3.26.

A short break came after the ensemble's attempt at the Star Auger grand spell. Sequencee sat on the ground somewhere further from the team, staring down towards the odd device in the depths of the cavern.

Twelfth Starfall and Star Auger were the two offensive grand spells in their arsenal, both were wickedly destructive. Using any one of these outside could potentially decimate Rika Nation in an hour.

Twelfth Starfall was powerful as was even without the support of the backline staff users. But their involvement functioned as the spell buffer for stability and increased the volume of mana injected into the grand spell by a whole magnitude. Ultimately, creating an even stronger and imperishable version of the grand spell.

Yet, despite the spell being so destructive, it would simply just disappear the moment it touched the barrier.

What is the concept behind this?

If Sequencee could understand the principles to what it is that negates the magic, he could apply it for his own uses in the future.

"Are you not going to talk to them?" Din's voice resounded from behind.

"It's kind of awkward.." Sequencee scratched his head.

"Even so, I'd like it if you could get to know some of the mages in the ensemble. After all, you'll be working with them for the competition," he said with a smile.

"You're right.. speaking of which, what exactly is that artifact?"

'It must be something from the Last Era.'

Based on history, the people during the end of the Last Era were much stronger than the current populace. Thinking up to this point, if the artifact served as a protective barrier back then, it was hard for Sequenecee to comprehend the scale of the grand spell required to shatter the defense of this thing.

"Truth is, despite the many studies done on the device, we're unable to pinpoint what it is that makes it so potent. It is dangerous to go near it without proper equipment because it can sap even mana from one's own body."

"So the principal behind it is taking away mana?"

"That is one of the theories behind it. Though, it's likely only one part of the whole equation."

"Mister Din," a third voice boomed behind.

"Yes? Anything?"

"No, nothing. Just came to ask what's up. Sequencee, right?"

The male elf stretched out his hands for a handshake.

"Yes. My name is Sequencee. You?"

"Dominic Spica, from Eluive Kingdom."

"Nice to meet you Dominic."

"What were you talking about with the professor?"

"He asked about the function of the artifact," Din said.

"The artifact– it's there for as long as I've been here. It's a big unexplained white elephant in the cavern, but, as long as it works, then it shouldn't be too much of an issue. I don't think any spell could penetrate the thing any time soon," Dominic nodded to himself.

"I'm just curious, not that I'm worried it would break."

'I would like to see it break though..'

"Where does it get its source of energy to supply the barrier anyways?"

"It gets it from our spell, actually," Dominic said.

Sequencee turned back and stared at the device blankly. A flurry of questions surfaced in his mind– like how it was possible to convert another person's mana into one's own, or how to break down already physical components back into magic energy. Just how many things did he not know about magic and its potential as a whole?

'If I could change objects back into mana, wouldn't I have infinite mana?'

"You don't use a wand, or staff?"

"A wand? No. I don't."

"You're really good at your stuff. You know, when you first came up, I didn't think you'd actually be able to pull off such a complex magic formula. I've seen your part of the piece, I'd struggle just trying to maintain balance. Are all people from the enforcer course like that?"

Their conversation continued for a while longer. Sequencee got to learn a lot from Dominic, how the ensemble worked as a general unit, magic formulas that bridge synchronization errors, and the various types of wands and staffs.

"This one is my all time favorite. It's got a deep, smooth channeling and can store a lot of mana. Perfect for burst output and the dispersion rate is low," Dominic explained as he showed Sequecnee his dark wood staff that was almost as tall as himself. A white spherical orb at the head, it reminded Sequencee of Evelyn's staff.

"Do these actually help in casting?"

"Absolutely! You should try it," Dominic passed Sequencee his staff.

"Hm.."

Sequencee began by charging his mana into the orb, it radiated a strong white light. Dominic blinked in surprise.

Holding the staff awkwardly, Sequencee directed the tip towards the barrier e and fired clockwork rounds of rock bullets.

"It feels unnatural," Sequencee commented.

"You think so? I felt the same when I first began using it. At some point, you'll get used to the balance."

"Hm.. I supposed. Oh yeah, can you show me your part of the Twelfth Starfall grand spell?"

The second half of the morning was spent practicing the two defensive grand spells, Conidal Dissemination and Warp Net.

In summary, the four grand spells that would be used in the competition were: Twelfth Starfall, Star Auger, Conidal Dissemination and Warp Net.

===

Knock. Knock.

Schwii opened the door.

"You're here again."

"Yup. Just me."

Risa stood outside in the hall with a smile.

"What do you want?" Schwii groaned.

"I miss Miss Iona's cooking. She's cooking, right?"

"Sure, come in," resigning to the hero's shameless behavior, Schwii could only give way.

"Miss Iona! I've come for your cooking!"

".. Hey, Ro. Sometimes I wonder if being able to eat with the hero is a lucky thing or a funny thing," Lilian chuckled.

"Both, probably," Ro responded.

"Welcome back Miss Risa," Iona responded, indifferent as ever as her hand continued to move deftly around the steaming pans and pots.

"What are you cooking today?"

"A cream lobster chowder with fragrant rice."

"How about this? You're making fried fish too, right?"

"Sequencee, she really didn't hint anything earlier in the morning?" Schwii asked with a raised brow.

"By that you mean?" he responded.

"I hope it's but a fickle of my imagination."

"???"

"Is Shiro and Her Highness Evelyn not coming?" Ro asked.

"Them? Maybe not, it's just me today."

"Why?"

"Why? I snuck out of the house."

"I question why you would even come here."

"Because I wanted to get along?"

"Mn.."

In the end, nobody could really figure out why it was that only Risa came today. As she said, no one else showed up.

"Actually, Ro and I were considering whether we should take up the exchange programme," Lilian confessed.

