Loid frowned as he stared at the spectacle before him.
"What is going on?" He asked after a long moment of silence as he continued to stare at his son who was flat face down like a pancake on the couch with his arms splayed at his sides. Loid had just come home from work to find his eldest child like this.
"Big brother's throwing a tantrum." Anya explained as father and daughter watched Honey Ninja leap onto the couch and perch herself on Eric's back.
"That's a tantrum?" Loid asked incredulously.
"This is Eric." Anya stated with a shrug.
"Hm. Fair point."
Yor appeared with a cup of Eric's favorite tea and set it on the coffee table. "Eric, why not tell us what has you so upset. We can help you."
Eric didn't respond vocally with his face still buried in the cushions, but his right hand fell from his side to open the book bag that laid on the ground. He reached inside and pulled a couple pieces of paper and held them in the air.
Yor took the papers scanned it, blinking a couple times.
"I don't get it." Yor said as she passed the papers to Loid who had the same reaction when he saw what was written.
"That's a very bad grade." Anya said as she watched their parents.
"It's 85%." Loid deadpanned, "How is this a bad grade?"
"How should I know? I'm 4 1/2." Anya stated before she turned to Eric and marched over to him. "You still passed big brother. It's not the end of the world. Right Papa?"
"She's right Eric, there's no need to get upset over this." Loid agreed with his daughter as he looked at his son's test scores. 'This is the furthest from the end of the world honestly.'
"85...is the lowest I've got in Eden." Eric's voice muffled in the cushion as Honey Ninja curled into his back. "It was supposed to be 90 and above."
"That's what upsets you?" Yor asked as Anya patted Eric's head.
Eric turned his head to stare at the coffee table with a moping expression. "It's because I missed two days of school that my results plummeted."
"So, it's 5% lower than what you normally get. You're still smart." Loid stated to his son who struggled to sit up.
"Dad, my midterms are in two weeks. That score is a bad sign. A really bad sign." Eric emphasized as he locked eyes with his father. "The exams are twice as hard than those tests you're holding. Do the math, if I got an 85 on an average test, how low do you think the results of my exams will be?" He asked in mild exasperation as he stressed over the results.
"Son, you're overreacting." Loid bluntly said as he glanced at the papers.
Eric grumbled quietly with a frown.
Anya patted her brother on the back, "Papa's right. You'll still make it."
Loid placed the test results down as Eric took the teacup and blew on it before taking a sip. His face still somber and filled with worry as he stared off into space.
Yor then had an idea, "You know, the other day I asked Yuri if he was interested in tutoring Eric sometime. He seemed pretty open to the idea."
"Would he really?" Eric asked as he looked up at his mother.
Yor nodded, "Of course, if you're worried about your grades slipping, I can give him a call."
"I can finally meet my Unkie." Anya said excitedly.
Eric turned to his father, "Would it be alright if he came over tomorrow?" He asked since it will be a weekend.
Loid contemplated the pros and cons. Yuri is an intelligent young man and having an extra tutor will double the chances of Eric's scores and put their minds at ease. On the other hand, he needs to be extra careful with the SSS police within their home. But there's this saying that is most beneficial to any spy, 'keep your friends close, enemies even closer.'
"I don't see why not." Loid shrugged, "This would also give us the chance to get to know your uncle even more."
"Yay, I get to meet Unkie!" Anya threw her hands up in the air.
The next day early afternoon, the door slammed open.
"Hey, I'm here! Little bro to the rescue!" Yuri cheerfully announced as he entered the Forger residence.
The Forger clan stood in order, Yor, Eric, Loid, Anya, Bond and Honey Ninja.
"Thank you so much for coming." Yor said, wearing her trademark red sweater.
"Long time no see Yuri." Loid greeted as his right hand stayed Eric's shoulder.
Yuri frowned upon seeing Loid. 'Hmph, why's he here? He can work on the weekends too.'
Anya held the fabric of her father's pants as she stood between him and Bond.
'Oh yeah, how could I forget how much this guy hates our father's guts?' Eric thought to himself then glanced at Anya. 'We'll play checkers after he goes home.'
Anya turned to her brother and smiled before looking up at their uncle.
