Ghost in the Roses

Chapter 17

In 72 hours, the entire student body will be allowed to see their homes again. It's funny how just last summer, we all itched to get out of our hometowns and now we are so homesick that we are on the verge of vomiting. The nervous knots before the semester's final exams are certainly not helping.

My friends and I are about to be put out of our misery and torture. All day long we had to proof ourselves to be worthy to continue on with the program. At first, the first semester's flights were put under the scrutiny of the law and we had to write three memos for three cases, none alike to prevent any kind of cheaters' alliances. I had one on contracts, one on torts, and one on property law.

The history classes, History of the Knights and History of the Violet Dominion and its People were easy. All it was is memory spitting out facts on paper. Exam on Reports class, my least favorite was a bit more challenging. After Laws exam, my mind was already exhausted and keeping track of the model battle proved to be more challenging. I hope I didn't exceed the number of typos allowed.

I didn't blow up the spell lab, when brewing the potion that I randomly picked out of the witch's hat. That's promising. With my name on the vial, I submitted it with the rest. It will be up to Madam Mosivna's assistants to test the colorful tonics for purity and effectiveness during the following nights. My fingers are crossed that one drop of mine will turn a single grain of wheat into a warm bread roll like it supposed to.

After completing the Physical Training Exam and Combat exams on the other hand, one will know right off the bat if they passed or not.

Now, at last the last final exam is finally here and this painful day is almost over. Medicinal Clinicals is the end of the line.

"Welcome! Welcome! Come on in and pick a body! Anybody laying on the table!" Sir Sirgo is very enthusiastic to get this going.

Oh, my dear demons and spirits! Is this even legal?!

"Come in! Come on! don't be shy! They can't hurt you. They're dead."

Weak at our knees, we stumble into the lab. I can't believe what he had done to the room; all of the medical equipment and dummies have been removed and the classroom feels more like a morgue. There are 32 students in this class and each one of us has a surprise laid out on the steel tables: a dead person's body.

"Don't you dare pass out!" he yells at us. "Inability to participate is an automatic fail! There will be no retakes or makeups!"

I fight not to get sick. In the back of the room I hear someone fail and I dare not to turn around.

"Are you okay to proceed?" our mad professor casually asks the sick exam taker.

"Yes, Sir!" automatically, that's the response.

"Alright everyone pay attention. We've been using dummies all along and our latest practice was with the Sphinx's Whiskers," he takes out the knitting needle like tool out of a glass halter.

"Today's exam will show how well you understand the execution of this treatment and how well you know the anatomy of a real flesh. Alright, I see that some of you are still in shock so I'm going to try to real you guys in. Cadet Nina, what is Sphinx's Whisker?"

"Sir, Sphinx's Whisker is a shed whisker from a Sphinx, with its venom at the top of its peak," numb Nina proves that her lips are still capable of talking.

"Good. Cadet Victor, when is this medicine to be used?"

"Sir, this medicine is to be used as the very last resort, when all else fails."