In a hidden corner of the expansive Lyronia Magic Academy, there was a massive clearing crowded with all the "available" students from the Advanced Classes.
They were here for one reason... Grey's test.
Of course, they could've taken such a test inside, but Grey requested that they took it outside provided things got messy.
The air thrummed with excitement as everyone gathered around the clearing, where a basic-sized dummy, adorned in a shimmering jade armor, stood as the centerpiece of Grey's test.
Some people had already started whispering, and others grinned as they did their very best to hold back the "chills" they were experiencing.
Grey looked nothing short of casual as he stood at the center of the crowd.
"Do you think he's feeling the pressure?"
"Yeah, definitely, it's written all over his face..."
"You know, Senior Sera really is a genius... Maybe she could already tell that this Grey guy's actually a fraud, maybe he can't even do half of the things the magic clans have been saying. Yeah, it's definitely just them glazing his fraudulent ass!"
"Shut up you idiot (~slaps) how can you even think to call him a fraud... I hope you know you're indirectly insulting all the magic clans that have given their respect to that talented bastard. And besides, we all know your just talking crap cause your pissed he'll get all the ladies."
"Shit! You didn't have to slap me though... (~rubs back of head gently) and besides, fraud or not, let me believe what I want to believe."
While students in the background contemplated whether or not Grey was feeling any stress of the sort, Grey had other things in mind...
'Hmm, do me and Anna watch Ukiyo Enchantresses tonight? Or do we just binge watch Enchanted Sakura Guardians, if I'm not mistaken six fresh episodes have aired for the second season...'
Grey closed his eyes and rubbed his chin as he thought deeply.
Some of the students looking at him laughed.
"Look at him.."
"Yeah, it's obvious he's struggling to think of a way out of this one."
"It's hard to believe the only son of the NewGate clan's just a fraud."
Numerous opinions about Grey were already flying around.
Then, the young man realized that he was here for a test and not to think of what magic girl series he and his sister would be watching tonight.
"Oh."
A soft utterance from Grey.
Adjusting his joggers and straightening his t-shirt, he closely examined the magic item before him.
Next to Grey, Sera, the no-nonsense student council president, stood with her usual regal charm and authority. She had her arms folded and eyes closed, seemingly deep in contemplation.
"You know what that is, right?" she said with a commanding tone.
She didn't look at Grey or anything when she spoke. Her eyes were closed and her head faced towards the ground like she was engaged in some sort of meditation.
Grey nodded slowly, his eyes not leaving the dummy. "It's some sort of enchanted armor, right?" he replied, trying to mask his uncertainty.
Sera opened one eye and gave Grey a scrutinizing look. "Yes," she affirmed, "and that's going to be the focus of your test."
Perplexed, Grey's furrowed brow betrayed his confusion. "I don't follow," he confessed, seeking clarification.
Giving a faint sigh, Sera's expression remained as solemn as ever.
She gestured towards the other students and the class instructor positioned at one end of the clearing.
"The armor is made from adamantine and is mostly used by we students of the Advanced Classes to practice our attack potency," she explained. "The least performing student in the Advanced Classes could only hope to leave a minimal impact on it, and to truly dent it, you'd need a Phoenix-ranked attack."
Pondering her words, Grey scratched his chin. "I'm a Titan-ranked mage, though," he pointed out in a nonchalant manner; so much so that he looked unbearably arrogant.
Sera let out a resigned sigh. "Of course," she replied coolly, her eyes trained on Grey. "As much as I don't care enough to know little to anything about you, I've heard about your ranking today enough times not to forget it."
Grey turned to Sera, his eyes steady and unyielding. "If you know that, why would you give me such an easy test?" he challenged.
He couldn't understand her rationale.
Sera looked Grey in the eyes and began to explain a crucial rule that guided how magic techniques and mages were ranked.
"Simply because a mage is at a higher rank, doesn't equate to them being higher in all stats, especially including high-impact demanding stats like attack potency."
"Huh?" Grey responded as he raised an eyebrow.
