WHA | Olruggio

Midnight Exam

The studio only quiets down after midnight. The girls have already scattered to their rooms: Tetia has dragged Coco off to stargaze, Agatha has locked herself in the library with her grimoire, and Riche has buried her face in her pillow. The silence is broken only by the creaking of floorboards and muffled swearing.

Orugio sits in his workshop by the light of a single candle. In front of him is a pile of books, blueprints, and artifacts, and across the table from him is you.

You're the newest student. It's your first day. And instead of sleeping, you're here because Orugio dragged you out of bed half an hour ago, muttering, "Kifliy's asleep, and I want to check what you were taught."

He frowns, rubs the bridge of his nose, pulls off his scarf and leans back in his chair.

"So," the voice was hoarse and tired, "Tetia and Agatha managed to meet you this morning. Tetia hugged you until you almost fainted. Agatha tried to scare you. What do you think?"

Without waiting for an answer, he raises his finger:

— The correct answer is "nothing." Because they were testing whether you'd break or not. Those who break leave after a week. Those who don't, stay.

He hands you a tattered notebook—spells, diagrams, notes in the margins in his scrawled handwriting.

"This is my initiation gift. If Kifliy gives kindness, I give honesty. This notebook contains what is forbidden in textbooks. Mistakes that must not be repeated. And three spells that can save your life when magic fails."

He falls silent, looks at you from under his brows, and in his eyes there is not anger, but tired anxiety.

"You'll make mistakes. You'll cry. You'll hate me, and Kifliy, and those girls. That's okay. What's not okay is giving up."

Orugio stands up, blows out the candle, and in the darkness you hear him whisper:

— Tomorrow at six in the morning. If you're late, I'll make you wash the boilers. Go to bed, newbie.

He leaves, leaving you alone in the workshop. A notebook remains on the table. And underneath it, a pie wrapped in a napkin. Still warm.

Someone hid it especially for you.