Chapter 22
Chapter 22: Charity... for 100,000 Credits
After leaving the Alchemy Club, Vee stretched his arms.
"One more stop."
"The Endurance Hall."
Unlike the clubs, the Endurance Hall was packed with students from every year.
Some were running on enchanted tracks.
Others were lifting massive stone weights.
A few had collapsed on the floor, completely exhausted.
At the center stood a towering black pillar covered in glowing runes.
Above it floated a large scoreboard.
ENDURANCE RECORDS
Students crowded around it.
Vee looked up.
"So this is where everyone comes to suffer voluntarily."
A nearby senior overheard him.
"You'll be saying something different after five minutes."
"We'll see."
---
An instructor with a thick beard approached him.
"First-year?"
"Yes."
"Name?"
"Vee Ashford."
The instructor's eyebrows rose.
"The Apex?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
The instructor chuckled.
"The endurance trial is simple."
"Touch the pillar."
"It will create a pressure field."
"Stay standing as long as possible."
"The longer you last..."
"The higher your score."
Vee nodded.
"Sounds easy."
The instructor smiled knowingly.
"They all say that."
---
Vee placed his hand on the pillar.
The runes lit up.
BOOM!
An invisible force crashed onto his shoulders.
His knees bent slightly.
"...Heavy."
The pressure increased.
10%.
20%.
30%.
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
The spectators watched quietly.
"Not bad."
"He adapted quickly."
The pressure climbed.
50%.
60%.
70%.
Vee remembered Uncle Rowan's training.
"Control your breathing."
"Don't fight the pressure..."
"Move with it."
He steadied himself.
The pressure continued rising.
80%.
90%.
A few students gasped.
"No first-year has ever reached this point."
The pillar glowed brighter.
100%!
Cracks spread across the stone floor beneath Vee's feet.
Yet...
He remained standing.
The instructor's eyes widened.
"He... passed the maximum?"
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOM!
The pillar flashed brilliantly.
A loud chime echoed through the hall.
The scoreboard changed.
NEW RECORD!
VEE ASHFORD
The hall erupted.
"He broke it!"
"That's the Academy record for first-years!"
"Unbelievable!"
The instructor walked over, still stunned.
"Congratulations."
"You've broken the previous record."
Vee stretched his sore shoulders.
"...Does this mean I can sit down now?"
The instructor laughed.
"Yes."
"And..."
"There is a reward."
Vee blinked.
"A reward?"
"Anyone who sets a new Endurance Hall record receives a special prize."
Vee smiled politely.
"Oh."
He shook his head.
"Then I'll pass."
The instructor looked confused.
"...Pass?"
"I'm the Apex."
Vee folded his arms dramatically.
"It's my duty to inspire everyone."
"I'm basically doing community service."
"So you can keep the reward."
The instructor blinked.
"So... you don't want it?"
"No."
Several students looked impressed.
"That's noble."
"What a guy."
The instructor smiled.
"Very well."
"The reward is only..."
"...100,000 Academy Credits every month while your record stands."
Silence.
Vee slowly turned back around.
"...Come again?"
"One hundred thousand credits."
"...Every month."
The hall became quiet.
Vee looked at the instructor.
Then at the scoreboard.
Then back at the instructor.
He cleared his throat.
"I have reconsidered."
The instructor tried not to laugh.
"Oh?"
Vee nodded seriously.
"I've realized something important."
"What's that?"
He placed a hand on his chest.
"Charity begins at home."
The room chuckled.
"So..."
"...I'll generously accept the burden of these 100,000 credits."
The instructor laughed.
"I thought you said you were doing community service."
"I was."
Vee nodded solemnly.
"But I've decided..."
"...you shouldn't let a hardworking volunteer go unpaid."
The hall burst into laughter.
Leon, who had just walked in, frowned.
"What did I miss?"
A senior pointed at Vee.
"He turned down one hundred thousand credits..."
"...until he heard it was one hundred thousand credits."
Leon looked at Vee.
Vee looked back.
Leon sighed.
"I knew your generosity had a price."
Vee grinned.
"I still have standards."
Leon folded his arms.
"So you're taking it?"
Vee nodded.
"Of course."
He looked at the instructor with a perfectly straight face.
"Please understand."
"I'm accepting these credits..."
"...to prevent them from feeling lonely."
The instructor laughed so hard he had to lean against the pillar.
"Go."
"Before you convince me to keep them."
As Vee walked away, the students were still laughing.
Some admired his strength.
Others admired how he could joke about almost anything.
One thing, however, was certain.
Life at the Royal Academy had become much more entertaining since the Apex had arrived.