There had been multiple choices in front of Jennifer. She could’ve waited for a while till whatever combat test had been happening was concluded, before asking for her own test. It would likely have given her something more reasonable to work with rather than the shield breaking exercise. But two thoughts had made her decide on continuing as she had the first time around. The first was the fact that she’d spent a non insignificant time preparing counters to the given exercise, and to learn how to win it. The second was that she wanted to win, and changing the test would feel like she ran away.

Which was how Jennifer found herself walking up the incline to the entrance of the Academy, as she envisioned the fight in her mind, and prepared countermeasures. Her walk quickly took her through the Academy, even as she was lost in her thoughts. Jennifer had been visiting the place frequently in the past two months, and had grown quite familiar with her way around.

Walking into the central building, she was about to head to the reception when a voice interrupted her.

“Hey, hey you!” a boy shouted, wearing white robes with blue trimmings typical of a senior at the Academy. Jennifer now knew that almost no one wore the academy uniform, making the boy even more weird than she’d first realized.

“Do you know if the combat test has begu- oh, sorry, first year?” the boy asked, curiously looking at her up and down.

“Should still be a few minutes before he begins. I’m heading there myself,” Jennifer replied, as she continued on her way to the reception.

“Wait, you’re not a first year? Umm, sorry, that was rude of me. I’m Livian Firgold, a light mage,” the boy said, extending his hand forward as he began to grow calm.

“Jennifer Laine,” she took his hand, returning a light shake.

“Are you sure we’re not late? What am I saying, I don’t even remember the combat chamber the Magus had specified,” the boy said with a sigh, before looking at Jennifer. “Not to impose on you but… is it fine if we go together?”

“Sure, but I have something to do at the reception first.”

“That’s fine, I can wait. I think,” the boy replied, and Jennifer walked up to the reception. She tapped the counter once, waiting for Minceli to make her way up the little ladder she kept behind the counter. It always amused her to watch the gnome woman climb up that thing with all her creative cursing, it made her wonder if the mages had not made the table more appropriate or given her some kind of spell or tool for the exact same reason.

“What do you want?” the gnome woman asked.

“I’m Jennifer Laine, here to take my Apprentice Mage test,” Jennifer replied. She could sense Livian’s gaze settle on her back from behind her, but she didn’t make any motions to acknowledge it.

“Hmm, first year. Enchanter at that. Confident eh?” Minceli asked, adjusting her glasses as she flipped through the thick registry book.

“Yes,” Jennifer replied, smiling.

“Is the boy with you?” Minceli asked, glancing to the side.

“No no no, I just wanted to get to Magus Beritross’ class,” Livian replied, waving his arms around in denial.

“Well good for you that we’ll be heading there anyway,” Minceli replied with a snort, jumping off her ladder stand. “Follow me.”

Jennifer glanced back at Livian momentarily as the boy gathered himself, before the three of them began to make their way to the combat chambers.

I wonder if Loux is somewhere close by too. Likely either at the spot training or in her room I suppose.

Thoughts of the various spell combinations and way to counter them filled Jennifer’s mind, and she tried to put them all off. No counter plan she prepared now was going to be of any help. She just had to trust herself and give it her best shot.

“So… you are a first year,” Livian said from behind.

“Yeah, I am. Is there some problem?” Jennifer asked, glancing back.

“No, nothing. Just, I thought First years would be arriving later this year. And, well. Applying for an apprenticeship so early, I’m just surprised. Students usually only gain an apprenticeship in their third year, and it’s a tough competition to get one under the strongest mages of the Academy.”

Jennifer hummed at the words. “Well, I sure hope I make it in that case. I definitely can’t wait two years,” she replied as the conversation ended.

They walked in silence for a few minute before Minceli spoke up.

“We’re here,” she said, walking up to one of the combat chambers. With a grunt the gnome opened the door, as Jenifer watched Magus Beritross standing inside with his class, about two dozen students glancing her way in surprise.

“Beritross! There’s an Apprentice mage test taker, take care of it,” Minceli replied walking into the chamber.

“What! I have a class ongoing Minceli, get some of the new [Mages] to do it,” Beritross replied, glancing towards Jennifer.

“There’s no one around,” Minceli replied, turning as she handed a card to Jennifer.

Beritross looked up towards Jennifer, and then Livian before the Mage turned towards the gnome. “Both of them?” Beritross asked in surprise.

“Just the girl,” Minceli replied, as she began to make her way out.

Jennifer felt pity for Livian, who stood in front of the class and awkwardly began to make his way to the rest of them.

“Apologies for being late, Magus,” Livian said, dipping his head. The Magus grunted, before his gaze returned to Jennifer. With a motion of his hand, he called her and extended his hand forward.

