Chapter 214: A New Semester A New Evaluation 5
“Lady Enna, please slow down,” Anna urged, her voice filled with exasperation as she watched her young mistress devour her breakfast with childlike enthusiasm.
“Mmm, but it’sh sho goooood~,” Enna mumbled through a mouthful of food, her eyes gleaming with delight as she glanced at the assortment of dishes and fruits she had brought back from the tour the day before.
“I can’t believe we got to see so much of the academy! And the food—I’m definitely going back to that bakery Flamme showed me.”
Some of the items were surprisingly expensive, rare delicacies she never expected to indulge in so casually.
Despite her usual refined behavior, the thrill of the previous day’s adventure had left Enna in an unusually carefree and ravenous mood.
Anna, however, sighed heavily, her frustration growing as she observed Enna’s uncharacteristic behavior. “Honestly, Lady Enna…” she muttered under her breath.
Watching her lady eat like a glutton was a stark contrast to the graceful image she was supposed to uphold.
Not only had she returned late to their temporary quarters last night, but she had also indulged herself in an unplanned tour offered by one of her so-called “friends.”
The whole affair had been entirely out of line with Enna’s usual composed demeanor.
Anna’s annoyance deepened as her gaze shifted to her brother, Amon, who stood calmly by the stove, cooking with the same nonchalant attitude he always carried.
He was preparing scrambled wind bird eggs, and as he tasted them, he gave a satisfied nod, oblivious to the storm brewing in his sister’s head.
“Amon, don’t add too much salt, okay?”
“Yes, Lady Enna,”
Anna clenched her fists, her irritation bubbling beneath the surface.
Amon, her brother and one of Enna’s personal guards, had been assigned the responsibility of watching over Enna yesterday, yet here he was, acting far too relaxed.
He hadn’t even returned with any concerns or warnings with the information he brought—just tales of the “weird adventures” and “accidents” they had encountered on their short tour.
Anna could hardly believe how nonchalant he was about the whole situation.
In truth, she expected more vigilance from him.
Enna’s safety was paramount, especially given her status, and Amon, as her protector, should have been more cautious.
But despite her frustration, Anna knew better than to dwell too long on her brother’s easygoing demeanor.
Amon had always been this way—calm, unflappable, and annoyingly carefree.
Still, Anna had to admit, things had gone smoothly overall, much to her relief.
The tour, though unplanned and filled with unexpected detours, hadn’t resulted in any real trouble. In fact, it seemed to have done some good.
Their beloved saintess, had managed to make friends in such a short span of time—something that Anna hadn’t anticipated.
Enna’s usually shy and reserved nature had given way to a more open and adventurous side, and as much as Anna wanted to scold her for it, she couldn’t help but feel a small sense of pride in seeing her mistress blossom in social situations.
“Anna, today is the day for the practical exams, right?”
Enna asked, wiping the grease off her face with a towel after finishing the last bite of her breakfast.
“Yes, my lady,”
“Can we watch?”
“Unfortunately, no, my lady. All students that are not from combat-oriented departments are required to stay in their temporary dorms today to prepare for the grand opening ceremony in the gymnasium tomorrow.”
“Ehh? That’s too bad…”
Enna’s shoulders slumped in disappointment, her excitement deflating like a popped balloon.
“I really wanted to see Reina and the others in action. It would’ve been fun to support them, too~” She pouted, feeling slightly cheated out of a thrilling day.
Still, as Amon brought forth a new batch of freshly cooked dishes, Enna sighed and resigned herself to her current situation.
She knew she didn’t need to worry too much about Reina, Vanessa, or even Flamme.
After all, they were all incredibly strong in their own ways—even without seeing them action that was the assessment her eyes saw through the light of their souls.
Anna, noticing Enna’s disappointment, softened her tone.
“They’ll all pass, my lady. I have no doubt about it.”
Enna, still chewing, smiled faintly. “Yeah, you’re right.”
She then closed her eyes, clasping her hands together in a brief but earnest prayer.
“Dear goddess, please bless my new friends and watch over them today.”
The act of prayer brought a sense of peace and hope to Enna’s heart.
