In Another World I Become a Healer With Purple Hair

55 The Second Exam (Part 1)

(Warning! This chapter contains an act of bullying, readers’ discretion is advised)

Anne and Darla descended to the first floor, David already waiting in the breakfast room, with three simple meals set on the table. Today, the menu is a simple breakfast, consisting of fresh moomilk, slices of bread, jams, and turchick bacon and eggs. He smile at his friends and asked them to seat right away.

“Come on, we have three hours, and the carriage will take us in one hour from now, but we hate to be late, right?” Said David directly to Anne, making the other two cringe at him. “Oh, come on, that was a good joke, right?”

“No!” Said Darla and Anne at the same time.

Darla glared at David, while her hand smack his shoulder. “What exactly are you doing? Anne is already nervous and you think getting into her nerves will help her?”

“I am sorry, alright, I thought she will laugh, but... obviously not.” Said David, while whispering an apology to her.

Anne smiled at David, in her mind, everything that David could do will never make her laugh right now. She was a nervous wreck, the thoughts of defending herself in front of exam administrators already making her stressed enough.

“Oh, Anne, your exam building will be at the main hospital. You know about that, right?” Asked Darla, she was worried that Anne might end up lost again.

“I know Darla, don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Said Anne to Darla, she genuinely tried to ease her friend’s mind. Day by day, David and Darla become a part of her life in the capital, and of course, four men that’s constantly confused her from time to time.

.....

One hour later, the carriages came and everyone go inside their designated carriage. Darla and David, and two others silver pass recipients were already inside the carriage, when it’s Anne turned to go inside, a hand appears from behind. She turned around to see Xavier’s face smiling at her.

“Xavier, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing, I’m going to take you to the main hospital.” Said the huntsman, while instructing the carriage to go without Anne.

Panicking, she tried to call for the carriage to stay, but to no avail. Everyone, whether they were inside the golden pass carriage or the silver pass carriage, is livid and in shock. Xavier. Although not as famous as Vale, is one of the customs noble with talent on his own, not to mention his tall and muscular body, making him popular in the ladies’ eyes.

Let out a sigh. Anne immediately berated Xavier for his rash decision.

“Are you out of your godd*mn mind?!”

“Godd*mn? I never heard such a word?” Asked Xavier, a curiosity came into him. “What’s that mean? Godd*mn?”

Anne then thought everyone here respected or was too afraid of their gods and put no curse sentence into the holy name itself. Not to mention they have over one, that’s why sometimes people said God with a plural meaning.

“Nothing important!” Anne immediately said to Xavier, and she shift his attention to him being so randomly this morning, “Now, since you’ve already sent my carriage away, you need to take me to the main hospital, now, I can’t be late again.”

With a smirk on his face, he carries Anne in his arms. Our heroine doesn’t even have time to prepare herself. Xavier picks her up and put Anne onto his horse, a huge black stallion, the biggest horse breed in the kingdom after he was so sure that the girl is comfortable sitting on his horse, he gets on the horse and gallops through the street of the capitals.

Anne tried to talk to the man while holding onto the horse. “Why are you doing this, Xavier?”

Xavier smiled when he heard a curious question from Anne. “I hate to deny everything anymore.” Said Xavier, trying to answer her question a bit mysteriously.

“Way being mysterious, good job Xavier, now just take me to the main hospital as fast as you could!” Gruntled Anne, the girl never afraid to ride a horse, but this the first time for her to ride a horse alongside anyone, not to mention it is Xavier.

“As you wish, my beautiful miss.” Xavier teased her, and nudge his horse using his leg.

Xavier used the road for the horse driver only, even though there were so many horses on the road, he could maneuver and took a sharp turn, and galloped skillfully. Anne’s heart beat faster, she smiles and even laughed. She can feel Xavier’s strong arms holding the rein and also protecting her. Anne felt safe with him, a feeling that had long gone from her mind.

They arrived at the main hospital before the carriage. She laughed and squealed in joy when Xavier helped her get off from the horse.

“Oh, God! I couldn’t believe it! I finally got a ride on a horse again, and to be here before those snooty golden pass carriages, a win-win situation!” said Anne, jumping with joy.

Xavier stares at her. He never regretted his decision to forget about the agreement. His feelings for Anne, although beginning from a spell, he was so sure the feelings were already blooming into a real and pure one. After all, his obsession grew every day for her.

“I need to go now, Anne. There is something I need to do. I’ll be picking you up, after your exam,” Xavier told her, while he look around the main hospital area.

The look on his face gave Anne a frown on her face, “You want to pick me up? What for? I could go home on my own, you know?”

“No!” Shouted Xavier suddenly, the looks on Anne’s face making him conscious about how rude he was. “My apologies. I was trying to protect you.”

“As I said, Xavier, I’m okay. Please, I’m handling the situation quite alright.”

“But, I really want to...”

Raising her right hand, she stopped Xavier from voicing his opinion once more. “Please, no need to say it. I am going to ace this second exam and go home alone.”

There cannot be any more argument on Anne’s opinion. Xavier rustled his hair and awkwardly smiled at the purple hair girl, who was standing in front of him. The bruises all over her body were being covered by her long sleeves and an under-the-knee skirt. She was trying her best; she was fighting her best as she could.

“I am sorry, Anne, I might be made it worse by driving you here by myself.” Xavier regretted it wholeheartedly. He just wanted to cheer her up before her second exam, and, of course, to assess the surrounding bullies.

She gave sighed with relief, and her smile bloomed, “It’s alright, Xavier, I do appreciate your gesture, and it cheered me up.”

“How about if we go to lunch?” Asked Xavier with a grin on his face. He immediately added, “Tomorrow, of course! Not today.”

“I would love that.” Said Anne. She was thinking of a way to repay his kindness.

Xavier took off from the main hospital with a lighter feeling. At least he knows, Anne would not reject his offer completely. Once again, he galloped into the street, his next destination, the main library.

Step inside the main hospital, Anne gave the exam administrator her name and also her silver pass. They escorted her to the waiting room. There were three other people inside already. Some of the bronze passes were here from the early morning. They are mostly the bronze pass who were living at the farthest inns from the main hospital. Their eyes when Anne go inside the waiting room were like the burning fire that came from the hottest firepit.

“Oh, the lovely silver pass girl was here already? I thought she is going to be late again since she already had that kind of leverage before.” Said one of them, a girl with a double French braid. She is a tough girl with piercing black eyes.

“Oh, shush Rosy, do you want her to tattle about your rudeness to her noble?” Another one, a man with protruding front teeth, cackling and making a mock gesture to Anne.

Anne ignored them completely and with a hum took one corner of the room and take out her notes from her bag. The three of them don’t take it lightly. They were making so much ruckus, especially Rosy, the girl with the French braid. She walks in front of Anne and throws her notes to the floor.

“Hey! What are you doing?!” Anne was screaming. She was never thought that they could be so desperate for her attention.

She took a deep breath and tried to retrieve her note from the floor. Suddenly, her hand got stomped, and she screamed in agony. Anne falls to the floor, wailing in pain.

“Stop! What are you trying to do?!” Shouted Anne. She just wanted some peace, but the trio just won’t let her. Tears coming from her eyes, her right-hand throbbing like crazy, and blood was coming from her index finger. Apparently, Rosy’s shoes destroyed Anne’s index fingernail completely.

The second exam comprised a skill test, which required the use of both hands and agility. Would Anne survive the second exam with an injured hand?