"Yuri, allow me to introduce the youngest and final member of the family, Anya Forger." Yor introduced her younger brother to her daughter.
Yuri looked down at his sister's adopted daughter. 'So that's his daughter, huh? She looks nothing like her father and brother. Except for the eyes, the siblings have the same eye color.'
Anya greeted her uncle, "I am Papa's only daughter, Anya. Much pleased to meet you." 'Secret police-osa-force are scary.'
Yuri stared at Anya for a long time, until Anya had a look of discomfort and looked away.
"I think I got a case of heartburn. Hup." Anya walked away to lay down after receiving a high dosage of Yuri's thoughts.
Apparently, Yuri's mind was filled with Yor. So much so that it gave Anya heartburn.
Eric watched his sister walk away. 'Okay, maybe I don't wanna know what's in his head.'
The Forgers, plus Yuri, sat around the coffee table where Yor poured tea for everyone. The Briar siblings sat on the couch while Loid sat across from them on the red ottoman with Anya in her little pink chair to her father's right and Eric to the left in the black chair.
From Eric's vantage point, he can easily observe his father and uncle's interaction and pick up subtle hints on whether or not Yuri is aware of Loid's identity. While Eric listened to the two men carry a cordial conversation regarding the Minister's visit, he noticed how excited Anya looked as she picked up on both men's thoughts.
'I'm gonna go off on a limb here and say Uncle Yuri has no clue about Dad being Twilight.' Eric thought to himself, taking Anya's 'subtle' hint.
"Ahem, Uncle Yuri, thank you for coming by on such short notice. Also, I apologize if this request has inconvenienced you." Eric said setting his cup down as he spoke in a polite and cordial tone.
Yuri smiled at the boy, "Hey, it's no problem if it came from Sis' here. She also told me how your grades are beginning to slip. If you don't mind, may I have a look?"
Eric quickly pulled out the quiz papers and handed them to Yuri. When Yuri saw the score, his facial expression became exactly like his sister's. "Eh, is he serious?"
"It's 5% lower than what he usually gets. Eric is worried about it being a bad sign due to midterms coming up." Loid explained as he glanced at Eric who looked ashamed of his scores. "If you can help him with his studies, it may put his mind at ease."
'Mine too!' Anya added in her head considering how Eric's worrisome thoughts are stressing her out as well.
"That's right, I am ready to begin my lesson sir." Eric said with his back straight.
"Rather than be in anyone's way, perhaps I should go out shopping." Loid announced as he stood up from his seat and walked away with a smile while adding to himself, 'Gives me time to take another mission.'
Anya watched her father walk away with an expression similar to being forbidden from watching her favorite shows. 'What about Papa vs. Unkie?!'
Thus, Yuri and Eric went down to studying with Yor observing and Anya drawing with her crayons.
Yuri checked Eric's work with a look of shock. "You got all of them right." 'And these are some hard questions I handed him.'
"Are you sure? Did I miss anything important?" Eric asked, looking slightly anxious.
Yuri flipped through the pages, checking for even the smallest detail. "No, you're all good here on Biology. Let's move on to Classical Languages, shall we?"
Eric nodded, "Yes sir."
Uncle and nephew spent the next thirty minutes going over the next subject. Somewhere along the way, Anya started snoring on her drawing with a snot bubble on her face.
"Oh, Anya." Eric sighed at his sister. He didn't mind her showing him support by being here for study time, but he wished she wouldn't fall asleep on top of the table. It's bad for her neck and posture.
"I got her." Yor said as she gently picked up Anya and carried her to the little girl's bedroom for her afternoon nap.
Eric watched his mother and sister leave with a soft look in his eyes. "She's really good with Anya."
"Your sister's a hyperactive chihuahua." Yuri noted, recalling how the smaller sibling kept bouncing in her seat.
Eric breathed out a laugh, "Won't argue there. But she's a sweetheart. She deserves a good life." He added as he continued his studies.
"You really love her that much." Yuri stated as he watched Eric's concentrated look.
