After school, Ren walked through his front door and immediately noticed Leonel's things scattered on the table. He called out, "Hey Leo, what's going on? You look like you're ready to pass out."
Leonel lifted his head and rubbed his eyes. "Hey Ren, I've been trying to study for our final exam, but my brain feels like mush."
Ren chuckled. "Well, lucky for you, I'm an expert at cramming for exams. What do you need help with?"
"I don't even know where to begin," Leonel said, sighing heavily.
"Let's start with math," Ren suggested, picking up Leonel's notebook. "What's been giving you trouble?"
"The formulas, mostly," Leonel admitted. "I just can't seem to remember them all."
Ren flipped through the pages, nodding as he read, "Okay, well, let's go over them one by one. I'll help you remember."
"Thanks, Ren. I really appreciate it," Leonel said gratefully.
They spent the next few hours going over math formulas, reviewing notes, and doing practice problems. Ren was patient and thorough, explaining things in a way that made sense to Leonel.
After a while, Leonel started to feel more confident. "You know, Ren, you're pretty good at this teaching thing. Have you ever thought about becoming a tutor?"
Ren shrugged. "I don't know. I've always enjoyed helping people learn, but I never really considered it as a career."
"Well, you should," Leonel said with a smile. "You're making a big difference for me today."
Ren grinned. "Glad I could help. Are you feeling better about the exam?"
"A lot better," Leonel said, closing his notebook. "Thanks to you, I think I might actually pass."
Ren clapped him on the back. "That's what friends are for, right? Now, let's go get some food. I'm starving."
A loud clanging sound woke Leonel up from his sleeping state, and his eyes darted to Ren, who appeared through the door.
Leonel immediately scattered his notes while pretending to be in pain while studying. Maybe Ren would take pity on him just like in his dreams and help him study.
"Ah. Ren, you're home," he said.
"Yeah. You're early." Ren opened the fridge and chugged a bottle of cold water.
"I don't have many afternoon classes."
"That so?"
". . . It's exam week soon, so most teachers just wanted us to go home and study."
"Is that right?"
Leonel grumbled under his breath, but he didn't lose his hope. "Your final exams are coming as well, right?"
Ren shrugged. "I guess."
"Shouldn't you be more concerned?"
Ren closed the fridge and stared at Leonel with unbothered pair of eyes. "No. I have many pressing matters to take care of."
"But what if you fail?"
"Then I'll just take the summer remedial classes or buy my grades. Whichever works." Ren then left for his room.
"You're not setting a good example here!"
"Good luck with your exam," Ren only replied before Leonel heard his door close.
Leonel slumped on sit, sulking and brooding.
"Heartless. The Ren in my dreams are a hundred times better."
In Ren's room, he took a quick bath and went out to the kitchen to have something to eat. Leonel's mother had already sent over their dinner, so he just had to reheat it.
After which, he quickly took notes of the major players and guilds that were going with him to the Fey Realm.
Ren expected that all major guilds would send their representatives and couldn't be more right.
From Black Lion they have fifteen players strong, including Scar and Joker leading their group. They were currently the number one guild, so it was no wonder that they would have a lot of investors and backing. Securing fifteen slots was already enough to demonstrate the might of their coffers.
If only the auctioned tickets weren't rapidly increasing in prices by the seconds and they could have bought more.
Next was Sleeping Dragon, which had twelve representatives, with Cang Lu, Angelica, Hixel, and Aragon leading the group.
They were the current guild that competed with Black Lion for the number one spot, so it was no wonder that they were one of the guilds that got the highest number of slots.
Ren's heart raced, and the rush of adrenaline in his system urged him to murder someone. He controlled his anger and took in rapid breaths to calm his rage.
Sleeping Dragon would have to wait for now. Once Evie was by his side, he promised to bring them down. Even if he had to face his fellow regressor or reincarnators or whatever they called them.
Next in line was Guns and Knives, led by Xian, Isolde, and Lee-rin. For their guild, they have secured ten slots.
Ren was happy at least that he knew someone on his side when they ventured into the Fey Realm, even though he knew that he and Isolde would have to part ways once in there.
The next was White Unicorn. But they only managed to buy seven slots. The guild was having a hard time lately, and they were struggling to maintain their spot in the top ten.
Of course, White Unicorn would be led by Eric and Erica, the albino twins.
Ren wouldn't mind helping them if he had the chance since him and White Unicorn had ended on a good note. And they were a frequent client of World Conqueror, as well as, Guns and Knives. Even though he had reservations about the current leader Xian, for Isolde and her father, he would gladly help them out.
The next group was, of course, Golden Phoenix, securing ten slots with Silvia and Pamela leading the group.
Ren had to admit, he kind of miss the women's bickering, but only a little. And he was also willing to lend a helping hand if ever.
There was also Fate Alliance Guild with only five slots, led by Dimitri.
Great Dynasty also made the cut, securing four slots, and to Ren's surprise, Roni was among them.
Ren didn't know what Roni did to actually have his name plastered there, but he bet it had something to do with him being their cannon fodder and errand boy, if ever.
But what got Ren's attention was the guild, Only Wonder, Beautiful Men, which secured the highest number of twenty slots.
Just how rich was Lamir? Ren thought.
