0̶͍̙͚̮̰͈͓͙̤̘̰̙̪̩̌̎̓́̂́̄́̀̑̒̄2̷̦͇̱̲̱͖̙̪͚̥͙̒̅̏̈́̈́̿̾̏͛͑̂͊5̵̝͗̈͠

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘SO?’, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?!” Amy exclaimed utterly taken aback by Corlissa’s meagre response.

“Yes, I do, it means that I moved up 2 years and I get to play,” Corlissa responded completely seriously, everyone else couldn’t help but have their attention drawn to their exchange.

Miss Vontaine could only let out a defeated almost tired sigh, “I don’t even know what to say anymore. What are you?”

“Hmm..? I’m a human of course.”

“Haa...I don’t know at this point. Anyways, the reason why this is so important is that this is the first time that a first-year has moved up this many years and is also the first time that a first-year in Division C has participated in the Proelium. Heck, this is the first time anyone not in The Summit has ever participated in the Proelium!”

‘OH- I forgot that it was an annual thing, I thought I only had to deal with it when Evie was part of The Summit. Oh well! More training for me!’ Corlissa thought with a completely blank expression while stating a simple, “Oh okay.”

While Amy was rambling about how important it was, some seniors from Division A approached them or rather were preparing to intimidate Corlissa.

“Hey, first-year! You may have been chosen to participate in the Proelium but we are still more experienced than you, don’t go around bloating or inflating your ego!” one of them yelled.

An amused cackle resounded from the Headmistress’ office, sending shivers down the spines of people passing by, ‘Watching what happens with Corlissa is certainly the most entertaining!’ she thought to herself.

“I didn’t though and I certainly won’t. Even if you’re my senior in the number of years you have been wasting away, unless I acknowledge you, you aren’t worthy of my respect. Unfortunately, you won’t have anyone to topple the baseless pride that you have accumulated within a mere 3 years but don’t worry if you want I can help you feel humility whenever you want.”

“How impertinent! Just because you’re the coddled daughter of the Duke, I won’t go easy on you!” one of them retorted, as they all charged at the girl staring down at them like they were dirt treating as more of a threat to her hygiene than her safety.

The group of third years conjured their desired weapon in their hands and swung at Corlissa who quickly responded by sidestepping and carrying Amy away with air magic. She then proceeded to create a cube of air magic lifting her and the third years into the air so Corlissa didn't have to worry about the damages.

Glancing at the 5 third-years in front of her, she let out a dejected sigh, “I was already tired since Miss Luxiere didn’t give me my rightful candy and now I have to deal with you? I don’t have the time for this, I just want to go back to bed and sleep in. Actually...what if I ask for a custom cloak, Division A Class 3-S all have unique cloaks, right? If they were allowed to wear them because they were strong then if I beat one of them...I can ask for them to make the inside of my cloak really comfy like a blanket, so I’ll be in a blanket burrito every day!” Corlissa said to no one in particular while also having sparkles radiating from her eyes when she had the idea of being in the comfort of a warm blanket everyday.

“Wha- Stop underestimating us!” one boy yelled as they got into place effortlessly, it was evident that they had possibly impeccable teamwork.

The two people in the front of their formation charged at the young lady, their slashes intertwining but never overtaking, for the spectators in Division C who had never witnessed such abilities before, it was stunning, almost enticing. It appeared that they left no openings for the Veronique to dodge, their swings interlacing to create a web of attacks.

“I think you’re the one underestimating me, what’s with this puny attack. Put your back into,” Corlissa leisurely provoked despite the situation she was in.

The attack grew closer, the ranged mages unleashing their own attacks that would be carried by their close combat fighters, strengthening the attack making it more powerful. Yet still, Corlissa made no effort to move, it was rapidly growing closer, cutting through the air dangerously close to Corlissa.

The attack reached Corlissa, she reached out her hand, not encased in any magic or mana and grabbed the attack, it appeared that she had stopped the attack from harming her as the slashes from their swords stopped moving. Another attack in the shape of a swing of a blade came from behind the attack aiming straight for her head, she swiftly moved her head to the side but a thin cut was found on her cheek. Without needing time to recuperate, her right arm abruptly moved behind her and grasped the attack that had lightly cut her, and swinging at what seemed to be the thin air.

