The race starts.

I was worried about our team not working well together, but it goes on without trouble and we manage a good head start.

Even though we are still far from the deep forest we have already encountered some small monsters. One would think that with their size they would run away, yet they attack with force you wouldn’t expect.

That much is normal, but they seem more agitated than usual. Maybe it’s already building up to the end game.

Even if it were, there’s nothing I can do about that right now.

I feel vibrations from one of the threads I have been leaving around, “From the right!”

A small bat-like monster dives in our direction but, with a move of Tiane’s hand, it’s promptly trespassed by an icicle and drops dead on the ground. Its blood flows as its body starts to fade and green glowing spheres float away from its body. It’s as if the monster’s magic is being drained from it, and the body dissipates, leaving nothing where the bat once stood. However, if you look at the grass patch it fell on, you can tell something was once there.

It is always like that with monsters. Once dead their body disappears, as if they were nothing but magic to begin with. Even though they bleed and breathe, their existence is different from ours.

We continue on without much problem, reaching the deep forest. In the deep forest the number of monster increases, but they aren’t much more ferocious than before. Their size is still small too, which surprised me a little. It’s our first time doing this, so I guess it makes sense to be less dangerous.

Not that it’s very dangerous to begin with, as we are being monitored.

“Careful!”

One of the bats seems to have made its way to me without me noticing it, but Matthew promptly burns it down.

“More are coming!”

I summon light and flash it in front of the bats eyes, making use of the blinding light to disorient the them. Then, I make a light spike the size of my finger appear next to my hand. The spike moves forward at great speed, in a straight line, looking like a ray of light was shot. The sharp edge hits the target and it falls to the ground.

On a scale, light magic is the only type that can quickly and effectively propagate in a perfect line.

Despite the fight in front of my eyes, I glance towards Matthew as he uses his dual-element of fire and earth. The original heroine didn’t lie, seeing someone using a dual-element is truly a sight to behold.

But immediately after, a gush of wind passes near my face, killing a bunch of bats in front of me. This time, I glance behind me.

“Please pay attention.” Alexis scolds me.

Geez, I was paying attention.

I let some threads snap. Various threads slash each bat all at once and the last of those fall to the ground.

“… Your magic is so flashy.”

“It’s light so it flashes with every use, I can’t help it. Oh, do you mean my attacks?”

“Both, I guess. People always praise light magic, but it seems to be quite bothersome to use. Fighting at night without alerting monsters must be difficult.”

“A little, but you can work around it. It’s similar for fire magic, although in a smaller scale. Am I the first light user you’ve meet?”

“Pretty much.”

“Hey.” Matthew approaches, “They are all dealt with. Let’s keep going.”

“But I can’t believe we never saw the prince’s group again.”

“Right.” Alexis continues, “They passed by us a good time ago, but I thought we would catch to them soon.”

“What does it matter?” Tiane, who had staid quiet until now interjects. I notice a little of her usual calm is lost. After a pause, she continues, “I know you want to rest but finish the chit chat if you will. We still have a while to go.”

By this point, the fatigue started to set in and our pace slowed. There weren’t many monsters around, probably the work of the group ahead, so we merely kept walking at a set pace. It’s weird how walking fells like resting.

“Sophia.”

“Hm, Matthew?”

“I was worried there would be complications today, but I’m happy I was just thinking too much.” He says in a low voice, almost a whisper, “Sorry, is that weird? We have only known each other for a few days and basically don’t know each other, but you were the one I talked to the most. In a way I… Ah, I mean… I should shut up.”

“Pff.“

Matthew raises an eyebrow, “What are you laughing at?”

“Aha, it’s just…” I try to keep my voice low, “Your worry is appreciated is all. Either you're kind to me as a friend or a stranger, I don’t mind.”

I really mean that. We, as commoners, are in similar situations. Much to my distress, I couldn’t talk to many people until now. As such, to say this worry being directed at me doesn’t comfort me would be a lie.

“It would be good…” He pauses, thinking his words through, “If thing keep this calm.”

“That’s called raising a flag.”

“A flag?”

“You don’t need to get it.”

Because flags are to be broken, if I so chose.

Soon we will reach the finish line, but I hadn’t expected this to be so tiring. Even if I hadn’t initially wasted my energy on keeping Christine I’m sure I would still be fatigued.

I underestimated the difficulty level of this course. This disparity between my expectations and actual power annoys me a little.

I want to pass out.

I’m so tired.

Ah, at least Alexis is exactly like me. I’m not alone! My head has a small moment of happiness, something primal enough my tired mind can make out.

No, no, calm down. You need to use your remaining energy to seem normal.

Ouch, I tripped.

“Another group!” The teacher at the finish line says in a happy tone. “That was pretty good for your first time doing this. Well done.”

Money, please. My compensation. My tired mind says.

I have no voice anymore.

Water.

I hungrily gulp down the water given to me. I can feel my brain’s normal functions coming back. It feels good. Feeling good feels good.