"I do." Eric sighed through his nose, "It's why I need to work extra hard for these midterms. If I can make it to the top twenty in at least one of them, I'll get my second Stella Star. I'll be one step closer to becoming an Imperial Scholar and go to the best medical schools in the country. I'll make a good living, so Anya won't have to struggle as hard. I'll also take care of my parents and keep them in good health for as long as I can." His eyelids lowered slightly, "They work so hard to keep us safe and take care of us. The least I can do is do the same for them."
Yuri lowered his notebook and pencil then rested his elbows on his knees. "Is that why you freaked out over an 85?"
Eric sighed through his nose and nodded, "Yeah. It sounds stupid to have a meltdown over a grade. The kids at that school look down on me and Anya because we're not like them. I hate how helpless I am to stop them from whispering behind our backs. If I can score the highest on this exam, get that Star, it would be a win for us. It would prove them wrong."
Yuri placed a firm hand on Eric's shoulder, making the boy look up at his uncle.
"And you will. Sis' and I were never rich growing up, but we got by just fine. She's the reason why I'm here today, not just as your tutor, but as a man." Yuri said in a firm and encouraging tone, "Once you get that Stella Star, you give me a call alright?"
Eric's face mimicked his uncle's then nodded, "Yeah." He faced his work again with more determination and drive, "Let's do this."
Uncle and nephew resumed their study session with vigor until they collapsed in exhaustion when they finished by midafternoon.
"I think...my brain is fried." Eric said from his spot on the ground, staring up at the ceiling as steam literally came off his head.
"Good, it means I did my job right." Yuri responded, he was dead tired, but if the kid gets a Stella, it'll totally be worth it.
Anya appeared between them and raised both of their limp hands in the air. "Victory!" Anya declared as Loid entered the apartment with a bag full of groceries.
Loid blinked at the sight of his son and brother-in-law on the ground. "Oh, are you finished?"
"Yeah, welcome home." Eric said, not moving from his spot as Anya used his arm to wave at their father.
Yuri got up and gathered his things. "Well, my work here is done. He's all yours now Loidy." Yuri said as he passed the man and walked out of the open doorway then shut it.
Eric finally found the strength to stand up and approach his father with Anya in tow. Yor stared at the door with a tray of her special baked cookies.
"Yuri seems quite happy." She glanced down at her tray, "And I made way too many cookies for us."
Father, son and daughter simultaneously tensed up at the mention of her creations.
Then, by a miracle, Yuri slammed the door open and zipped over to his sister and devoured ALL the cookies and left the apartment.
"SO GOOD! BLEARGHUE!"
Eric shivered and held his stomach at the very unpleasant sound of vomiting. 'He is proof that humanity can survive anything.'
"Yep." Anya said in agreement before the family stood there for a moment before Yor returned to the kitchen to make more cookies.
"Let's play checkers." Anya pulled Eric to her bedroom with the cat and dog trailing after them.
Loid went over to the coffee table and picked up the workbook and flipped it open. He smiled, his confidence in his son never ceased even when the boy was under the assumption of failing.
In Anya's room, the two siblings sat on the carpeted floor with their respective pets beside them. Music came from the radio. The boardgame lay between them as they played while debriefing each other.
'So, Uncle Yuri is unaware of Dad's identity.' Eric thought to Anya while using his telekinesis to move a black checker piece forward. He sat with his legs crossed beneath him and his fingers woven together between his legs as though meditating.
Anya shook her head then moved her white piece. With their father just beyond that wall, they can't take any chances even with the music on.
'What about Mom? Does he know?' His piece became trapped between his sister's.
Anya shook her head, her piece hopped over his before taking it for herself.
'Does Mom know about Uncle Yuri?' Eric's floated up and flew over one of hers before he added it to his pile.
Anya shook her head again.
"Hm." 'The Briar siblings are unaware of each other's true profession. Mom took care of him all her life. Yuri was still a child when they lost their parents. Mom became an assassin as a means to provide for him. But she never told him, and Yuri never suspected anything. And vice-versa.'
Anya nodded, making Eric sigh. 'This complicates things. Yuri Briar, SSS Officer, one who hunts spies and traitors of Ostania. He's Twilight's enemy, and a threat to Operation: Strix. Crossing him off would be easy, but he's our mother's brother.'
At Anya's wide eyes, Eric raised a hand to calm her down, 'Relax, it was just a passing thought.'
