About two hours earlier, before the evaluation test officially began.
Deep inside the northern side of the monster forest, where the trees grew thicker and the air a bit colder, two figures walked quietly side by side.
Snow and Rose.
"Aren’t you going to announce the start yourself, Miss Student Council President?" Rose asked casually as she spun her wand between her fingers.
Snow shook her head lightly. "No. One of the assisting professors will handle it today. I’m still a participant, rember? Besides... you know what our role is in this exam, right?"
Rose gave a small nod. "Yeah, I get it. The academy’s trying to give the juniors more chances to shine. Still... what’s the point of a joint evaluation if we’re going to get re-evaluated separately anyway?"
Snow smiled faintly. "It seems the academy decided to mix things up. They’ll still be evaluating us, but only if our performance really stands out. Otherwise, the main focus will stay on the freshn."
"I see..."
Rose wasn’t that surprised, honestly. She was already used to unexpected changes like this. It was the academy, after all—and last year alone had trained her to be ready for anything.
After a short pause, she turned to Snow again.
"By the way... can we switch our designated locations?"
Snow raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Having my base near Evergreen Lake just... doesn’t suit . I prefer higher places."
Snow thought about it for a mont.
She didn’t really care much about the base locations, and being near a body of water actually sounded like a good thing, especially for her.
With her specialty in ice magic, it gave her a natural edge.
"Alright," Snow agreed, "but since I’m taking Casian Hill, just make sure not to destroy too much of the terrain. That place is a breeding ground for C-Class staghorns."
"Okay," Rose nodded, satisfied.
In truth, Rose’s request to switch locations wasn’t solely because of Cassian Hill’s naturally high vantage point.
While its elevated terrain was ideal for detection and defense, her real motive lay elsewhere.
Cassian Hill was close to the geographic center of the northern forest—perfect for spreading her mana across the entire zone.
With her vast reserves of mana, it would be the most efficient place to locate a certain soone.
Soone nad Riley.
’If it’s just to search a little... The test hasn’t even started yet.’
With that in mind, she quietly closed her eyes, took a slow breath, and began expanding her mana—
Pinch.
"...Ow?"
A sudden sting in her cheek snapped her out of focus.
Opening her eyes, she found Snow looking at her with an expression that was sowhere between amusent and warning.
"Stop trying to find Riley," Snow said plainly.
Rose blinked, caught off guard by how quickly Snow saw through her.
But thinking about it... of course Snow would know.
Chances were, she had been thinking the sa thing too.
"...You want to find him too, don’t you?" Rose said with a slightly narrowed gaze.
"Yes," Snow answered without hesitation. "But during this evaluation, we’re technically enemies. So for now, we can’t use that as an excuse to chase after him."
Rose let out a small grumble.
She knew Snow had a point.
The academy had placed rules for this joint exam—senior students weren’t allowed to interfere with the juniors during the early stages.
But... after that initial phase, there wasn’t really anything stopping her, was there?
And besides, was there anyone in this academy bold enough to stop her from doing as she pleased?
Snow must’ve read her thoughts again.
Her icy blue eyes narrowed slightly as she said, "I know what you’re thinking. But... please, hold yourself back—for now."
"...You’re really persistent about this," Rose muttered. "Why?"
"Because Riley asked to."
Rose paused. "Riley... asked you?"
Snow nodded. "Yes."
"...When?"
"When we had tea at Pande Café. A few days ago."
"Huh...?"
Rose was montarily stunned, her gaze fixed on Snow with a slightly blank expression.
Seeing her reaction, Snow couldn’t help but smile, just a little. "So, be a good girl and respect our man’s wishes for now, okay?"
Of course, there had been soone else present during that café visit too... but Snow didn’t think it was necessary to ntion that detail right now.
’But... is teasing her really necessary Riley?’
Snow thought in wonder, knowing how personally unpredictable Rose can get Snow wondered why Riley asked her of this.
She sighed lightly... she trusted Riley there was no way he would do anything for no reason.
Specially if it involves them.
’Well at least I can get so reaction out of her~’
Afterall it wasn’t everyday you can get to tease an archon level mage.
.....
"Unfair..."
That was the only word that escaped Rose’s lips as she sat perched atop the sole towering tree at the peak of Cassian Hill—one of the highest points in the entire evaluation zone.
The view from up here was breathtaking.
The dense forest stretched endlessly below her, chaotic and alive.
Explosions blood in the distance like flowers of fla, the ground trembling faintly beneath the booms.
