He wasn’t going to question it so long as they were able to pack all their supplies. Casey was even able to get some tarpaulin, along with matches and firewood in her pouch as well.

They were just about to leave the market when Casey grabbed Max’s arm and pulled him to the side out of the way. They ducked behind a merchant selling mana-imbued ceramics.

“What’s going on?” asked Max.

“Shh,” said Casey. “Look!”

Walking through Hawker’s Alley was Cyrus and his group of teenaged goons.

Crap. If Cyrus saw them there, he might be able to piece together more information on the mid-term exam, and the last thing either of them wanted to do was to help that conceited jerk.

They quickly shuffled their remaining supplies into their pouches and remained out of sight as Cyrus and his pals walked by.

Thankfully, they didn’t notice either Casey or Max. As soon as they were out of sight, they hurried away from the market in the opposite direction.

“Phew, that was close,” said Casey.

Max nodded his head in agreement. “Well, I guess that’s everything. See you at the exam in a few days?”

Casey smiled. “Sounds good. Let’s crush this stupid test!”

57

On the morning of the mid-term exams, all the currently enrolled students of the Climber Academy had to meet outside the courtyard and await further instructions.

The group of student climbers all huddled around the building, looking around nervously, wondering whether the exam had already begun and they hadn’t realized it yet.

“I hate how they always make us wait,” groaned Casey. “It’s like—tests are stressful and no fun already—why stretch the experience out, you know?”

Toto perched on her shoulder seemed to be mirroring its owner with a slumped over and dejected look on its face.

Max shrugged sympathetically in reply to Casey, while peering around the group of students. Had the test already begun? No. This wasn’t a survival test. They were just waiting. No reason to get stressed yet.

“GOOD MORNING,” said their instructor appearing at the front of the courtyard with a group of ten D-ranked climbers behind him.

The group of climbers all had silver pin badges attached to their chest.

“Behind me are your examiners along with myself,” said the instructor. “If you follow me, we’ll take you to the exam location.”

The students murmured and shuffled along as the instructor and the group of examiners led them to the climber’s guild building and through the back towards the entrance of the tower.

“Where do you think they’re taking us?” asked Casey, walking alongside Max. “You think they’ve cordoned off a specific area of the endless forest?”

Max shook his head. “I have no idea, but I’m starting to understand your complaints about all the waiting. The suspense is killing me.”