Liam stepped closer to Teacher Simon as the last of the students trickled back from the backyard forest.
The test was done, but his mind was already on the next move.
He cleared his throat and said, "Teacher Simon.
I want the same red jewel that was used in the test."
Simon tilted his head, one eyebrow raised like he'd heard something weird.
He stared at Liam for a second.
Clearly thrown off by the request right after everything that had just happened.
Liam's thoughts spun fast. In his previous life.
The monster race had used that exact kind of jewel to track down the strongest human warriors and take them out.
But it had another side to it too, it could soak up mana and make whoever used it stronger.
He needed that edge, but right now his eyes drifted over to Beatrix standing a few feet away.
I didn't give her the rope back then, he thought.
The least I can do is make her stronger with this jewel.
She deserved that much after all the crap she'd been through.
