Luris struck first. With just a slight manipulation of her mana, Yan Yi felt the air grow noticeably damp.

Water, by nature, was gentle—its magic inherently carried healing energy. Legend claimed a perfected water-based healing spell could even surpass light magic.

Yet water held terror too. Without freezing, it wielded force far beyond ice: the power to slice through anything.

Luris’s water magic held not a trace of healing. Purely offensive—it existed to slash and pierce enemies.

“O waters of heaven and earth, gather unto me! Form my arrows, pierce the foe! Multiple Water Arrows!”

As her chant ended, azure light arrows shot from her side. In a blink, the humanoid target ahead was riddled with holes.

*Multiple Water Arrows*—a mid-tier water spell. Not Luris’s strongest, but her most reliable ranged anti-personnel magic: wide coverage, blistering speed, devastating damage. A nightmare for lightly armored foes.

Yan Yi suddenly recalled Liette’s spell-storing ability. If she could stockpile spells like this? A battlefield reaper. Just imagining a literal downpour of water arrows sent a shiver down his spine—entire regiments would vanish.

“O waters, converge here! Unleash the raging tide—sweep all away!”

Streams of glowing azure water swirled around Luris. Yan Yi felt the raw power humming within.

“Raging Tide Tornado!”

Her final word echoed. A colossal water tornado erupted skyward. The ground shattered; deep gashes scarred the earth around it. Brimming with mana, it shot straight toward the protective barrier…

“Why aim *there*…?”

The shared thought of the two bracing against the wind pressure. Yan Yi even felt Liette had wronged him—the real troublemaker was clearly the girl inside that tornado!

BOOM——

Like two speeding trucks colliding mid-air with explosive force. Both clapped hands over ears, staring at the fading tornado with utter disbelief.

True to its reputation of withstanding mid-tier Class A spells, the barrier merely… cracked. Well. *Cracked*.

“Holy crap, Miss, are you out of your mind?!”

“Luris, you’ve seriously gone too far!”

Who attacks the barrier instead of the target?! Sure, training gear had restoration magic—but *that* didn’t!

And now it’s cracked. Zero defense if they get reported.

“Tch… huff… huff… So tired… and it didn’t even shatter.”

Luris stayed in a “duck sit,” panting. One high-tier spell nearly left her combat-incapacitated.

Yan Yi and Interle watched with twisted expressions. No time for admiration—Yan Yi turned to Interle.

“Interle… breaking the barrier’s probably fine, right?”

“W-well… probably?”

If it breaks anyway, why not pick a sturdier training ground? This was clearly asking for trouble!

“You two zoning out? Interle, help me up. Your turn.”

Though both considered bolting, they figured the cracked barrier might survive one more Raging Tide Tornado. Slightly reassured, they stayed.

After “retrieving” Luris, Interle stepped up. No high-tier spells for her. A sweep of her palm summoned wooden spikes; a flick sent them circling her. Vines erupted from the ground, binding the distant target. Eight spikes shot forward—only a single hole remained on its head.

Precision targeting. One spot. The head.

A chill shot down Yan Yi’s spine. *No wonder apologizing earlier was the right move.*

“This is my highest single-burst combo. Even a standard Class C Magical Beast wouldn’t survive.”

*No kidding—bind and headshot? How’s any beast supposed to dodge that?!* Yan Yi screamed inwardly. “Don’t hit the face” was basic decency! Sure, he occasionally landed facial blows too—but mostly aimed for the body. Interle’s calm, deliberate targeting of the vital spot? He felt a twisted respect. *How badly does she want them dead…?*

Luris’s expression stayed neutral, as if this were perfectly normal. Of course—any noble befriending Luris was no ordinary noble.

“That’s it. Your turn, Yan Yi.”

Interle walked back. Yan Yi, having gauged both performances, settled on a power level between theirs. He nodded, stepped to the center, and signaled he was ready.

They nodded back, hearts pounding with curiosity. How strong was the mana hidden by his Unique Magic? What followed… became a memory etched forever.

Yan Yi controlled his range—then stomped down hard with his right foot!

BOOM——

From his heel, the ground caved inward like a funnel. The arena exploded; stone chunks flew skyward. The entire field collapsed under that single stomp!

Too stunned to notice cracks hadn’t reached them, all three—Yan Yi included—stared wide-eyed upward.

Cracks spiderwebbed up the barrier’s base: *crack… pop…* When they met Luris’s earlier fissure—*shatter!*—the barrier burst into glittering fragments.

Simultaneously, a shrill alarm blared.

Three pairs of eyes locked. Confusion. Bewilderment.

Yan Yi too. He’d controlled the *range* perfectly—but forgot the barrier’s array lay deep underground. He’d contained the area, not the force. The shockwave shattered its core…

Amid the alarm, Yan Yi’s gaze screamed: *What the hell?! How?! What now?!*

Luris and Interle’s eyes replied: *How should we know?! We’re screwed!*

Stare broken. All three moved as one—bolting instinctively for the exit…

…

Back in the staff room, Liette stretched her stiff limbs after overtime. She glanced at the team roster Luris had delivered before dinner.

*Team Luris: Luris, Interle, Yan Yi. Ratings: C+, C, F.*

Seeing this mismatched trio—one clearly filler—Liette felt a deep chill. A premonition. Yes. These three would *never* stay quiet.

Beyond Yan Yi, she’d studied the others closely. Three years of trauma taught her: Interle was a latent troublemaker—quiet normally, catastrophic when stirred. Luris ranked just below Yan Yi. Noble title still restrained her; she wouldn’t stir trouble without cause.

*(Yan Yi: So what *am* I in your heart?)*

As she closed the roster to leave—a familiar tremor shook the room. Cold sweat beaded on her brow.

Painfully familiar. After three years? She knew this feeling too well…

Bracing on the desk, her eyes drifted back to the three names. A long, weary sigh escaped her.

Just as feared, her teacher communication device—the magical tool linking staff across Central Academy—chimed.

“Teacher Lette, your students Luris, Interle, and Yan Yi have destroyed the training ground’s protective barrier. Please come collect them.”

Liette tilted her head to the ceiling. Tears of despair welled silently in her heart. *Who… could she even tell?*