Tears streamed down Fearne's face, moistening the patches of grass beneath her tightly clenched fists. The sound of heavy footsteps grew louder, and when she threw back a glance, Fearne locked eyes with the auburn-haired girl who was making deliberate strides toward her. With each exhale, a cloudy breath escaped from Adeline's parted lips.

Fearne caught sight of Simon further away, where he was carefully propping up an unconscious Riktar next to a sturdy galbora tree, right near a jagged cluster of stellarium. The red glow of Riktar's weak point had vanished, indicating that Simon had indeed seen to his elimination, and with him out of the equation, Fearne knew she couldn't rely on any of her teammates to help during the exam.

Amidst her frantic escape, Fearne had failed to fully absorb the towering, steaming columns of ice ensnaring two of her teammates—Max and Lily—with expressions of horror permanently etched on their faces. It was a stark display of power—the kind possessed by an expert sorcerer, a talent against which she was utterly defenseless.

Fearne had never considered herself a fighter. This realization struck her early on when she was just an unnamed orphan at St. Helena's. Even the slightest sight of her sister crushing a spider under a book made her feel sick. The thought of violence and death repulsed her profoundly. Choosing the path of a Medical Mage, dedicated to healing lives rather than taking them, seemed like the only natural way for her to meaningfully utilize her magic.

And then, she was accepted into Glyph Academy. Thrilled though she was initially, little did Fearne know that stepping onto the campus would mark the beginning of a grueling fight for survival. Fearne's jaw tightened, and the pressure inside her built as she clenched her teeth forcefully, tears streaming down her face like relentless pellets of water.

She was weak.

She was an outsider.

She was a halfbreed.

But by far, the most pathetic aspect of herself, she reconciled, was that she was utterly helpless to challenge life's severity. How could she, in any way, shape, or form, be made a Medical Mage if she couldn't even defend herself? That question, why, it tugged on the back of her head whenever she'd the braid of her ponytail in her hands, whenever she contemplated if what she was doing was all for nothing. Would she add being a disappointment to the long list of imperfections that blemished her?

"Get up," a voice said.

Fearne closed in on herself and shook her head. "...I...I can't. I'm too weak...I'm just a..."

"Get up, Fearne." The realization struck Fearne like a bolt of lightning, making her aware that the voice she had heard didn't belong to Adeline. As she turned around on the grass, her eyes damp with emotion, she was stunned to see Elaine standing between herself and Adeline, who had since stopped in her tracks, her pale blue eyes filled with tension.

Fearne had to gulp before she was able to speak. "El...Elaine?" 

Her unmistakable fair skin, streaming blonde hair, and kind blue eyes, along with her confident, hopeful smile, identified her as...yes, this was, without a doubt, Elaine Harwood. Fearne couldn't help but observe the golden aura enveloping her, highlighting her roommate in a veil of light. So intense was its shine that Fearne half-expected to be blinded by its radiance if she continued to gawking with eyes peeled open.

But...But what was Elaine doing here? Fearne hadn't detected anybody else's Essence Signature—discounting Adeline and Simon's, of course—yet there she was, poising an assertive stance with her Common Wand equipped in her dominant hand. 

Did she overhear their confrontation and choose to intervene? It wouldn't be surprising, considering her selfless nature. After all, she was willing to risk her place at Glyph Academy for a mage she'd befriended just two days earlier. Why? Fearne thought to herself with gritted teeth. Why are you like this?!

The sound of brisk footsteps to her left side jolted Fearne's senses, signaling the presence of another person. As the tan-skinned noble approached, a wave of heat accompanied him, causing Fearne to momentarily forget about the icy terrain that dominated much of the forest clearing. It was as if Kliff's Essence alone could effortlessly obliterate the frost. Similar to Elaine, he tightly grasped his crimson-colored Salamander Wand in his right hand, while maintaining a distant and almost emotionless gaze fixed upon Adeline.

"Kliff?" Fearne said in disbelief. "What are you doing here? And why are you on my side? You're a Griffin. You should be with Adeline and Simon, not me!" Dispelling a heavy breath from out of his chest, Kliff gave a slow side-glance at her, blank, bluish eyes bearing down at her with the weight of a hammer. "Wh...What's wrong?" Fearne asked more forcefully this time. "Oh, I get it...it's happening again, right?" Fearne's hands turned to fists in her lap as she lowered her face from his gaze. "Once again, I have to depend on you guys to protect me...because I'm...too weak to do anything but get in the way."