"Exchange programme?"

"To Eluive Academy. You know, we thought maybe it's a good idea to go visit Dylan, Lockner, Carl and Leena. See how they're doing there. I checked the list also, I didn't see their names so they're probably not among those that'll come visit our academy," Ro followed up.

"Since the instructors were asking for anyone interested, Ro and I raised our hands," Lilian said.

"Plus, we get free stuff," Ro added.

"No way. You cheapskates," Risa said with a mouthful of lobster.

"You've already registered your name, right? So what's there to consider."

"We could still cancel, so.." Lilian drawled.

"The period will be around a month?"

"Yeah, about a month. The traveling time will take around three days using the warp gates."

"Fortunately they had those installed across the major cities."

"Yeah."

"Then when will you be leaving for Eluive?"

"The end of this week, probably."

"Aren't you going to miss out on the competition if you go?" Risa asked.

"Competition? Probably."

A peaceful dinner with the female hero Risa.. maybe.

"Schwii, can I ask you something?" having filled her belly, Risa wetted her throat with the ice tea prepared.

"What is it?"

"What do you do if there's a scary girl in the house trying to steal the attention of your brother?"

"Scary girl? By that you mean.. Her Highness?"

"Uh, no.. the other one."

"Linzy," Sequencee said.

"Yes– that girl.. and absolute yandere.. I feel like my brother is in danger.." Risa trembled.

"What's a yandere?"

"Everyone in this world is a motherfucking frog..!" Risa screamed.

"""???!"""

To explain, Linzy had been acting weird the past few days– the trigger for it Risa assumed to be after Shiro first got beaten into a pulp by that monster Aaron. She now has a collection of Shiro's teeth kept close to her side, begs Shiro to feed her every meal, sneaks into his bed at night, clings to him most of the day, and gives death glares to other women that try to get anywhere close to him, Risa included.

Normally, Risa would shrug it off as Linzy's extremist behavior as a unique character part of her brother's harem but.. she felt that things were getting out of hand lately.

"Wow.." Ro found the revelation jarring.

"Where in the world did your brother even find that girl to begin with? I've always felt that she was unusual."

"An illegal slave trade? One day my brother and I went around the streets of Rika Nation when we sorta stumbled upon some illegal trading. My brother and I busted out the slaves and sent them to the guild. But, one of them didn't want to leave, and so she stuck to Shiro from then onwards."

Another reason why they agreed to keep her was because her stats looked like it could do good to protect Shiro who was still weak back then. Of course, that was just the superficial explanation. The real reason was probably much deeper.

"From your description, Linzy is probably an alpha disguising herself as an omega," Sequencee said.

"Alpha type?" Schwii was puzzled.

"Beastkin, as far as I know, can be classified either as alpha, omega and beta. That's normally how it goes in most of their societies. And as you can guess, alphas are the dominant ones, while omegas are the ones wanting to be dominated. Those who are beta, like Sir Jonnathan perhaps, don't have instincts for either, which makes them more stable."

"So you're saying all alpha beastkins are yanderes?" Risa asked.

"Going by that.. probably? I've visited Dianne's Territory with my mom in the past but.. I've never really paid attention to how alphas treat omegas. All I know is that they look really clingy."

Beastkin nations have a different ruling system when compared to the rest of the empire. The name of their territory changes depending on who the alpha among alphas was. This is decided through tournaments held every few years. It's a culture that favors the strong.

"Clingy.. as in?"

"Then did Linzy get mad at you? Or try to attack you, or anything like that?" Sequencee recalled how Linzy tried to lash out when he was talking to Shiro back at the central pagoda's roof. "She was really mad when I appeared that time."

"Really? So that girl is finally showing her true colours.." Risa muttered.

"Maybe its because her instincts have been suppressed when she fell into slavery. Now that she's getting comfortable with her freedom, she's reclaiming control slowly. That's a possibility," Schwii guessed.

"Schwii.. what should I do.." Risa moaned.

"I don't see why I would have the answer to your question," Schwii folded her arms and thought contemplatively.

"Why not? You're an inhabitant of this world so you should know how to navigate a complex relationship of someone who has more than one lover, somewhat, right?"

"Pardon? I'm merely eighteen. I've not been married to a man who has a concubine. Furthermore, Sequencee has already promised me to not take anyone else."

".. Wow."

"Surprising? I know I'm one of the usual ones out there," Schwii said proudly.

"Sequencee, I wish you luck." Risa quipped.

Sequencee shook his head with a wry smile.

"Then do you at least know some way to command a demon? Or make them obey? Or anything like that?" Risa asked.

"Command a demon?"

"Linzy is a half demon, half beastkin."

"Oh, really?" Lilian found the information surprising. Demons disguised as humans were more common than she thought.

"What happened to her slave crest then?" Sequencee asked.

"It had been removed long ago."

"Seriously.."

"Not even The Sovereign has the power to have a lesser-demon his word absolutely. Through earnest communication, persuasion, or some vice, is all I can suggest in a situation like this," Schwii stated plainly.

"I don't know if Linzy can be reasoned with.. she rarely even talks.. Miss Iona, do you have any ideas? She seems to admire you a lot?" Risa turned to look at her favorite maid of all time.

"Make yourself the alpha above her. Then she will have no choice but to comply," Iona said.

"OOooo.. why didn't I think of that?! But how though?"

"Show her that you're in charge. I'm sure you know more about how to showcase something like this as you've been with your brother far longer than Linzy has. Moreover, your relationship with your brother, I'm guessing, isn't that of a normal relationship."

"I love you Iona! Best, coolest, waifu ever! I think I have the answer now thank you!"

"I merely spoke my thoughts," Iona bowed.

"What's a waifu?" Sequencee muttered to himself.