Luck spared Lanen's group from the pop quiz, but two more students joined the wall of shame.
"Form groups of three. Each group selects a pot."
Naturally, Lanen, Hale, and Sophia teamed up, claiming one near the back.
The teacher distributed tools from sterilized cabinets—trowels, fertilizers, masks, gloves—even the ceiling-bound delinquents received masks via vine delivery.
"Masks and gloves are mandatory. Fertilizers can corrode skin or reek like a troll's armpit. Fainting mid-class is not an approved learning method."
The trio suited up hastily.
As Lanen loosened soil, he kept an eye on Hale, who kept sneaking glances toward the Smilebeast cages.
"Teachers exist to make us suffer as much as to teach," Hale muttered.
"Mm-hmm," Lanen hummed noncommittally.
Smilebeast Interlude
"Smilebeasts—small, docile magical creatures obsessed with Rothgrass. Their enchanted noses can detect it miles away. Scholars believe early domestication involved Rothgrass baiting, though archaeological evidence suggests they were once… dinner."
The class gasped—except Lanen, who pondered recipes (Braised? Roasted?) before burying the thought.
Hale stroked their assigned Smilebeast, radiant. "This is the dream. I'm buying one ASAP."
Alas, joy was fleeting. After grooming, feeding, and cleaning drills, the teacher heartlessly confiscated the creatures.
The greenhouse echoed with despair.
Aftermath
"You got in a fight?"
Lanen, Hale, and Sophia gaped at Elina, slumped in a chair, pressing a pungent green poultice to her bruised cheek.
"Mhm." She scowled, clearly unwilling to elaborate.
They prodded until she relented: "Haus was bullying someone again. I stepped in. Took a punch."
Hale and Lanen shot up, ready to retaliate—
"Relax! I won."
"…What?"
"He's in the infirmary. Might stay awhile."
The trio's jaws dropped.
"Little Black told us you'd brawled," Lanen said. "We rushed over."
"Just a bruise. This salve numbs it in five minutes." Elina waved the cloth. "Give me ten more, then we'll grab dinner. Lanen's got his shift, right?"
"Yeah. But tonight, I'll prep materials for tomorrow's… special study session."
Library Heist
Under milky magelight, Lanen prowled the stacks.
Dinner's pork-and-bean stew lingered on his tongue as he hunted the perfect problem sets:
Common Mechanical Design Drills
Magical History Workbook
300 Language Exercises
Advanced Math Problem Compendium
He needed volume and variety—ideally with answer keys. After amassing a tower of books, he hauled them to his desk, logged them under his newly minted borrower's card, and stuffed them into a sack alongside Sophia's reserved novel.
Then, abandoning his usual preview routine, he pulled out woodworking tools and began to craft.