"What are you talking about?" Kliff inquired calmly, confusion scarring his face. "I've seen what you can do with your Plant Magic during our training exercises. Anyone can see that you're talented."

Fearne looked up at him, feeling a surge of frustration rather than confusion overcome her. "How can you even say that Kliff?!" she shouted, her throat turning tight. "What talent do I possess, other than being a nuisance?! I won't...won't be able to—"

"Let's not forget," said somebody else, and Fearne darted a startled look over her right shoulder to see the grinning, dark-skinned boy with a messy set of hair saunter beside her, a hand shoved in a pocket and the other flicking a sapphire token into the air, "we made a promise, didn't we? We're going to be Professional Sorcerers someday." The sapphire token spiraled as it fell back to him, glistening like a miniature disk of light before Custas caught it between two fingers, shooting a mischievous smirk at Fearne. "All of us."

"Have more confidence in yourself, Fearne." Elaine was staring back at her now, a smile as radiant as the sun gleaming over the peak of her shoulder. "You're stronger than you think."

Me? Fearne thought blankly. "I'm...I'm strong? No, no, I'm not, I'm just..."

"Who are you talking to?" In one blink, Elaine and Kliff and Custas vanished as if they'd never been there, and all that Fearne found was a befuddled Adeline, a foot pressed into the grass behind her as she raised one of her brows. "Apologies, but I can't find much sense in any of this. It seems like you're trying to fight yourself more than you are me, your opponent. Just what are you striving to achieve here, Fearne?"

"My...My friends," Fearne muttered, grunting as she worked her way to crouch on one knee. A coldness breached her clothing and crunched into her skin, and only then did she remember that she'd been struck by one of Adeline's spells, wincing as she eyed the layer of ice encasing her waist and leg. "All of them are so amazing. They're so far ahead of me that...that I'll likely never catch up. Still, I..." They were gone, and Fearne was slowly beginning to accept the fact that she'd fabricated them all into existence—maybe this was a sign that she was losing her mind—but her eyes remembered how they looked: confident, assertive, unwilling to bend against any foe or obstacle, "...I want to be like them. I want to be strong, too!"

Adeline's stare narrowed with disfavor. "One's desires rarely influence reality, lest they the conviction to abide by their ideals." With a thrust of the arm, Adeline pointed her illuminated Advanced Wand right where Fearne knelt with a hand over her knee. "Tell me, Fearne. What kind of mage are you?"

As Fearne reluctantly shut her eyes, the songs of the galbora trees burst into her eardrums like the explosive blast of brass instruments on either side of her head, threatening to deafen her. Despite the diminished triumphant nature of their songs, the volume at which they resonated was astonishing. It was remarkable how she had managed to ignore them for so long, considering their biased enthusiasm in reflecting the presence of their kin.

As she listened intently, Fearne discerned not just one, but a multitude of diverse Melodies that seemed to weave together seamlessly, creating an awe-inspiring and uninterrupted chorus of natural sounds. 

The symphony of the wild was all-encompassing, a perfect blend of thunderous, captivating, and passionate notes. The delicate jingles of leaves and dandelions harmonized with the sharp whistles of the gusty wind, creating a musical masterpiece that accentuated the drum beats of the bushes and the resonating violin strings of the trees.

This was it.

This was the Melody of Nature.

Nestled deep within the symphony of the natural world, a primal force resonated—a Hidden Melody. Lurking beneath the cacophony of life, this Melody lay dormant, awaiting discovery. Fearne, intimately acquainted with the forest, discerned its presence. It felt like a child, its voice subdued yet potent, yearning to translate its emotions into musical notes, begging to be heard. This unseen child's voice permeated everything, surging through the entire expanse of the forest like an invisible tempest.

Fearne felt convinced that this Hidden Melody was meant only for her as if she were the sole audience member in the grand auditorium of Incante. Despite the warnings about the dangers of such melodies, she was captivated and willing to risk her sanity just to prolong the enchanting experience.

"What kind of mage am I?" Fearne said softly, pushing off her knee and rising to her feet in a haphazard wobble. Through it all, she hadn't lost her grip on her Thistle Wand. "For the longest time, I only wanted to be a Medical Mage like my parents. Someone who gave back to the world and could heal anyone of their injuries. But I see now, there's more to it than that."