Her mana sense picked up rapid fluctuations of energy from every direction—bursts of mana clashing, surging, and dispersing.
Roars of monsters echoed through the forest, their primal screams overlapping with the unmistakable sounds of battle—blades clashing, spells colliding, bodies moving in quick, trained bursts.
Cassian Hill, located dead center in the evaluation forest, had naturally beco one of the most contested zones.
And with her unmatched mana sensitivity, Rose could sense everything.
Every struggle.
Every desperate scream.
Every powerful spell released.
But it wasn’t the carnage or chaos of the exam that occupied her thoughts.
No—what lingered in her mind more than anything was that brief, annoying conversation she had with Snow earlier.
The words kept echoing inside her head, like a song stuck on loop.
Snow was clearly teasing.
That much was obvious from her smug grin and overly composed tone.
But even so... Rose could tell she wasn’t lying.
Riley had really asked her to "hold back."
"...Hmph."
She sighed deeply, letting the wind run through her long golden hair.
She knew it was a mutual agreent between the girls—to give each other alone ti with Riley when the chance arose, to avoid interfering or getting too possessive.
But still... it felt like she was being left out. Not by rule or design—but by timing, luck, and now... Snow maybe even Alice.
"Should I just go to Riley now?" she muttered to herself, resting her chin on her knees as she sat curled up on the thick branch.
The rules of the evaluation strictly forbade movent across sectors for the first few hours.
They were expected to engage only to those who pass their areas and earn points, not sneak around looking for people.
But even so... the image of Riley spending ti with soone else—smiling, touching, maybe even whispering sothing softly like he often does with her whenever there alone—gnawed at her heart.
It was irrational. She knew that. But the thought still stung.
Her anxiety began to bubble.
And then her mana flared.
Without a word, golden light shimred faintly around her, like an aura waiting to be released.
With a sharp breath, she ignited her mana.
It spread across the forest in a wide pulse—sharp, subtle, and fast.
Rose’s eyes glowed gold as her perception opened like a blooming lotus.
Colors danced in her mind. She could feel almost every source of mana in the forest.
Dozens. Hundreds. Monsters, students, elental spirits, traps...
And then—her breath caught.
A peculiar signature.
No... not Riley. But sothing else.
She turned her gaze to the west, golden eyes narrowing.
A swirling pool of mana.
Dark. Ominous. Still.
It didn’t move like the other signatures.
It didn’t fluctuate naturally like a beast or a human.
It was simply... there.
Settled within the darker regions of the western forest, pulsing faintly like a quiet heart.
Rose stood slowly, still balanced perfectly atop the branch, her eyes not leaving that direction.
"What is that...?"
Rose narrowed her eyes as her gaze locked onto the swirling mass of mana pulsing deep within the western part of the forest.
It looked almost like a small rift—unstable, thick, and filled with raw elental energy.
She was considering teleporting straight to it, her mana already starting to gather—
But then—
VOOOOSHHHH!!
A sharp stream of water sliced through the air at blistering speed, cutting right toward her like a blade.
CLANNNGG!!
Her automatic mana shield activated in an instant.
A do of shimring red energy surrounded her like a cocoon, dispersing the jet stream effortlessly.
Sparks danced across its surface, sizzling in the air as the attack was neutralized.
Rose’s eyes flicked upward.
"...Hot damn~" a voice laughed.
Hovering high above her was Flam, riding a translucent wind spirit that resembled a massive squirrel—its body made entirely out of swirling green air, squeaking and howling at the sa ti like so wild forest phantom.
"I knew a surprise attack wouldn’t work, but co on, senior! At least let us get one clean hit in," Flam grinned, brushing her windswept hair back as she looked down at Rose with mischief in her eyes.
Her finger pointed forward like a commander issuing an order.
"Please do grant the honor of fighting you, Senior Rose~ For the title of the academy’s strongest mage!"
At her command, hundreds of spirits began to form—swirling into existence from all directions.
Fire foxes, icy falcons, earthen wolves, lightning snakes... each spirit crafted from mid- and low-tier elents, all shaped like wild animals, their eyes glowing with fierce intent.
They didn’t need to growl.
Their presence was already loud enough.
All of them faced Rose, baring fangs of fire and claws of frost.
The wind around them churned and danced as Flam raised her hand, ready to command the storm she’d summoned.
Rose simply stared back.
A massive spear of light manifested on top of Flams’ head.
[Mid-Grade Light Magic]
[Golden Lance]
"Shit....!"
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