Though she couldn’t be there in person to cheer them on, she knew that her prayers carried weight.
Afterall… the goddess tends to answer her prayers.
….
“Reina.”
Hearing her name, Reina turned around to see a familiar figure waving at her, making her way through the crowd.
It was none other than Vanessa, her robe as pristine as ever, and a friendly smile on her face as she approached.
“Miss Vanessa,” Reina greeted her, bowing her head slightly out of respect.
Although they had only met yesterday, for some reason, Reina felt as though she had known Vanessa for much longer.
Perhaps it was because of Enna—her infectious energy of positivity and enthusiasm seemed to draw everyone together. It had a way of making people feel like old friends.
Vanessa chuckled softly at Reina’s formal greeting.
“Please, stop with the honorifics,” she said, her tone light and playful. “Just call me Vanessa. We’re way past that point now, don’t you think?”
Reina opened her mouth to argue that they weren’t quite at that level yet.
After all, it had only been a day since they’d met, and in Reina’s mind, proper boundaries should still be respected.
But she stopped herself when she saw Vanessa’s genuine smile.
Unlike Flamme, whose intentions were often wrapped in sarcasm and mischief, Vanessa seemed to carry a warmth and sincerity that was hard to deny.
It was easy to imagine her becoming a good friend—someone Reina could rely on.
With a soft smile, Reina nodded. “Alright, Vanessa,” she agreed. “Then you can just call me Reina as well.”
Vanessa smiled at Reina’s words, then followed her gaze toward the large circular stage ahead of them.
The stage was surrounded by a shimmering magical forcefield, its vibrant glow acting as a barrier to protect the spectators from the intense battle happening within.
Inside, two students were locked in combat, their swords clashing with a sharp metallic ring that sent sparks flying into the air.
Reina and Vanessa stood among the crowd of onlookers, watching intently as the two fighters gave it their all—or at least, it seemed one of them was.
The other, however, appeared completely unfazed by the relentless assault of his opponent.
In a dazzling flash of golden light, the larger student was suddenly thrown back with such force that he crashed into the protective barrier, a loud crack echoing as the magical field absorbed the impact.
Blood spewed from the fallen student’s mouth as he slumped to the ground, barely conscious.
“Even Galain lost?”
“But he was so big!”
“That senior is too strong,”
“Can’t they change the opponent? there are other seniors behind him as well….”
The first-year students who had gathered to watch the fight were filled with wonder.
Their eyes were fixed on the senior who had just walked toward the fallen student with a calm, almost gentle expression on his face.
Despite the brutal display of strength, the senior leaned down, carefully helping his opponent to his feet before handing him off to the medical team waiting just below the stage.
The sight of him carrying the student, who was nearly twice his size, added to the amazement rippling through the crowd.
The senior, with his lean yet muscular build, didn’t look particularly imposing at first glance.
In fact, his unassuming appearance made it all the more impressive that he had won so easily.
Not once during the fight had he broken a sweat, nor had he lost his casual demeanor. It was as if the battle had been nothing more than a mild exercise for him.
“He’s strong…”
Vanessa mumbled, her voice barely audible as she stared intently at the senior on the stage.
The awe and shock in her hidden expression were unmistakable, her usual calm demeanor faltering as she truly took in the sight of the young man before them.
The senior she faced on her test earlier had been no easy opponent as well—but the senior in front of her now was on an entirely different level.
Reina could see it too, though Vanessa was more attuned to the subtle intricacies of combat.
There was something about the senior’s presence, an invisible weight that lingered in the air around him.
It wasn’t just the way he fought, though his technique was undeniably flawless—it was the subtle aura he exuded, a sense of power that seeped from him even when he wasn’t actively engaged in battle.
To Vanessa, that aura was undeniable proof of his strength, a level of mastery that went beyond what most knights could ever hope to achieve.
“He’s stronger than most standard knights out there,” Vanessa continued, her voice slightly unsteady as she analyzed him. “Maybe even greater.”
Reina nodded slowly, her eyes still glued to the stage, he was quite handsome as well, his golden eyes and sharp face was particularly enticing for Reina.
