Chapter 176 - A test
The courtyard outside the academy echoed with the grumbles and yawns of students, all wearing various shades of disheveled uniforms. The early morning sun cast long shadows as they reluctantly assembled.
As the group grew, one by one, students arrived with tousled hair and bleary eyes. Some carried steaming cups of coffee, attempting to combat the persistent lethargy that clung to them. A particularly disgruntled student, Tessa, couldn't resist voicing her discontent.
"Why do we always need to gather this early?" she muttered, her voice laden with the weariness that still clung to her.
A nearby student, Aaron, yawned in agreement. "Right, I wish I knew that too."
A third voice, belonging to the ever-cynical Jake, chimed in, "Well, it is probably because they want to teach us how to be disciplined."
"Ho? We have a smart-ass here, huh?" mocked another student, Sarah, shooting Jake a teasing grin.
"What—"
"Bastard, do you think we don't know what? We just want to complain because we couldn't sleep enough," interrupted Mike, another student who shared the sentiment.
"Yeah. Of course, we know this is the right thing to do; it is just we hate it," added Lily, a normally cheerful student who seemed equally affected by the early hour.
The courtyard buzzed with grumbles and agreements, a collective sigh of discontent rising from the group.
Just as the disgruntled chorus reached its peak, a hushed silence fell over the courtyard as the students noticed a figure approaching.
Eleanor, the stern instructor known for her unwavering dedication to discipline, emerged from the shadows.
She walked with purpose, her gaze sweeping across the assembly of tired faces. The students straightened, attempting to shake off their morning grogginess and assume a semblance of alertness.
"Tch."
However, in the end, none of them could escape from the stern eyes of their insatiable professor.
"And these kids are supposed to be the saviors of the world," Eleanor grumbled as she took her position in front of them, her gaze continuing to assess everyone, one by one.
'But, there are still good ones in the batch.'
With the semester going forward and the cadets being tested every time, she now had enough data to assess most of the students.
Unsurprisingly, those from renowned families had already done well, and even then, some of them still surprised her.
Especially the blue-haired kid smiling in front of the rows.
Ethan Hartley.
He had already become the topic of the talk in the academy and in the Hunter Community, but as the professor who had been grading Ethan's notes from the start, she knew a lot better than everyone else how talented he was.
'That kid has that natural talent in him.'
When she was a student, she was also one of those 'natural' talents since she could feel a lot better than her peers all the time. Thus, she knew when she saw another monster.
According to her observations, Ethan's talent didn't lie in how good he was with mana or spear. It was his talent regarding combat.
Whenever he was against a strong enemy, even if he was overwhelmed, he had the possibility of winning.
'As if he was bound to overcome hardship.'
It was a weird feeling to see. The kid got stronger whenever he encountered someone strong. The more he fought, the stronger he got.
The more he fell into the pit, the stronger his desire to overcome it became, and that itself was a talent that was hard to come by.
'Adding this to his lineage…'
A monster that could never be stopped was about to be created, and she was witnessing it.
'I wonder if he is him?'
She asked herself once again. The possibility of the person she had been searching for all this time was Ethan.
-WRRR!
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly felt a vibration on her watch and realized it was the time to speak now. With a calm yet authoritative demeanor, she stepped forward, redirecting the focus of the assembled trainees.
"Alright, everyone, gather around," Eleanor's voice carried through the training ground, commanding the attention of the young Hunters. The vast expanse of the practice area became a stage for honing skills, with eager eyes turning toward the instructor.
"As Hunters, it's crucial to understand that our strength goes beyond mere physical prowess. It requires a mastery of mana," Eleanor began, her gaze sweeping over the faces of the attentive trainees. "Mana is the life force that courses through every living thing. It's the wellspring of our power and the key to unlocking abilities that defy the natural order."
She stopped at that moment and looked at the cadets.
"These words are what you have been hearing all this time up to now." With that said, she waved her hand. "However, all those words are meaningless if you don't truly know how to control your mana like a true Awakened."
SWOOSH!
She extended her hand, weaving fingers through the air to conjure a small, luminescent wisp of mana. The ethereal light shimmered, captivating the trainees' attention.
"Most of you should be able to look what I had conjured with my hands...However, did you actually see it? This is the question that you need to ask yourselves."
Eleanor's eyes scanned the faces of the trainees, measuring their reactions and anticipation. The subtle glow of the mana wisp lingered, a tangible reminder of the intangible force they were dealing with.
