While taking huge bites of a flanjol, Paolo and I started exiting the forest. As the trees and wildlife started drifting past and away from me, all my worries started flooding back. Today was the day of my test. It would be determined if I would be moved up one level or not. I was currently on Level 4. In this level, there were certain duties that I had to fulfill in order to move up to Level 5. I was allowed to enter the forest without parental supervision. This wasn't much of a big deal since I had already started entering the forest alone long before I was moved up to Level 4. I was also allowed to stay at home alone, which I had also been doing since I was put on Level 2. The really exciting changes would only pop up once I reached Level 6 or 7. In these levels I could battle ferocious beasts and slay dragons. I could also start working for the council.

However, I was mostly worried for Edgar. He was being tested for Level 2. Yes, I have taught him all I know. And yes, he is doing exceedingly well. But he is so young and innocent and it would kill me to see him walk out of the testing room, slouching, and his head down, slowly saying that he didn't make it to Level 2.

I quickly shake this image out of my head as I take the last few steps towards home, finding Mrs. Chiarina just outside the door of our house. Holding a handkerchief in one hand, she paced back and forth, stopping every now and then to take a few short breaths, obviously trying to calm herself down. She glanced at Paolo and then did a double-take before rushing over to Paolo and me, arms outstretched. She flung her arms around us and then, as if only just snapping back to reality, she suddenly stepped back to escort us to breakfast. It wasn't surprising that she had not questioned Paolo about his escape to the forest. She was just the sort of person who never gets angry or disappointed. And she probably would have understood how Paolo felt. She also would have felt that way, after all.

There was an awkward silence during breakfast. When I finally decided that I couldn't take it anymore, I started talking with the hope of breaking the tension. But it didn't work very well and brought more awkwardness to our morning.

"So, are you excited for your test?" I asked Edgar.

"YES!" Edgar replied eagerly. He wore a huge grin that stretched unnaturally from ear to ear. His chocolate-brown eyes widened, almost making the shape of a full moon, as he gazed up at me from the other side of the table.

"Will you remember everything I taught you?" I asked.

"Of course I will!" he dropped his gaze, looking at the floor, "But will you be disappointed if I don't get moved up?"

"Of course not! These tests are very hard. I had to take my third test twice!" I reassured him. This gave him a bit of his smile back.

Paolo and Mrs. Chiarina still looked a bit dismal. I decided to leave them to their thoughts.

After breakfast, I started to do some more preparation with Edgar for his test.

"How many days are in a year?" I asked Edgar.

"That is easy! There are 364 days in a year and every hop year there are 365." He replied.

"Good," I say, "how many months are in a year?"

"Seven."

"How many days are in a month?"

"In September, April and June, there are 39 days. In December, July and November there are 82. In a normal year, there are no days in August. In a hop year there is one. That is why it is considered a huge honor to be born in August, because it is so rare." Edgar replied.

"Gee, it seems like you're ready for your test already!" I praise him. He wore that unnatural smile again, but this time it was out of shyness. I could tell he was trying to hide it. I quietly chuckled to myself at the many similarities between Edgar's personality and my personality.

"Azura," I hear a soft voice from somewhere behind me, "I am going to the forest to relax a little before the test. Do you and Edgar want to come?" After a couple of seconds of looking around my diminutive bedroom, I realized that Paolo was standing just outside my door. Three quarters of the side of his body was hidden by the cream coloured wall that was somewhat tinted with purple.

Remarkably it only hits me when Paolo talks about relaxing. It must be so hard for Paolo; not only is today the date that his father died, but he also has his sixth test on the same day.

"Edgar you want to come to the forest, right?" I ask Edgar. Edgar nods his head vigorously, as if he is in a movie that is being played in fast forward. "Let's go." I tell Paolo.

As Paolo and I saunter down the dusty road, Edgar bounces along behind us. When we reach the forest, I take about half a dozen flanjols from a nearby tree and share them around between the three of us. I take a huge bite of a flanjol. I close my eyes and allow myself to relish the juiciness and unique taste of these fruits, despite how vexed I am because of Edgar's test. I give a small smile as a cool droplet of flanjol juice trickles down my chin.

My eyelids flutter open as we reach our place, which I have now named Fredrick. We sit down. For a while no-one makes a sound. Then, we release Edgar from his boredom and let him climb a tree. I close my tired eyes and let the sun beat down on me. I finish my third flanjol and collapse into a doze.

"Azura!" Paolo and Edgar are shaking me awake. They alert me that we must hasten back to our house because the test is in a few minutes. I spring up to my feet and break into a run. I lose count of how many times I trip over my own foot or simply lose balance and collapse into a heap of mere skin and bones.

But we make it back to our street, just in time for our tests.