(Flashback)
"When am I going to get my Affinity?" Nova asked her father as they walked back together from another day of training.
"Usually people get their Affinity around 10 years old probably," Lewis immediately answered.
Nova stopped.
"I'm 15 though?"
"Yeah, I guess you're a late bird." Lewis continued to walk indifferently and shrugged his shoulders.
"Huh?-" Nova almost shouted out loud. She ran after her father and grabbed his shoulder.
"Doesn't that mean something is wrong with me?" Nova almost yelled at him.
"I guess so!" Lewis chuckled carelessly.
***
(Present time)
Nova coated her body in Est.
'She's already improved?' Claudia opened her eyes wider.
When Nova asked why she accepted her offer, Claudia didn't answer completely honestly.
She looked at Nova and stared into her deep black eyes. Claudia had never seen that look before. It was sharp like those of a predator, and also determined. Her aura brimmed with confidence like she could defeat anything despite her beginner level.
Nova's demeanor entranced Claudia. She knew that Nova would reach new heights one day.
Claudia felt that Nova already improved dramatically from her last battle.
"Interesting," Claudia couldn't take her eyes off of Nova.
***
"No Affinity automatically sets the highest level you can achieve to Tier D," Falcon stated.
Nova stood there silently. She craned her neck at Falcon and grinned.
"If I beat you doesn't that make you Tier D at best," Nova mocked.
Finally, Falcon's expression changed. He frowned and raised his sword. Tier B was a status not many achieved. Falcon chuckled at Nova's empty threat.
"If you can get even a strand of hair off of me, then I make you Tier C. If you can't, then I will make it so you can never be an adventurer," Falcon growled at Nova.
"I like that. Come at me baldy," Nova gestured to him while smirking.
"She's crazy," Claudia commented on the side.
"How can they let someone like that be Tier B?" Chris finally spoke. Claudia looked at him curiously.
After a sigh, Chris pointed toward Falcon.
"Look at his stance, it is completely off. Nova probably purposefully angering him to get him off guard. A true Tier B shouldn't be swayed by emotions so easily," Chris shook his head as he crossed his arms. Claudia found him quite adorable and chuckled.
"Well it will only work if she survives though," Claudia's voice drifted off.
***
Falcon dashed toward Nova head-on.
She shot out a crescent of Est toward his feet. Instead of dodging, Falcon slammed his gladiator into the floor severing the blast.
'I sure do talk big,' Nova felt a tinge of regret.
Falcon sent his slash of Est as well, but it was much thicker and faster. Fortunately, he was restricted to a certain strength for the tests, so he could not use his Affinity skills.
Nova dug her feet into the ground and stopped the blast. Falcon stopped for a moment surprised. His face contorted into anger.
He closed the distance between them instantly. Nova hurriedly lifted her sword to meet his.
'There is no way I can beat him normally,' Nova racked her brain for a solution.
Suddenly, she remembered one of her father's sword techniques. It was powerful Art that coated the sword with Est without the need for an Affinity. Immediately, she tried to replicate it.
"Sword Coat"
A thick semi-transparent Est enveloped the sword.
Simultaneously, all of the people- Falcon, Claudia, and Chris let out a gasp. Nova closed her eyes and focused on communicating with her Est.
'Let's blow this jackass into ashes,' she frowned and charged up her technique. Nova launched her sword at Falcon like a projectile. Off guard, Falcon finally noticed the sword flying at him. However, it was far too late. The sword dashed through the air at an impossible speed to dodge. Falcon rushed every muscle to block to deadly attack.
BAM
A huge collision between the swords rippled through the air. Falcon struggled as he was pushed back several meters, but the sword still would not stop. He cursed loudly.
Finally, his body exploded with red Est, which consumed Nova's sword.
CLATTER
The sword fell onto the floor. The room was silent beside Falcon's angry breaths. He saw Nova in front of him who stood leisurely. She had one hand in her gray sweatpants, and the other hand playing with something.
"I guess I won," she held up several pieces of white hair. She pushed her jet-black hair off of her sweaty face.
'That Art took too much out of me,' She still grinned happily.
"You-" Falcon's voice exploded. He marched forward toward Nova fuming. Sensing danger, Nova stopped her act and prepared to fight again.
Claudia began to move forward, but Chris held her back. Claudia looked at him menacingly, ready to break his arm.
"Someone else is here," Chris quickly explained.
CLAP CLAP
"Alright, that was a great battle." Another man stepped out of the shadows. He looked young, maybe younger than Chris.
He wore a dark green suit with white accents. His black hair was neatly combed back. He had caramel tan skin.
"Miss Nova, please follow me to the second part of your test." The man glanced at Falcon briefly. His dark brown eyes stared into Falcon's soul with indifference. Falcon immediately shivered and broke out into a cold sweat.
Everyone except Falcon moved from the room to another floor. The man quietly led them to an office room. Before they entered the man turned toward Claudia and Chris.
"I think it is most appropriate for me to speak with Miss Nova alone," he smiled warmly.