"Seeing through mana is not just perceiving the physical manifestation of spells or conjurations. It's about understanding the essence, the energy that flows through all things," Eleanor continued, her voice carrying the weight of experience. "Mana is not merely a tool; it's a language that speaks of the interconnectedness of the world.
To truly see through mana, you must go beyond the surface and delve into the currents that bind everything together."
She walked among the trainees, each step deliberate, and stopped before one young Hunter.
"What did you see?" Eleanor asked, her eyes probing. The cadet hesitated, and Eleanor nodded knowingly.
"Mana is not just a visual spectacle; it's a sensory experience. You must feel it, understand its rhythm, and let it guide your perception. The mana wisp I conjured is a fraction of the vast energy that surrounds us. To be a true Hunter, you must not only see it but feel it coursing through your very being."
With her words lingering in the air, Eleanor shifted the focus to the upcoming practical test.
"Now, to put your understanding to the test," she announced, her eyes sweeping over the assembled trainees.
"We will release a variety of Mana Formulas into the sky. Each of these formulas contains different types of psions and constructions. These Mana Formulas will then infiltrate the Academy's Forest, manifesting as flowers, leaves, or trees. Your task is to 'acquire' these disguised magic formulas within the forest and unravel their formulas.
According to your findings, you will write a report with your teammates, explaining your understanding of the Mana Formulas and possible ways to adapt them to your life as an Awakened."
FOOSH! FOOSH!
The students exchanged determined glances as they dispersed into the forest, a sense of competition lingering beneath the surface.
After all, from the start, all the students understood that there wasn't anything saying that no student needed to find the formula.
They needed to 'acquire' it.
Eleanor, observing from a distance, subtly implied the unspoken challenge – the possibility of deciphering and perhaps adopting the formulas discovered by fellow students.
"The formulas will be helpful for your understanding of your mana," Eleanor declared, her tone cryptic. "Your ability to unravel them and make them your own will be a testament to your growth as Hunters."
With those words, she had signaled her watch with her arm raised.
"Your groups are already formed, and now you will get a message saying your party."
DING!
Following her words, all the students felt their watches vibrating.
"Now, good luck to you all."
With those words, she had left, leaving all the students alone in front of the huge forest of the academy.
******
I knew from the start that this period that things would be different from now on, and the events would be put forward.
'But, to think the first event would not be a game event.'
In the game, there weren't any events where we would explore the forest and look for mana formulas.
'Well, I guess that would be boring.'
In any case, it was obvious that the game wouldn't be able to cover all the tests or practical lessons in the academy, so it wasn't a hassle.
'The thing is….'
"Hello."
I was matched with two people that I would have expected.
"..."
The glaring girl and the timid girl.
'Certainly an impressive line-up.'
It was quite understandable that I had ended up with Irina since she was a high-ranker, and I still ranked low. But, I couldn't quite understand Sylvie.
'I thought the academy would look after her.'
I was expecting things regarding Sylvie to change, but I wasn't expecting her to be on the same team as me.
'I also refuse to believe that they put this girl as the high-ranker that would protect Sylvie.'
There was no way the academy thought Irina was a good choice to protect Sylvie from anything that would come her way.
If they really thought about that….Then, I have nothing to say.
In any case, now here we were.
"Great. How did I end up with him?" Irina mumbled to herself, the annoyance evident in her voice. Even then, she made sure I could hear her.
She seemed particularly in a bad mood today, as she was different from the time when she was on the train.
Not that I cared much.
"It is not like I wanted to be in the same team as you either." I also didn't back off and retorted back. I had been training the whole night and forgot the time, and I was quite sleepless right now, so I was also not in a good mood.
"Oh? Really?"
"Really."
"Then, I guess I will go alone then."
"….Are you stupid?"
"Hah?"
"If you could go alone, why do you think they put us in a team? Did you forget what happened in the first dungeon?"
"…..I didn't."
"Then?"
"Tch…..I know…."
Just as I was bickering with Irina as usual, suddenly, I heard a sound coming from the side.
"S-Seriously, can we, um, focus on the a-a-assignment?"
Chapter 177 - A test (2)
For Sylvie, life recently had been pretty different.
Things had changed inside her, and she was well aware of them.
'Child.'
She had been constantly dreaming about someone whenever she slept. There would always be a silhouette that had been appearing, and the silhouette would look [Divine].
Their voice would be holy, and Sylvie would be in a trance whenever they appeared.