Eric lowered his hand and began to reflect on this new piece of information. 'Yuri's secret is the only one Dad knows about. This can work in our favor.'
Anya tilted her head in question.
'While Dad focuses on Uncle Yuri, he won't notice our secret.' It will serve as another distraction for Twilight and WISE.
"You will pass the big test. I know you will." Anya stated out loud.
Eric smiled lightly, "I sincerely hope so. It would be an insult to Uncle if I fail."
Anya won another black piece from her brother. "New moon that day." She reminded him as she held up the dark checker as though it was the new moon itself.
Eric frowned and nodded, 'Yes, I'm worried too. But don't worry. Mom will pick you up at your school. Since you're not a full-timer yet, you don't have to take the exams. You'll be safe with her.'
Anya nodded as the siblings enjoyed their game.
Two weeks later, the midterm exams arrived.
Eric stepped off the bus with a look of determination on his face. This is the day he waited and dreaded for. Gone are his powers, he is at his most vulnerable state, but he cannot look weak. He can't lose at these exams.
Eric felt a chill go down his spine. Someone's watching him. Someone bad. He slowly glanced behind him to see if someone outside the school was tailing him. His green eyes caught sight of a suspicious looking person glued to the side of one of the buildings across the street. He had dark shaggy hair that reached his neck with a stubble on his chin. He wore a straw hat with a black ribbon on his head and was dressed in a black jacket and pants.
Eric clenched his jaw and tensed up, how he wishes he can call upon his power. 'Did the scientists send him? Of course they did, they are the only ones who know what today means for me and Anya.'
Eric turned away from the entrance and speed walked into the school grounds. He entered the office building and requested one of the staff members if he could make a quick phone call.
Holding the speaker to his ear, he tapped his foot nervously until the call went through.
"Hello, Forger Residence."
Eric let out a shuddering sigh of relief when he heard his father's voice.
"Hi, Dad, it's me."
"Eric, is everything okay? Did you forget something at home?"
"No, I'm alright...I hope so at least. I am still nervous about the exams." Eric spoke honestly to his father.
"I understand. Just know that no matter what happens, you did your best, that's all that matters."
Eric smiled, "Thanks Dad. Um, before I hang up, there's something I need to tell you. Just don't call me crazy, okay?" The young boy asked as he glanced out the window, searching for that suspicious character.
"What's wrong?"
"There was this strange looking man across the street from the school entrance watching the kids. Honestly, I felt a little scared... I'm still scared. I don't know what to do now." Eric said, feeling more vulnerable now more than ever. He hates the new moon so much, he can't stand feeling helpless and weak.
"What did he look like?" A deadly tone entered Loid's tone.
"Um, dark hair, stubble on the chin, dark clothes, and a straw hat with a black ribbon around it. I didn't get a good look at his eyes though. I'm sorry."
"It's okay son, it's enough for me. Hang up the call and get back to class, your exam will start soon."
Eric smiled, "Thanks Dad, I'll try not to let you down. Oh, and one more thing, be careful at work today." He hung up the phone and gave it back to the receptionist.
Though Eric still felt afraid of the stalker outside the school, he knew he can trust his father to keep him safe the best way he can. As Twilight.
Loid put the phone back in its receiver as a deathly look overtook his face. Someone's hunting his son. A threat to his children, is a direct threat to world peace. With clenched fists, he marched away to get his gear.
Eric sat among the many students the way he did at the entrance exam. It all feels so nostalgic, being surrounded by hopeful applicants who struggled to find the answers. While he, a boy of six, was and is still carrying a very important mission to help his father. After two weeks of intense studying, Eric feels confident enough to pass midterms. However, that strange man outside their school made him feel extremely uneasy. Right now, he's more worried about someone spying on Anya, waiting for the right moment to snatch her.
"You nervous?" Becky asked, sitting right next to him.
Eric swallowed his saliva, "A little." He sighed, "To be honest, I'm really scared about today."
Becky took his hand in hers, making the boy turn to her in question. She gave him a kind and reassuring smile. "You'll be fine. We got this together."
Though the fear never left Eric, he gave a smile that melted Becky's heart. "In case anything happens today, thank you for being my friend." He said as he squeezed her hand back.
