“All right, it’s done!” Gavin Brooks lifted the bedsheet out of the basin filled with clean water, admired his handiwork with satisfaction, then quickly twisted it together, suddenly exerting force to squeeze out the water.

　　Rip… craaack…

　　By the quiet well, the crisp sound of fabric being torn apart rang out clearly in the ears of the young man and woman.

　　The female magic apprentice looked up, her captivating eyes wide with surprise as she gazed at Gavin Brooks’s back not far in front of her. Although she wasn’t a warrior, just a lowly magic apprentice, she knew that a bedsheet was a sturdy item—tearing it by hand was no easy feat, let alone twisting it together and ripping it apart with a sudden motion.

　　“What is…”

　　Gavin Brooks stared at the bedsheet in his hands, now torn to shreds, momentarily stunned. What was this? The bedsheet had actually been ripped apart by his full-force twisting? How could that be? He’d always wrung out bedsheets with all his strength before, and this had never happened. Could it be that his strength had really increased?

　　Gavin Brooks shook his head repeatedly. He had never heard of anyone in this world suddenly becoming much stronger overnight.

　　Whether it was the elders of his family or Teacher Rodney Brooks, they had always said that everything in this world must be done step by step; even the grand Holy City wasn’t built in a single night.

　　Could his strength really have increased? Gavin Brooks looked at the bedsheet in his hands, now like a mop, his face full of bitterness. Clearly, this was not the time to study whether his strength had grown—buying a new bedsheet was the top priority. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even have a sheet to cover himself with tonight, and sleeping on the school mattress without a sheet was even more uncomfortable.

　　A bedsheet? Gavin Brooks raised his hand and gently rubbed his forehead. It looked like he’d have to add another unexpected expense—what a blow. Ever since leaving his family, he’d had to manage almost all his own income. If he relied on the family’s allowance, he’d barely have enough to eat, let alone buy himself clothes or other necessities.

　　“Looks like I’ll have to go by the trading company and see if there’s any simple work like carrying sacks.”

　　Gavin Brooks tossed the bedsheet into the wooden basin, looking a bit dejectedly at the cotton quilt cover left inside. If he ruined that too, things would get even worse.

　　A not-so-large hand quietly reached into the basin from the side, touching the cotton quilt cover still soaking in the water.

　　Following the hand, Gavin Brooks saw it belonged to the magic apprentice with huge glasses perched on her nose, a big wizard’s hat on her head, and a loose wizard’s robe. She was carefully lifting the cover out of the basin, her glasses reflecting a timid, startled-rabbit look, and she twisted the quilt cover with all her might.

　　The magic apprentice was indeed using all her strength—Gavin Brooks even believed she was using every ounce of energy she had. The half-smile on her face was flushed red from the effort, and her body trembled slightly.

　　Gavin Brooks had to admit, though the magic apprentice was weak, her strength was more than enough to handle the quilt cover.

　　“Thanks.” Gavin Brooks put away the quilt cover and said cheerfully, “If you ever need help with heavy lifting, just come find me. Remember, I’m Gavin Brooks from the first year of the warrior division.”

　　“M-magic division, second year…” The magic apprentice kept her head down, staring at her toes, her voice as soft as a mosquito. Gavin Brooks had to strain his ears to barely make out her name through her shy and nervous whisper.

　　“Second year? Blake Brooks?” Gavin Brooks looked the magic apprentice up and down. No matter how he looked at her appearance or figure, she seemed about fourteen, right? So she was already sixteen? He really couldn’t tell—absolutely couldn’t!

Chapter Six: Brute Strength

　　“All right, I’ll remember!” Gavin Brooks picked up the wooden basin, just in time to see Blake Brooks give him another exaggerated ninety-degree bow.

　　Carrying the basin, Gavin Brooks walked back toward the dormitory, worrying about the cost of the new bedsheet and quickening his pace. The noisy dorm by the roadside erupted in another commotion, with more than a dozen people sighing in unison, and someone repeatedly shouting, “What a pity, what a pity!”

　　“Before I buy a new bedsheet, I need to report to Teacher Rodney Brooks and tell him these guys are so energetic they want extra training…”

　　Gavin Brooks hadn’t finished venting his frustration over the ruined bedsheet when he saw Logan Brooks burst out of the house like a rabbit chased by a hound, dashing over to Gavin Brooks in two quick strides.

　　The speed of that sprint even surprised Gavin Brooks. Usually, even when Teacher Rodney Brooks chased him with a stick during training, Logan Brooks had never run this fast. Next time, he’d have to remind the teacher to use a spiked club for Logan Brooks’s training—he’d definitely discover this guy had some hidden potential.

　　“Gavin Brooks, come on, come on.” Logan Brooks reached out with his slightly chubby hands, grabbed his arm, and dragged him into the room, even more enthusiastic than when he was chasing after the school beauty Julie Brooks. The sudden display gave Gavin Brooks goosebumps, and he secretly wondered what kind of mischief this fun-loving Logan Brooks was up to today.

　　Gavin Brooks followed Logan Brooks into the room and casually asked, “So, what’s going on?”