After an intense battle, Roy and Alice finally returned to their courtyard. The golden hues of the setting sun bathed the small space in a warm, tranquil glow, casting an air of peace over everything.
Roy eased himself onto a stone bench, his body still weighed down by fatigue from the fight. Yet a faint, satisfied smile tugged at his lips as he gazed at the sunset. "This time, it seems the gamble paid off," he murmured.
Alice, however, wasn't ready to relax. She circled Roy, her brows furrowed in frustration. "Hey! Don't think you can slack off just because you earned the elder's approval. Do you even realize how dangerous that was? Without my healing, you'd have been out cold ages ago!"
Roy chuckled at her scolding, reaching out to gently ruffle her hair. "Don't worry. Didn't I promise I wouldn't hold you back?"
Alice puffed out her cheeks in annoyance and swatted his hand away. "Stop messing with my hair! A future top-tier healer like me needs to look presentable at all times."
With a huff, she retrieved a small bottle from her storage ring and handed it to him. "Here. This is my own special healing potion. Drink it before you keel over—I'm not taking responsibility if you collapse."
Roy examined the potion skeptically, his brow furrowing. "Are you sure this is safe to drink? It kind of looks like swamp water."
Alice stomped her foot, her cheeks flushing red. "Take it or leave it! I spent an entire day crafting that—it's incredibly effective!"
Suppressing a laugh, Roy tilted his head back and downed the potion in one gulp. Almost immediately, his expression twisted. "The taste… is truly unique."
Alice crossed her arms and grinned triumphantly. "Of course it's unique! It's my masterpiece! Now hurry up and say thank you."
Roy shook his head, the corners of his mouth lifting in a helpless smile. "Thank you, Miss Genius."
As they sat quietly in the courtyard, the night gradually descended, and stars began to sprinkle the darkening sky. Roy tilted his head upward, gazing at the heavens. "Joining Celestara Academy is just the beginning. The road ahead will only get tougher."
Alice leaned lazily against the wooden railing beside him, her voice carrying a teasing warmth. "What's there to be afraid of? You charge in, I heal from the back—it's the perfect combo. Besides, we might have more teammates joining us in the future."
Roy turned to look at her, his gaze sincere. "Thank you, Alice. I wouldn't have made it this far without you."
Alice froze, her cheeks flushing a light pink. She mumbled under her breath, "Hmph, you make it sound like I'm your babysitter or something. But… since you're being so honest, I guess I'll forgive you this time."
Just then, a knock came at the courtyard gate, followed by the entrance of a fellow academy disciple holding two finely crafted badges. "Roy, Alice, here are your outer disciple identification tokens. Congratulations on officially becoming members of Celestara Academy."
Roy accepted his badge and examined it carefully. The elegant design bore his name and student number, exuding a sense of prestige. "We've finally taken the first step," he said, his tone filled with quiet determination.
Alice, however, eagerly snatched her badge, holding it up with a gleeful grin. "Hehe! I'm officially a Celestara student now! This is so exciting!"
The disciple glanced at them with a faint smile. "Your performance has already spread throughout the academy. Many senior students are eager to see what you'll accomplish. Especially you, Roy—your sword intent has earned you a place on the elder's priority training list."
Roy gave a small nod, his eyes firm. "I'll give it my all."
After the disciple left, Alice suddenly leaped in front of Roy, feigning seriousness. "Hey, Roy, now that you're so famous, shouldn't you treat me to something nice to celebrate?"
Roy chuckled. "Didn't you already make me drink your 'special healing potion'? Doesn't that count as a celebration?"
Alice stomped her foot again, her face puffed with indignation. "No way! That doesn't count! I want dessert, cream, roasted meat, and—"
Roy couldn't help but laugh as her demands grew more and more extravagant. "Alright, alright. Once I'm fully recovered, I'll take you out for a big feast to celebrate our official admission. Deal?"
Alice's face lit up with joy as she cheered, "Now that's more like it! Don't forget—you promised!"
After a few days of rest, Alice suggested taking on a mission. She bounced with excitement as she said, "Roy, now that we're officially outer disciples, we can't just stay in the courtyard all day! Missions not only come with rewards but also help build real combat experience. Let's go, let's go!"
Roy thought about it for a moment before nodding. "That sounds good. I'm curious about the academy's missions as well. It'll be a good way to test ourselves."
With that, the two quickly agreed and headed to the academy's mission hall.
The mission hall was a grand and spacious building, bustling with activity. Disciples crowded the area, many standing in front of a large bulletin board, discussing and selecting tasks. On either side of the hall were counters manned by elders who answered questions and processed missions.
Alice's eyes sparkled as she entered, her gaze darting around excitedly. "Wow, it's so lively here! Look over there—are those advanced inner disciples also taking missions?"