There was also another change inside her. In her status window, Sylvie could see one of her [Traits] had changed.
A trait that had always been a mystery to her was now awakened.
[First Lord's Authority]
That was what it wrote on the status window, and she knew that power was related to this trait.
She intuitively knew the powers lying inside her. She could sense them. She was also well aware that her abilities were all enhanced.
If before she was having a hard time healing people and using her mana smoothly, now she didn't have a hard time.
Whenever she had wished for something, the wound would disappear. It was truly a miraculous scene. She could also see the feelings of people in a lot more detail now, and she could understand them a lot better as well.
At first, it was a little overwhelming to see all those different feelings and thoughts of people. Especially the first days had been tiring.
But after a week had passed, she no longer felt overwhelmed.
But that wasn't the end. She knew the powers inside her were meant to be different. She could sense instinctively that she had now become someone very important.
Of course, she didn't mention anything to anybody related to her powers and kept them inside since something was telling her that she should never trust people. Especially from the moment she had seen Danielle and the feelings she had harbored.
However, now she had a different problem than all of that before.
The two people bickering in front of her, her teammates.
One of them was Astron, the boy she somehow had the weirdest interactions and the other one was a girl she only knew outside.
Irina was a girl she never thought she would talk to, and she also never wished to. After all, she was well aware of how this girl's feelings suddenly erupted out of nowhere.
The fury and the hatred she possessed rivaled Astron's, but if one thing was different, then that would be the fact that she always showed it rather than hiding it like him.
And, in the midst of these two volcanos, she was trapped.
'Why am I with these two?'
She asked herself, but the answer didn't come.
"If you could go alone, why do you think they put us in a team? Did you forget what happened in the first dungeon?"
"…..I didn't."
Seeing their bickering, she couldn't help but feel like this wouldn't go anywhere.
'I need to do something.'
She knew she needed to do something, but at the same time, she felt scared.
'No.'
However, she swore to herself that she wouldn't stay as her weak self anymore, not after what she had seen. Though, things were never as easy as they seemed.
"S-Seriously, can we, um, focus on the a-a-assignment?" She stammered, her voice barely audible amid the continued bickering of Irina and Astron.
'!'
The moment she spoke, both Astron and Irina turned to look at her. Irina's fiery gaze clashed with Sylvie's anxious eyes while Astron's more indifferent expression bore into her.
"I don't need someone who can't even defend themselves properly," Irina scoffed.
"You are the one to talk. Did you forget who saved you last time?" Astron shot back.
"Tch. You don't need to rub it every time."
"It is not like I want to. It is just that someone seems to forget things quite often."
"Right….At least I am not escaping."
"Better than setting everything on fire when I get annoyed."
"….."
'What is this?'
As Sylvie observed their exchange, annoyance started to bubble within her.
'He is enjoying it?'
It was not just the bickering that bothered her but the fact that Astron seemed to be enjoying this banter with Irina.
'When I am trying my best to keep them together?'
It felt like she was standing there, invisible and unheard.
'Why can't they see I'm trying to help?' she thought, her frustration growing.
The frustration within Sylvie reached its peak, and with a sudden burst of courage, she interjected with a loud shout, "Enough!"
Both Irina and Astron turned their attention to Sylvie, surprised by the sudden outburst. Even the ambient mana in the room seemed to quiver momentarily as if to respond to her emotions.
Astron's eyes were especially wider than Irina's as if he had realized something different with Sylvie.
Irina also gave a surprised reaction as, being a mage that sensitive to mana, she could easily see the fluctuations that were happening around them.
'There was someone like this in the lower ranks?'
Irina was well aware of the powerhouses in the academy since she was forced to study them, but she had never heard about this girl.
'Sylvie Gracewind, huh? Interesting.'
"I-I mean, c-can't we just work together?" Sylvie continued, her voice wavering but determined. "We are a team, and arguing like this won't help us with the assignment. We need to cooperate."
However, at that second, she had returned to her usual state.
'Does she not know how to control it?' Irina thought, looking at Sylvie.
Sylvie's sudden burst of courage seemed to dissipate as quickly as it appeared, and a blush crept up her cheeks. The attention from both Irina and Astron made her feel self-conscious. It was evident that the stage she was in was just. Before was unnatural and came from her heart.
"I-I mean, um, sorry if I shouted. I just thought, you know, we should try to get along," Sylvie stammered, her gaze shifting nervously between her teammates.
'How amusing.'
For some reason, seeing the girl's innocence, Irina felt refreshed.
