Hunting the Blood Crows

Though it was just a basic hunting mission, Lucian prepared meticulously, bringing along his few remaining life-saving tools. After all, this wasn't just Carrie's first battle; in a sense, it was also his.

"Once we're outside, stay hidden as much as possible. Remember, the academy's rule against fighting only applies within the academy grounds. If you're killed outside and no one reports it, the academy won't investigate…" he explained as they walked, continuing to impart crucial knowledge to Carrie.

Carrie listened intently, clutching the round shield in her right hand a little tighter.

After a while, Lucian stopped, crouching down and gesturing for silence. Carrie quickly squatted down beside him, following his gaze.

Perched on a nearby branch was a crow about the size of an owl. Its eyes glowed a sinister red, and it had a striking blood-red crest atop its head.

This was their target: the Blood Crow.

Lucian gestured to himself, signalling that he'd take on this first one as a demonstration. Carrie nodded, holding her breath to observe Lucian's method closely.

But internally, Lucian was a bit tense. After all, this was his own first real combat experience. Under Carrie's watchful gaze, he knew he couldn't afford any mistakes.

With narrowed eyes, he mentally rehearsed the sequence before quickly constructing the spell model.

A blue "Chuchu Gel" appeared in his right hand—an innocuous-looking gel, but one that concealed searing heat beneath its calm surface.

"Go," Lucian whispered, flicking his wrist to send the unstable gel formed by Scorching Fire II hurtling toward the Blood Crow.

"Caw!" The crow noticed the threat too late, as the projectile was already upon it.

"Freeze," Lucian muttered, casting a secondary spell to immobilize the Blood Crow for a split second.

Sizzle—the seemingly calm "Chuchu Gel" exploded on contact, engulfing the crow in blue flames that burned it to ashes in an instant.

Lucian smiled in satisfaction—until he realized his smile was a bit premature. The crow had been completely incinerated, leaving only a few ashen remains, and its beak, required as mission-proof, had disintegrated as well.

Lucian's mouth twitched as he glanced at Carrie.

Fortunately, Carrie seemed unfazed, even watching with a glimmer of admiration in her eyes.

"Ahem, these fifty Blood Crows are your task for practical training." Lucian coughed, masking his embarrassment. "I'm only showing you the method this time, but you'll have to collect the proof of kills yourself. Understood?"

Carrie nodded enthusiastically, sensing her mentor's intentions.

[Your student Carrie feels deep reverence for you. +1 Reverence Points]

Lucian turned away, a bit flustered by the notification that popped up on his system panel.

"Ahem, alright, your turn!" Lucian said, lightly slapping his face to compose himself. He signalled for Carrie to handle the next Blood Crow.

"Lucian, just watch—I won't let you down!" Carrie thought to herself, a determined glint in her eyes.

Soon, they spotted a second Blood Crow.

This time, it was Carrie's turn.

Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on forming the spell model. A slightly unstable blue gel appeared in her hand, and she pushed it forward with her mental energy.

Boom—

Carrie's nerves got the best of her, and the gel exploded a mere three meters away, sparking an intense heat that singed her hair, leaving her looking slightly dishevelled and ash-covered.

Instinctively, Carrie glanced at Lucian. Meanwhile, the startled Blood Crow flapped its wings, darting toward her, talons gleaming like metal. If they struck, it would tear her skin apart.

"Raise your shield!" Lucian shouted.

Carrie snapped back to focus, hastily lifting the round shield Lucian had insisted she carry.

A loud clang rang out as the Blood Crow struck her shield, its force pressing heavily against it. Relieved, Carrie braced herself to cast another spell.

But the Blood Crow let out a sharp screech, its sound reverberating strangely in her mind.

With a gasp, Carrie felt a trickle of blood run from her nose as her partially constructed spell model shattered under the sonic assault, causing minor mental backlash. She wouldn't be able to cast another spell until she recovered.

The crow's screech barely fazed Lucian, however. His mental energy was far more stable, fortified by 82 mental runes, which made his mental sea unshakable.

With a wave of his hand, Lucian sent another fire gel toward the airborne Blood Crow. This time, he deliberately toned down the power of Scorching Fire II and refrained from using any supporting spells.

"Caw!" The crow twisted in mid-air, attempting to evade the incoming gel.

"Detonate," Lucian commanded mentally, triggering an explosion just as the gel neared the Blood Crow.

A fireball erupted mid-air, engulfing the crow's body. One side of its form was singed by the flames, causing it to spiral out of control and plummet to the ground.