was frowning, too. What if I ruined our chances by describing what we planned to do too well in the submitted strategies?

Now you think youre being punished for doing homework correctly? said Lexi. This is why none of this really makes sense.

Of course if the instructor is a six-year-old he doesnt know it, his brother answered. Im sure he didnt think, Konstantin did this homework too thoroughly. Look at all this footage and supplemental information he included. He spoiled their run for me! He probably felt that deep down, but he thought something that sounded reasonable in his own head. Like that wed already practiced enough in the park and didnt really need the floor for those strategies. Or he just felt bored after reading everything I sent, and hes unable to tell the difference between things that bore him personally and things that truly suck.

Therefore, he runs from us after class because hes afraid well ask why, and the truth is, he doesnt have a good answer. Our strategies were just spinach to him. He didnt want to clean his plate.

Mehdi was nodding.

Youre buying in to something crazy, Lexi warned. None of that can be right.

He looked accusingly at Alden.

Maybe I shouldnt have called Ash a six-year-old and pushed our thoughts in exactly that direction, Alden said. But what if a couple of the strategies we present today take advantage of some of what Rahul told me? Just in case.

Youre wrong. But fine. It wont hurt to try.

******

******

Bad qualities aside, Instructor Ash did know how to design a cool-looking obstacle course.

After they suited up, they entered the gym and finally had the chance to see the whole thing.

Theres traffic! Haoyu said. No water, though, Jeffy.

The course filled the entire white floor, made extensive use of the gyms magic, and had what were basically first and second stories to take full advantage of the vertical space. They had a mere five minutes to wander through it with everyone else, getting a sense of what it would be like before the first teams had their turn.

It turned out the pincushion alley was the first obstacle, and it ran nearly the whole length of the floor.

So if we were on this side to start, all the spikes would shoot out from the barrier to our right, said Kon, reading the information on his interface as they jogged through the narrow corridor together. The barrier he meant was the invisible wall at the perimeter of the gym that protected spectators. Alden assumed it would remain invisible, so that the spikes looked like they were coming from nowhere.

The pins represent material attacks and spells that are blockable through mundane interference. But theyll be really fast, so Lexi and Writher will cut them down as they appear when were going through as a group. Alden will serve as a second line of defense, and then everyone will just try not to get stabbed if they both fail. The spikes will go all the way to this giant traffic tunnel on our left, so we cant just squeeze close to it to avoid them.

It wasnt obvious from pincushion alley that the tunnel contained traffic. From here, it was just the left side wall. An opaque green wall with an arched top that almost touched the sei-transparent white ceiling of this first level.

On the other side of the tunnel, the opposing team would have their own starting line and pincushion alley.

Can people attack over the top of the tunnel? Alden asked. Is it climbable, and is that gap between the arch and the ceiling wide enough for an enemy to get through?

Ill check, Ignacio and Jeffy said at the same time.

Jeffy threw himself at it, scrambling against the slick surface and the curvature before he opted to dig his hands in. They sank in to the knuckles when he put some force into it. Ignacio was already up, having jumped and planted a Meister knife into the green barrier magic. He squirmed over the top of the tunnel and looked toward the other side before sliding back down to join them.

Possible, he said succinctly.

Alden doubted theyd see many people attacking by going through that gap, but it was good to know. The alley ended, and a sharp turn to the left allowed them to enter the tunnel, which both teams would share with each other and with the traffictwo lanes of vaguely car and truck shaped blocks in different colors. They were still at the moment, but they would be moving when the runs started. The vehicles would appear and disappear from the ends of the tunnel.

This is a free combat area, Alden said, surprised as he saw the rules on his interface. Instead of waiting for one teammate to make it over the finish line and earn an attack, anyone could attack anyone in here.

Keep reading! a girl on another team shouted from the other end of the tunnel, where she and her teammates were poking at a car. Its such a trap.

If you initiate an attack that results in a traffic accident, your whole team starts over with a one-minute penalty, said Lexi.

So if you attack another player in here, you have to be good enough to take them out without any cars being damaged. Alden tried to imagine what it would feel like in here with the traffic in motion. And it looks like the penalty for accidentally wrecking a car, if you dont attack the other team, is a regular start over for the person who caused the wreck. Lets just not hurt the cars at all if we get to run.

We can land on them though, cant we? said Mehdi. Like the footage we saw in class.

I guess if the gym determines its not a wreck-inducing landing? said Alden. Its pretty tight in here. I think were mainly worried about not getting run over.