'It had been a while since I felt like this.'
It was a weird feeling that she got as if being in the presence of this girl made her heart calm. She turned to look at Astron, only to see him with his brows knitted.
'Sigh….This guy never takes a step back.'
Knowing this, she knew the more they bickered, the more things would be pointless. Contrary to this guy, she needed to get good grades in each assignment, and she needed to keep herself from trying to give an answer every time.
Even without herself knowing, slowly, she was becoming a different person with each interaction.
"Sigh….Let's calm down, as she said," Irina remarked, her voice adopting a more resigned tone. She glanced at Astron, her fiery gaze softening slightly. "We're stuck in the same team for now, and there's no changing that. Might as well make the best of it."
Astron, though still wearing a hint of irritation on his face, nodded in agreement. "Seems like someone finally got their act together."
'Tch…Bastard, you will never let me have the last word, won't you?'
Even though his words stung a little, she simply swallowed her pride and started walking towards the forest.
As they walked, Irina took a moment to explain the task at hand. "Our goal is to find Mana Formulas hidden within the forest, just as the instructor said. Do you know how to use Mana Observation?" Turning her head to the other two, she asked.
Sylvie and Astron exchanged a glance before shaking their heads in unison. The concept of Mana Observation was foreign to both of them.
For Sylvie, it was because she had never needed to use mana in this manner; neither had she had any desire to do so.
For Astron, it was mostly because he relied on his [Skill] rather than using the raw mana to enhance his vision and also because he partly came from another world, though Irina had no way of knowing that.
Irina sighed, recognizing the knowledge gap. "Mana Observation is a basic technique for a mage. As you've been learning spells and magic, you need to see the world through the eyes of mana."
'Is that why I was matched with these two?'
The Academy certainly had a way of doing things. She knew she didn't need any teammates from the start since she could find the magic formulas on her own. However, now she felt like she was slowly understanding the purpose of this test.
'Are they trying to make use of high-ranking students to teach others at the same time? It is quite clever.'
She laughed her chest with pride, knowing that the academy regarded her as a high-ranking member. After her last conversation with Seraphina, her confidence got a small hit, but with this, she returned to her usual self.
'Anyway, I should continue.'
She continued, explaining the intricacies of the technique. "It's not as simple as it seems. You need to infuse your mana into your eyes effectively. This enhances your neurons and the receptors that capture light, specifically attuning them to mana signals."
Irina glanced at Sylvie and Astron, gauging their understanding. "Magic Formulas are crafted from pure mana. Normally, our eyes are designed to receive information transmitted by light. That's why a regular person wouldn't see mana unless it turns itself into light. But when you apply mana specifically to your eyes, the receptors become receptive to mana signals, allowing you to perceive raw mana."
She took a deep breath, considering the significance of this information. "So, to find these Mana Formulas, we need to use Mana Observation. It's not optional; it's crucial for this task. Let me show you how to do it."
Irina slowed her pace, allowing the others to catch up. As they continued through the forest, she demonstrated the process of Mana Observation. "Focus on the mana around you. Picture it flowing through your surroundings, and then channel your own mana into your eyes. It's about attuning your senses to the mana wavelengths present in the forest. Try it.
It might take some practice, but it's a fundamental skill for any Hunter, let alone a mage."
'Humph. You should thank the academy that for having me at the party instead of other high-ranking students specializing in close combat.' She thought with a smile.
"You don't need to be successful on the first try; it is okay to struggle. Even the mages would-"
She was about to elaborate that even though it sounded easy to make, in reality, it wasn't, but at that second, her whole belief shattered.
"Umm…Like this?"
The girl she thought to be cute and innocent appeared to be a hidden dragon.
'What?'
Chapter 178 - A test (3)
'What the hell?'
Irina turned to see Sylvie with her eyes subtly glowing, a faint aura of mana surrounding her. The timid healer had somehow managed to execute Mana Observation on her first attempt, and she couldn't help but open her eyes wide after seeing this.
'She did it instantly?'
It was really a surprising scene. Even she herself, one of the most gifted mages in this whole world, wasn't able to use Mana Observation on the try.
'How come someone like this was missed?'
Even if it slightly scratched her pride, the thing concerning Sylvie wasn't her talent but how it went unnoticed by the eyes of others.
A person with such a talent meant to be someone who would shine amongst others, but Sylvie hadn't shone.
'Is she lying?'