In a smooth motion Jennifer walked towards the mage, and handed her card to him. With narrowed eyes, the Magus inspected the card, before he turned to face her.

“I didn’t lose any bet Magus,” Jennifer replied, remembering the Mage’s next words from the last time. A wave of laughter spread through the crowd as Magus Beritross coughed in embarrassment, glaring at the class once.

“Very well. A first year who has not attended the Academy for a single day asking for an apprentice test. I wish I could say this was a first, but we already have a weirder case in here,” the magus replied before turning to address his class. “Change of plans! The Mage Apprentice test will be your combat evaluation test as well. We’ll work on the linked-barrier spell.”

Jennifer carefully listened to the rules the Magus laid out for the test for any changes, but from the sound of it, there were no significant deviations from the first version. Tier-1 linked barrier, with Tier-1 rebound spells and five skills.

“Remember, if you guys somehow manage to fail, this girl will become an apprentice before all of you get to,” the Magus replied, turning to eye Jennifer.

I’m surprised I hadn’t noticed the ways he had tried to test my resolve the previous time around. Giving an unfair test may be part of that too, or to ensure that I got at least some education before trying again. I would’ve too, if I had the luxury to wait.

Jennifer turned to meet the Magus’ gaze. “I’m ready,” she replied.

The Mage clapped his hands.“Alright! Take your formations and begin casting the barrier spell.”

Jennifer watched the students spread across the chamber, taing their position. Unlike last time, she could now tell why they were spaced in the way they were. It was a requirement to cast a linked spell without practice, a method to structure the linked matrices while also extending control over the spell.

Jennifer eyes three students standing at three different seemingly random locations. She could tell by the way the mana shifted around them that they were the ones directly in control of the barrier. The other students' jobs were to maintain the matrix and provide it with enough power, but the maneuvering ability was in the hands of these three, with one of them being in charge. They would also be the only ones capable of using their skills on the barrier itself.

It should’ve been obvious to her that leaving the control of a unified entity in the hands of almost two dozen individuals would merely lead to disaster during her first test as well.

Locking targets onto the three mage students, Jennifer took a breath and began to channel her mana. Nathaniels’ technique ensured a quick array of spells that she could stack and cast one after the another, and with Loux training? She could do all of that silently while also maintaining Agile Wind around her.

The mana in the chamber swirled, forming into a shimmering barrier that spread in all around the students, forming a circular dome. Jennifer inspect the barrier visually. It was almost identical to the last time, and this time, she was a lot more prepared than she’d ever been.

“Ready? Begin!” the Magus announced and Jennifer shot forward.

Mana thrummed around her, accompanied by powerful gusts of wind as she rushed around the dome. Three hexagonal glass plates whirred around Jennifer as she used one of her newly learned spells on them.

“Reflect,” Jennifer murmured as her mana dipped and the glass gained a white sheen to them, glowing dimly with magic. They would act as a barrier against the oncoming barrage of attacks, reflecting any attacks that did not outright break her spell.

Her defences prepared, Jennifer silently weaved together a mana blade. Using the trick she’d learned from Loux, she split her thoughts across two different motions, her mind busy casting the glass blade as her body shot around the barrier with a constant stream of glass bolts shooting at the armor.

One by one, her attacks hit the barrier, flickering it at a steady interval. She knew she could not even come close to breaking the shield this way, there was no way for her to beat the combined mana pool of a class of two dozen second years. But if she continued to maintain her steady rhythm, the mana input from the students will slowly but surely begin to sync up to her rhythm. They will anticipate her attack, and will brace for it. Even if subconsciously, the mana output into the matrix would lower at the low beats, and that would be her chance to strike.

Her attacks didn’t go unanswered as three students broke off from the chained casting, together she shot bolts of mana, at her, with one of them throwing a massive fireball in heer direction. Jennifer whirled Agile wind further, using a gust of wind to dodge the fireball as her hexagonal mirrors moved at her will, reflecting the bolt of mana back towards their assailant.

She continued her consistent glass bolt attack through the barrage, allowing the students to slowly but surely break off and begin to shoot spells at her of all sorts.

Wind stirred Jennifer’s hair as she skid across the arena, kicking off the walls and running in circles as beams of light and bolts of thunder chased behind her. Her mana, even with it’s substantial increase with her [Glass Mana Pool] began to draw low, but Jennifer felt no concern. Her mana limits had been drilled into her through her practice with Loux, each session letting her run almost empty on Mana through it.

The running around and chase continued for a moment, and she began to saw murmurs beginning to rise through the students.

