The final day of the entrance exam, morning.
The 120 remaining candidates stood in the exam hall they'd visited twice before, nervously clutching the magic stones handed out by the academy instructors. They tucked the stones securely against their chests, eyeing everyone around them as if they were all potential threats.
Most of the candidates eliminated yesterday had already left the city, likely setting up ambushes along the roads, so the crowd of onlookers at the exam hall was much thinner today. The spectators knew today's test wasn't something they could just watch from the sidelines.
"Friend, wanna team up with us?"
"Sure, sounds good!"
"Bro, you look strong. Join our group!"
"Sorry, I've already got a team!"
Conversations like these buzzed throughout the exam hall. Some accepted offers, others declined. As prime targets, most candidates instinctively banded together for safety.
"Looks like nobody's foolish enough to go it alone. They know teaming up is the best way to face yesterday's losers," Ika observed, scanning the scene with a sigh. "But more people doesn't always mean better."
"Exactly!" Sanmaru nodded, his expression serious. "Teaming up with strangers isn't a great idea. Without trust or coordination, you can't fight effectively. Worse, they might turn on you to secure a spot for themselves."
"More importantly," Akas joined them, standing side by side, "you can't be sure if they've got friends among the eliminated group. They could be planning to backstab us to get their buddies a spot."
"Akas, which magic stone did you get?" Ika asked.
"White 22," Akas replied. "You guys?"
"Black 35," Ika said.
"Black 54," Sanmaru answered.
"I'm White 41."
??
Who said that?
The three turned around to see a familiar figure: blonde hair, red hat, black eyepatch, a noble's frame with a wanderer's vibe—Rufus.
Ika's mood soured instantly. "What's this guy doing here?"
To his surprise, Sanmaru and Akas didn't seem fazed, greeting Rufus casually.
"Rufus, you made it!"
"We were just waiting for you!"
Ika: ??
Rufus, one hand behind his back and the other tipping his hat, chuckled. "Why am I here? To take the entrance exam, of course! I spotted you three on the first day."
Sanmaru grinned. "We saw you on the first day too. Ika's the one who noticed you."
Ika blinked, stammering, "Wait… even if… I mean, even if you're taking the exam, why…?"
Rufus shrugged as if it were obvious. "Sanmaru and Akas invited me yesterday. Thanks for that, by the way—otherwise, I'd have had to team up with strangers."
"What?!" Ika spun toward his friends, feeling betrayed. "You two?!"
Sanmaru scratched his slightly bald buzz cut, explaining, "I saw Rufus was alone, so…"
Akas, never one to miss a chance to stir the pot, chimed in, "I saw Rufus's magic yesterday, and it's impressive! Even Instructor Kira praised it. He's definitely a reliable teammate!"
Rufus smiled politely. "You can trust me to watch your backs!"
Ika's voice shot up. "What did you say?!"
"I said," Akas repeated, hands on her hips, "Rufus's magic is awesome. Even Kira-sensei complimented it!"
At that, Rufus's expression lit up, the faint shadow in his eyes vanishing. "R-Really? Kira-sensei praised my magic?"
Akas: "…"
That look in his eyes felt so familiar!
Was this guy another idiot like Ika?
Before Ika could argue further, his brows twitching, Sanmaru grabbed his arm. "Let's go! If we keep arguing, everyone else will already be out of the city."
"Don't pull me! I can walk!" Ika grumbled.
"Let's move!" Akas called.
"Got it!" Rufus replied, adjusting his hat and jogging to catch up.
On the high platform, Kira stood quietly, the wind lifting his short cloak adorned with shimmering seven-colored crystal gems that gleamed brilliantly against his black-and-gold magic robe, making a faint rustling sound.
Today, he'd removed his magic hat, revealing short, tousled red hair and bright sky-blue eyes. His handsome, carefree face exuded a unique charm.
Watching the four-person team dash out of the exam hall, Kira muttered to himself, "Those three kids teamed up with Rufus, huh? Looks like they're getting along well…"
Just then, Konas approached, with Guran and Hyberion trailing behind.
Konas addressed Kira, who was observing the candidates below. "Little Kira, can we count on you to supervise the exam and follow the candidates?"
Kira nodded readily. "Of course. But aren't you coming along, Dean Konas?"
"I've got some academy matters to handle, so I'll head back first," Konas replied.
"And you two?" Kira asked the others.
Guran, leaning on his cane with the posture of an elderly man, answered first. "I'm heading back to the academy with Dean Konas."
Hyberion, taking a sip of milk, gave a different response. "I'll stay to observe the candidates. Plus, if anything goes wrong during the exam, I'll be here to step in."
Kira watched Hyberion's practiced milk-drinking motion and briefly wondered if he was secretly endorsing some milk brand. The image of a Ten Wizard Saint saying, "Drink milk regularly to boost your strength and prevent osteoporosis" in a magic magazine popped into his head… Well, at least the message would be educational.
Konas nodded. "Then the exam hall is in your hands! This test is dangerous, so please prioritize the students' safety."
"Of course!" Kira and Hyberion agreed.
Konas teased Kira with a grin. "Little Kira, you better not help the candidates out there!"
Kira nodded seriously. "Don't worry, Dean Konas, I won't do that!"
Helping was off the table, but interfering…
"No hindering them either!" Konas cut in.
"Haha…" Caught red-handed, Kira gave an awkward, polite smile. "Alright, fine!"
Twenty minutes later, as Konas and Guran left on a magic transport, Kira's expression shifted. He lowered his voice and asked Hyberion, "Senior, don't you think Dean Konas was acting a bit… off today?"
They'd only spoken for half an hour, but something about Konas felt… tense? Rushed? Was she desperate to use the bathroom? No, could something have happened at the academy?
Hyberion swirled his goblet, glancing at Kira with his red eyes. "Not really. You're probably overthinking it."
"Is that so?" Kira nodded noncommittally, but now Hyberion seemed off too.
Come to think of it, even Chairman Guran's demeanor had felt strange today.
"What's going on? Are all three of them hiding something from me? And my right eye's been twitching since this morning—could something big be coming?"
Kira racked his brain but couldn't figure it out. If the academy was truly in crisis, they wouldn't be holding such a high-profile exam.
Crisis… crisis… Ultear?!
Kira's mind flashed to the fleeting figure he'd seen on the street a few days ago. Could the Heart of Grimoire be attacking Demisole Magic Academy?
Unlikely, right? Why would they bother stirring up trouble for no reason?
In Kira's memory, Hades was obsessed with Zeref, scouring the magic world for traces of him, trying to "awaken" him. Wait a second!
Hades was once Fairy Tail's guild master. He might've visited Demisole Academy and learned its historical legends. If he'd found clues about Zeref here, it wouldn't be impossible for him to show up…