In the end, she couldn't help but narrow her eyes. It was suspicious, a lot suspicious. There was no way the information forces of the Emberheart Family would have missed such a talent.
That meant it was highly likely that Sylvie was bluffing to get their attention.
'Does she think I would be impressed by this?'
As Irina subtly scrutinized her, Sylvie's demeanor shifted. The timid healer, sensing Irina's gaze, began to fidget nervously, her eyes avoiding direct contact.
"I-I'm sorry," Sylvie stuttered, her voice wavering. "I-it wasn't right, was it?"
Sylvie's self-esteem, already fragile, took a hit as she assumed Irina disapproved of her actions, but at the same time, her fragile look awakened something weird inside Irina.
'She doesn't seem to be lying, though. How can such an innocent girl lie?'
Her heart melted looking at fidgeting Sylvie, her previous assumptions getting pushed back at her mind.
In an unexpected turn, Irina reached out and gently patted Sylvie on the shoulder. "No, Sylvie, you did well. In fact, you surprised me. It's impressive that you managed to use Mana Observation on your first try."
However, while those two were interacting, a pair of purple eyes filled with mana noticed something different.
********
'As expected, Sylvie's power is really overpowered.'
In a world where countless different powers exist, every being that will hold special positions in the future is special.
The main cast of the game is especially included in this.
If Ethan is the hero that will save the future, then Sylvie is the one that will make him shine.
Future Saintess.
Such a position can't be held by someone who doesn't have the power to hold it.
[First Lord's Authority]
The special power that makes her shine.
It is such an overpowered trait that makes life for Sylvie easier and harder at the same time.
It is harder because she is now a contender for one of the world's biggest powers, and any other powerholder knows this will target her and will want to be in possession of such power.
It is easier because she is the contender for one of the world's biggest powers, which makes her special and above others. She can now understand mana as she wished and can make [Her Will Become True].
This is what [Authority] means.
It even has the power to affect other people's feelings and minds.
Just like how I can see right now.
'That small shiny aura must be her trait.'
With my eyes now amplified with mana, I could see the world differently. And that was also how I could see Sylvie's shiny aura now.
Of course, if I hadn't known about her powers beforehand, I would also possibly have been affected by them. After all, her aura makes others believe in her a lot more easily.
It is as if you instinctively know that she is an innocent being.
'Such a crazy power.'
Manipulating people's emotions in such a manner was indeed crazy and dangerous.
'She still doesn't know how to control her powers.'
Even in the game, it took a lot longer for her to understand her powers and their extent. And, considering it had just been a week for Sylvie, it was normal for her to be unaware of the powers she had possessed.
"What about you?"
While I was thinking about that, suddenly I heard Irina's voice addressing me. Turning my attention to her, I could see her eyes shining. "Were you able to grasp how Mana Observation works?"
She was looking at me with expectant eyes.
"No, it's not really clicking for me. I couldn't get it."
Of course, there was no way I was going to tell her that I got it on the first try. After all, I was already trying to lay low; there was no need to gather too much attention on me.
[Perceptive Insight] did work on the concepts and the soft skills as well. There were many things I could observe by just watching.
That was especially true with things like this.
Irina used Mana Observation while moving her mana around her eyes, which I was able to observe. Adding the knowledge she had provided beforehand, it was very easy for me to get a grasp of it.
'I just needed to move my mana into my eyes.'
Of course, I knew it was easier said than done, but at this point, I should also thank Senior Maya. Her way of teaching me how to control my mana innately made it very easy. While she was teaching me, she made sure to lay the foundations perfectly.
I had been constantly revising those memories from time to time to make sure that muscle memory was fetched in my body. Thus, moving my mana into very specific locations also didn't take too long, and this made me appreciate her teachings more and more.
'But, to think I had been missing this for so long.'
The game lacked when it came to the aspect of magic. Since Ethan wasn't a magician, there weren't many explanations regarding skills, and Mana Observation seems to be one of those that were forgotten. The academy also hasn't taught us many things, either, until now.
So, I was actually quite illiterate in this aspect, and that also made my creativity limited.
'I should research after returning to my room.'
It was important for me to broaden my horizons so that I would be able to utilize every little strength I could.
"Well, well, Astron. Having trouble seeing the invisible forces around us? Maybe you need a bit more magic in those eyes of yours."
'Huh?'
Hearing her words made me cringe. The choice of her words certainly made me remember that she came from a noble family, especially one with traditions.
'What is this girl talking about?'
Seeing Irina's smirk, I wanted to retort but held it in.
