Silence filled the hall for a moment after the confident female voice echoed through the space. Nevalis turned toward the source of the voice, while Adam glanced in the same direction, a faint smile on his lips. In a relaxed tone, he said:
"Ah... I didn't expect to see you here, Lina."
The girl stepped forward with confident strides, her fiery red hair swaying with her movements. Her sharp green eyes gleamed with intelligence. A massive sword rested on her back as if it belonged there naturally. Her leather armor, reinforced with iron, gave her the appearance of a battle-hardened warrior, and the scar that crossed her cheek did nothing to diminish her beauty—rather, it added an aura of strength and experience.
Adam smirked as he looked at Nevalis, then said with a teasing tone, "You're quite lucky, Victor. You're about to join a team that matches your abilities perfectly."
Nevalis raised an eyebrow slightly before shifting his gaze back to the girl. She was watching him intently before flashing a soft smile and saying in a playful tone:
"So... you're the new kid?"
Nevalis remained silent, but his expression made it clear that he didn't appreciate the way she addressed him.
"I'm not a kid," he said calmly.
Lina chuckled lightly, placing a hand on her hip and tilting her head slightly. "Of course, of course... all kids say that."
Before Nevalis could respond, she stepped closer, leaning in slightly as if studying him. There was a strange warmth in her gaze despite her obvious confidence.
"I'm Lina, leader of the third team in the Mercenary Union," she said proudly before straightening up again. "And my team isn't just a group of fighters. We are a family."
She paused, as if giving Nevalis time to absorb her words, then continued:
"The Union as a whole is our big family, but within it, we find our own bonds. Team Five is my small family, and we protect each other like any real family would."
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, and it was clear that she wasn't just saying these words as a slogan—she genuinely believed in them.
"So..." Nevalis finally said after a moment of silence, "You want me to join your little family?"
Lina smiled and extended her hand toward him. "Exactly. I'll be honest with you—joining us isn't easy. We don't accept just anyone, but I see something special in you… something worthy of being part of us."
Nevalis stared at her hand for a few moments before raising his eyes to hers. "And what would make me accept?"
Lina laughed again, then said with an energetic tone, "Because you know that being alone isn't the answer. You've seen with your own eyes how a family can give strength… haven't you?"
Nevalis's eyes twitched slightly, but he quickly masked his reaction.
"And also..." Lina added as she took a step back, "Because I won't let you refuse."
Adam, who had been watching the scene, smirked. "Looks like you're in a tough spot, Victor."
Nevalis looked at Lina again before exhaling slowly and finally replying, "Alright... let's see if you're right."
Lina placed her hands on her hips, looking at Nevalis with a confident smile before saying, "Alright, before you become one of us, you need to pass a little test."
She raised an eyebrow and added with a challenging tone, "I'll be the one testing you, so show me what you've got, little boy."
Nevalis stared at her silently for a moment before exhaling quietly, realizing that he wouldn't be able to avoid this fight. He didn't need to prove himself to her, but he knew that this was the only way to join the Union.
Adam, still watching from the sidelines, smirked slightly and said, "Alright, the rules are simple. No killing, no serious injuries, but other than that… no restrictions."
---
In one of the training halls inside the Mercenary Union headquarters, the magical lights scattered along the walls cast soft shadows on the polished wooden floor. The walls were lined with various weapons—some looking well-worn from use, while others gleamed as if untouched.
In the center of the arena, Nevalis stood holding his sword, surrounded by mercenaries who had gathered to watch the match. Opposite him stood Lina, arms crossed and a wide smile on her face. She looked at him as if he were an amusing pet rather than a potential opponent.
"How adorable! Are you sure you didn't get lost on your way here? This place is for warriors, not for lost children."
Nevalis's eye twitched slightly, but he remained silent.
"Oh, don't be mad," she continued, placing a hand over her mouth as if trying to stifle a laugh. "It's my fault—I didn't mean to belittle you… I just can't resist teasing you. Your expression when you try to ignore me is too entertaining!"
Nevalis exhaled slowly, suppressing his frustration. He knew she was doing this on purpose—he could see the mischievous glint in her eyes, as if she was enjoying his reactions.
"Are you done?" he finally asked in a calm voice.
"Mmm..." She placed a finger on her chin, pretending to think. "Not yet, but I can postpone the rest until after our fight."
