“What are you waiting for?” The wolf demiking, Melena, raises a furry eyebrow. “Show me how you fight.”
“Against what?” I ask in confusion. “A rabbit, mammoth, human, bird… they all require a different approach.”
The woman nods approvingly. “That was the test before the actual test.” I somehow doubt that. “You wouldn’t believe me how many sheltered, naive brats I come across whose bodyguards annihilate a forest so their masters can get a headstart. We get too many of those.” She grabs something from her belt and throws it onto the ground.
The small round metal disk with a Hadron crystal clearly visible in its center lights up and soon a big lizard walking on its hind legs appears. Its two front arms are so laughably small, they look like two fingers growing from its shoulder while its whole head, and specifically the jaw, is of a terrifying proportion.
Spacial magic or maybe life?
I use Identify on instinct and the results show… nothing.
Surprised or not I jump back and strike at the target just in case. Mom’s teachings guide my hand. Blast first and ask later.
A push from the earth beneath my feet and a gust of air throw me back quite a few steps to widen the distance. At the same time, an earth pillar shoots out of the ground the size of a tree, right into the belly of the big lizard.
And it goes right through it.
“Yes, yes!” Melena shouts with a satisfied grin. “Finally some decisive action instead of gawking or panic.”
I blink as my fight-or-flight instincts calm. This time I examine the lizard properly now that the danger is seemingly gone. The thing doesn’t move, even one bit, and just seems… off. Then Savant tips me off, based on how my attacks phased through the beast.
It’s light and nothing more.
[Rogue lvl ???]
Yeah, I should’ve done that sooner.
Although I’d greatly appreciate it if my secretive Blessing offered a little more. I mean, it’s right here, light magic in all its glory. The damn fickle Skill even chimed in so would it be too much of an ask to teach me more? I swear Librea scammed me because I asked too many questions.
I curiously walk around the light construct before crouching down and picking up the metal disk, making the lizard of light waggle around with it. Runes, and the String, both methods of inscription seamlessly-
“Hey, hey!” Melena claps. “This is a combat demonstration, not the tinkering corner. Put that down!” She crosses her arms with a frown growing across her face. “Your reaction was even better than what I hoped for but I still haven’t seen what you can do, and I heard it's a real spectacle. Now hit the featherless chicken.”
The what?
Also, am I something of a celebrity? I thought information on my identity and abilities was supposed to be a well-kept secret, or at least something very few people knew of. Not that it matters, I’m here to kick some ass and be flashy so whipping out five different elements in a fight has been the plan all along.
Since hitting something immaterial sounds only as fun as one would imagine it, I give a little performance. Elyssia special. Of course, I reach for plasma. This is a test I have to ace and if making the woman’s jaw drop is what it takes then I’ll oblige.
At first, only the winds accompany my dance. The foundation of my devastating spell. Then lighting whips out from my arms, liking the trees and cracking with excited energy. The air earns some color as I bring the heat. Soon they form into searing hot plasma that rips through the ground and everything else that comes in contact with it.
Then following the guidance of my arms it lashes out and unsurprisingly passes through the big featherless chicken of light. But at least it looks cool as… very cool.
I turn towards my examiner proud as punch and await the praises.
“Flashy.” That is all she says without even a hint of awe. “Definitely not a backline mage, and… how fast are you?”
“Compared to what?” I ask since I’m faster than a spell slinger and a snail compared to August.
“I’ll take that as a medium. Now to test-”
Just as my examination is about to step into its next stage, the lines on the wall where my exit portal disappeared light up again. The portal opens up wide and through the shimmering frame I see another room very much similar to the one I arrived from.
“Melena, be so kind as to evaluate the capabilities of the other one as well.” A voice calls out from the other side before Valka is guided through the shortcut in the fabric of reality.
“Brilliant, dump all the work on me, sure no problem!” The woman with wolf features shouts as the gate closes. “Those lazy old…” She stops the ranting, realizing she’s not alone, and continues after a deep sigh with a professional attitude as if nothing happened. “You know each other?” She asks and I nod as Val is still trying to take it all in. “Good, I was just about to see the limits of your strength myself, but now with your little friend here that’ll have to be pushed back a little.”
“How did it go?” I whisper to Val as the lady keeps on talking.