That was what they had thought before a thud resounded against the barrier of the box and a cough came out of someone’s mouth, the face of a person slowly appearing.

With a face clearly expressing pain the boy managed to ask, “How did you know?”

“Before all of you started your attack, it was easy to determine who were close combat fighters depending on the muscles that you had developed, so when only two of the three close-range attackers charged there was something off,” the young Veronique announced as everyone was rendered speechless. The only ones who were more doubtful after hearing that were the ones in Division A Class 3-S, they knew who would win, their underclassmen stood no chance against a person like that.

The two remaining range attackers unleashed attacks, one of them providing support magic to the pair of sword users after their attack was completed. The sword wielders ran at the young Veronique again and swung their swords without restraint, Corlissa dropped the makeshift blade in her hand. The young girl gazed up at the duo and their attacks before dropping down and sweeping their legs, the one who was next to the boy who had fallen instinctively jumped up only for Corlissa’s foot to reach alarmingly close to his groin as she performed a high kick in a crouching position.

The poor boy who had almost got kicked powerfully on his ‘Family Jewels’, was blue in terror but let out a sigh of relief as the young Veronique altered the course of the kick out of pity.

Three out of the five seniors that had confronted her were all left unable to stand as she proceeded towards the ranged attackers casually, leaving the pair of girls to cower away.

“Unless you have anything up your sleeve, I think it’s safe to assume that you have lost.”

“N-no, we aren’t backing down!” one girl screamed while launching an onslaught of fireballs, the other girl sending out a whirlwind of dirt and sand.

Corlissa was in the middle of the whirlwind, the burning flames encasing her from the view of all the spectators. Dread gradually filled Miss Vontaine but was suppressed since she believed in the strength of Corlissa, though she couldn’t help but feel the slightest tinge of worry for her role model.

“That was quite harsh, I almost had to use my magic for a second,” the Veronique’s voice rang out nonchalantly stepping out of the spiral of flames completely unscathed.

“H-how?”

“There were openings because your attacks didn’t fuse completely, now then, shall we pick a winner?”

The young Veronique, ran at the pair, leaving only her afterimage for them to see. They set up a carrier around them to prevent any attacks but it was all for nothing, even though they were years older than her, even though they had more experience, even though they had undertaken more lessons, they couldn’t win. A bare hand pierced through the multitude of protective barriers and shattered them all completely.

Corlissa reached out, her hands grabbing both of their forearms before pulling them down to the base of the box, landing with a resounding thud. The duo groaned in pain as they could no longer stand back up again, after checking how no one was charging to attack her anymore, the young Veronique removed the box encasing them and gently escorted them back to the ground.

After realising that they were unable to walk themselves to the infirmary, she lifted them using air magic and moved them to where they could get their wounds treated by the staff while she was mentally preparing herself for a scolding from any of the teachers.

“Are you okay?!” Amy questioned with slight panic which Corlissa responded with a pointed stare.

“It’s just a scratch,” she answered before a ping reverberated from every student’s pins situated on the collar of their coat signalling that it was time for class.

The Veronique found everything tiresome, she had already learnt everything that was taught and she was always the target of animosity since she had moved up so many classes. They were all envious of what she had accomplished and also of the fact that she was chosen to participate in the Proelium, which was considered an honour only bestowed upon the strongest figures of the academy. Since Corlissa was chosen when there were limited places, she had knocked out some of the students in The Summit which angered some.

The first years of Division C were rooting for her success but some also held malice and jealousy since she was the same age as them but had a strength that couldn’t be compared to. Though her only friend that she had made, Amy Vontaine, was growing more worried as the Proelium drew closer, the dangers of the Proelium were not to be taken lightly. Many young talents had lost their lives in the battles and survival in the competition which is why Amy was worried, an 8-year-old fighting against people double her age was truly alarming. However, Corlissa showed no signs of worry or panic as she passed each day sleeping in class and acing every test.

After her last lesson, she walked through the corridors towards the dining hall when she met an all too familiar face.

“Greetings to the First Prince.”

“Haha, you’re still as uptight as ever!”

“May I inquire as to if Your Highness has anything to say to me?” Corlissa asked without looking at Kinfael's eyes but in her peripheral vision, she could tell that the smile on his face dropped and his expression hardened.

“Let’s go somewhere more private,” he spoke with narrowed eyes.