Ren straightened in his seat. This was his opportunity...
His roommate, Taro's beetle was perfect, a 'weak' and 'unpromising' Tier 1 beast, common enough that everyone knew its supposed 'limit', but with hidden potential that Ren could manifest quickly with the correct method.
If he could demonstrate visible results in a few months...
The correct moon phase was just a month from now, then just 100 days. He would have more than enough time to achieve it within the semester.
"Of course," he murmured to himself, "but first I'd need to convince the owner to try MY method."
And that was the real challenge...
Who would trust the boy with the useless spore?
Who would risk their beast's cultivation following the "Rotting Boy's" advice?
Still...
Did he have another choice?
"That's not true," Ren stood up to defend Taro despite knowing he would likely get scolded again. "The digger beetle can reach Silver rank 3 like any other beast!"
Laughter in Wei's classroom had never been as loud.
So Wei looked at him as if he were a particularly annoying bug.
"First he questions established methods, and now he contradicts historical records. Another five points less, Mr. Patinder."
"The records you mention about the beetle's cultivation," Ren continued, ignoring the laughter, "only have one error: the timing of processing. If we process all the crystals under the right night's moons' light, following the correct specific method..."
"More theories about strange specific timings? The exceptions that gave birth to such ridiculous theories are from different species and have never been successfully replicated," Wei interrupted and smiled disdainfully. "According to your... expert opinion, what would happen if we follow the documented method but change only that detail?"
"The beetle won't evolve into a Greater Excavator at Bronze 1 as your texts say. It will become a Living Tunnel instead with a way greater potential."
Silence fell in the classroom.
Taro looked at Ren with a slight new hope and a more substantial portion of confusion.
"Ooh... A very specific prediction," Wei leaned forward. "What if we put it to the test? If you're so sure, let's make a real bet: if you're right, I'll give you one Bronze-rank material, whatever you want regardless of cost, and you'll exempt the 2 classes in my teaching unit with a perfect 100 points. Wait... And to give you even more time for your 'wonderful' demonstration, don't even bother coming to my classes anymore..."
"...Since you're sooo knowledgeable, you won't need my advice in class, right? You'll thus be able to pass the other teacher's classes more 'easily' and obtain Bronze 1 support instead of Iron, assuming you pass the exams of all our 5 units of course, BUT... If you're wrong..."
He smiled maliciously.
"If you don't demonstrate the exact beetle species you predicted, you'll sign and register me as your Exclusive Tutor Representative so I get your full tuition... And be aware, you'll also lose all school support systems since a private tutor can't give you stuff like twice the crystals you procure in the mines or any of those things."
"Professor," Taro intervened, "but my opinion, my beetle..."
"It's your decision, of course," Wei continued. "But I warn you: following Mr. Patinder's theories, if they stray too far from the common method, only guarantees your beast will end up maturing in Iron rank. Are you willing to risk your assured progress, even if meager at Bronze 1, for the fantasies of someone who can't even evolve his own spore?"
Ren looked at Taro, noticing the conflict in his eyes.
It was a lot to ask, risking his beast's future on the word of a roommate he barely knew.
"Don't worry Taro, we'll follow exactly the documented method, changing only the specific night of processing, but it will still be at night as the professor's literature says anyway."
Taro thought for a moment and then nodded…
There was no turning back now.
"Then I accept the bet," Ren said firmly. "If the beetle evolves into anything other than a Living Tunnel, you win."
Wei studied Ren for a moment, not believing he would actually accept the insane bet he made up in a rush... Wide eyed as if evaluating whether the boy was really as foolish as he seemed.
"Deal..."
♢♢♢♢
As they left the classroom, the tiger boy's group's laughter echoed through the hallway.
"Hey, Rotting Boy!" one of them shouted. "Are you practicing begging already? You'll need it when you lose your tuition!"
Taro waited until they were gone before turning to Ren.
"Hey," he said quietly, "I know you were trying to help, but... I think this joke went too far. You should go back and speak to Professor Wei now, apologize. Maybe if you explain you were just..."
"It wasn't a joke," Ren interrupted, the mushrooms in his hair pulsing strongly. "I can help you have a better life, Taro. Your beetle has real potential."
"Look, I appreciate you trying to cheer me up, but my mother got me the books as soon as I invoked this thing..." Taro shook his head. "The records are clear. In 500 years, maybe even more, no tamed Digger Beetle has surpassed Bronze 1 rank. And now, because of this, you could lose everything..."
"Maybe it's too hard to believe... But we're only going to change one thing," Ren insisted. "The rest will be exactly like the documented method, so no risk, right? And there's not as much risk as you think for me either... I have an ace up my sleeve. So there'll be no problem... Just play along, okay?"
Taro hesitated.
He had already got 100 crystals but luckily hadn't yet infused them with the night essence, waiting to gather the 150 he would need for the complete registered method.
"Though I'm lucky it's not a full 180-day method, it's still expensive for an Iron rank student," he muttered, more to himself than to Ren. "And getting 150 crystals is already quite hard here... those extra 50 crystals will take a while to get within the school."
"The 100 you already have will be more than enough," Ren smiled. "We just need to wait for a specific night that's coming in a few weeks."
Taro looked at Ren for a long moment. These mushrooms in his hair glowed with a steady light, as if reflecting the certainty in his words.
"You know what?" Taro finally smiled. "I hadn't started the mixture with the night essence anyway. I was waiting to have all the crystals to do it all at once."
He shrugged.
"I guess you're right... I won't lose anything by trying. If you're wrong, I'll still have time to get the other 50 crystals. After having used 1 each day for 100 days, I'm sure I'd have the rest ready just in case."
"You really won't need more," Ren smiled. "I promise."
As they walked to their next class, Ren couldn't help but notice he had gained yet more confidence in his spore.
But better not to let it get over his head...
First, he had to prove that the "Rotting Boy" knew exactly what he was talking about.