Chapter 20

The written exam went off without a hitch.

However, it seemed that Eifa didn't fare as well.

"What should I do, Seika? I might have made a mistake..."

"Hmm... We can only make up for it in the practical exam."

I comfort Eifa, who has tears in her eyes.

"Ugh, after all that studying..."

But then again, we only had a six-month preparation period.

There's nothing we can do about it.

***

The practical exam venue was outdoors.

In front of the examinees, six stone slabs were lined up.

"Aim at those targets and cast your magic."

The examiner with round glasses explained.

"From left to right, they are Fire, Earth, Water, Wind, Light, and Dark. Choose the attribute you prefer. You can choose as many as you like, but since it's a point system, it's advantageous to challenge as many as possible. However, do not attack targets of different attributes, as the resistance magic arrays will not work and the targets will be damaged."

I see.

You can challenge without worrying about failure. This is a good exam.

"Blazing red! O spirits of heat and sulfur, roar and turn your anger into a fireball, Fireball!"

"Exploding yellow! O spirits of rock, shatter and turn your anger into gravel, Gravelball!"

"Surging blue! O spirits of cold springs and ice rain, freeze and turn your anger into a white spear, White Ice Spear!"

The practical exam had already started in the adjacent venue.

Everyone is casting spells with enthusiasm, but most are only choosing one attribute.

Their performance is also mediocre.

Ruft and Gurai, who had learned non-verbal casting and multi-attribute spells around this time, were actually quite excellent.

"Ah, it's my turn. I'll be back, Seika."

"Sure. Good luck."

Eifa steps forward.

Judging from the level of the others, it seems the practical exam should be fine.

Just then, a flash of red hair caught my eye.

It's that girl, Ami, from earlier, in the adjacent venue.

Her turn seems to be later, but I wonder how skilled she is. She was said to be proficient in all attributes...

Moreover, the thing hanging from her waist looks like a sword.

What kind of person is she...?

As I wonder, a warm breeze brushes against my cheek.

In front of me, Eifa is aiming her staff at the target.

Everyone, including the examiner, is staring at her in shock.

"What was that flame just now?""Was it a Flame Lance...?""A mid-level spell?""It was non-verbal!""Hey, look at the target."

Upon closer inspection, the corner of the stone slab is slightly melted and has turned glassy.

Eifa bows to the examiner.

"S-Sorry, I didn't expect it to melt..."

"N-No... It can't be helped..."

The examiner with round glasses tilts his head, muttering that it was a fire attribute target, looking puzzled.

"Can I go to the next one?"

Seeing the examiner nod, Eifa walks to the third target from the left.

What, next?

The wind attribute target.

In front of it, Eifa readies her staff again.

"---Wind Lance"

A gust of wind blows.

A wind so strong it hurts the ears, rushes towards the target.

With a sound like an explosion, the stone slab is shattered.

The exam venue falls silent.

After a moment, the sound of the upper half of the stone slab falling to the ground can be heard.

"U... Was that a Wind Lance, a mid-level spell?""A mid-level spell without verbal casting?""Was that really a Wind Lance?""The target is broken, what will they do?"

"Quiet! Everyone, be quiet!"

"I'm done. Sorry about the target. Thank you."

Eifa bows and runs over to me.

"H-How was it, Seika? I broke the target, but... will I fail? It's the result of my effort..."

"Eifa!"

"Kyaa!?"

"Wind! That was amazing! What happened there?"

"......Hehe"

Eifa smiles shyly.

"I've been practicing a little bit. I thought Seika might be surprised."

"I was surprised. You can already command spirits. What about the other attributes?"

"Not really. There were a lot of green spirits in the mansion, so I could bring many of them. Also, I think I have a natural affinity for wind. I just found out."

I feel a lump in my throat.

Seeing a disciple's growth suddenly hits you hard...

"But, the other kids are also gathering little by little. I hardly see the light and dark spirits, but for the others, I should be able to ask them soon... Seika, are you crying?"

"No, I'm not crying. Ah... Eifa. Just one thing, that didn't look like a Wind Lance. The real one is weaker."

"Really?"

"Don't worry about it. Eifa can become even stronger."

The spirit users from my previous life weren't like that.

"Everyone, please listen. There was a small accident, but the exam will continue. We are preparing spare targets, so if you want to try the wind attribute, please yield your turn. Next, please."

"It's my turn."

As Eifa sees me off, I step forward.

"Which attribute?"

"Fire first."

Standing in front of the target, I casually ready my staff.

Since I'm not asked to destroy it, I can use moderate power.

I'll finish this quickly.

"Fireball"

A weak Will-o'-the-wisp hits the stone slab, and blue flames burst out.

This should be fine.

"Blue Fireball!?""Hey, the fire isn't going out!""Is the resistance magic array not working?""Wait, wasn't that guy Lamproug, who had no magic power...?"

"Next, Earth."

I tell the stunned examiner and move to the next target.

What should I do?

The others were just throwing pebbles, but that's not interesting.

A suitable spell would be... The Stone Key is too far. I can't use The Red Iron or The Rock Throw here...

Wait, that stone slab—granite.

Alright, decided.

I ready my staff.

What should I call it? Whatever, I'll just make something up.

"Stone... something"

The Art of Earth and Gold

With a crack, crack, several large golden cubes grow from inside the stone slab.

Naturally, the target is destroyed from the inside.

Good.

"Sorry, I broke it. Next, Water."

"H-Hold on a moment!"

The examiner with round glasses stops me.

"You, what was that spell just now...?"

"Stone... something."

"What was it?"

"Sorry, I'll go to the next one."

I walk to the next target.

"What was that spell...?""The target was destroyed from the inside...""...""...""..."

The back was also silent.

Thankfully. I'd be at a loss if asked to explain.

Those cubes were pyrite.

A golden mineral known for sparking when struck, but it also has the characteristic of forming beautiful cubic crystals.

By infusing gold and earth energy into the seeds in the rock, it crystallizes and splits the rock.

Granite is formed from solidified lava, so I thought there would be iron and sulfur seeds, and it turned out as expected.

It was a spell I created for civil engineering, but it was the first time it was useful.

"Water..."

The others were just throwing icicles, but of course, that's not interesting.

Hmm...

This should do. It's large in scale, and I'll use a human-shaped form just in case.

I wave my staff.

"Ice... something"

The Art of Yin Water—The Ice Waterfall

A massive amount of water, kept in an invisible human-shaped form, was released like a tsunami.

The water, supercooled by yin energy, froze upon impact with the stone slab.

This quickly triggered a chain reaction, and the enormous amount of water instantly turned to ice.

Ah... The water flowed to the sides, freezing the dark and fire targets as well...

I used a bit too much.

"Sorry... I'm done. This should melt eventually."

"..."

"......""......""......""......""......"

The exam venue, now covered in ice, is silent.

I turn around.

"Back, Eifa. Shall we go?"

"U... Yeah. How were the other attributes?"

"I could only do three."

Wind is not part of the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, and light and dark are still a bit unclear.

Moreover, I seem to be unable to use this world's magic.

I've been trying for years, but it's no good. Magic power and spell power might be different things.

I can use Yin-Yang arts, so it's not a big problem.

From what I can see, I should pass this exam normally.

"Hehe"

"Is something wrong?"

"No."

Eifa says.

"Everyone was surprised by Seika's magic... I felt a bit good."

*The Art of Earth and Gold

A spell that grows pyrite crystals using gold energy and earth energy, splitting the rock. Pyrite, also known