"We're taking an exam, not going to war." Becky said as she patted his hand to comfort him. Honestly, her Eric can be so silly sometimes.
'Feels like one though.' Eric gave a discomforted look as he stared down at the exam paper that was currently face-down.
The bell rang, signaling the beginning of class. Everyone sat straight at attention as Professor Henderson stood in front of the entire First Year student body.
"Boys and girls, we will now begin your first-year midterm exams." Their teacher announced, "I wish you all the best of luck and be elegant in your endeavors."
'Now or never.' Eric took a deep breath, steeling himself as he forced that fear back in a box.
"And... begin!"
Everyone flipped over their papers and began their exams.
Eric immediately went into study-mode, eyes glued on the paper as he answered every question and solved every problem he came across. His mind and body completely focused on the test.
Eric groaned as he trudged out of the room, rubbing his neck and shoulders. After four and a half hours, the midterm exams are finally over.
"Stiff." Eric grunted as he straightened his elbow. How did he not realize how stuck his arm was while writing in that position?
"I feel like my soul is drained." Becky whined, looking mentally and physically exhausted after four hours of testing.
"Check my pulse, I think I'm dead." Eric said as he touched the veins on his wrist but felt numb in his fingertips.
"I'm glad it's over." Becky sighed in relief.
"It's not over until we see the results. Which won't be until next week." Eric stated as he clenched and unclenched his hand repeatedly to get feeling back.
Eric was so focused on his discomfort; he didn't notice what was happening behind him as an incompetent spy snuck between the buildings while being followed by an expert spy in disguise.
Eric and Becky waited at the entrance for the Blackbell limousine to pull up.
"You sure you don't want us to drive you back home?" Becky offered since the bus won't be around for another two hours.
"No, I think I'll hang out at the library for a bit." Eric responded as he politely turned her down.
"More studying? We just finished the exams." Becky exclaimed in exasperation.
"More like find a book and read for fun." Eric said with a light smile on his normally stoic face. One of the perks about the new moon, he can freely express his emotions without fear of blowing up a building.
"So, I guess I should come back a little later then?"
Eric and Becky turned in surprise to see Loid Forger walking towards them with an easy smile.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" Eric asked in surprise, his father never picks him up from school.
"I got off work a little early today and decided to come get you. Considering today is a half-day for the exams, I figured, why not?" Loid said as he ruffled his son's hair.
Eric smiled in relief upon seeing his father. He then turned to his best friend, "Becky, you remember my father?"
Becky blushed at the sight of father and son, there's no doubt in her mind that Eric will look just as handsome as the adult in front of her. "Yes, it's good to see you again Dr. Forger."
Loid tilted his hat up slightly, "You as well Ms. Blackbell. Thank you for watching over Eric for me."
Becky smiled, "It's been my pleasure."
The sound of a horn honking got their attention. "There's my ride. I'll see you next week Eric. It's nice meeting you again Dr. Forger." Becky jogged over to her family car and entered the backseat before they pulled away.
Father and son watched the vehicle disappear down the street.
"Let's be off then." Loid said as he held his hand out to his son.
"Sure." Eric said as his smaller hand slipped in-between the man's fingers before they walked away from the school.
"Rough day?" Loid asked as he noted how tired Eric looks.
Eric groaned, "My neck hurts, my fingers hurt, and I kept forgetting to blink." He released a long sigh, "Hard part's over. Now I have to worry about the finals."
"Which won't be in four months. You've got plenty of time." Loid assured him even though his mission relies on the boy being a straight A student.
"What about you? Was this day bad on you as well?" Eric had to ask since he can't help but worry about that stranger from this morning.
Loid sighed, "Well, to tell you the truth, I skipped work today to confront that man you told me about."
Eric raised an eyebrow, "You did? What did he want?"
Loid released an exasperated laugh, "Apparently the guy had some kind of mental illness and believed himself to be the top spy of the nation. He thought he could infiltrate the school, but luckily, I got to him just in time before he did any damage." Loid technically wasn't lying, most of it is true, though he did have to omit the part where the delusional fool who called himself Daybreak had already snuck in and tried to change the answers on the Desmond brothers' exams. Turns out, his son was never the target, just someone who held a grudge against the Desmond family and hired someone to sabotage the test scores.
