10th day of 1st month year 10439.

It was now the next day and the time for the third trial. All of the three people, who lived through the trial, have given a target and have been paired up with their senior. The person, who accompanies the trainee, is always his it her teacher. If the teacher is his or hers parent, then the parent isn't allowed to be paired with him or her. And because both Alice and Veronica are counted as his parents, the one to accompany Nevada is Maria. Even though Maria has been inactive for a century, she is the only one who can accompany him. So she has no other choice, but to accompany him.

Currently, the two had already left the Fortress and were walking through the snowy road. His bow was on his back and his quiver on his waist. Next to the bow, his sword was placed. He also had a knife in both of his boots, hidden away. As for Maria, she didn't have any weapons on her nor did she have her mask anywhere to be seen.

"Wolfy...Could you tell me about yourself?"Nevada asks her, while they are walking on the road.

"Why do you ask?"she asks him back. He thinks for a few seconds and answers"Because I want to know more about the woman I like."

"What did I say about flirting?"Maria asks him, who only smiles at her, after hearing her question.

"Whatever...I guess I can tell you something, until we reach the city."Maria says and starts talking.

"When I was ten, me and my brother Carl, who was seven at the time, had been lost in this region for a few days, because our parents had abandoned us. Luckily, we wound the Fortress, where we were taken in by Anna, who personally trained us. I was born lucky, having two of the rarest magic elements and a very strong affinity with the both. As for Carl, he wasn't so lucky like me. He only could use fire magic and his affinity with it was pretty average. But still, we learned hard and soon we got out masks.

Because assassins rarely work together, we started to progress through the ranks at the different pace. Because I was the strong one, I got pretty high rank fast, while my brother was still fourth rank.

Years passed and soon after he came 8th rank assassin, I passed him a job, that I really didn't want to do. He obviously accepted and went to do the job. But something must have gone wrong and he ended up dead.

I was devastated when I learned about his death and I blamed myself. I still too even If over a century has passed already. After his death, I hung up the mask and haven't touch it since then."

She finishes talking, with a few drops of tears in her eyes. When Nevada noticed that, he stopped and pulled her into a hug. She didn't struggle at all and just accepted his hug.

"Sorry that I made you bring that up."He apologizes to her, who replies"It's not your fault. I decided to talk about it."

They stay like that for a minute, before continuing their walk.

It was early in the evening, when the two arrived near the city of Ilum, where his target was. Ss for Nevada, he changed his appearance to that of a regular foxkin, because his nine tails would make him too easily recognizable and there are also his slitted eyes, that he has to hide for obvious reasons. Only thing he noticed, that he can't cover up, is the Mark of Sola, which no matter how hard he tried to use disguise it.

As they approached the gate, they were stopped by the guards guarding the gate. They were wearing full metal armor with a warm cloak over the armor, to keep them warm. Both of them had a one-handed sword sheathed on their waist and they were holding a spear.

"Halt you two."one of the guards says and so they stop.

"State your identity and business for entering."he tells them and so Nevada says"We're hunters and we were hoping to rest for a night in this city."

"Hmm. What are you hunting?"the guard asks and this time, Maria replied"Snow birds."

"Snow birds huh....We have too many of them around here, so it would be good to get rid of some them."he mutters"You may enter."

"Thank you."Nevada replies and enters the city with Maria by his side.

"First lets find an inn to stay a night and tomorrow you can start planning, while I watch."Maria tells him, as they walk on the snow road.

"Okay "he replies.

During the third trial, the seniors don't help the trainee, unless it's really needed. Usually they just stand near you and observe you, without guiding you. So If you complete your mission successfully, you get mask. You fail your mission, well you will be probably captured or killed by your target. The senior will be gone by the time, they want to come after him or her.

After ten minutes, the two find an inn to stay. They enter the place and immediately feel the strong smell of alcohol in the air. They look around and see bunch of people drinking and eating, while sitting behind a round table. As for them, they walk up to the counter, where a fifty it so year old woman is standing.

"So how can I help you?"she asks them.

"One room with a double bed."Nevada tells her.

"Okay. How long?"

"Two nights."he replies to her.

"Okay. That'll be twenty silver with food included."she tells him.

"Understood."he replies and takes twenty silver coins out of his pouch and places them onto the counter, from where she picks them up and gives them a key. On the key, there is their room number: 17.

"Here you go. Enjoy your stay."she tells him and gives a small wink at him.

"Thank you."he replies and takes the key from the counter.

He and Maria get to their room and immediately she says"Nevada. What the hell are you thinking?"

"What. Did I do something wrong?"He asks her, while taking off his equipment.

"Because how you acted, you hinted that we are a couple."Maria complains.

"So.. Aren't we a couple already?"Nevada asks her back, while sitting on the edge of the bed.

