"Of course you will not lose any point!" Linjos raised his voice, outraged by the simple idea of it.
"The total amount is unchanged, but only those present in this room will know the truth. Whatever you need to exchange them for, will be presented as a gift from the Crown for your services. As for the prizes, there is none. The honor of being first it's its own prize, along with the glory and fame it entails."
Lith had a hard time repressing a scoff.
"I'm fine with this decision." Lith said.
"Well, I'm not!" Yurial jumped off his chair, the pride for his achievement already fading away.
"I wanted to be first, but not like this. It's unfair as much as demeaning. How can I watch myself in the mirror knowing that it's only a lie? I refuse to be a puppet! Give the first place to Friya if she wants it and the second to Lith at least."
Linjos sighed deeply before answering.
"Young man, this isn't a request. It's an order from the Crown. I'm not asking for your permission. I wouldn't have told you any of this if not for the fact that by knowing your respective grades you can easily discover the truth.
"You have no idea how mathematically creative I had to get to fix the scores using only the third trimester points. Someone inside the academy leaked all the report cards, otherwise I would have put Lith even lower and have this talk with him only."
"House Ernas has no objection." Orion actually would have liked to say many things, but as a soldier, he knew that orders had to be followed not discussed. He turned towards his wife, who winked at him with a smug expression.
'She clearly knows what the little monster did to get all those points. It must be something important if she isn't allowed to discuss it even with me.'
Archmage Deirus was embarrassed by his son's behavior. He could understand Yurial's outrage, he was the one that had taught him to never take shortcuts and only rely on hard work.
As the heir of House Deirus, though, he had to learn how to play ball, even when it was nasty.
"House Deirus has no objection either." Velan Deirus clenched Yurial's shoulder, preventing him to say any more.
"Excellent." Linjos replied. "Congratulations on your well-earned second place, Lady Friya. Despite you went through a lot this year, your outstanding performance in dimensional magic and healer classes makes us all proud."
The Headmaster shook her hand, his words stabbed Yurial's heart deeply.
"You are the best healer we have got since Manohar enrolled." Linjos shook Lith's hand too, handing him a pristine white pin the size of a button, shaped like a rampant white griffon with the number four etched on its surface.
"The six great academies specialize in one element each. Ours is light magic. This pin identifies you like the top of the fourth year Healer specialization, the crown jewel of our institution.
"No one can take such achievement away from you. I can guarantee you that next year things will be different. If you achieve again the first spot, you'll be allowed to keep it."
Lith nodded, storing the pin away and explaining to Linjos how he intended to invest most of his points. There was something he had set his eyes on for a long time, but with the official ranking alone he wouldn't be able to afford it.
"Don't let this ruse ruin your moment, young Deirus." The Headmaster shook Yurial's hand for last, giving him a pin identical to the one Lith received but made of gold instead of moonstone.
"Your real score surpasses those of most students that ranked first in the past, it's something to be proud of. All your Professors speak fondly of you and expect great things from you in the future."
Yurial smiled, while his hand clenched the gold pin so hard that it would have turned into a crumpled ball if not for its protective enchantment.
'Who the heck cares about my score compared to the past? This pin means nothing. I would have never gotten such a score without Lith's and Quylla's private lessons. Quylla deserves it much more than me. Despite having only one specialization, she achieved an insane number of points.'
Yurial's heart was reduced to shreds, all the insecurities that he had fought so hard to keep at bay overwhelmed him to the point that he could feel the weight of the tranquilizer flask in his pocket burning through his clothes, calling on him like a siren.