First class enforcer course, class E1A. The final assessment was taking place, instructors invited the students to show the fruits of their training over the past 3 months.

One of the critical focuses for mages in this semester was their ability to perform magic CQC for self defense against fast moving monsters or fighters. Mages typically had lower stamina thanks to the cultural expectations passed down from the generations. However, it is because of this that many mages excuse themselves from training their bodies, which should not be neglected.

“Leticia, you may begin,” instructor Faire’s voice cut through like a knife.

She very awkwardly fired three small rocks towards Faire.

The limitations to this exam was that you can only use system gifts that support magic. So in Leticia’s case, as [Unique Trait: Nature’s Blessing] is permissible. However, something like [Fire Magic: Raging Flames] goes against this rule.

Students are also free to use their equipment as if they were in the preparations of heading into a dungeon.

Faire very easily dodged the rocks by taking one step to the left whilst twisting her body to the side. Finding it amusing, Risa giggled to herself. Shiro watched with a serious countenance.

Seeing as Leticia was keeping her distance, Faire rolled her eyes and dashed forward. At this rate, she’ll have to give this student low marks. No instructor wanted their students to have low marks.

Leticia fired rock pelts again. This time however, it was toward the ground.

Plants exploded from within, reaching to grab Faire.

Reacting by covering herself in a layer of white flame, the plants turned to ash before they could come into contact with her.

Sliding towards Leticia’s flank, she was about to shove her a roundhouse kick when an electrical charge stung her leg, causing her body to stiffen and her posture to crumble.

Leticia turned around and created an electrically charged nimbus wall between them.

Scattering seeds on the ground, white lilies bloomed around the ground below Leticia. These lilies began scattering pollen into the air.

Faire extended a hand and created a magic circle which sent a discharge of bubbly orbs. Coming into contact with the small pollen however, it unintentionally exploded, causing a chain reaction. Faire defended herself with a physical barrier while Leticia was blown back from the impact.

The nimbus clouds cleared, a beam of white lightning tore through the air. It was the end– or so the instructor assumed when it bounced off some odd barrier surrounding the lilies, giving Leticia a chance to counter.

She plunged her hand into the ground, the dirt rumbled.

Knowing what she was trying to attempt, Faire tapped on the earth below her to turn it into hard bricks.

Nevertheless..

With Faire in the center, tens of black thorn bushes grew to surround her at a diameter of ten meters. Bifurcating and proliferating, it quickly created a dome of thorns that enveloped the victim. Each passing second shrunk the space within, Faire wasted no time in waiting and coated her hands with white flames, smashing it towards one side of the prickly prison.

Like snapping iron bars, the fragments of the thorns shattered outwards. Faire ran out before it had the time to regrow itself.

Though by then, a layer of poison needle ivy had grown from the ground to restrain Faire in place. Bracing through with a physical barrier, Faire rained flames upon the plants.

Swoosh–

Pieces of thorns and sharp leaves picked up by the wind swirled around Faire, she clicked her tongue.

Leticia whipped her finger in the air, the wind collapsed inwards. The fragment of plants grinded against Faire’s barrier. Beyond the aesthetics, It was honestly a useless effort on Leticia’s side..

“You may stop. Any more and I think I’ll have to roast you.”

“Yes instructor.”

Leticia retracted her magic and heaved a sigh. The students applauded. Despite how it seemed flashy outside, the mana exertion she was feeling was quite a lot.

Faire not weak by any means. However, because she had to conserve energy to assess twenty-something magic students, she had to consider efficiency in her every move.

“Good work. Next, Grishna.”

Leticia walked out of the bubble field and sat beside the seat Risa reserved for her.

“Pretty cool.”

“I think you should’ve focused on trapping Instructor Faire inside. I get the feeling she panicked there, hence why she called you to stop.”

The other chatterboxes of the class started to talk about Leticia’s performance. Solicits and critique mixed into a glorious mess. They settled back as spectators when Grishna’s fight began.

Risa poked Leticia’s hand, and showed a thumbs up.

===

“Leticia, there’s a letter for you.. w-wow, you look really good.”

“Thank you for the compliment. This is, from whom?”

She had just donned a beautiful elven dress, long drapery cuffs with various motif designs drawn along the hem. The design of the upper and lower portion of the main dress emphasized the element of petals, very much suiting Leticia’s nature-like powers.

She was just about to finish putting on light makeup before heading out for a banquet with Sequencee and Her Highness Evelyn when Daizo interrupted her with a gold envelope.

“It doesn’t have a sender’s name.”

“I think I’ll read it when I come back,” Leticia took it from him and turned back to the mirror.

“Aren’t gold envelopes supposed to be important?”

“You’re right, maybe I should at least take a peak.. oh right, you look good in that suit yourself Daizo.”

“Thanks,” he grinned.

“Good luck confessing to Quora later.”

“You don’t.. need to remind me that..” he groaned.

Tonight’s banquet would be attended by selected noble families, the close friends of the stars’ immediate friends.

“This is going to be embarrassing.. I should’ve just gone to the pagoda and asked Risa for help..” Leticia kept scowling at the mirror.

It had been a really long time since she had to play dress-up for a party. The last time it happened was before the calamity at Estia, some small banquet to celebrate some good harvest or something– Leticia couldn’t quite remember.

‘How does Sequencee feel about this..’

Leticia felt a bitterness brewing inside her.

“No, no. Don’t think too much about it. Things like this happen in life, I just have to support him through.”

Leticia reached over to the envelope and unsealed the paper inside.

“...”

Her reaction surprised even herself. She thought she would have responded with fear, or perhaps even anger. It was neither: just cold indifference.

“Well, I’ll see you at the party then.”

Leticia folded the paper back and tucked it inside the envelope. She got up from her seat and headed to the living room where the rest were gathered except Quora who was probably still doing her hair.

“Looking good!”

“You’re like a flower.

“You guys all look really nice.”

Nynim too was wearing a traditional elven dress, but with a medieval twist to it. Hair pinned into a braid gently cascading down towards her rather revealing cleavage.

Daizo wore a blue suit with a white undershirt. A real red rose from Leticia’s garden stuck in the pocket. The folded end of the blue coat was lined with gold arabesque designs, his hair combed overly neat to the point where he no longer looked like the typical Daizo. Leticia thought he looked like some fancy noble’s son.

Meanwhile, Dorry wore an odd black outfit which looked like something from Rika’s world. Dark red and black silky fabric weaved with platinum buttons, high collar with the symbol of a dragon etched into it. The intense scar on his right eye only did to amplify his regal disposition which would swoon the ladies who had a taste for a wilder side.

“I’m done, what do you think?” Quora came twirling.

A rose red dress which exposed her shoulders, the laces were bound by a topaz in the middle. A beautiful gold-red corset around her waist, the skirt portion of her dress was light, and easy to move around in. To add to the already killer combo was the black garter she worked which would be seen if someone paid attention. It was in the holster hidden underneath her skirt where she hid her new extendable magic sword.

“Beautiful.”

Daizo looked away.

“Oh yea? Maybe I should’ve chosen a different colour. I might stand out too much.”

“Ah..” Daizo bit his lips.

‘Is he thinking that she’ll be taken in by other nobles?’

“What’s wrong with him?” Quora asked.

“Dunno,” Leticia shrugged.

Following Leticia’s example, Quora shrugged too.

Everyone was ready for the party.