At the end of the tunnel, the lift that would take people up to the next floor was only big enough for two, so even teams running in a close pack would have to separate briefly. When Alden stepped onto the square panel, it fired up toward the next level, and he jumped off quickly to take a look at the next thing. It was a tangled climbing frame, a jungle gym made of metal and wooden poles jammed through chunks and blobs of the gym barrier magic. Those blobs would be randomized to be tough or fragile. Forcing a way through would be an option for some, but destroying a fragile chunk by shattering the poles attached to it would result in an injury penalty.

It was a lot of clambering around in uncomfortable positions to get through that, and then there was a wide, clear area that was going to turn into a place where vulnerable people got picked off as they tried to get up to the floating island.

Hello, my nemesis, said Alden, looking up at it.

Its higher than we practiced in the park, said Kon. Or does it just seem that way?

Its higher, said Alden. But theres more to grab onto than with the nonagon.

The obstacle was gym barrier magic of course, the same shade of green as the exterior of the traffic tunnel, which might indicate it would behave the same for climbing and hanging on purposes. It was shaped sort of like a mini island with two mountains and a bay.

And since this is the gym, Im willing to throw you guys way harder and trust your luck. Aldens interface was already providing him with information about the island. Ha! Really? To be fair, I might do the same thing if I were him.

What? Kon asked.

Alden accessed their team chat.

[Alden: The island is supposed to mimic the behavior of a high-rank Adjuster spell that changes the spatial trend of certain other spells. Like making spells that are normally set to a location want to move to a different location. Only its giving it a trend, not a new hard set, so the situation becomes a bit more mobile. He wrote it right here in the notes. Or the System did. Let me look and see if theres more about it online.]

I dont think you have to bother with that, said Lexi. Haoyu and Ignacio were beside him. Jeffy and Mehdi were still playing around on the jungle gym. It doesnt really change anything for how we handle it, does it?

But its very different than a standard gym obstacle thats not mimicking anything. Or one thats mimicking a fixed levitation spell or shaping. Its more interesting than those.

How? Lexi asked. He sounded genuinely curious about the answer.

Because its a spell I hadnt heard about until just now, and I want to learn to cast it.

I cant say that. Itd be so fun to use on Maxs traps, though. I wonder how fast it moves things? Would his traps pretty much snap to where I sent them? Or would they drift in that direction more slowly?

Probably degrades them somewhat?

[Alden: Its a spell Ash must be thinking about choosing for himself. Theres no point in setting the object to behave this way otherwise, is there? So he most likely cares about the island more than the rest of the course.]

Ash was an S-rank Adjuster who made terrain that only he could see. He could use it as a trap, like Max did his zones, but his terrain covered a much larger area and it was really more like terrain. Like an undetectable gravel covered slope or a swamp, just appearing out of nowhere in front of someone he was chasing. Alden assumed the spell the floating island was mimicking would allow Ash to move part or all of one of his landscapes without recasting.

At least. He probably has multiple uses for something like that.

Their course admiration time was up all too soon, and Alden trailed after the others to stand on the sidelines while the first two teams took their starting positions.

I do think as weight is added to it, the floating island will sink a little, he said, still reading descriptions of the spell online. If were all standing on it at once, or if members of other teams are, I might have to throw someone from there so that they can reach the monkey bars.

From the floating island, they gained access to a long stretch of ordinary monkey bars at the top of the gym. All they had to do was cross them to finish.

Since its mimicking that spell, I wonder what would happen if we tried to deal with the spell instead of trying to use the island correctly.

It might just break? Then wed have no way to reach the monkey bars.

Alden, youre not watching the first run. A truck just got hit by someone!

Alden looked away from his interface at Jeffys urging. He and his teammates were standing at the end of the gym that allowed them to see into the traffic tunnel. Ash wasnt far away.

The team that had injured the truck was being sent back to the start already, and Mehdi was moaning about how he was going to lose his mind watching other people run such a fun course so badly.

For once, I agree with him, said Lexi. Whats our best strategy from last nights chat? Ill go suggest it to Instructor Ash.

Theres rope in the object pile, said Haoyu. Say well use that if you want to be as logical as possible. Or say well build a ladder out of broken jungle gym. You know there will be ten thousand bent and broken pieces of that by the end. We wont even have to demolish it ourselves.

Lexi held up a hand. Ill deliver a logical plan logically. Rope. Illexpress or confidence.

He took a breath and headed toward their teacher.

He looks like a strong representative for us, Haoyu whispered. Tall. Sure. Barely angry.

Lexi was turning back to them within a minute.

More than barely angry now, said Haoyu. But his representation was good. You did good, Lexi!

He said it didnt sound like it was worth the floor, Lexi ground out.

