Tuesday evening, the second day of the Practical Exams.

North-West of the Sunken Metropolis, there was a chain of big and small hills housing several farms and settlements.

Atop one such hill, filled with nothing but a stretch of grass and flowers, Zeke stood under the setting sun.

He gazed at the sky, which was dominated by a beautiful orange hue as a cool wind breeze brushed against his skin.

His charred black arm tingled and he felt a bit of pain, but it was manageable.

The young man, who changed into casual clothes and cleaned his previously disheveled appearance, took deep breaths as he patiently waited.

A fair distance away, at the side of the road, Jack and Sulong were chatting without a care in the world. They were enjoying cold beers, instructed by Zeke to await his return, no matter how time would pass.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Zeke heard footsteps coming from the rear, and when he turned around, he saw the blond-haired Azmer.

“I honestly thought you wouldn’t come after what happened in the school.”

“Hah! A promise is a promise. This confrontation has long been overdue.”

“I agree.” Responded Azmer as he stopped 10 meters away from his opponent.

He curiously looked around, seemingly enjoying this ‘arena’, which was unbound by school regulations.

“Here, we can go all-out without being stopped by any overseer. Through strength, we will see who was right and who was wrong.”

“Indeed. Prepare yourself.” Declared Zeke as lightning currents burst from his body and danced around him, no longer unstable and uncontrollable.

They swirled around his body, forming tiny and thin blue particles that inter-connected.

Opposite Zeke, Azmer closed his eyes for a couple of seconds then took a long and deep breath, then, vermillion flames flowed from his hands.

Within seconds, the flames changed color as a golden sword made of fire appeared in Azmer’s hand. It was clear that he was going all-out from the get-go, but the same could be said for Zeke.

A ludicrous amount of lightning was emitting from Zeke, his whole body becoming an active and powerful circuit. His eyes glowed with azure light and the Rune of Life, which had recovered and stored Aether, was supplementing its user.

…..

1 week later.

Zeke’s disappearance notwithstanding, the week of the practical exams proceeded smoothly. With the exception of Rodrick, Azmer, Maxwell, and Zeke, all other students attended and tried their best, either climbing the rankings or getting good marks.

There were a handful of highlights during the battles, though the main one was the battle between Julia Lopmore and Harold Volcun.

The grand finale was the exciting and heated fight between the 1st ranked and 2nd ranked. Nayro and Erva had both overseen the battle due to how strong the two combatants’ abilities were.

After a lot of struggle and explosive and flashy bursts, Julia managed to snatch the win, thus officially claiming herself as the strongest First Year student.

The 3rd spot was maintained by Francesca, leader of Class D’s circle. Excluding the top two, 8 of the top 10 students protected their positions.

Samuel Valort was one of the three rising students. Despite his easy-going attitude, he showed formidable fortitude during the Practical Exams. His flexible ability clashed against a 17th-ranked student, one of Harold Volcun’s close friends.

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Unexpectedly, he emerged victorious and shocked the crowd.

The second black horse was Fylard, who, surprisingly, wasn’t expelled by the school even after his wrongdoings. The shrewd Fylard had gone all-out and raised his rank, becoming 11th after losing to the 10th spot.

Last but not least, a girl from class C; Veronica Serpens. She was the 5th Defect of Erys, a student who had been absent for months yet, strangely, wasn’t expelled.

She followed in Zeke’s footsteps as she became a new person, no longer a Defect. With the use of her new ability, which allowed her to summon shadowy snakes, she win all 5 battles and even beat the 7th spot, jumping to the top 10 less than a week after her unexpected return.

….

15 days later.

“O-oh!”

Although it hasn’t been since she arrived here, Amelia got used to her relatively peaceful life on the border. With Commander Jennifer Savbra and her assistant Freya acting as capable teachers, Amelia’s body recovered and she became proficient at wielding Aether.

Amelia had let out a soft gasp as she peeked at the old picture frames on top of Jenny’s desk. When she heard footsteps and saw the curtains of the tent slide to the side, Amelia stretched back her hand and acted oblivious.

Only when she saw the big-breasted Freya did the black-haired girl sigh in relief.

“It isn’t very womanly to feign ignorance when you’re cast red-handed.”

Amelia puffed her cheeks and averted her gaze, “You didn’t see me!”

“Not literally, but a Witch’s eyesight isn’t limited to just her eyes. This, you already knew, do you not?”

“I do… I’m sorry.”

With no way out of it, Amelia apologetically bowed, but Freya wasn’t actually angry.

She walked up to her hard-working student and tightly hugged her, stopping only when the latter tapped her back in desperation.

“One day, you’re going to suffocate me with your cleavage, Freya.”

Amelia gasped for air as she glanced at her relatively lacking chest and inwardly grumbled.

“Anyway, what were you looking at?”

“Just this.”

Amelia pointed at one specific picture, which depicted a happy family of three. First, there was Jennifer, looking exactly the same but wearing a beautiful black dress and holding a cute baby in her arms.

Holding her waist and resting his head on hers was a middle-aged man with an unshaven black beard, particularly long raven-black hair tied into a ponytail, and rough facial features that were hardened by his past.

The man wore some sort of a tribal outfit, made from thick white fur and light brown leather.

“Ah! That’s quite a sensitive topic.”

Freya peaked at the entrance and then lowered her voice, “Jenny had lost her son and husband a long time ago. It was a sudden attack from Proto-Demons. When I remember how she was back then, I…I…”

Freya sniffed and turned around, her back facing the listening Amelia.

“She had a breakdown and tried to kill herself more than one time.”

As if to lighten the mood, Freya laughed and patted her mountainous breasts, “But! The great me convinced her to live. Aren’t I a good person?”

“Yes, you’re the best, Freya!”

Amelia was sensitive enough not to inquire any further. She raised a thumbs up to her second teacher and smiled back.

Seconds later, Jenny barged into the tent looking extremely furious.

“Amelia, go to your tent and don’t leave. Freya will be guarding you.”

“W-what’s going on?”

“Don’t ask questions and go. NOW!”

The confused girl nodded and didn’t protest.

As the two were left alone, Freya walked to her short superior and caressed her head while asking,

“Is it an attack from the tribes? Why must I stay?”

Jenny snorted and walked away from her friend’s gentle caress, clearly distressed.

“It’s worse. The Eastern outpost was attacked by a secret organization. They killed all the witches and refugees… but they took Hext.”

“Miss Hext was taken? S-she’s a 4-star Witch.” Freya’s face paled as she kept her eyes glued onto the commander.

“We might be targeted next, Freya. The scout has just returned… she was fear-stricken, but she managed to describe the assailants. Metal masks and silver robes.”

“The Ascetic Blasphmeres?”

“Yes. Reinforcements are on their way here. I’m going to the Eastern Outpost to investigate and try to find any survivors. You will be in charge.”

“What? No! I’m going with you.”

Jennifer solemnly shook her head and authoritatively ordered,

“You are my second-in-command, Freya. I’m not going there to die.”

Eventually, Freya reluctantly agreed and immediately sprung into action, instructing the available witches to start preparing for a potential attack.

Unlike the Eastern Outpost, this one was twice as big and wasn’t that easy to attack as it stood atop a big valley.