'Is she really going to start a fight?' Xian complained inwardly, seeing that Carmillia already made a move, showing her intention to antagonize Fahna.
'That's a main heroine Carmillia… You'd be swarmed with even more death flags if you offend her now!' As much as he didn't want to admit it, main heroine's in the game were favored by the game and its people.
With Carmillia's background and role as a villainess, she's going to have dangerous gazes directed at her at all times, instead of becoming the danger to the protagonist. While Serika and Lucinelle will be by her side, she won't be able to avoid traps laid down from places they couldn't see.
From his memories, while the two swordmaidens can overpower their peers and even match some seniors, they weren't competent enough when it came to intrigue. Especially against faction building heroines, in which Fahna is a prime example of.
With her lineage and identity as the sword saint's daughter, there's no doubt nobles against the duke will rally behind her if she's against Carmillia.
And as he's currently Carmillia's butler, he will obviously support her, but if that happens, he'd be so occupied and hard pressed to interact with other heroines.
Xian quickly made his way towards Carmillia and discreetly whispered, "We're running out of time, young miss." He gestured towards the minotaur slowly regenerating its arm. "Let's kill the monster first and proceed."
Carmillia frowned, hearing those words. Since earlier, this butler had been leading her by giving a hint to the grid maze, which actually worked and even saved her from another hidden assailant.
"Young miss."
"I know, so shut up."
Finally, she decided to wave her arm as multiple vines tried to catch Fahna, who had to dash away multiple times.
"Wait, stop!" As she went further away from the exit, she realized it a step too late.
A wall of vines finally took root between them and the passage, thick and tall enough to cover the rooms span. Carmillia flashed her a sneer and that was the view Fahna saw.
She could only stare back with a stunned expression, speechless.
"… I'll remember this." She muttered, her smile and clear gaze replaced by a glare. Realizing that a perfect score is now out of the picture, she sighed in defeat.
"Hah, what now? It'll take some time to cut all these vines… So annoying." The girl complained when suddenly, another presence was felt in the room. She looked behind and a blurred space was slowly revealing a figure.
As someone from a clan who kept to themselves, Fahna had investigated potential opponents and rivals in the academy. Only looking up those who had a good reputation, hence, missing Carmillia, while Xian completely remained unknown.
But the one who had arrived was someone easily recognizable.
An already famous figure from the magic tower, said to usher another coming of an Arcmage.
The said individual held out her hand, holding an ornate branch staff with a blue stone adornment in its tip. Then she slowly let go as it levitated alone, pointing towards the wall of vines.
Her eyes had a bluish gleam, a sign of magic being performed in her 'Mind's Voice'. Feeling the pressure Fahna quickly went out of the way.
They hadn't even talked amongst themselves, but Gumin who found an obstacle in front of her, was already taking measures to remove the vines in her path as if it's a natural thing to do.
She was already present and watching when Xian clashed with the minotaur, but couldn't be bothered to move and fell asleep. But when she felt a surge of magic and saw the walls of vines, emitting thick miasma of darkness, she was roused awake.
'I've never seen such vines and dark element before…' Dark attributed magic were needless to say frowned upon from where she came. Carmillia's magic was a breath of fresh air for her curiosity who only had interest in magic.
'I'm curious.' Those were her thoughts as her other mind worked on casting a spell to cut through the vines.
'Oh flame, my herald…' A magic circle of three layers appeared, facing the wall of vines emitting heat and orange hue. Then a small fourth layer tinged in red appeared.
'… Burn me a path of ashes.'
A cascading tornado of fire surged forth, blasting away the vines and boring a hole through it. It lasted for a few seconds before finally dying down.
"Whoa… That's definitely overkill." Fahna marveled at the destruction it brought, flames spreading to the vines, burning all trace as if they were never there.
While the mage took almost twelve seconds to cast and fire the spell, the power it exhibited was truly extraordinary. The fourth circle indicated that Gumin was already as capable as the weakest mage graduate.
Gumin immediately held on to her staff with somewhat bated breath. Her excitement caused her to exert and put additional layer in her spell.
She looked through the wall of vines punctured by her flames, enough for a person to pass without issues, but didn't find the pair of entrants.
She felt slightly disappointed, but she hoped the other mage saw her magic. That was her purpose from the start. Since she used quite a strong spell, Gumin wanted to quickly finish the exam and take a rest.
A smiling orange haired girl landed before Gumin with a smile and waved at her.
"Um, hello? Thanks? Do you wanna team up? Be friends?" Fahna spoke consecutively as she caught up with her, but Gumin only nodded at her then walked onwards, unbothered.
…
Earlier, Carmillia and Xian had felt pressure from the other side of the vines. Xian sprung into action walked towards the mimic minotaur, slashing its throat. The mimic turned into wisps of blue flame and a core, shackles and protection suddenly enveloping it.
Then he felt energy seeping into his body, although it paled in comparison to when he killed the coachman.
He didn't try to take the core, still brimming with what he recognized as a lump of 'exp', since it was the academy's property with obvious security measures wrapping it.
'Where's the exp bar?' Xian wondered, but right now he had other concerns, which is Carmillia.
Luckily, she didn't even react, but is instead focused on the other side where the pressure came from. She had a complicated expression and narrowed eyes glaring over there.
"We need to go, young miss." In a hurry, Xian directly asked Carmillia.
"Go on. You want the first spot right?" She had noticed long ago that her butler is somewhat restless and hurried in his actions. Carmillia realized a few things why this butler stuck to her.
Xian didn't bother to hide it, since he's in a hurry, wanting to avoid conflict with Gumin and Fahna chasing both of them.