At that, Nevalis let out a quiet sigh, then slowly raised his sword. His eyes were calm, but inside, he was fully prepared for any move.
"I'll let my actions speak for me."
Lina chuckled lightly before taking a combat stance—without drawing any weapon.
"That's what I wanted to hear!"
Nevalis positioned himself in a stable fighting stance. He closed his eyes for a second, and when he opened them again, his irises glowed faintly with magical energy—a sign that he had enhanced his vision with magic, allowing him to track even the slightest movement.
Currents of wind gathered around his feet, barely visible, but carrying a hidden aura of strength that made his cloak ripple slightly. In the next moment, deep crimson flames engulfed the blade of his sword, flickering like a living entity hungry for battle. These flames were not ordinary—they were infused with a strange energy, making them glow a dark red with faint golden sparks. It looked as if the sword had drawn fire straight from the heart of a raging battlefield.
For a brief moment, silence filled the hall before one of the spectators released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Even among seasoned mercenaries, the sight was anything but common.
"Wow..." Lina whistled in admiration, placing a hand on her hip. "Look at this! We have a real display of power!"
Then she turned her gaze to Nevalis, her eyes gleaming with excitement, a wide smile forming on her lips.
"But strength alone means nothing if you can't use it properly, little kid."
However, his wind-enhanced legs granted him quick reflexes, allowing him to dash to the side, narrowly evading the strike. Without hesitation, he countered, his sword engulfed in flames as he launched a direct slash.
But Lina was no easy opponent. She smoothly tilted her body, dodging the blade's edge, then spun around with blinding speed, aiming a kick at his exposed side.
"Fast and strong..." Nevalis muttered to himself before using wind magic to enhance his leap, barely avoiding the kick.
Landing on the ground, he pressed his feet down and dashed toward her in a frontal assault. His sword burned even fiercer as he unleashed a rapid series of strikes, each leaving trails of sparks in the air.
But Lina did not retreat. Instead, she met every attack head-on with her bare hands, relying solely on her raw physical strength. Every time his sword neared her, she deflected it with precise, unwavering movements.
"Not bad, but..." she said as she blocked one of his last strikes, then used the angle of her body to suddenly lunge forward. "You're not fast enough!"
She threw a punch straight at his chest. Instead of trying to dodge, he unleashed a powerful burst of wind magic beneath his feet, propelling himself backward at a speed that exceeded her expectations.
Seizing the moment, he slashed horizontally, but Lina merely smirked and bent beneath the attack with incredible agility before launching a powerful kick at his sword arm.
The force knocked his blade against the ground, but Nevalis refused to let her gain control. With another quick wind-assisted dash, he twisted around and struck her with a sudden burst of flames from his sword.
Lina couldn't avoid all the heat, but instead of backing away, she laughed.
"Hah... Not bad at all!"
Then, before Nevalis could react, she suddenly appeared right in front of him, her fist rising toward his stomach.
He couldn't completely avoid it, absorbing part of the blow, but the sheer force still knocked the air from his lungs.
He staggered back two steps as Lina placed her hands on her hips, looking at him with a confident smile.
"I expected something fun, and you didn't disappoint."
"So? Did I pass the test?" he asked in a steady voice.
"Of course. If you didn't pass, then who else would be worthy of joining?" Lina replied with a bold laugh, as if she were already announcing his acceptance.
The moment she said those words, Nevalis collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. The entire fight hadn't lasted more than two minutes, yet it had completely drained him. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his chest rose and fell rapidly as he struggled to catch his breath.
His body felt like it was weighed down by an immense burden—not just from Lina's attacks, but also from the sheer amount of magic he had burned through.
He was nearly out of mana, a situation he was all too familiar with. After all, his reserves were painfully small, barely enough to qualify him as a Rank 2 mage.
Clenching his fist as he lay there, he whispered softly, almost too quietly for even himself to hear:
"I need to train my body more... and increase my mana pool."
Nevalis knew his weaknesses well, and he had to work on them.
Light footsteps approached him, then stopped right in front of him.
Lifting his head slightly, he saw Lina extending a hand toward him, her smile bright.
"Welcome to the family, Victor."
He looked at her for a moment, then at her outstretched hand.
For a brief second, he hesitated… but then, he smiled and reached out, clasping her hand.
The idea of a "family" was starting to grow on him.