'It is a small price to pay.'
"Guess so."
Shrugging off, I replied in a nonchalant tone, the same as usual.
"…."
And the expression on Irina's face was something to take note of. She was probably expecting me to retort, but seeing me accepting that fact easily, her plans crumbled.
"Cough….It is good that you know your place."
"Yeah, yeah, miss Mage….So what is the plan?"
Since Sylvie was also able to use Mana Observation, Irina probably didn't want to spend much time waiting either. At this point, she also must have realized the purpose of this training and why she was paired with students like us.
Irina rolled her eyes but couldn't hide a small grin.
"We shouldn't waste any more time. Let's focus on finding those mana formulas in the forest. Remember what I showed you about Mana Observation. Since you have already figured out how to use it, Sylvie, you and I will look for the possible Mana Formulas around."
"I will do my best."
It seemed Sylvie was relatively weak to acknowledge, as her demeanor immediately changed after Irina spoke to her with a trusting tone.
'Maybe I should have used the same approach?'
It was just an assumption, but in the end, the past was in the past, and there was nothing I could change about it.
"And, since this useless guy over here still can't use Mana Observation, I will leave him the scouting. We need to be aware of the other students as well."
'Tch.'
I clicked my tone inwardly, hearing her words.
'She changed.'
However, slowly but surely, she was improving. Irina's ability to understand how the groups worked and how to analyze situations was almost nonexistent at the start, but now she finally became someone who could make rational decisions and lead the group.
'At least, she satisfies the bare minimum for the leadership.'
Of course, it wasn't that easy to lead, and a good leader needed to possess a lot more characteristics; however, at the very least, she was at the starting point.
"Any problem with that?"
'Maybe I should take it back?' Looking at her crossed arms, the thought passed my head. I really wanted to see her haughty face crumble, but that was the case for a later time.
"No."
"Good, we can start moving then."
Just like that, the group started moving in the terrain.
*******
After walking for a while, the forest began to reveal its secrets. Irina and Sylvie, using their Mana Observation, were looking at the forest from the eyes of mana and mages.
"So this is how it feels?" Sylvie mumbled, looking at the forest in awe. Everything was a lot different from what she had seen in the past.
Even the trees possessed a unique mana that made the forest more colorful than it had ever been.
"How is it?" Irina asked, a proud smile on her face. Even though it was Sylvie's talent that she learned this fast, at the very least, she could be considered as her teacher, right?
Sylvie, still marveling at the newfound perspective, nodded enthusiastically. "It's incredible, Irina. I never imagined the mana in the forest would be so vibrant and diverse. It's like seeing the world in a completely different light."
Irina chuckled, enjoying the genuine excitement in Sylvie's eyes. "That's the beauty of Mana for a mage. It allows you to perceive the world in ways others can't. You'll find that it's an invaluable skill, especially in our line of work."
Sylvie's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Have you always been able to see mana like this, Irina?"
"Well, you can say that. I was taught how to use Mana Observation after the moment I awakened."
"Ah…Right." Sylvie remembered that Irina came from a renowned mage family, and she understood it was a pretty normal achievement for Irina. "It must have been great to learn something like this at such a young age."
It was an innocent remark coming from a girl who didn't know much about the world. However, for a second, Irina's expression faltered, and a shadow passed over her face.
'….'
The mention of her childhood and early training brought back memories she often tried to push aside. The expectations, the relentless training, the pressure to excel – all of it was etched into her past.
"Yeah, great," Irina replied, but her tone held a hint of bitterness. Of course, she instantly masked it with a forced smile. "But not everyone starts like this, so it is normal for you to learn it right now. I could even say you are pretty talented at this."
Sylvie noticed the subtle shift in Irina's demeanor, realizing she had unintentionally touched on a sensitive subject. After all, her eyes could see the feelings the person had, and the ones Irina held weren't certainly pleasant.
"Irina, I didn't mean to..." She wanted to express her concern but stopped after seeing Irina shaking her head.
"No, it's fine; you don't need to fret over it."
With those words, a momentary silence ensued, making the atmosphere awkward.
"Did you finish your empty talk?"
At least, until the guy on the back opened his mouth.
"What?"
Irina turned to look at Astron speaking, and she realized his purple eyes were shining with mana.
'Huh?'
"If you finished, should we capture the target in front of us?"
It seemed even if he wasn't a monster like Sylvie, this guy wasn't that bad after all.