"No...Where did you get that idea?"she replies and walks closer to him.

"Probably when you kissed me when I was ten. And I must say, that wasn't a innocent kiss either. So passionet."

Hearing him, Maria goes a little red and says"T-that was nothing. Don't get the wrong idea."

She walks closer to him and holds a finger near his forehead"That was just a.. kyaa!"

She lets out a small scream, as Nevada pulled her towards him and then pushed her down onto the bed. He holds her hands down, while looking at her blushing face.

"What are you doing?"she asks in a weak voice.

'Oooh. She actually can lose her cool look, when pushed down.'

"Exactly what it looks like Maria."Nevada answers."I love you Maria and want to be with you. I know you feel the same way too...so why do you deny it, even though you promised me."

She doesn't say anything and just turns her head onto the side, so she wouldn't face him.

"Maria... Don't start acting like this now. You Are supposed to be the mature one here, so why do you act like such a young virgin?"

She mumbels something so quietly, that even Nevada couldn't hear with his great hearing.

"I couldn't hear you."he tells her.

"Because I am."she says in a loud voice this time, catching Nevada off guard. So once he regains himself, he looks at the completely red face of Maria and says"You haven't done it?"

"No...I've never been in a romantic relationship."she tell him in an embarrassed tone.

"I thought...That you surely have."he mutters to himself"Does that mean, that you act this way, because you don't know how to act?"

"Yes."she answers in a weak voice.

"I see."Nevada replies and lets go of her. He sits back down onto the bed and stares at the floor, while resting his hands on his legs.

"Maria...Do you actually love me or was it your instincts?"he asks her in a serious tone.

"When I kissed you, it was from instinct...But now I have actually fallen in love...Huh. a twelve year old and a 219 year old fell in love with each other. The age gap is ridiculous."she says, while laying on the bed.

"I don't care about the age. I only care about what you feel."he tells her.

"I feel like this."she says and kisses his cheek, before getting off the bed. The sudden kiss surprises him and he looks at her, who tells him"For now, it will be all. Until you grow up, we won't be in a relationship...So grow up fast."

The next morning, the two were sitting downstairs and eating their breakfast. Nevadas equipment was laid next to him, on the floor. The two didn't really talk much after yesterday and so, they were currently eating their food quietly.

Nevada felt a little sore, as he slept on the chair, while she was sleeping on the bed. It was his mistake to hope that he and Maria will sleep together on one bed. Because of that, Maria got the bed and he got the chair, because of his small mistake.

After they finished their breakfast, they left the inn, as Nevada was putting on his weapons. Now outside, Nevada started to look around, with Maria observing him, as part of her duties.

Nevadas target was a mercenary by the name of Grak. He was a male demon with white skin and no horns. Easiest way to identify him, was by looking at his face. On his face, one could see a huge claw mark scar across his face. The reason, he is wanted dead, is because apparently he had raped a wrong mans daughter and now he wants him dead. There is a bonus, If brought alive. Even though this is part of a trial, the mission itself is very real. So he needs to be careful.

He starts, by asking around the stall owners at the market place. It takes him over an hour to question them all and the only answer he gets is a No.

So he moved onto the blacksmith store in the town. Because Grak is a mercenary, he probably needs to at least get his blade sharpened.

So when they got to the blacksmith store, Maria herself disappeared. Even though she couldn't be seen anywhere near, he still knew she was watching him.

Nevada opened the door to the store and entered the store. The place was decorated with swords on the two walls. Behind a counter, a grumpy looking human male was looking at Nevada and immediately yelled.

"Get the fuck out of my store you filthy animal."

"Not happening."Nevada replied and at the next moment, he was in front of him, with a knife on the mans throat.

"Answer my question and you will live."he tells him"Has a demon with white skin and a claw mark scar came into your shop."

"Y-Yes."he says with a great effort."He will soon come back for his sword."

"Good. You will act normal when he comes by and give him his sword. If you even slightly mention me, you die. Do you get it?"

"Y-Yes "he replies.

"Good."Nevada says and the next second, he is out of the store and standing on top of the stores roof, with [Camouflage] active. He keeps staring at the humans who walk on the street and when he notices a guy, with his face hidden by a cloak enter the store, Nevadas face turns serious. After Five minutes, the man exits the store with a sword on his belt.

"That must be him, but I must be sure."Nevada mutters and gets down to the street, with his [Camouflage] still active. Once he touches the ground, he deactivates it, as he blends into the ground.

In the crowd, he gets in front of the cloaked man and sees that it is Grak. So he starts to walks towards him and when he is right next to him, Nevada creates a dagger out of the Ice and stabs Grak into the heart. He disappears into the crowd again.

Later that day, Nevada and Maria are back at the inn. Maria is sitting on the chair and says"That was good for your first time....You pass."