“You won’t outlast the class if that’s what you’re hoping,” Magus Beritross spoke, taking Jennifer by surprise. The man had not uttered a word in their last fight.

She nodded her head, not replying in any way as she continued to run circles. A smile tugged at her lips at having her ploy succeed well enough to be missed even by the Magus, or perhaps he’d merely not mentioned it because he knew.

Doesn’t matter. It’s time to attack.

Slowing down on her mad dash Jennifer brought the hexagonal mirror in front of her, joining them together to form a shield that covered her almost completely. An assault of spells quickly began to rain upon her mirrors, being reflected back, yet the draw on her mana would quickly mean an end to it. She had to act quick.

Jennifer tugged on the three strands of mana she’d carefully been threading through the ground. Something she’d learned while talking with Ithea in the Academy’s library had been how barriers had no way of preventing mana intrusion from underground, and she had all the intention to exploit it.

Carefully planting her spell, Jennifer waited for the low beat from the steady attacks of her glass bolts hitting the barrier. As her bolt hit the shield, and she sensed the rising mana flow through it in anticipation, Jennifer sent a pulse of glass mana towards the three students in control of the spell matrix. Glass shards rose from the ground beneath the barrier, forming three spikes that curved around their feet, trapping them in place.

A brief moment of shock reflected in their eyes, followed by a stumble as the barrier flickered visibly.

Now.

Putting together her Glass blades, Jennifer tied their ends together, weaving and stacking three blades all together. Shattering her hexagonal mirrors as the last of the spells being reflected stopped, she shot forward.

“[Repair Matrix]!” one of the students screamed in a panic, followed by the others who soon caught up. “[Reinforce], [Strengthen Magic], [Guard].”

The shouts rolled over Jennifer and she ignored the barrier rising. A lance of glass, tied of three merged blades rose from her hand, a tornado of glass ripped through everything around her, carried by sharp winds as Jennifer poured more magic than she’d ever used through her pathways.

“[Twofold Enchanting] Sharpen, Harden!” Jennifer screamed not having the time to cast silently as she layered her enchantments onto her spell.

A glowing lance of glass shot from her hands, crashing into the flickering barrier like a speeding arrow. A burst of powerful wind spread out from the explosion, accompanied by screams and curses as the two spells collided, their spell matrices tearing into one another.

Jennifer didn’t let the chaos distract her as pulled up another spell, calling for a glass blade to shoot towards her when a bolt of lightning interrupted her.

“[Lune stone: Guard]!” she shouted, as her guard spell manifested, tanking through the attacks. Her heart thundered as she rushed ahead, prepared to hit back at the barrier when a loud shout cut through the chamber.

“Enough!” Magus Beritros spoke, his voice amplified by magic. Jennifer stumbled from the intensity of the sound, clutching her ears. She looked up a moment later, fighting her disorientation to find the other students similarly bent over with hands over their ears. She turned to face the Mage.

“The winner is Jennifer Laine. Stop all combat spells right this instance or I’ll fail you instantly,” Magus Beritross said, glaring at his students. A moment later, his eyes rested upon two students. “You and you. Why did you attack even after the Barrier had fallen,” the Magus asked with a heavy frown.

“Apologies Magus,” the boy replied, the girl next to him quickly following after.

“I’ll need a report from you two specially on what disciplinary action should be taken on breaking the honorary rules of a Mage spar. From the rest of you, I expect a full report on how a first year mage bested all of you combined, and exploited the flaws of your spell casting with such ease. Your combat evaluation grades will rely on the report. Class is dismissed,” the Magus said, as a groan passed through the class, though Jennifer also noted some relieved sighs.

Her gaze travelled back to the Magus who was now staring at her. “Direct close body manifestation, linkage breaking, and the silent spell casting. If I wasn’t so familiar with her I wouldn’t have even noticed the similarities,” the Magus said out loud, staring at Jennifer intently.

She held back a gulp, looking back at the Magus as she did her best to feign ignorance.

The man continued to scan her, before eventually he lifted her card set in his hands and looked down. “Level 14. [Enchanter] at that. If I wasn’t seeing things myself I’d probably never believe it,” the man replied, before glancing back up at Jennifer. “Follow me to my office. I’ll need you to sign some documents and leave your mana signature. Elphion, a first year who hasn’t even began classes, the paperwork will kill me.”

Jennifer pretended not to hear the man as she followed behind him. She heard the thundering of her heart increase in intensity as the realisation settled down. She had won!

The jovial celebration was made even brighter by the screams of ‘What’ and ‘That was a first year?!’ that Jennifer caught the moment she left the chamber. Even the dull ache of having abused her mana pathways did not take away the joy at seeing her growth.