Eric sighed in relief, "Thank goodness. Um, what happened to the guy?"
"I sent him on his merry way to the hospital." Loid lied; Daybreak merely left the vault, not even bothering to check if his mission succeeded. What a moron.
"In a body cast or a straitjacket?"
Loid chuckled, "None, I just referred him to a colleague of mine, and he left. I already got a call telling me he arrived." In other words, he had spies watch the idiot while he went to pick his son up.
"That's good. I hope." Eric face is filled with relief, "Thanks for taking care of that."
"It was nothing. Though you could've informed school security instead of calling me." Loid stated, since this is the first time Eric ever had to use the school phone to contact him.
"Why when you're the first one I think about when I feel I'm in danger." Eric stated, looking up at his father.
Loid was surprised by how easy his son said that. The boy basically told him he's the only person he trusts to protect him. His oldest child, so reserved, mature and tries so hard to be independent, learned to rely on his father to protect him. Today pretty much proved the lengths Loid went to assure his son's well-being and safety.
"Well, if something like this does happen again, find one of the teachers." Loid advised the boy.
"Okay, inform the teachers first, then call you." Eric nodded as Loid sighed. It was as close as he's going to get.
"When we get home, I'll make your favorite pasta. You've earned it."
"Thank you." Eric perked up at the mention of pasta.
The day after the exams became a weekend where the Forgers went to the park Anya and Loid visited last time. With the new moon gone until next month, Anya and Eric got their powers back. The little mind reader asked her father what he did yesterday, and while Loid told her the same well fabricated lie as he did with Eric, his mind remembered every embarrassing detail regarding that sad excuse for a spy. Poor Anya had to keep herself from laughing until they made it to the park where she pulled her brother to the tunnels of the playground.
"What? You mean to tell me I worried over nothing?" Eric hisses quietly while crouched inside the plastic tunnels. Anya just informed him about Daybreak and what he attempted to do after the exams.
"It wasn't for nothing. Bondman stopped the dumb bad guy from stealing the clues to the mission." Anya shook her head as she stared at the previously stressed boy.
Eric facepalmed himself and dragged his hand across his face, "I got worked up over a buffoon." He groaned after he quickly pieced together the code Anya spoke in. 'Bondman' as Twilight, 'dumb guy' as Daybreak, and 'clues' to test scores. It frightens him how well he can understand his spy-aspiring sister.
"Well Bondman still saved the day." Anya stated as she exited the tunnels and made a bee line towards the swirling slides.
Eric sighed as he followed her out and watched his sister squeal on her way down the slide. 'I don't know what's worse, that the moron got past security to change a kid's answers, or that I was dumb enough to think that guy was working for the scientists.' He shook his head as he held his hand out to Anya and pointed to the swings.
Anya followed her brother and frowned upon picking up on his thoughts. She too is worried about being found by those people as well, especially during the moonless nights.
Eric picked her up and helped her onto one end of the teeter totter swing before mounting onto the other side. The siblings went back and forth, kicking their legs in motion while Eric used his power to help them along.
Eric began a conversation, "What do you think will happen on next week's episode of Spy Wars?" 'While we're on the subject, did Daybreak tell Twilight who hired him?'
Anya answered, "They didn't say."
Eric sighed as they kept going back and forth, "Well, whatever happens next, hopefully Bondman's allies don't get caught in the crossfire." 'Whoever the Desmonds pissed off will surely make a comeback and finish the job that imbecile they hired couldn't accomplish. To change a kid's answers is pretty low.'
"I'm sure nothing bad will happen." Anya assured her brother as the wind blew through her hair as they swung, "And don't worry about the test scores, I know you'll win a Stella Star."
"Yeah, hopefully." Eric responded in his usual deadpanned voice.
"No, you are getting it." Anya asserted and winked at Eric.
Eric was silent for a moment then realized, "Oh really?" 'Wait, did Dad take a look at my answers too?'
Anya nodded in confirmation, "Really."
Eric laughed under his breath as brother and sister went back and forth.
Yor and Loid observed their children playing.
"They are such good friends." Yor smiled and silently gushed at the heartwarming sight.
