All my life, I have been praised for my ability. From people in need, people in distress, from people that are on the verge of death. They have all praised my ability in medicine.
Ever since I was a kid, I had a talent for magic. I had really high affinity for mana, my sensitivity was out of the charts. Although I come from a low nobility standing, my family decided to invest in my ability and sent me off to the best academy in the whole world. A little girl at the age of 15 was sent to another empire to "study". That was around when I started to developed my interest in healing and medicine.
When I first arrived at the academy, I was surprised to see that although we have already been admitted to the academy, we were forced to take aptitude tests again. Later I found out that the result of the test determined your standing within the academy, and it was kind of like the difference between nobles and the commoners, except instead of lineage, here it was decided by effort and ability.
Although it was slightly inconvenient for me at the time, I did put in my all to achieve the highest class possible. Although I didn't have any affinity with the main elements, I was still able to use all of them comfortably. But of course, a person who would have mastered one element would be better than me in certain aspects. My life at the academy was… plain. I was not a loner, but I didn't exactly have a large friend group as well. Just a few certain people I would hang with from time to time. Even though I was in the highest standing class, there were still a lot of people in the class, it was by no means a small percentage of people like one would think.
Even though we were in our first year, from time to time, we would occasionally be taken to wild places to hunt monsters to increase our experience, and learn about formations and tactics. It was right there and then, when I learned of the importance of being able to heal. If people wouldn't get hurt, or even if they could get quickly healed after they get hurt, they would be able to conquer so much! Yet, our magic and medicine was not great at all. People would get hurt right and left, and they would have to retreat to be healed.
After through rigorous research, I learned that light magic had high potential to heal people. Albeit I had no affinity with the main elements, I never tried to use light magic before, simply because I didn't know the fundamentals required to make it work. But with the knowledge I gained from the academy, and also being able to access the library makes it easier to research light magic. I wanted to be able to overcome the pain and the wounds and the scars and continue onward.
As I kept on researching and continued with my studies at the academy, I learned a crucial thing; I had no talent for light magic. Even those with 2-3 standing lower than me could be considered better than me in the aspect of light magic. But I wasn't going to give up. I won't let those dear to me ever get hurt.
———
During my stay at the academy, my research for healing magic was halted abruptly - the reason being waged war from the Camor Empire. As the "aspiring students" of the academy, most of us will also be chosen to help the war at the border. I was… indifferent about this war. I didn't have any relation whatsoever with Camor Empire, nor anyone from the Lolux Empire which the academy is on. I need to stay alive, so that I can help others be cured, healed.
When a general arrived in the classroom to tell us about this, everyone was mostly shocked. Some were in a state of panic and despair as they feared for their lives, while a specific small group saw this as an opportunity. Then, just as people started speaking between each other, the general stomped his sword to the ground and continued to speak;
"Before you are taken to the battlefield, even before you leave the academy, you will go through several tests. For all of you here in this class, and other classes with the 'highest standing', there are 3 options, depending on how well you do at each test."
The general paused for a moment, probably to let us all understand the situation we are in. This is war we are speaking about, even to me, it doesn't feel real that there is a full-on war at this age.
"Of the 3 possible results you can get, the first is the one where many of you will fall under - You will not be drafted to war, however, you will be kicked out of the academy and the Empire will cease any support for you, the student."
After looking at everyone' faces for a brief moment, the general continued
"Should you prove yourself good enough, you will fall under the second batch. If you are in the second batch, then you will be drafted to war as soon as possible, where, as an academy student, you will be treated better than regular soldiers and will take lessons about situations such as the one we are in."
"Then for the last, the third batch is something the Empire expects to return empty. If anyone here can achieve to enter the third batch, you will be sent to a special training camp for a month in which you will be forced to go through harsh training. After this training, you will be the same rank as me, without any question from anyone, and you will be requested on the battlefield."
Without even giving us time to think about what we just heard, the general continued
"So, any questions? If not, you will have exactly 1 week to prepare for the said test. The tests rules and pass conditions will be revealed 3 days before."