I did it. I came to the Academy, and I beat a class of Seniors.

The realisation was a surreal thing. This had been the dream she’d one day wished to achieve. A dream that had always been haunted by the realisation that she would always be behind the mages with the many resources their families could afford them. She had been afraid that she would only lag behind and had done her all, even before her entrance, to learn spells on her own and gain a mastery of magic that would ensure she would be the best in her class.

And now, I can compete with second years. No. I can beat them.

Jennifer felt joy filling her heart, as a strange sensation filled her. She wasn’t sure how she could tell, but somehow, she knew that if she closed her eyes for but a moment, the voice of the world would whisper upon her ears.

She was close once more. Close to another level up.

***

Magus Beritross walked inside his chamber, holding back a sigh. He’d already been preoccupied enough when the Dryads had sent a child to their Academy, and of all the Mages to get stuck with the job. Now, a girl with glass magic and a fighting style eerily similar to Loux had appeared randomly and had beat a class of Second years by herself. As an [Enchanter].

“They don’t pay me enough for this,” the Magus muttered under his breath. Walking up to one of his desk, he turned to see the girl Jennifer standing behind as she looked around the chamber curiously.

Walking ahead he quickly ran his fingers through the inscribed runes on a slate made of mana stones nearby, before he turned towards the girl. “Put your hand at this slate here. It’ll show a brief description of all your classes and levels.”

Taking a moment to look at him, Jennifer walked up the the platform and pressed her palm against the runes inscirped. A moment later, mana flowed through the area as the spell activated and letters began to appear on the table. Beritross took out the girls’ card placing it on the array as the letters transferred over.

Watching the array stop, he picked up the card and glanced at it.

“Level 17? And level 2 [Glass Mage]?” Beritross said, turning towards Jennifer. “When did they take your damn assessment?”

He watched in silence as the girl squirmed uncomfortably for a moment. “Last month,” she muttered.

Beritross stood in silence, staring at the girl. Her squirming grew more and more as he stared before the Mage caught himself and coughed. Taking a moment to gather himself, he looked back up at the girl. “Are you force levelling yourself?”

Jennifer shook her head. “No, I just. Had some insights. I got a level up really quickly after my last assessment, and then another two. The glass mage class also just… happened.”

Beritross’s eyebrow twitched as he stared at the girl. “You’re telling me, that you just happened to gain three new levels, and two more in an entirely new class in a month?”

The silence grew longer at his words and Beritross let out a sigh. “Listen. I don’t even know what would push a girl like you to level rapidly. So either you lied on your entrance assessment for Sera knows what reason, or you genuinely have had the most fortunate month ever and grown monstrously. And I can think of some things, but none of said things are nice, so I’d like to hear from you before I’m forced to look into things myself.”

Beritross waited a few moments to see how she would respond.

“I-I actually found a new channeling method. Well. Sort of developed one, after reading some really old notes I had. It turns out, this was a method very similar to the Gold-plate adventurer Nathaniel, which is what’s helped me propel my growth so much,” the girl replied and Beritross raised an eyebrow. That felt… a bit too detailed to have been made up on the spot.

“I actually wanted to get an apprenticeship to study under him. I think he’d be interested in my mana channeling method enough to be convinced. I’ve also heard that there’s another student at the Academy, looking for a combat teacher. If the Academy requests him on behalf of two students, I believe it might be possible,” Jennifer replied, looking at Beritross.

“Nathaniel… Serfield? You’re asking for him?” Beritross asked, unable to believe what he was hearing.

“Umm, yes?” Jennifer replied, looking back in confusion.

“He was a menace. One of the most talented mages we’ve had in the academy, and the biggest pain in the ass I’ve ever had to teach,” Beritross replied with a grimace and a chuckle. “Well, I’ll believe your word for now. Nathaniel had been the last person to be on my mind for the role, but given the circumstances, I don’t see any reason not to,” Beritross replied, and he saw the girl let out a quiet breath of relief.

He’d definitely have to dig more into her. A glass mage and an enchanter that just gained 5 levels in a single month. He’d heard of stranger things, but this was still abnormal enough to pique Beritross’ interest.

“Alright. Now all that’s left is a heap of paperwork, mostly for me. Go through these documents and put in the request for Nathaniel in there, leave your signature and your mana signature at the bottom once you’ve read through and put the papers at my table. Now if you’ll pardon me, I have a class to attend to,” Beritross said. He watched the girl go through a series of expressions that he could tell she was trying to hide.

With a light smile on his face, Beritross stood up but paused mid-step. “Oh, before I forget. It’ll take some time to get you your Apprenticeship license, but in the meantime this card will do,” he said extending the girl her card.