"Yes." He admitted. "But please, follow suit. Your safety is also my concern."
"Your concern, you say… hmph." She smiled with a huff, casting a faint sneer at Xian, who continued to assert his claim. From the looks of it, this butler of hers is finally showing his own motives and it concerned the academy. Staying close to her may well have been nothing more than a convenient excuse.
'To get support from father and establish himself? To meet someone? To infiltrate? There's plenty of possibilities.' Carmillia mused, watching Xian's back. He could be one of those families her father had pruned for all she knew.
Soon, they left the room, leaving only the mimic's core on the floor. Slowly, it reshaped itself, molding into a form far removed from the towering minotaur.
A smaller humanoid silhouette emerged, dressed in a butler's suit and jolding a longsword. Wisps of blue embers trailed from the edges of its attire as the two entrants faced their new foe.
Gumin regarded the mimic without concern, but Fahna clicked her tongue in irritation, vexed to be dealing with the creature once again.
"Tsk. Careful, this one copied someone fast," she muttered, hoping her new companion wouldn't cross her like the previous two.
The mimic tilted its head in an almost curious gesture. Then, an uncharacteristic smile curved across its face, its eyes arching like crescent moons.
…
In the third stage of the entrance examination, Carmillia and Xian stood together before an imposing sight, five monumental doors, each several meters high. Their intricate carvings and unique designs seemed to breathe with life, and each door radiated an aura of differing nature.
Xian's eyes were fist drawn in the picturesque scenery of jagged peaks hidden by misty clouds. He knew that's where he wanted to be for the fastest result possible.
The second door shimmered with the roar of falling water, leading into a colossal waterfall with protruding platforms on its path.
The third was densely filled, forest, with a single towering tree in the middle, it's branches sprawling to encompass the entire landscape.
The fourth radiated heat, depicting an empty merciless desert, its dunes glimmering like embers beneath the blazing sun.
The final door were pitch black with darkness and radiated cold, filled with gleaming pairs of eyes that seemed to stare back to its onlookers. These five doors were just about the most fantastical sight Xian had ever witnessed apart from the academy.
"Welcome, entrants!" Boomed a voice, drawing their attention. A benevolent looking old man with graying hair stepped forward to greet them. He wore a modest coat and a neatly folded cravat that nestled at his collar.
"You two are the first to reach this stage," He said kindly as he fiddled with his monocle. Then he chuckled softly. "But placements means nothing if you fail, hoho."
He gestured toward the five doors with pride, like a wealthy man showing his treasury.
"Allow me to explain. Before you, stands five doors representing the academy's accomplishment and power. Five 'environments' taken from 'lairs' that historically altered the landscape in some parts of the world as we know it. Of course, this is but a fragment of the original pieces, but a still dangerous nonetheless."
He paused waiting for the entrant's reaction. Seeing that they remained silent without so much as a twitch, he continued.
"Ahem. Just like the two previous stages, your last mission is to find your way through these environment. But, instead, you will be looking for a professor to let you exit and finally pass the entrance exam."
"But, in order to do that, you have to prove yourself. Convince the professors of your worthiness, be it through combat, strategy, wit or even… sweet words."
A faintly mischievous smile crossed the old man's face, but it faded just as quickly.
"So, go forth and choose what's best and to your liking. Make sure to choose a door you will not regret."
Silence once again lingered in the room. The professor had unluckily encountered two reticent entrants at the same time.
Xian was familiar with this part of the exam. The first two stages were always themed and connected, while the final stage involved the professors. Most of the time, it was a straightforward demonstration of power, though occasionally it incorporated elements from the first two stages.
"Any rules we need to abide to?" Carmillia finally broke the silence and asked a question.
"The same rules as the first stage, my dear." The professor answered kindly.
Xian already knew which door he would choose, but his eyes shifted to Carmillia, curious about her decision. This part was never shown in the game before and the player entered with his starting party.
She met his gaze, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked. A faint smile blossomed on her lips, startling him. Xian's mind spun quickly and saw that her affection level still indicated a [Black] heart, numbered 70.
'An act?' Xian mused, but the purpose still remained unknown to him.
"Any advice as well this time, my butler?" She spoke with a sweet and tempting smile, with a voice that Xian liked to hear.
'So that's why she's smiling.' He didn't mind and thought for a moment. If he could, Xian wanted to take Carmillia along but the doors gave opportunities based on the characters class. The door he's going to choose is for the Martial Class.
So, instead, he offered what he remembered from his game knowledge. If Xian had been a Magic Class, he would've chosen the dark caves or the forest with a large tree.
"Only that the darkness and forest would suit you the most, young miss." He gave a polite bow as a gesture in return. The professors inside were bound to notice and take interest with Carmillia being the first entrant to enter. A reward will surely be prepared.
"I see." She didn't ask more and trusted her butler's advice. Somehow, his actions have been consecutively correct, in the duration she'd known him. Which definitely implies, he had some useful means.
She walked towards the door that depicted a forest and a large tree. Xian did the same and went to the door that depicted jagged peaks.
'The Mist Peaks…' Beyond this is a professor who will become quite integral to the grown of Martial type students and players. A man who went against all odds and defied his fate.
Xian could say that this professor is deserving of the trait [Defiance] he had. Unfortunately, all he was blessed with is an incredible grit and never yielding spirit.
His fingers brushed the cold surface of the door. The carved scenery rippled like water upon touch, and a gentle force tugged him forward.
In the game, the screen would simply ripple and fade into darkness after the players chose. But here, he was swallowed by blinding white light as the scenery came into life.
This marked the second time that Xian entered through a magic door.