'No. I can't be certain. Let's not jump to conclusions…' Chiding himself, Noir stared at the young damsel beside him.
She was still putting up an obviously displeased expression, but he ignored it anyway.
Still, Ciara now had a bit of his attention. Noir finally gave some deeper thought about her.
'It seems the situation was grimmer than I thought.'
Ciara must have known about her Rare Bloodline. That was why she was so hesitant to let him see her Status Information. However…
'From the looks of things, she doesn't know how to use it. That's why it has not been awakened.'
The rest of the contents in her Status Information were unimpressive, though.
An exception could be her Mana Pool. It looked higher than that of kids her age.
'Her Proficiency is horrible. A mere 100? And everything is focused on spells?' Noir sighed in exasperation.
What bothered Noir most, however, was the glitch in her Titles.
'She must have gotten the [Survivor] Title from yesterday's experience, but this glitched Title… It's quite strange…' Noir took a mental note and wondered whether or not he could look into it.
"Too bad we're short on time though…"
It was regrettable, but he had to stay within the limits of his business. Any further interference would become bothersome in the long run.
"Okay, I've seen enough!" Noir said, returning his gaze to Ciara.
"Hmph!" At this point, she was already pouting—clearly upset with him.
"Hm?"
"Jerk…"
"I apologize if you're upset with me, but it was necessary," Noir said to her.
"Hope you're satisfied," Ciara snappily remarked, now turning away from him.
"To be frank with you… no!" Noir stated bluntly.
"What..?"
"Other than your Mana Pool, there's nothing extraordinary about your stats… Oh, except for the fact that you have a Rare Bloodline." Noir continued without mincing words.
"Y-you saw that too?" Ciara replied in a much lower tone, now very nervous.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I also have no intention of revealing it to anyone else. I am fully aware of the implications of doing so."
Noir was well aware of the potential, as well as the danger, a Rare Bloodline had to the world.
There were certain people in the world who were born special. They possessed Rare Bloodlines—unique magic abilities which were exclusive to them alone.
A one-in-a-kind ability!
'Of the 5 magic types that exist in the world, only Bloodline Magic stands entirely apart. Not everyone can use it unless they possess a Rare bloodline.'
Because of this, wielders of Rare Bloodlines were often hidden away, closely guarded, or kept secret. This was because there are all sorts of organizations that sought after them—or rather, the power hidden within their Rare Bloodlines.
'People like this girl—unable to use their power—are prey to them.' Noir's thoughts trailed as he observed Ciara's slightly uncomfortable expression.
He wasn't the only one deep in thought, after all.
The reason Ciara's father decided to enroll her in the Magic Institute was most likely because he wanted to protect her—though Noir wondered how much good that would do at this point.
She was compromised, after all.
Still, the U.S.E.M.I. was probably the best place for her to reside.
'Keeping one's Rare Bloodline secret can only last for so long. In order for Ciara to grow, under protection and care, she needs the Institute.'
"That's a relief… Though I'm surprised you aren't too shocked at my Rare Bloodline." Ciara remarked, brightening up slightly.
"I am a bit surprised… but it's inconsequential at this point." Noir stated bluntly.
'You could have fooled me…' Ciara nearly rolled her eyes at the stoic man.
"As for your training, there's only one thing I can do for you… considering the limited time we have."
"O-Oh, what's that?" She stuttered, a bit flustered by Noir's sudden statement.
It didn't help that he was drawing closer to her as well.
"Forceful Awakening."
"F-forceful?!" Ciara yelped, a bit scared.
She had a quizzical look on her face, rightfully expressing the fact that she didn't know what the concept exactly meant. But, judging by name alone, it didn't sound pleasant.
"It's exactly what it sounds like. As you are currently, your Proficiency is too low. You also possess no skill in the other Magic types.
By Forcefully Awakening those skills, you'll possess at least decent proficiency in all the Magic Types, and your Proficiency will increase." Noir said, observing Ciara's uncertain expression.
She still didn't quite get it. Or maybe she did, and her mind wasn't inclined to the idea.
"Though in the end… it's still up to you." Noir added.
"A-ah—" Ciara paused, thinking within herself.
This is what she wanted, more power… But why was she uncertain now?
Noir was strong. While he was quite shady and mysterious, he didn't seem like a bad person. There had to be a reason he recommended such a method.
"I need to move past this… so I can protect myself!" Ciara resolved, half-talking to herself.
"I'll do it!"
"Good. Now let us begin." Noir said, now taking a few steps away from Ciara.
"Wait… now..?" Ciara said, taken aback.
Noir kept stepping back, causing the girl more confusion and worry.
'Why is he stepping back? What's going on?' Her mind was a mess at this point.
"I'm not yet—!" She was still trying to stall—or rather, comprehend the situation—when Noir raised his hands toward her.
"[Forced Awakening]" Noir began.
Energy began to swirl around the expressionless man… and all over the stunned girl.
"[Code: Magic Proficiency. Magic Type. Magic Level.]"
"W-wai—!!!"
"[Commence]."
>VWUUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHH!!!<
Ciara instantly felt a sharp surge of power from within her.
Her entire body felt hot, and she suddenly started feeling bloated—as though her body was getting filled up by something deep and powerful.
She felt so full, hot, and uncomfortable.
'A-ah… ahhh….' She wanted to beg Noir to stop, but she couldn't even speak.
Ciara was in extreme pain and discomfort—feeling energy surge within her like electricity. Suddenly, numbers started forcefully entering her brain.
Lots and lots of numbers. More than enough to make her pass out.
"Don't give in. Don't pass out. Control the power surging within you." Noir's voice echoed within the torrents of power swirling around her.
Within the storm, she heard faint traces of his final warning.
"… Or you might die."
'What the actual fuuuuuucccccck?' Ciara's thoughts screamed upon receiving the message loud and clear.
Why…? Why couldn't he have warned her before?!
It was too late for regrets, though.
Ciara simply followed his instructions—not that she had any choice.
She closed her eyes and felt the energy swell up within her.
The sweating young lady began imagining the flow of energy—directing the power through her mana veins while permeating it throughout her body.
It was painful.
It was difficult.
It was slow.
BUT—!
'Not yet… not yet…'
Ciara kept doing it.
'… NOT YEEETTTT!!!'
*
*
*
"Haaa… haaa…"
By the time Ciara finished circulating the last of the Mana that dwelled within her, it was already late in the evening.
She was already soaking wet with sweat and her entire body felt numb.
Her head ached too, causing her to wince in pain.
"A-ahh…" Ciara fell to the ground, panting desperately.
As she was still regaining her bearing, a round of applause was initiated by the the perpetrator of her pain himself.
"Well done, and congratulations." Noir said to her, having a soft smile on his face.
"Haa…" Ciara was lost for words.
She didn't know which to address first—the fact that Noir's reckless action had nearly gotten her killed… or that he was smiling.
She probably wasn't going to address either since she was too tired.
Plus… she could finally sense it—the dense and powerful Mana circulating throughout her body.
Noir stood right in front of her, giving a nod of approval as his lips parted and more words came out.
"You're now in Tier 2."