009 The Entrance Exam (2)

The students headed out to one of the school courtyards, which resembled a barracks and was familiar to Fenris. Their female instructor stood firmly as she began explaining the directions for their practical exam.

"We will now start our practical exam," the instructor said, raising her right arm and pointing to the right, directing the students' attention in that same direction.

"Please use your magic on the targets. They are lined up in the following order: fire, water, earth, wind, light, and dark, from left to right," she explained. "Try as many as you can handle. Grading is based on total points, so the more you do, the better your advantage." 

The targets were made of reinforced granite and enchanted with defensive spells to ensure they wouldn't easily char or be destroyed.

Several students proceeded to cast their spells, achieving varying results. Fenris observed each student's performance with crossed arms, his expression apathetic.

"Mr. Tonelico, please come up," the female instructor called out the next student, who happened to be Fenris. Sophia's eyes immediately dimmed as she wanted to go next. Observing her disappointment, Fenris turned to the instructor and politely said, "Madam, I believe she would like to go instead. I can wait."

I want to observe how Sophia's growth has been coming along. I haven't seen much of it since Rifa's departure, so I can't wait to see what she has in store! Fenris's previous apathetic expression transformed into one of excitement. He eagerly looked forward to witnessing his disciple's capabilities.

Sophia's dimmed expression immediately vanished as she approached her first target designated with the "Fire" element, radiating happiness. Her face transformed into one of focus and determination as she conjured a small, concentrated fireball in the palm of her hand. With precision, she launched it at the target. The impact caused the minuscule fireball to erupt into a massive explosion, sending debris flying towards the students. However, the instructor quickly created a defensive wind spell, shielding the students from the incoming debris.

After the smoke cleared, it became evident that the supposedly sturdy granite target, designed to withstand student attacks, had been utterly demolished. Wide-eyed astonishment spread among the students, including Fenris, who was taken aback by the sheer firepower unleashed by that single spell.

Realizing that she had startled the other students, Sophia quickly became apologetic. "S-Sorry! Is anyone hurt?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. Everyone shook their heads, providing her with a sense of relief.

"Okay, I'll move on to the next target then!" she exclaimed. Stepping towards the target designated for the "Earth" element, Sophia called upon lesser spirits, which manifested as numerous small green orbs surrounding her. With their assistance, she conjured multiple rock spears and sent them hurtling towards the target.

Each spear landed with force, piercing the target and leaving behind noticeable holes before the remains ultimately crumbled. The students responded with a round of applause, showing their appreciation for Sophia's skill. She turned to face them, bowing in gratitude.

Way to go, Sophia! Fenris felt a surge of emotion, and tears welled up in his eyes as he joined the enthusiastic applause for his disciple.

Sophia's smile brightened as she approached the target designated for the "Water" element. Once again, she summoned her spirits, causing numerous small blue orbs to encircle her. With their assistance, she unleashed a powerful stream of water that rapidly froze, forming a large, solid ice sheet that enveloped the target, effectively freezing it in place.

Once again, the audience erupted in cheers as Sophia returned to join the others, beaming with pride. She felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Fenris for allowing her to take his place, and as she approached him, she embraced him affectionately.

"Thank you, Fenris," she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. "I'm so glad you did that for me." Pulling away slightly, her face still radiant, she couldn't help but blush ever so slightly.

"Hey, you were amazing, Sophia! I was cheering for you the whole time!" Fenris exclaimed, placing his hands on her shoulders, causing her to jump slightly. Sophia giggled, taking his praise to heart. Fenris glanced up at the sky, as if silently expressing his gratitude, before turning his gaze back to her.

Meanwhile, the instructor composed herself and addressed the group once more. "Alright, Mr. Tonelico, please step forward."

"And that's me," Fenris replied with a nod. He approached the first target, which seemed to have magically regenerated.

"Good luck!" Sophia exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine enthusiasm. She was wholeheartedly rooting for Fenris, confident that he would perform admirably.

Fenris stood before the granite target marked with the "Fire" element, raising two fingers as he conjured a medium-sized fireball. Infusing it with dark magic, he unleashed the spell, launching the fireball towards the target. Upon impact, the fireball engulfed the target in vibrant blue flames that seemed to burn endlessly, defying any attempts to extinguish them.

The display left the students, including the instructor, astounded. A sense of caution washed over the instructor as she observed the perpetually burning flames. "Uhm... it's not going out," she remarked, her voice tinged with a hint of unease.

Moving on to the next target marked with the "Earth" element, Fenris grinned as he raised his hand, clearly indicating that he had something special planned for this challenge.

Time for the afternoon special: crystallizing the target! Fenris manipulate the mana within the granite, purifying its color and harnessing its energy to solidify into a physical form. It was a display of raw mana manipulation rather than traditional Earth magic. The target began to crack, as if undergoing a transformative process, before dramatically shattering into a mass of colorless luminite.

"D...Did you just create luminite?!" the instructor asked, her voice filled with astonishment and disbelief at the incredible feat she had just witnessed.

"Eheh... I'll just move on to the next target," Fenris nervously chuckled, attempting to downplay the significance of his accomplishment. With a hint of mystery and a touch of nervousness, he proceeded towards the next target, marked with the "Water" element. Choosing not to elaborate on his previous display, he left it to the audience's interpretation.

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After completing all the targets, Fenris joined the rest of the students, who were mostly in a state of shock, their faces reflecting his outstanding display. However, Sophia and a few others couldn't contain their excitement and erupted into applause and cheers, which brought a soft smile to Fenris's face.

"I'm done now," Fenris announced, a sense of accomplishment evident in his voice.

"A-Are you sure?" the instructor asked, her question intended to be rhetorical, as the awe-inspiring demonstration had clearly surpassed all expectations.

Fenris chuckled, his attention shifting to Sophia, who embraced him once again, congratulating him on his remarkable performance. "You did an amazing job, Fenris! You've truly captivated everyone with your magical abilities up there. You're like a celebrity!"

Feeling as though she might be exaggerating, Fenris simply laughed it off. Meanwhile, the instructor directed Fenris's attention to the target that was still engulfed in flames. "Could you extinguish that, please? We still have other students to proceed with."

"Oh, sure," Fenris replied. With a snap of his fingers, he swiftly extinguished the flames on the target, leaving it charred and marked by the intensity of the fire.

"Ahem," the instructor cleared her throat, capturing everyone's attention. "For those who have completed the magical portion of the practical, please proceed to the swordsmanship segment. While the grading for this part may not carry as much weight as magical ability, it still contributes to your overall score," she elaborated. The students promptly followed her instructions, guided by small flames that ignited in the air every few paces, leading them to their next destination.