“I feel like they’re being lenient.” She answers seriously. “The questions were too easy and they just swept all my mistakes under the rug like-”
“Don’t be surprised by any of that.” And of course, this woman, Melena, heard us all along. Fluffy ears. “The initial screening is the harshest part of the entrance exam and the rest are just a way for the Academy to show they care about our high standards. They went easy on you because we, as in the Academy, want you. Besides, even if you fumbled every answer I would push you through if I think you can win us those tournaments.” She flashes a toothy grin and nods towards Valka. “Now show me what you got whitey!”
“Uhm, that’s not that easy.” Valka scratches the back of her head nervously.
After a quick explanation about how her Blessing works, because it will be revealed one way or another, Melena walks over to the portal’s wall and taps it. By some mechanical miracle or clever earth magic, weapon racks emerge from the ground, a variety of which rivals Fort Karon’s courtyard.
The woman lazily picks up a sword and grins our way. “Then let’s get right to it.” And just as these words leave her mouth her hair begins to dance as electricity flickers around her body. “Choose your weapon and signal when ready!”
Lightning huh? That will be troublesome probably even more so now that a Rouge is wielding it instead of a Mage.
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I quickly glance over the various weapons displayed around us and choose the most suitable one. My magic. Valka has her weapons on hand all the time and just needs to roll up her sleeves in preparation.
“Don’t destroy your clothes, you’re supposed to wear them for the whole day!” I warn her and prepare my own weapon of choice.
“Uhm, Eli… what the hell are you doing?” Valka looks at me with eyes wondering if I turned completely nuts.
My weapon for this round. Metal. Every arm on display is made of metal without any form of inscription or mana reinforcement. Just basic metal in the shape of something made to kill. I gather some of them around and reform the swords, maces, and daggers into metal clumps for me to wield.
Martha’s lessons warned us against using metal equipment when fighting a lighting user because metal attracts lighting. Metal armor and weapons can protect you from most attacks but not lighting.
Savant tells me otherwise.
Most metals lead, or conduct, electricity because of their tiny complex almost magic something structure and they don’t just miraculously attract lightning. Time to see if physics can win against magic bolstered by a couple hundred levels worth of attributes.
Melena observes my little machinations with a raised eyebrow but raises her sword nonetheless. “I see you’re ready.” We nod. “Then come at me!”
Valka and I both bolt forward to meet the professor head-on. Me because I want to test how well I can ground magic electricity – and because even if I seem like a dumbass and do terribly, I’ll probably get admitted. Val… it’s just how she is, and with a lightning elemental Class now under her belt, she might even survive a hit or two. The trick is to ground any electricity and control her movement.
Let’s just hope our opponent knows how to hold back.
***
“I’d say you pass.” The professor leisurely drops her sword after handing us our asses back to back. “Yeah, I think I could make good use of them. Maybe not for the team… solo, or perhaps the free-for-all? That might work…” She starts pacing back and forth while murmuring something to herself. Nice to see I’m not the only one doing that.
As she goes on with her solo brainstorming Val and I catch our breath with tired smiles. My friend might not be happy about the same thing as I am, namely getting things done without any serious injury, however, we sure as hell are both relieved to be rid of the responsibility of today's examination.
My idea worked…. marginally. The trick of grounding electricity would be brilliant against lightning mages who actually throw the magic around instead of a melee fighter who enhances their weapons and body with it. Our dynamic duo used every bit of firepower and teamwork we could muster and it didn’t amount to anything. Of every prospective student both here or back in the Fort, we were by far the strongest, so seeing our attacks swatted away by a Rogue’s bare hand like flies was a bit of a wake-up call.
“...maybe even this year… Yeah, sounds plausible.” Melena finally stops and crosses her arms. “Tell me, in your opinion what would make you a better fighter?”
“Range and speed.” Valka replies instantly as this is a question often discussed in Fort Karon.
I just scratch my head because what I want and what would work are two different things. “I’m currently into inscription but they’re not really-”
“There’s nothing wrong with inscriptions.” She interrupts as I am about to justify something even I don’t believe. “You can build sturdy and lasting defensive positions, enhance your gear, or trick your enemy with some cleverly laid out decoys and traps. It’s a common misconception that the words of power are useless on the battlefield. Sure, setting one up takes time and even a small mistake can destroy your work but it’s not without use. Stop telling me what I want to hear and say what’s on your mind!”