Chapter 179 - A test (4)
Just like that, Irina and Sylvie, distracted by their conversation, turned their attention to where Astron was pointing.
To their surprise, a small squirrel made entirely of mana walked gracefully in front of them. The creature's form shimmered with ethereal light, and it seemed to follow a predetermined path through the forest.
"A Mana Formula disguised as a squirrel?" Irina mused, her eyes narrowing as she observed the magical creature. It was quite a sight to see such a complex life form was imitated by a magic formula, meaning they would get a lot more points just from capturing and defusing it.
Sylvie couldn't help but smile. "It's so cute! Can we catch it?"
'Hmm….She is weak to cute things.'
Irina mentally noted seeing Sylvie's reaction and chuckled at her enthusiasm.
"Of course, we can. Remember, the goal is to find these formulas and understand them. Let's work together and capture it without harm-"
SWOOSH!
Just as she was about to continue her words, suddenly, an arrow shining green went right past through her ears.
STAB!
And stabbed the pitiful squirrel from its legs, hindering its movements. However, instead of dissipating, the squirrel staggered, its movements hindered by the magical impact.
GASP!
Sylvie gasped, worried about the creature's well-being. "Did you have to do that?"
Irina, with a mixture of frustration and intrigue, turned her gaze to Astron. "What was the point of that? We were supposed to capture it unharmed!"
Astron, unfazed by their disapproving glares, calmly retrieved another arrow. "Relax. It's just a magic formula. We needed to see how it reacts to an attack, right?"
He looked composed for someone who had just shot a pitiful, innocent squirrel. "And, it is not like it is dead or anything. The formula is just fine; what you are seeing is nothing but an illusion."
Just as he said, the squirrel would have dissipated if the magic formula had been affected and destroyed. That itself showed that the arrow didn't cause any harm to their objective. It actually made their lives easier since the squirrel was bound to be different from other formulas.
Most likely, it would be able to escape rapidly.
"Still….."
However, even then, it was quite heartbreaking to see that cute squirrel squirm like that.
"For someone who burns monsters alive, you are quite sensitive about a little mana squirrel," Astron remarked, his tone as expressionless as ever.
Irina shot him a glare, her frustration mounting. The reason wasn't because he was wrong. It was because he was right since she had killed countless other monsters and took pleasure in the act of combat.
'But, I haven't fallen enough to shoot an innocent squirrel.' She wanted to retort, but she didn't hold her word. She knew he was just going to shrug it off anyway.'
"Sigh….Let me take a look."
With a hearty sigh, Irina approached the struggling squirrel. She extended her hand, palm glowing faintly with mana. The magical aura enveloped the wounded creature, and she carefully observed the reactions of the formula. It squirmed but showed no signs of dispersing.
"Remarkable," Irina murmured, her gaze fixed on the enchanted squirrel. "The formula has a resilient structure. The arrow impact seems to have altered its movements but hasn't disrupted the magical construct. Interesting."
She retrieved a small, intricate artifact provided by the academy for this exam. The device was designed to record and analyze mana formulas, an essential tool for investigators since awakeners would always leave traces in the form of Magic Formulas even if they had used skills.
Of course, this device they were provided was actually the lesser version of the real one, but it still did the job.
Placing it close to the mana squirrel, Irina initiated the recording process. A minute later, the squirrel disappeared, leaving no trace as the mana was absorbed by the artifact.
"It is over, let's go." And then, she continued leading the group into the forest.
On the way, none of the three talked. Sylvie was busy looking at the environment and controlling her eyes, and Irina was observing him.
'This guy….'
Looking at those shining purple eyes, Irina thought to herself.
'I knew it. He is quite smart.'
She still didn't know why he was ranked this low, but after being with him for a whole period and exploring dungeons, she admitted that Astron was someone who learned fast. He might not be a genius like her or this monstrous girl, but he was at least way above average.
The time it took him to learn the Mana Observation was a lot shorter than even most of the mages under their family, whom she had sparred when she was a child.
'Tch. I can't make fun of him anymore.'
Now that he finally got a grasp of how to use Mana Observation, she lost the small chance to make fun of him.
'Well, it might not be that bad.'
His reaction speed was insanely fast, and most importantly, the time for him to assess the situation and make decisions was almost nonexistent.
He didn't waste any second while making plans and acted instantly, just like he did with the squirrel.
'I hate to admit it, but he is a lot better in terms of this.'
Even though it might scratch her pride, in the end, she wasn't an asshole who refused to accept other people's achievements.
