She chants a unique spell with a foreign language. In less than three seconds, a fireball is created above her palm, twice the size of the one she used before this to hit Irvine's head.
However…
<< Hey, she is going to hit you again! >>
"Shut up!"
<< You better get down! >>
"I said shut up!"
<< I said get down!!! >>
At last, Atniel manages to convince him to get down right before the fireball hit his back.
"What the?"
Irvine's face turns pale as he sees a fiery fireball pass above his head. Realizing how dangerous the attack is, he immediately gets up and curses Elea loudly.
"You crazy red head! What's the hell with the size of that fireball? You wanna kill me?"
Elea doesn't say a word. She gapes with a stupid look, mumbling, looking so in disbelief at what she has just seen.
"How? I threw that fireball from his blind spot, but…"
Of course, all of that was thanks to Atniel's help. He might be only able to see the conditions of the outside environment limited to Irvine's vision. However…
<< I could sense the incoming danger even before she threw that fireball. In the past, people from all over the world would travel far just to study under my guidance. But you ignorantly refuse to be my disciple >>
Not content with bragging about himself, he also begins to praise Irvine to flatter him. After all, he has delved into Irvine's memory and learning quite a lot about his past. That gives him more than enough materials to persuade Irvine, including by bringing up Irvine's biggest dream.
<< If you follow my guidance, I'll help you to become an S-rank Ezlenmir soldier. That way, no one will look down on you and your family. >>
<< I know they judge you as the least talented student here. But I believe that you are destined for something great >>
It's such a rare case for Irvine to receive compliment from others. Not mentioning about becoming an S-rank Ezlenmir soldier, a dream he has never shared to anyone due to his inferiority complex.
"You think I can do it? Becoming an S-rank Ezlenmir soldier?"
<< Under my guidance, of course! >>
And so, without any second thought…
"Fine! I'll be your disciple!"
<< That's the spirit! >>
"Yeah, yeah!" Irvine nonchalantly replies to him before jumping into the lake. "Enough talking! Now help me finish this test!"
<< You insolent brat! Is that how you talk to your teacher?!! >>
Atniel yells at him again and it surprises Irvine even though he is already under the water. It makes him choke, and so he immediately gets his head out of the water to grumble.
"You? Didn't I tell you not to… Wait! How could you still yell at me when I was under the water?"
<< I've been talking directly to your mind. >>
"You can even do that?"
<< That's how great I am. You should show more respect toward me now! >>
"Oh, okay!"
Irvine no longer argues with him, and starts swimming. But again…
<< Wrong! That's not how you do it! >>
<< Don't get so hectic like that! There's no shark behind you! Straighten your legs! Move them fast but keep your rhythm >>
Atniel keeps giving instruction how to swim with free style in the best form without wasting too much energy; starting from the hands stroke, how to take his mouth to the surface to breath and steadily exhale it under the water.
Somehow, Irvine's swimming really becomes steady without doing many wasted movements. After reaching the pier, he doesn't feel as exhausted as he has feared.
"Wohoo! I didn't know swimming would be this easy!"
<< Thanks to my instructions! >>
But still, once Irvine starts running…
<< Set your pace first! Adjust your breathing with a steady rhythm. >>
<< Rhythm! Rhythm! Rhythm! You need to be friends with your own body >>
<< Beware! A series of ice shards is coming to your way >>
<< No need to panic! Her attacks aren't coming from your blind spot. >>
Like a professional coach assisting his athlete in a major tournament, Atniel sounds so excited in giving him advises and instructions. Thanks to him, Irvine can keep running while easily dodging Aezel's ice chards.
But unlike Aezel, Elea sends her fireballs from a direction that is harder for Irvine to notice. It seems like this elf girl really wants to inflict a serious damage on him.
<< Get down!!! >>
Irvine looks behind. Surprised, he immediately gets down by covering his head. He then starts running again while grumbling.
"What's wrong with her?"
<< Maybe she likes you! >>
"There's no fucking way! Everyone knows that she despises humans!"
When Maya and Lily arrive at the pier for their second lap, Elea doesn't care at all to attack them. She keeps her fireballs focused on Irvine, with hatred clearly written on her face.
This is no longer just an obstacle for the test. She really intends to harm him. However, the more often Elea throws her fireballs, the easier it is for Irvine to get used to her attack. It is as if Atniel deliberately uses her to train him.
<< Remember my words well! No matter how busy and fast you move, your mind must remain calm, likewise your rhythm in breathing. This little thing can be the difference between your life and death. >>
<< One more thing, throw away your inferiority complex. Being too negative is never good. >>
<< Now follow my lead! I am special! Nobody can beat me! I have the greatest teacher! In the entire universe! >>
Like a genuine soldier, Irvine starts singing the chants commanded by Atniel. Lily and Maya, who have almost caught up with him, can hear his chant clearly.
"He's been acting weird lately!"
"Sorry, Maya! I'm going to leave you for a while! Stay alert with those ice shards and fireballs!"
Lily deliberately speeds up in order to catch up with Irvine. Strangely enough, she can't catch up with him no matter how hard she tries.
"Hey! Don't push yourself too hard! Save your stamina!"
Irvine doesn't care at all with Lily's advises, because Elea's fiery attacks are still embroidering him. This situation continues even when Irvine is on his way back to the basketball court to start his second lap.
<< You can read her pattern before she casts a spell, right? Don't give her any easy target! >>
"I get it!"
Irvine changes his direction, moving in a random pattern, with agility that makes it difficult for Elea to target him.
"Fuck! Why can't I hit him?"
Elea even starts launching a series of small yet fast fireballs only with a single spell. It's almost like bombarding him with a Gatling gun, but none of her attack can touch Irvine.
"His movements? No way! There's no way he is a Seed E student!"