"When it comes down a person's magic technique, there are a lot of fundamental aspects that really determine its worth. But the two most important ones are: refinement and attack potency, in other words, how well they could use their magic and how much damage they could inflict with it at optimal and subdued levels," Sera explained.
Taking a small breather, she pointed directly at Grey, and added,
"Your magic technique, or rather, techniques are well refined, and although I haven't actually seen it I'm basing it off the reliable things I've heard... While you've refined your magic technique to perfection, it doesn't have much to offer when it comes down to damage dealt."
Grey nodded slowly as she explained.
Sera continued, already seeming like she was rounding up.
"Sure, your attacks can easily dispatch maybe an Eagle-ranked mage or lower, it would prove absolutely ineffective against a Phoenix-ranked mage or higher who has a more potent magic technique."
Her explanation wasn't to educate him, no, not at all. There was even the possibility that Grey already knew this.
Instead, she wanted Grey to see the humbling realization that, sometimes, the elegance of a technique could be overshadowed by the brute force of another's magic.
As such, she used that factor against him in this test.
Reiterating a well studied branch of magic technique caught the eye of the students. Some of them in the crowd questioned the possibility.
"That can't be possible, can it?" one student voiced out.
Another student added, "Maybe it is?"
Meanwhile, the class instructor, Grievious, observed the discussion with keen interest. He chose to remain silent on the sidelines as the conversation went on.
'How will this play out?' the old man thought to himself.
With a yawn, Grey admitted, "Yeah, I guess you're right."
Sera, wearing a smug smile, affirmed, "Of course, I am," as she confidently walked towards the group of students gathered at one corner of the clearing.
The tension between Grey and Sera lingered in the air as Grey, with a concealed smile, casually reminded her, "That was four years ago, though…"
Suddenly, Sera stopped in her tracks and shot a piercing glare at Grey "What do you mean by that?" she questioned, eager to know more about his cryptic remark.
Grey, still had a a wry smile on his rosy lips.
As he locked eyes with Sera, he lifted a finger and teased her, "Don't you worry, Miss Sera. I'd prefer to surprise you with a chef's special, and as usual, it's on the house."
Sera, always composed, breathed out an exasperated sigh, her gaze shifting away from Grey. With a calm countenance, she shut her eyes momentarily, almost as though she was irritated just by looking at him, before retorting, "Regardless, you must prove yourself."
"Prove myself?" Grey echoed with a chuckle.
To him, that statement wasn't grammatically wrong... It was factually wrong.
He paused, adjusting the tenor of his voice as a smirk crept onto his face.
"Well, I do like a challenge, and I must admit, I like you, Sera."
Sera's expression remained the same. "What for exactly?" she plainly asked.
Grey's demeanor shifted; his gaze turned cold, his smile adopting a faintly menacing edge as he upped the ante, "Someone telling me to prove myself is something I never thought I'd hear, especially from someone weaker than me."
Infuriated, Sera couldn't contain her frustration and snapped, "Say that again, I dare you!"
A comforting hand landed on Sera's shoulder, belonging to the calming presence of Adrian.
"Easy, Miss Sera. Let's keep calm," he advised her gently.
In the meantime, Grey seemed to revel in his provocation, feigning a mock fear as he taunted Sera, "Woah, you're scary. I wasn't thinking when I said that. Sorry."
Sera took a deep breath, calming herself and thanking Adrian with a nod.
He responded with a warm smile, assuring her, "No problem."
As Sera walked away to rejoin the students, Adrian lingered for a moment, facing Grey.
His gentle smile masked a steely resolve.
"You really shouldn't speak in such a disrespectful manner to Sera. It's actions like that which get people into trouble."
Grey didn't know whether to take that as an advice or a threat. He couldn't read Adrian, nothing about his sweet and somehow strange personality made any sense.
Suspending his Innocent act, Grey said, "Ohhh~". His hands went back into his pockets, "Is that a threat?" he asked.
"Haha," Adrian chuckled softly, his voice felt like what fluffy angel pillows would sound. "Of course not," he added.
After, the blonde fellow left to join the students.
Now, it was just Grey and his obstacle; enchanted armor.