Beritross noted a bright smile reflect upon her face as he handed her the card, one he saw no indication of her hiding. A similar smile tugged at his own as he turned around and walked out of the chamber, leaving the girl to settle down.

Two new girls, vastly different in personality, and equally strange. This year was already starting to feel interesting.

***

Jennifer sifted through the papers, most of it just informing her of her responsibilities and the rules of the academy. Along with a form to pick her choice of tutoring she’d like to receive. Attached was a short list of suggested tutors, but none of the names were anyone she recognized.

She picked up an enchanted quill nearby, inspecting it for a moment before she began to fill in all the necessary details. There thankfully didn’t seem to be much, just a little entry on her class type, number of classes, and other details about herself. She went through them one by one, feeling strangely elated at the sequence of events that had since followed.

I do wonder why the Magus hadn’t reacted this strongly the last time. Is it because I’d just gained my [Glass Mage] class?

A moment later, the realisation came to Jennifer. Minceli. She’d asked me my level and changed it at the counter. The Magus never knew I’d gained 3 levels.

Jennifer felt a bit weird at how such a small action had changed the talks she’d had with the mage so greatly. I’ll definitely need to find a way to hide my class. Things will only grow worse as more and more resets happen.

Minutes passed in silence as Jennifer carefully filled the form, after checking for everything she put the form aside and sat in silence wondering what she should do next. She hadn’t made any plans for after getting her Apprenticeship except meeting Nathaniel again, and that would likely take a few days to happen.

Maybe I can visit some of the sections in the library that I couldn’t before.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. A strange sense of deja vu filled Jennifer.

“Come in, it’s open,” Jennifer replied and saw the blonde boy, Livian, open the gate. She suddenly remembered a very similar encounter with the boy the last time she’d visited the academy.

“Hey uhm. It’s me, not sure if you remember my name,” the boy said, looking inside.

“Livian, right?” Jennifer asked, and saw the boy nod along.

“Yes, I’m Livian Firgold. I must thank you Jennifer. My combat skills were really not up to the mark and I was slightly worried about fluking the class. Being able to make a report instead just saved my life, so I felt like I had to say thank you.”

“It’s no problem. Glad that I was of help, especially after putting you in that awkward position,” Jennifer replied with a smile.

“Oh that’s on me. I was late and everything. Got too lost tinkering with my light cube. Anyway. You’re really amazing for a First year you know that right? Most first years barely know a spell or two by the time they join, and you were fighting so well. I think only a few people in our class could beat you. Though I doubt anyone could beat that crazy green girl that also joined,” Livian said, as he closed the door behind him and stepped inside.

“Loux Nekrot?” Jennifer asked.

“You know her? Wow, is there some prodigy meet up or something?” Livian asked, and Jennifer inadvertently found a blush rising to her cheeks.

“No, I just. She’s famous.”

“You’ll be too, if you aren’t already. I still can’t believe what I saw, even when I was there to see it. It wasn’t even overwhelming power, more like, you seemed to just know what we were going to do, and had a countermeasure ready for it. It was shocking,” Livian said, and Jennifer had to resist the wave of embarrassment that filled her.

“Yeah, so, what did you need?” she asked, trying to steer the conversation away.

“Oh, I just. So, since you’re an apprentice mage. I actually had an offer for you. You’re new to the academy and I'm assuming you're unfamiliar with the responsibilities of an Apprentice Mage as well, since you’re skipping like a whole year and a half and jumping directly into the position. So, I'll help you out with the work involved and the paperwork etc, in return for a favour,” Livian said, a nervous smile plastered on his face.

“What’s the favour?”

“Ah, well. This will sound odd... I need to enter the dungeon. But not to adventure. I need to find a Light affinity spirit beast. I’m a [Light Mage] and having a light attribute familiar would be great.”

Jennifer nodded. She had already known of the request and normally she’d quickly refuse wasting her time on a trip like this, but until Nathaniel came to the Academy, she didn’t have too much to do and had found herself itching to test out her new abilities.

She could feel her [Glass Mage] class sitting right at the edge. She just needed one last push, and she would level once more.

“How deep do we need to go?” Jennifer asked, looking at the boy.

Livian smiled a bright smile, quickly pulling out a map, the lines on it vague, yet drawn with magical ink that marked the entrances to the dungeon.

“It’s in the first layer, the dungeon area under the north west section. Shouldn’t be too far in. And I have an artifact to detect when the beast is nearby.”

A delve might be just what I need.

Jennifer looked up, seeing a nervous Livian look back at her. She flashed him a grin, a predatory look in her gaze as she eyed the second year boy.

“Tell me more.”