'Well, I might have been that asshole.'
Just like that, the group ventured into the forest, looking around for squirrels. Since all three of them were able to use Mana Observation, they swiftly found Mana Formulas disguised as parts of a forest.
Irina used her magic to trap the monsters where the magic formulas were attached.
Even though she was a fire mage mostly focusing on explosive elements, because this time it was a capture, she used other forms of magic as well. Even then, she proved why she was labeled as a genius, as her other forms of magic were also strong and swift.
Astron was Astron, as he simply used arrows, and as for Sylvie, she was the one that surprised the two the most, as she was somehow able to 'charm' the magic formulas, making them unable to move.
It was quite a weird scene to witness and clearly something Irina was seeing for the first time.
However, that peaceful time reached its end not long after...
*******
'Something is not right.'
I thought, walking in the forest.
'The presence of other students is lessened considerably.'
In the past hour, we had been exploring the dungeon and recorded quite a lot of formulas on the device. And, of course, since many of the first-year students were also in the forest, normally, we were bound to encounter others, and a fight would occur, but our 'smart' leader came up with another good idea.
She released her aura intentionally, making other students aware of her presence.
'Certainly, something expected from Irina.'
Knowing what kind of person she was, it was evident that she would do something like this. Of course, what she did wasn't bad. Most of the other students would never want to go against her in this forest either since she was basically one of the strongest students in the academy.
It wasn't wise to make an enemy of her, and it seemed most students knew their place.
However, this method had a small disadvantage, something that might have been detrimental to us.
It was the existence of other possible high-ranking students who held the same amounts of authority and power as Irina—someone who could go against her toe-to-toe.
If someone like that were around us, they would be well aware of our location, and that would give them an advantage over us since they could conceal their presence.
Slowly approaching Irina, I whispered.
"Have you noticed it?"
"Not-"
"Sssh….."
Seeing my hand, she naturally lowered her voice and looked at me.
"Noticed what?"
"…..Really?"
It seems this girl still held the same pride that made her this carefree. Releasing her aura intentionally while not paying attention….
'Do I really need to crush her pride?'
I thought but discarded the idea not long after. Even though she was flawed, this was what made Irina a strong individual.
"What are you talking about?"
However, she was still dumb when it came to picking things up.
"You really need to be more careful when you do such a thing."
"What do you me-"
Just as she was about to continue, she stopped her tracks. It seems she also finally realized what was missing. Of course, she should. Her stats must be much higher than mine, so there was no way she would miss what I had seen if she looked at it carefully with her high mana sensitivity as well.
Truly, I wish this arrogance of hers was at least a little limited to some extent. Maybe, then, she would be the strongest.
"Sylvie."
She immediately looked at Sylvie and then turned her attention to me.
"Cover her."
At the very least, she knew one of the core rules of a party.
Always protect the healer if there is one, and knowing that Sylvie wasn't someone who could protect herself, I immediately dashed towards to her, sensing the incoming projectiles.
"Wh-"
THUD!
As Sylvie looked at me in confusion, I quickly grabbed her, tackling her to the ground just in time.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Countless ice shards materialized on the ground where we had been standing, a deadly dance of frozen projectiles aimed at our group.
"Stay down," I muttered to Sylvie while already having taken cover from the boulder in front of us.
She didn't ask any questions either. It seems she got used to such situations in her past dungeon explorations in the first period.
'Good, she is not a liability, at least.'
Having someone in your team who panics is not good. I guess I should thank her first group for that.
BOOM! SWIRL!
In that split second, fire erupted around us. I glanced over to see Irina, her eyes ablaze with determination. She manipulated the flames expertly, creating a fiery barrier that intercepted the incoming ice shards.
"Wha-what's happening?" Sylvie asked, her eyes wide with surprise while looking at the flames and ice clashing.
'Well, this scene is certainly not normal.'
The amount of mana that had gathered around us wasn't normal, and there was no way Sylvie had missed that mana with her new powers as well. It was quite understandable that she was feeling overwhelmed, thanks to that amount.
"Stay low and quiet," I advised, my gaze fixed on the source of the attack.
After all, there was only one person who could confront our fiery mage.
"Ho….you are pretty good as usual."
Emerging from the shadows was another student, an incredibly beautiful girl with silver hair cascading towards her waist and eyes as blue as an icy winter sky.
"Seraphina."
The rival of Irina and one of the strongest future characters stood in front of our group.
Seraphina Frostborne.