Chapter 15 – "Destiny's Pairing."

While Eira continued to admire her surroundings and felt a surge of curiosity, a figure approached her—a guard clad in armor, who walked closer and, upon reaching her, said, "Hey, little girl! Are you planning to participate in the trials?" His voice carried a tone of encouragement, mistaking her nervousness for trepidation.

Eira turned to face the guard, studying his demeanor. She noticed the sword at his side and pondered for a moment before smirking. "I-I was afraid, so I thought I'd just stay behind," she replied, adopting a pitiful tone.

The guard's expression softened, seeing the child’s apparent vulnerability. "No, little miss, I know you come from one of the thirteen noble families—Nivara, right? But I have to guide you, even if it sounds cruel. I understand your family's reputation; letting a ten-year-old participate in these trials isn’t ideal. But it’s our responsibility to ensure you can pass the test they set for you," he said with a warm smile, though his words held an edge of practicality.

Eira sneered inwardly at his assumptions. "Ten years old? Pfft! I’m twelve! And is that supposed to be encouragement? It sounds more like you want me to suffer in some unknown trial," she thought, frustration mingling with determination. After a moment’s consideration, her curiosity got the better of her. "I-I want to go! How do I participate?" she asked, her voice brightening.

The guard’s eyes lit up at her enthusiasm. "You can head over there to write your name on the registration paper. Place your hand on the crystal ball, and we’ll assess which group you’ll be in," he instructed, a hint of excitement in his tone.

Eira nodded eagerly, feigning cluelessness. "Then guide me, please! I don’t know where to register."

"Follow me, and I’ll show you," the guard said, leading her through the throng of participants. Meanwhile, a girl with black hair, who had been waiting in line to participate, caught sight of Eira. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she exclaimed, "She’s here! My destiny!"

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That girl was Mira, the successor of the Sword God. She felt a thrill coursing through her, believing fate had guided Eira to her. "I need to get to her quickly so we can team up. If the staff won’t allow it, they’ll know the consequences!" Mira thought, her excitement igniting a sense of urgency. She strode toward the registration area, ignoring the line and causing murmurs of disbelief among the participants.

As she approached, two guards noticed her disregard for the queue. "Hey! You need to go back and wait in line!" one shouted, frustration in his voice. But Mira paid them no mind, continuing on her path. When they attempted to grab her shoulder, she halted, casting a fierce glare at the guards.

Mira then reached into her necklace and retrieved her money pouch, tossing it to the guards. "Call your staff. I want to team up with that little girl," she insisted, pointing at Eira, who stood on a chair to reach the registration table. The sight of her attempting to write caused the other students to blush at her cuteness, and they didn’t dare complain, recognizing her unique beauty and the signature features of the Nivara bloodline.

The guards exchanged glances, nodding at Mira before collecting the pouch full of gold. They retreated, leaving the other participants frowning in jealousy as they watched Mira skip the line with ease. They could only grit their teeth, knowing they could never afford to bribe the guards like that.

Meanwhile, Mira’s necklace began to glow, and a voice echoed in her mind. "Mira, why did you give away all your gold coins? We could have used that to buy resources to help you grow faster! What are you doing?" the soul of the Sword God exclaimed, clearly irritated.

"Hmm, that’s not important right now. What matters is I’m about to pair with my master!" Mira replied, a giddy grin spreading across her face as she watched Eira register. She felt an irresistible urge to care for Eira, as if she were destined to pet her like a loyal dog and control her.

On Eira’s side, she finished writing her name on the paper and jumped down from the chair. Eagerly, she approached the crystal ball to complete the registration process.

Moments later, she stood before the glowing orb. The examiner, a girl with a serious demeanor, instructed her, "Place your hand here so we can determine which group you will join."

Eira nodded, placing her palm against the crystal.

Swish...

The orb pulsed with a gentle light, casting an ethereal glow. Her stats materialized one after another, as if inscribed by an unseen hand:

MP 120

STAMINA 20

STRENGTH 12

AGILITY 15

INTELLIGENCE 18

LUCK 10

CONSTITUTION 10

Each attribute shimmered within the crystal, allowing Eira a moment to observe her current physical condition and mana levels. The image slowly faded, leaving only the glowing orb, reflecting her essence back at her.

The examiner’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected this child to possess such low stats, and her instinct was to refuse her participation. But just then, Mira, flanked by the guards, arrived. "Wait! This child will be pairing with me. If anyone has objections, speak now!" she declared, her voice radiating with intense white mana.