C-020: Another Classmate and the Beginning of the Praxis

"Pens down everyone! Your time is up," announced Isabella as the written evaluation of the BOTEs was finally over. "Now please submit your sheets."

"I hope that each and every one of you has prepared themselves for the practical evaluation," she added after all the students had submitted their test sheets. "Well then, since it seems that everyone has submitted their sheets, until break you'll have self-study."

She exited the room, carrying the stack of test papers.

"Haaa… Finally done with it," exclaimed Frank, releasing his tension as if he was melting.

"You make it sound as if you went through hell, but you were among the first ones to finish, right?" Emilia said, a tinge of teasing in her soft voice as she approached him.

"Give me a break, will ya? You never know if you succeeded or not until the results are out."

"I can't tell if you're humble or if that's false modesty."

"Exactly what do you take me for?" asked Frank as Emilia remained silent.

"Anyway, hey Ace, how did you do?" asked Frank as Ace was sitting behind him on the last row.

"I think I managed," Ace replied nonchalantly.

"You managed?"

"Yeah."

"Dude, there's no need to be embarrassed with me, you know? You can tell me what you've got on your heart."

"And I'm saying it'll be fine."

"Come on, Frank. Just leave the poor guy alone already," said Mira as she appeared out of nowhere, hugging Emilia from behind.

"Ah!" exclaimed Emilia, taken by surprise. "Jeez, Mira. Don't take me by surprise like that."

"Hehe~. Sorry."

"She's impressive. I almost didn't notice her," thought Ace, seemingly bored by the conversation.

"By the way, I didn't have time to ask you this morning, but why did you not come yesterday?" asked Emilia.

Mira pondered for a bit before giving her an answer.

"Just some minor family issues that needed to be taken care of."

"Guess even the Argos's Fire Princess isn't exempted from family affairs," said Frank.

"Please don't tease me. You know I don't like that nickname," Mira said, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

"By the way, who's our new friend?" asked Mira, staring at Ace. "He's been quiet for quite some time now."

"Ace Blakelord," replied Ace instantly.

"I see! So you're the Special Admission student. My name's Mira von Argos. Nice to meet you," she said, extending a handshake.

"Same here," Ace took her hand.

"But Blakelord, huh? When I saw your black hair, I thought you were one of the Howards, but it seems I was wrong. I didn't expect you to be related to the Infernal Swordsman."

"What!? The Infernal Swordsman? I knew your name sounded familiar so that's why," Frank jumped out of his seat.

"Seems like Chris is more popular than I imagined," thought Ace, seeing Frank's reaction.

"Who's that?" asked Emilia.

"Oh dear. Let me explain everything from the beginning for our little Emi so she can understand," said Mira as she started explaining who the Infernal Swordsman is.

"The Infernal Swordsman, Chris Blakelord, is one of the academy's most reputed students. At that time, the dean was still a professor and Chris Blakelord, was one of the top graduates."

"Exactly," Frank cut in. "Even if you check in the academy's history, 8 out of 10 of the most popular news of the academy talk about him. He's a living legend."

"I knew he was strong, but it seems he's more brilliant than I initially expected," thought Ace as he absorbed what he was being told.

"Then in that case, it wouldn't be surprising for Ace who is related to him, to be the second coming of Chris Blakelord at the academy, right?" innocently added Emilia.

"Yeah. It's a possibility," Frank agreed.

"Please don't decide things for me," Ace said, feeling uncomfortable from the sudden attention while the others then laughed.

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The days passed and finally, it was time for the practical evaluation test.

"Okay everyone," Isabella's voice boomed in through the loudspeaker. "Since some of you may not know the rules, I'll explain them clearly."

"You will be pitched against a monster that will be created through dark attribute illusion magic and your time limit will be 5 minutes. You only have one single goal… defeat the monster," she explained as some students felt nervous while others were excited.

"Don't worry about getting hurt either. The training stratum is equipped with pain reducing and injury nullifying enchantments, so you won't get seriously hurt," she reassured as she continued to explain.

"Now, as I call your names, you must step onto the training platform. Let's begin, shall we? Mira von Argos."

"Present!" she raised her hand.

"Please go on the training platform."

"Yes ma'am!"

"I'm curious of how difficult this test will be. From what the others told me, one of the first rites done in the academy is to choose a main weapon. After that, through the practical class, you get acclimated to it and how to use it. Seems like an efficient way of teaching them. But…" Ace's thoughts raced as he then glanced at Mira.

"Practice and reality are totally different," he continued, the glitching memories of the dungeon flashbacking in his mind. "I wonder if these students will even be able to handle fighting a monster, even if it's an illusion. In any case, let's see how strong she actually is. I could feel it earlier as we greeted each other, but as they say, actions speak louder than words."

A dark magic circle appeared several steps away from Mira. From it, with its deep black fur and savage bloodshot eyes, a clawed and fanged beast bigger than any other ordinary wolf, appeared from the circle.

"A Dire Wolf, huh? I'll make mincemeat of it soon in that case," Mira thought, a confident grin on her lips as she took out two daggers and postured herself for battle.

"Begin!" announced Isabella.

The battle didn't even last 30 seconds.

In a swift and precise motion, flames swirled around Mira and her daggers as she darted towards the dire wolf which also did the same at an incredible speed.

"So fast!" Ace was surprised.

"Now!" In a single step, Mira changed direction abruptly, going further away from the surprised dire wolf before changing her hold on her daggers, and leaping once again towards the monster.

"This fight is already over," thought Ace, who unlike most of the students, managed to follow Mira's movements with accurate precision.

"You're done!" yelled Mira as she sliced up the dire wolf which went up in flames.

"Mira von Argos. You pass!" announced Isabella as the other students went wild with awe and excitement.

"9.7 seconds was all it took her to finish this battle in a flash," thought Ace, staring at Mira who came down from the platform and was now celebrating her victory with Emilia who gave her a high five.

"Guess the academy won't be as boring as I thought it would."