———
The first thing that passed through my mind was that 'I can't go back'. So being on the first batch to avoid the war simply not an option for me. I should be aiming for the third batch or at least the second batch.
———
A lot of students were gathered out near the board, and it seems they released the rules for the test.
___________________________________________________
You will be put in a group with 3 other people. Each group with their members are listed below.
For the first stage of the test, 4 groups will compete against each other and the competition will not end until at least 2 groups are eliminated from combat.
For the second stage of the test, all the winning groups will become a new group. This group will be tasked to raid a dungeon of B difficulty. You will be given special accessories and equipment so that the right personnel can keep watch of your progress and evaluate you and your actions.
List of groups:
xxx
___________________________________________________
I was let down. It would be wrong to say 'I didn't expect a group event' but I still hoped it would be anything but that. My research on healing magic is nowhere near where I want it to be, so right now my class would be considered a 'mage'. I have been practicing the last 4 days, but with the rules in mind now, I feel like physical strength and mental fortitude will also be required.
I quickly left the scene and made a plan for the remaining 3 days. It was going to be hell on earth for me. I decided to find out about my partners for the first stage. Luckily, there is enough details, even a photo of the student on the board so I'll go and visit their class to see if they are there. First on the group, Lorenzo. His classroom should be the closest, so I'll go up and check if he is there.
After a short walk, I reached the classroom I believe he should be in, so I opened the door, only to see that the situation is the same here as well, nearly everyone is looking at the board for the test rules. Although Lorenzo didn't have any distinct features that set him apart from the rest, it was easy to find him, as he was sitting on the other side of the classroom, minding his own business.
"You're Lorenzo, right?"
"And you must be..?"
"My name is Serenity, pleased to make your acquaintance."
"You must be my teammate for the test! Well nice to meet you too Serenity."
"If you are free, I'm going to meet with the rest of the group too, would you like to come?"
"It sounds bothersome, but it would be more bothersome to not meet them right now, so let's go, lead the way."
"Of course." I said, as Lorenzo get up from his seat and started following me while fidgeting with a small toy in his hand.
"The closest here is a guy named Cassius. Do you know him?"
"No, I think they paid extra attention so that we are in a group of people we've never met before."
"So it seems" I replied, as we reached Cassius' class. Unlike the case with Lorenzo, Cassius was not sitting on the other side of the classroom. Without even having much time to look around, someone popped out from the huge crowd in the class, who seemed to have been looking for us.
"Cassius?"
"…That would be me."
"I'm Serenity, and this is Lorenzo. Would you like to follow us to meet with our last member?"
After a short pause, he replied to me in a calm tone "Sure."
So, the three of us headed for the next class. On the way, Cassius stopped me
"Althea's class is this way."
"…You're right." I don't know I got the way mistaken, but it didn't matter.
Soon enough, we met with Althea, an elf.
———
We found an isolated table and decided to sit there to talk about the test. Cassius took the lead and asked us the question on everyone's mind
"So, what are your specialties?"
Lorenzo was the quickest of us to reply
"Stealth, Daggers, close-combat"
Then, I replied
"I'm a mage, but I can also take the role of a healer if needed."
"That's wonderful!" replied Cassius, then he continued
"As simple as it gets, I am a Knight. I can use a little bit of magic to support myself, but that's about it. Nothing too fancy on my side."
Althea didn't speak for a moment, until she noticed all of us staring at her
"I can use magic."
Simple and brief, yet explicit enough. Just before the mood got awkward, Cassius took the lead and spoke
"Well then, our formation is in place. I'll be in front, act as your Tank. Althea and Lorenzo, you will be our damage dealers, both from afar and up close, and Serenity, we'll leave the healing to you, is that fine?"
"Yes, I'll be glad to be the healer."
"I take it you guys are also fine with this set up?" Asked Cassius to Lorenzo and Althea
"Sure"
"Yeah"
It seemed like it was going to take some time for us warm up to each other.
———