Loid couldn't help but agree with his wife, "They certainly are. Though it's hard to tell what their talking about."
Five days after the midterms exams, the results were finally posted in the courtyard.
Eric stood between his sister and Becky, his eyes were closed as he took a deep breath and looked up at the results.
Damian, Ewen and Emile stood together anxiously as they scanned the long list of names. "Lord Damian's rank is..." Ewen muttered until he found it, "There it is 11th overall! You got 94 in History and placed second in our grade!"
"You got a Stella! Brilliant Lord Damian!" Emile praised their leader.
Damian stared at the results in shock before a smile broke out over his face. One Stella Star, this will make his father proud of him. His eyes scanned the results further down until he found a name in the third-place mark. A grin crawled onto his face as he turned to his rival, "Well will you look at that Forger, you're 22nd rank behind me." He smugly mocked Eric, feeling superior after months of being beaten by him.
Eric's green eyes never left the board. "You got your first Stella. Congratulations." He said, not even phased or bothered by Damian's boast. "I admit, History is not my best subject, but I do enjoy it. Math was quite difficult for me." Eric stated when he saw himself in 25th place in Math.
Becky was a bit disappointed to be rank 46, but then her eyes widened when she sees the top scores on Classical Languages. "Eric, look up there." Becky pointed, making Eric and Anya follow her finger. Unfortunately, Damian and his lackeys followed her line of sight, and their stomachs dropped.
"WHAT? FIRST PLACE IN CLASSICAL LANGUAGE, ERIC FORGER?!" Damian screamed in disbelief and anger.
"Then...that means..." Emile could hardly speak.
"Forger got a second Stella." Ewen finished, shaking from head to toe.
Eric let out a breath of relief as he placed a hand over his chest, "So it would seem."
"Um, big brother," Anya tugged on his sleeve as she pointed at Biology, smiling up at him as he and the others followed her finger.
Eric's eyes widened, "Rank 5th in Biology." He whispered upon seeing his name right next to that number which can only mean-
"You're in the first-place group. You got another Stella." Anya stated as she smiled at her brother's shocked expression.
"TWO STELLA STARS? ARE YOU JOKING!" Damian exclaimed in outrage before he turned back to the board, "I gotta be up there too!" He said as he frantically searched for his name in the first or second lines, but it was only in History he placed second.
Eric stared up at the board completely frozen and unblinking as he felt his heart kick into overtime.
"Congratulations Eric, you've got three Stars in total!" Becky exclaimed to the petrified Eric.
Damian was red in the face with anger when he couldn't find his name anywhere else for an additional Stella. "There's gotta be a mistake, there's no way someone like you could get that many Stars in one sitting." Damian accused his rival who hardly reacted to his exclamation. This served to anger him even more. "Hey, Forger, are you listening to me?"
Eric stood still for a moment then tilted backwards as though in slow motion.
THUD!
"Gyah, what just happened?!" Becky exclaimed in fright when Eric suddenly fell onto the ground.
Anya knelt beside him and checked his breathing. "He fainted."
"Huh?" Becky and Damian said at the same time.
Professor Henderson, who was silently observing his students from a distance stepped forth and knelt beside the boy. "Hm, I suppose getting two Stella Stars overwhelmed him with so much joy and relief that he fell asleep." He stated as he checked Eric's forehead, noting how normal it felt. "That is to be expected, he worked tirelessly and with elegance." He then smiled at the unconscious lad, "Well done, Eric Forger."
Hello all, after a three-month absence, I finally got this out there. Initially, I wanted to split this chapter in two. But since I kept you all waiting since New Years, I definitely owed you guys.
I'm sorry if some of you were hoping to see Eric confront Daybreak, but the new moon disables his gift and he's not on par with Twilight and Yor when it comes to combat. Remember, he's still a kid.
I know some of you expected Eric to get a lot of Stella Stars from this exam for being a genius. But he's not perfect. However, I made sure he came first in Classical Language since it's what he and Anya naturally excel at. Biology is his second-best subject considering his desire to become a doctor and how he spent the first few years in a lab.
Next one will feature a certain gloomy character. Though honestly, that kid looks like Frankenstein.
Anyway, thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoyed it.