Spinach, hissed Kon.

Ill try, said Ignacio. Maybe something with the cars? Ill go in several minutes to show we thought about it for a while.

When can I go? Alden asked.

Whenever you want, said Kon, if youve come up with something.

No, said Alden. I mean when can I go with

He switched to text.

[Alden: When can I try to trick him like hes six?]

[Haoyu: Yes! What trick?]

[Alden: I want to tell him I have the best idea ever for floating island, but then I want to refuse to give him all the details so that he has to let us on the floor if he wants to see what it looks like.]

He outlined the kind of idea he was thinking of quickly for them. They spent longer exchanging looks than reading what hed mental texted.

Kon grinned. I like it, but will it work?

Alden shrugged. How would any of us actually know without trying it? But we havent mentioned a single strategy like it, its not boring, and nobody else will do it.

[Alden: I was hoping that if the run fails, but weve shown him something he didnt think of himself, maybe we get to go again. Because hes curious to see what we do next.]

Okay, said Kon, very quietly. As team captain, I think we should present two more strategies that will definitely work even if theyre boring or they rely on extra equipment. One in five minutes. Another five minutes after that. And then if those failwe send you in. With that. Half an hour from now?

Alden nodded.

He spent the time watching runners, refining his plans for making it through the early obstacles, and thinking about how to learn what he needed to from the course.

When the whole team started glancing at him, he knew the half hour was up. Ash had walked to the other side of the floor to observe. Hed rejected ideas from Ignacio and Haoyu now, too.

Im going, Alden said. Wish me luck.

Im going to be so incrediblysomething, if this works, Lexi muttered.

Grateful? Alden suggested.

[Alden: Keep an eye on him. Watch his face for clues. We have to know what goes on in his mind.]

He was aware he was being a little dramatic, but waking up at the crack of dawn to twiddle his thumbs while other people used magic was only going to get harder as the term progressed.

When he reached Ash, he waited for Ramprobably Ramto finish requesting a run for his own team. The Brutes tone was several steps down from respectful, but Ash just looked like hed shut his hearing off a while ago.

I guess thats better than him looking annoyed, but wouldnt it be best for my cause if he were in a perky mood? Should I offer to let him play with Ro-dens enchanted ring? I never wear it anymore. Maybe hed cheer up.

Before he could convince himself that that was necessary, Ram was stalking past him, and Ash was either deeply interested in what the teams on the course were doingor pretending to be in hopes that Alden would go away.

This is awkward. But Stuart handled Ro-den! I have no excuse not to successfully handle this guy.

Instructor Ash? he said. Smiling had rarely felt more contrived. My teams come up with an idea thats not like any of our other ones. I think it might be really cool.

Ash glanced at him through half-closed lids. Your team presents so many ideas.

Oof. Dickhead.

Well, yeah! Alden said as merrily as he could. We cant give up until we surprise you. We might have done it this time.

What is it?

He wore most of his rings even during class, Alden noticed.

We can beat the floating island by throwing one person up there. And we wont have to use rope or climb anything to do it.

There. Thats it. Thats all he gets. Alden held his breath.

Was the instructor looking at the island a little harder? Or was that just because a boy was currently clinging to the edge of it by his fingertips?

How? Ash asked after the boy had fallen.

Its not hard to do, but explaining why I think it will work might take longer than an actual run. I only have to throw one person. No ropes.

You already said that.

I did. Sorry. Im just so pumped about it. No other team is even trying something similar. And its kind of dangerous and relies on the magic of the island reacting in a certain way. But it should be awesome when it works.

How vague can I get away with being? What else can I do?

I guess there is a chance the floating island could explode or something, Alden added.

What do you imagine your team could do to make that obstacle explode?

Nothing! said Alden. I hope.

They stared at each other.

Should I write down all the magical interactions that might happen on a sheet of paper and bring it back to read it to you?

The instructors lids lowered even further. How do you know what might happen?

I dont. But I could still write my thoughts down and share them. It would be like a risk assessment hypothesis I made up for you to give you the edges of the possibilities for our interesting method to make that island obstacle work for us.

Did you have a lot of caffeine before class?

What do you mean?

Fine, said Ash. If youre all so verypassionate about trying out whatever it is just run. Make sure you show it off during the run. Dont write anything extra for me to read.

Yes, sir. We wont waste your attention.

Alden walked away fast before any more questions could be asked or any fickle minds could change. His grin as he approached his teammates was very real.

Im horrified, said Lexi.

Get unhorrified. We go to battle against an island in the sky. And I promised it would be interesting. Thats a lot of pressure on us now that its happening.

******

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