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"Today, Class 2-A shall prove their worth before the Magus Society. Each party will face challenges designed to test their mastery of spellcraft, their cooperation, and their resolve. This is a trial where students will face one another as well. Only the winners will advance to the second year, while the losers will receive a second chance next month—but do not take it for granted! Those who win these matches shall gain greater opportunities for growth!"
Elena’s crimson eyes narrowed as she gripped her wand. The cursed energy pulsed faintly, resonating with her heartbeat. Sothing within the wand felt alive, sealed inside and stirring in response to her.
Anna squeezed her hand and whispered, "We’ll do this together. Don’t worry."
Elisa cracked her clawed fingers, scales shimring under the sunlight. "Finally, a chance to show them my greatness... I won’t tolerate any more bullying, let alone those kids thinking they can ta . I am no beast!"
Monica floated silently, her hair drifting like smoke. Her ghostly aura wrapped around the group like a protective veil. "U-Umm... let’s do our best, everyone..."
Olivia Coyett stood tall, her white leather hat gleaming beneath the sun that had just broken through the clear skies. "Rember, this is not just about winning. It’s about showing the Magus Society that you belong here and that you are worthy. Elena, Elisa, Monica, Anna—you are my students. Make them regret ever doubting you."
The arena gates creaked open. A magical barrier shimred, revealing the battlefield: a vast labyrinth conjured by the Grand Masters, filled with shifting walls, elental traps, and summoned beasts. Elena’s eyes widened as the entire scene materialized out of nowhere. Her heart raced while she analyzed every detail. This was the first ti she had witnessed such an incredible display of magic.
The announcer’s voice thundered again:
"First match! Party Coyett versus Party Valenhardt!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"They’re going against the Valenhardt Party?!"
"No way, I never expected this!"
"How interesting... I wonder what will happen next."
"Lady Coyett picked a truly strange group of children last year... I wonder if they’re up to the task."
"Hah, as if those demi-humans could ever compare to Valenhardt’s Party! He has the best and most promising young magicians of the year under his wing!"
The Valenhardt family was one of Europe’s most prestigious bloodlines, their heirs renowned for devastating elental magic. This year, five of them had joined the Clock Tower together—two siblings and three cousins. All were pompous and narcissistic to the core, yet their power and talent backed every arrogant word. Elena’s group would face them in their trial.
"Of course they’d pit us against nobles right away," Anna muttered, rolling her eyes as she slowly stood.
Elena smirked. Her horns glead under the light as she held her cursed wand, its unnatural aura resonating with her own. "Good. Let’s crush their pride."
After the announcer’s words, the Valenhardt heirs stepped forward, clad in silver robes embroidered with runes. Their leader—a tall boy with golden hair and eyes like molten fire—sneered. "So, the demon girl and her freak friends are our opponents? How fitting. We’ll burn you out of this academy once and for all."
He was none other than the most talented and prestigious young student at the Clock Tower this year: Young Master Tyr Valenhardt. He was currently the academy’s most promising figure, with professors eagerly anticipating his bright future and his potential to lead the Magus Society into a new era amid the First Contact’s spreading repercussions and the intensifying invasions from the Undead Gates. So towns had already beco entire necropolises under their assault.
Elena and her friends stepped forward and descended the stairs, facing Tyr Valenhardt, his younger brother, and his three cousins—all wielders of unique, powerful elental magic inherited through centuries of prestigious bloodlines. The Valenhardt family was infamous for strategically marrying other powerful magician lineages to produce the strongest magical pedigrees in the world. Very few could match their talent, especially from birth.
Once both parties t in silence, the barrier sealed shut. The labyrinth shifted, and the Magus Battle began. Elena raised her wand. Ghostly energy swirled around her as she imdiately conjured a vast barrier of ghostly swords encircling her friends. Dozens of spells rained down upon them.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"Aaahahahah! Look at them! Hopeless! Keep going! Beasts? Traps? When we possess overwhelming power and superiority, do we even need tricks? We can crush them right here, right now! We’re five and they’re only four—how foolish of you!"
Tyr Valenhardt laughed as he conjured dozens of magic circles at once. From them erupted dozens of fireballs that bombarded Elena and her friends without rcy.
At the sa ti, the others unleashed thunderbolts, giant boulders, wind blades, icicle spears, and more, relentlessly pressuring Elena’s party and leaving them no choice but to defend.
"Hahahah!"
"How pathetic!"
"Look at how powerless they are!"
"So this is the famous demi-human party, huh?"
"Hohohoho!"
"Hey, Coyett!" A tall blond man—Tyr’s older brother and the master in charge of their party—called out to Olivia from a distance. "Looks like this will be decided very soon! I hope you stop playing around. Next ti, bring normal kids—hopefully talented ones, and not ugly."
"Hah," Olivia smiled, sneering at the noble with eyes full of mockery. "Is that what you really think? Look closely, Bernand."
"...?" Bernand raised an eyebrow and turned his gaze to the battlefield.
While Elena shielded her friends, they were far from idle. One of the battle’s strict rules required students to use only spells and magic. Thus, Elena and her group had trained exclusively in wand-based conjuration and magic circle creation.
Of course, their internal magic circles and runic forging arts—completely alien to Earth’s magical traditions—gave them a distinct advantage. Even more so did the "Skills" and "Abilities" inherited when their Avatars had accidentally rged with their real bodies.
However, non-circle spells were forbidden, as were any supernatural powers or abilities. Using them would result in imdiate expulsion—this was a magician school, not a "freak show," as so sneered.
All magic had to be channeled through wands or visible magic items such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, hats, crowns, diadems, dresses, and especially grimoires—popular accessories that held pre-loaded conjuration spells. Every mber of the Valenhardt family wielded one, allowing them to surprise Elena’s group with a relentless barrage.
"Will you be forced to use your Supernatural Abilities, I wonder, demon?" Tyr laughed. "Co on, go ahead! Do it! The mont you dare, you’re expelled! Hahahahaha!"
"Don’t worry," Elena said calmly. "We’re going to play fair."
RUMBLE!
"Huh?"
Tyr Valenhardt’s face twisted in surprise as the ground beneath him exploded without warning, hurling him and his friends into the air.
"W-Wha...?!"
They quickly recovered with Float Spells and stared down at the deep crater where they had stood. From it erged Anna, Elisa, and Monica.
Beside Anna lood a large golem—her Summoned Familiar—permitted because she had conjured it using a wand, grimoire, or similar visible magic artifact tied to her.
"GRUOOHHH!"
The golem roared, seized giant boulders, and hurled them at the Valenhardt party. Tyr sneered, his laughter turning sharp as he grew serious.
"Hah! T-That’s not even worth my ti! Useless!"
He conjured dozens of magic circles in a split second, fusing them into a gigantic blazing teor that descended with furious intensity.
"teor Fall!"
BOOOMMM!!!
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