I feel silly right now. It’s very unlike me to dance around a problem and reach for excuses.
“I want to learn inscriptions.” I tell her with confidence this time. “And maybe look for a way to fly.”
“Now we’re talking.” Melena grins in a weirdly intimidating way with her sharp fangs and taps the stone wall in the middle of the clearing again. “We should be on our way back. I have at least a hundred more students to evaluate today and this probably isn’t where you want to spend the rest of your day either.”
And a portal opens again.
I would usually agree and cuss at nature because of past experience but this place might not be that bad. It’s calm. A fluffy bed still wins by a landslide, ohh and some chocolate, I hope they have that here in the Capital.
Walking back through the portal we find ourselves in a tasteful, albeit empty room. “Go out the door and to the right.” Melena instructs us as the portal flashes and the scenery on the other side changes back to the room where my ‘interrogation’ went down. “Good job passing the evaluation girls, have a nice day.” And she’s gone.
“That went…”
“Yeah, it wasn’t that scary.” I finish the sentence for Valka. “You hungry?”
“I’m starving.”
***
After following the directions we were given and arriving back at the reception, our job in the Academy was done. My parents, accompanied by two of the Fist mercenaries sent to keep us safe, and the other four of our candidates sent here were all waiting for us right at the reception and as soon as we arrived our little group promptly left the Academy premises.
Whether or not the others got the same preferential treatment as the two of us I don’t know, and won't ask because I don’t care enough. But since the old mercenary dude praised all of us, even if it was half-assed, I guess we all passed.
“What now?” I ask the same old man as we leave the island.
“Now? We show you the local quarters and let you rest until the opening ceremony.” He answers in a slow and thoughtful manner. “Our job here is done and thus we’ll soon return to Granhall but fear not, the Fist’s presence here in the capital is only second to the headquarters, you won't be without protection.”
I hope this translates to ‘Here’s your bed, do whatever you want.’
Compared to the carriage, traveling in this city by foot is an even bigger complete nightmare. People push and shout, constantly in a rush and leaving so little personal space I can almost feel their breath on my neck.
“I hate this city.” I grumble quietly.
“Yeah, way too many humans.” Valka agrees. “Like arriving in the nest of those rabbit abominations.”
Not exactly what I meant… I also generally dislike humans as a species and if I was forced to kill either a human or an orc the human would probably have to go. Not that I want to murder anyone… For orcs, violence is a cultural thing. Humans on the other hand are generally driven by greed.
This is still nothing compared to Valka’s dislike and I really hope for her sake that she can outgrow her hate sometime in the future. Otherwise, her life will be miserable on the continent with a human majority.
We push through the center of the gigantic city, through its commercial area, and arrive in a lot calmer district with an atmosphere of wealth. Instead of buildings looking like regular houses stacked on and around one another, the manors here have little fenced gardens and a much less crammed vibe.
I did have my hopes up that one of the spacious and extravagant houses would be the so-called local quarters and was still surprised when we actually stopped at one of them. My shock quickly disappeared when I examined the building more closely.
No over-the-top adornment, no colorful garden of flowers, and no family crest visible anywhere. Esthetically it is below average, however, it dwarfs all the adjacent manors in size.
“Welcome to the Sereban brach safehouse or Crown Nest as we like to call it.” Then the old man – whose name I should’ve learned by now but since he’s leaving soon it won't matter – looks at my parents hesitantly.
“Message received, we have our own place anyway.” Mom waves his concerns off. “Although I think it’d be better if the girls stayed at home. With us. Is that possible to arrange?”
A long discussion follows with arguments thrown around concerning safety, subtlety, comfort, and to my surprise our opinion. In the end, the final verdict is decided by a single sentence. ‘This is the capital. In this city, even the Emperor can’t do anything funny without consequences.’
To translate it; some of the most powerful people in the country call this place their home. Even if someone discovered and kidnapped us, the news would spread like wildfire and the consequences would be devastating and unavoidable.
Even the simple rumor of a Blessed one being kidnapped on the streets of Sereban would tarnish the reputation of the Empire quite a bit.
So staying in our new home it is.
“Let’s check out this city of miracles shall we?” I ask, despite my apparent dislike for crowds.
I’d be lying if I said I’m not dying for a good round of sightseeing.