The Third Exam

The entrance to a hall in the headquarters of the Continental Magic Association.

All candidates who passed the second round of testing have arrived.

Falshu stood at the entrance of the hall and addressed the crowd:

"The third round of testing consisted of an interview conducted by the Grand Mage, Serie."

"They actually used that trick?" Frieren said with a hint of helplessness.

"Serie has absolutely no intention of making us First-Class Mages."

Fern asked with some curiosity, "Does Lady Frieren know Lady Serie?"

"We've known each other for a long time." Frieren didn't want to talk about this topic anymore.

He then said, "She probably wants to rely on her intuition to choose suitable candidates."

"However, Serie's intuition is always very accurate."

"As he expected, I haven't reached the level of a mage she expected me to reach yet."

Kanne was the first to be interviewed by Serie.

Guided by the examiner, Kanne pushed open a door.

The interior was like a garden.

There are not only various flowers, but also a pond.

Kanne walked inside and saw Serie squatting in front of a flower.

"Excuse me..."

Serie didn't even look at Kanne, and said:

"Unqualified, go back."

"May I ask why?" Kanne asked.

Serie said calmly, "You are currently afraid of my magic, so you are also aware of your own strength."

"You can't imagine yourself becoming First-Class Mage, can you?"

"In the world of magic, the unimaginable cannot be realized."

"This is the most basic thing, isn't it? Let's go back."

Kanne left.

The second candidate was Donster.

"Unacceptable."

The third candidate was Laufen.

"Unacceptable."

The fourth candidate received the same evaluation.

"Unacceptable."

Soon, it was Frieren's turn.

Serie stood up, looked at Frieren, and said softly:

"Frieren, you can't even imagine yourself after becoming First-Class Mage, can you?"

"However, your reasons are different from theirs."

You think I would never let you pass?

Frieren said calmly, "Isn't that so?"

Serie was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll give you one more chance."

Tell me, what is your favorite magic?

"The magic that conjures a flower field."

Serie turned to look at the garden filled with flowers.

He said, "The magic that Flamme taught you."

"How boring."

"Unacceptable."

"I see," Frieren replied casually.

She had expected this result, so she wasn't surprised.

He turned and prepared to leave.

Even if I tease you like this, you won't put up a fight?

"I still can't believe that a mage like you can defeat the Demon King."

Upon hearing this, Frieren stopped in her tracks.

"I didn't defeat them alone."

"Himmel, Eisen, Heiter, and me—without any one of us, we cannot defeat the Demon King."

Serie looked at Frieren's retreating figure and said softly:

Did you meet a group of excellent partners?

You're so lucky!

Frieren tilted her head slightly and smiled at Serie.

He said, "Yes, I'm so lucky."

"But what brought me to Himmel and the others was this boring magic that my master taught me."

After saying that, Frieren looked seriously at Serie and continued:

"There's one more thing, Serie."

"You're probably planning to disqualify Rienta and Fern, but I don't think you can do it."

Those two children are far beyond your imagination.

"The age of humanity has arrived."

Frieren left the examination room, and the next examinee was none other than Fern, whom she had mentioned.

Serie looked at Fern, who stood there dumbfounded, with some confusion.

Is this the disciple who has exceeded my expectations?

He saw that his suppressed magic was stuck in place.

This was exactly the same as the performance of the other candidates.

Serie stood up, about to give the conclusion of 'unqualified'.

But he saw Fern's gaze fixed intently on his magic.

"... Wait, what are you staring at?"

"Magic... is fluctuating."

Serie was taken aback by this answer.

He chuckled softly and said, "Your name is Fern, right?"

Become my apprentice.

"Huh?" Fern was a little confused at first, then remembered Frieren's instructions.

Without hesitation, he said, "I refuse."

Upon hearing this, Serie turned and slowly walked along the path in the garden.

My hands brushed over the unnamed flowers that were in full bloom.

"Becoming my disciple is not a bad thing; I can guide you to a higher realm."

"It's a height that no human mage has ever reached to this day."

Fern was silent for a moment, then asked, "Will my answer affect my exam results?"

"It might have an impact," Serie said softly, turning to look at Fern.

"I see," Fern recalled what Frieren had just told her.

No matter what Lady Frieren says, Lady Serie will not allow Frieren to pass the test.

Similarly, no matter what she says, Serie will make sure she passes muster.

With a determined look in her eyes, Fern called out to Serie, saying:

"Lady Serie, my master is Lady Frieren."

Serie smiled helplessly and said, "It was Frieren who gave you the idea, wasn't it?"

"However, I won't let a promising mage slip away from my sight."

You've passed.

"Next."

Many years ago, Frieren had just Himmel's party.

After completing a raiding mission, Frieren and Himmel sat down to rest by the lake.

The lake was very calm at night, and the bright moon was reflected in the water, like another sky.

Frieren looked at Himmel and asked:

"Himmel, why do you want me to be your partner?"

Himmel didn't understand why Frieren would ask this, but she still answered seriously:

"Because I'm looking for a powerful mage."

Frieren was somewhat dissatisfied with this answer and said:

"There are people like that everywhere. It doesn't have to be me."

Upon hearing this, Himmel said softly:

"You're the one I've been looking for."

Frieren looked at Himmel with some confusion.

He asked, "Why?"

Himmel looked at the lake and said:

"Frieren, you might not remember clearly. Actually, I met you once a long time ago."

"I have absolutely no recollection of this," Frieren replied calmly.

"That's true." Himmel smiled helplessly and explained:

When I was a child, I got lost once while picking herbs in the forest.

I wandered in the forest for a long time under the cover of night; it was the first time in my life that I experienced the taste of loneliness.

I thought I would never be able to go back to the village.

Just then, an elf showed me the way to the village.

But she really only pointed me in the right direction; she didn't even say a word of encouragement.

I was young then, and I thought this person was too cold-hearted.

Perhaps she sensed my unease, or perhaps it was just a sudden whim.

You showed me the 'Flower field magic'.

I think it's beautiful.

"That was the first time in my life I felt that magic was beautiful."