Roy scanned the hall, his eyes landing on the massive bulletin board covered with mission scrolls. He approached it, carefully reading the listings. The missions were categorized by star levels, ranging from 1-star to 5-star, with each mission specifying its difficulty, objectives, and rewards.
An elder stepped onto a small podium to address the new disciples. "Academy missions are ranked from 1-star to 5-star. The higher the star level, the greater the difficulty—and the richer the rewards. New disciples are typically limited to 1-star to 3-star missions. Once you've completed enough, you may apply for higher-level tasks."
Alice scanned the board, mumbling to herself as she pointed to a few options. "Wow, this one to escort medicinal supplies has a nice reward! Oh, and here's another—clearing out a magical beast nest? That sounds thrilling!"
Roy's attention was drawn to a particular 3-star mission: Assist Red Maple Village in defending against magical beast attacks. The description noted that the beasts' strength would likely range between 1st and 2nd tier. The reward was two top-tier Tier-4 Essence Recovery Pills, known for quickly restoring energy and healing injuries.
Alice immediately lit up when she saw it. "Roy, this mission looks perfect! Those pills are rare treasures. With them, our training and battles will become much easier!"
Roy deliberated briefly before walking to the mission counter. He addressed the elder there, "We'll take this mission."
The elder glanced at them, his gaze showing a trace of approval. "Not bad. Taking on a 3-star mission shows you have courage. But be careful—second-tier magical beasts are no joke. If you encounter one and can't handle it, retreat immediately. Don't let pride get you killed."
Roy and Alice listened intently as the elder continued his explanation in a calm, measured tone.
"Magical beasts and demons are some of humanity's greatest enemies. These creatures are widespread and powerful, with tiers ranging from 1 to 12. Each tier represents a massive leap in strength. For instance, a 1st-tier beast is roughly equivalent to a Level 20 warrior, while a 2nd-tier beast rivals a Level 40 peak combatant.
"The difference between tiers is vast. You might handle a 1st-tier beast, but a 2nd-tier beast? Even a team of seasoned 4-star outer disciples would struggle against one."
Alice, slightly unimpressed, muttered under her breath, "It's just a bit stronger. Worst case, I'll use my support abilities to hold it back."
The elder's expression turned stern, his tone sharp. "Young lady, don't underestimate a 2nd-tier beast. Their mastery of energy, attack methods, and combat instincts far surpass those of 1st-tier creatures. Many high-tier beasts also possess innate abilities—fire breath, thunder domains, even mental disruption. Mishandling such abilities could cost you your life in an instant."
Roy's brows furrowed as he asked in a serious tone, "Elder, if there's a chance of encountering a 2nd-tier beast, why is this mission rated only 3-star? What criteria does the academy use for mission grading?"
The elder nodded, a hint of approval in his gaze. "Good question. It's important to assess risk. Mission star ratings primarily reflect the minimum competency required to complete them. This Red Maple Village mission is rated 3-star because most of the magical beasts involved are likely 1st-tier. Encounters with 2nd-tier beasts are rare exceptions. Nevertheless, teams taking on this task must be mentally prepared."
Alice, still somewhat skeptical, huffed. "Wouldn't it be clearer to just specify the potential for 2nd-tier beasts?"
The elder chuckled. "That's precisely why this is an academy mission. Part of your training is learning to assess and adapt to uncertainty. The academy isn't here to babysit you—it's here to forge strong warriors."
Hearing this, Roy nodded, his expression resolute. "Understood. We'll proceed with caution."
The elder's gaze softened slightly as he addressed them both. "The two of you, especially you, Roy—though you're only Level 27, your awakened sword intent gives you a unique advantage against stronger foes. And Alice, your spiritual abilities excel in support and control. Together, your synergy could indeed complete this mission. Just remember—if you face something beyond your capabilities, prioritize survival over pride."
Alice's lips curled into a satisfied smile as she tugged Roy's sleeve. "Did you hear that? The elder said we're the perfect team!"
Roy shook his head with a faint smile, though a glimmer of warmth flickered in his eyes. "Then let's see how this 'perfect team' fares against a 3-star mission."
The elder handed them the mission scroll, his tone serious but encouraging. "Go, but tread carefully. If you truly encounter a 2nd-tier beast, your first move should be to retreat—not to fight to the death."
Roy accepted the scroll, bowing slightly. "Thank you for the guidance, Elder."
As the two exited the mission hall, the sunlight bathed them in its golden glow. Alice pumped her fist into the air, her face alight with excitement. "Roy, once we finish this mission, those Essence Recovery Pills are ours! I'm going to use mine to train even harder!"
Roy glanced at the scroll in his hand, his expression steady. "Let's hope the mission goes smoothly. But we should take the elder's warnings seriously. Any misstep could prove fatal."
Alice patted her chest confidently. "Relax! We've got this. Have a little faith in us!"
With that, the two returned to their courtyard to prepare, their hearts set on the challenge that lay ahead.