The forest echoed with the hushed whispers of a child, their words carving winding paths through the dense foliage. The energy of their words seemed to create a web of Melodies that intertwined with the natural surroundings, traveling through the air and converging at Fearne's feet. There, she could feel the Hidden Melody resonating the strongest, its notes and harmonious tones curling up her legs and filling her ears. She should have lost her hearing entirely, but instead, she found herself unable to contain a smile.

"I'm a pacifist at heart, but even I know I can't make it through life avoiding every instance of violence. It isn't realistic. If I'm going to save anyone, I must be able to save myself first." Fearne's grip around her wand became tighter as what she shouted flung free out of her mouth. "More than anything, I don't want to be helpless!"

That answer, it seemed to satisfy the Glacial Girl, Adeline acknowledging her declaration with an impressed smile and a nod. "Do you now?" she asked, sounding almost amused.

"You wish to understand me through a duel?! You want to see my magic firsthand?! Well, let me show it to you!" Fearne raised her wand over her, and gleaming, green-colored energy discharged as beams of concentrated light. "Plant Magic: Flore Veladora!"

At Fearne's feet, a deafening roar reverberated through the depths below. It felt as though the heart of the planet had ignited, causing the earth's plates to shift and grind against each other. In a sudden explosion, shards of rock and tangled roots burst into the air beside her as a colossal creature emerged from the ground.

Its neck consisted of winding vines and roots, constantly intertwining to create a sturdy yet supple stem, as massive as a tree's trunk and standing as tall as the galbora trees enclosing them. Jagged leaves stretched out from beneath a swollen, crimson-colored head adorned with violet markings, and when it parted its jaws, it exposed countless rows of teeth, each as long as a grown man.

The snarling plant didn't have any visible eyes, but Fearne could sense its malevolent gaze directed toward Adeline, saliva dripping from its jaws. Without a word, Fearne gazed up at the massive monster she had conjured and identified it as a veledora snaptrapper, one of her favorite plant species. However, never before had she encountered one of such colossal size.

"What spell is that?!" Simon demanded a little ways from Adeline, an anxious expression having sprouted on his face.

Fearne desperately wished she could provide an answer, but the chaotic situation left her just as bewildered. Before she could respond, a deafening explosion signaled the arrival of another massive snaptrapper, casting its ominous shadow over her as it ascended into the sky. In a matter of moments, yet another snaptrapper burst from the ground to her right. Before she knew it, Fearne found herself suddenly enclosed by three gigantic, menacing plants, their hunger for blood palpable in the air.

This...this was new. She'd never garnered this reaction when she'd cast the spell during one of her practice sessions, and not even her mother had summoned plants of this size when she had first taught the spell to her. What changed? Did she cast the spell imperfectly?

As she gazed upwards, she observed two of the heads engaging in a violent altercation, thrashing their leaves aggressively while snapping and growling at each other. Meanwhile, the third head was struggling to free itself from the ground in a bid to pursue a flock of birds that had just flown by.

Fearne frowned. It's one thing to cast a spell, and another to control it, she reminded herself. Fearne closed her eyes and breathed in slowly, concentrating on the music she knew how to detect. Yes, these plants had Melodies as well. Still, they were chaotic and disorganized, producing a sound akin to a group of toddlers mindlessly playing with toys, unaware that they were, in actuality, instruments.

They wouldn't listen to her like this, not if the plants were so insistent on drowning themselves to death with such an unpleasant sound. Fearne clasped her free hand on her chest and regulated her magical energy, pouring out enough Essence from her Core to stabilize her creations while not permitting the power to run wild.

When she opened her eyes again, all three plants were looking down at her, their fangs bared to tear anything they could capture into shreds. "I need your help," Fearne said sternly to them, honing in where their eyes should have been. "My magic...is one of nature. I need you to help me push past my limits. To defeat my enemies."

Adeline was uncertain whether the creatures were paying attention to her or simply readying themselves to attack. Nevertheless, when they shifted their sightless gazes toward her location, a silent agreement seemed to have been established. Fearne flipped her ponytail over her shoulder and squared her stance to confront Adeline again, exuding an unwavering determination to emerge victorious.

"In...Incredible," Simon uttered, readjusting his glasses. "It's like her magical energy's been supercharged."

Adeline shook her head. "If you had access to this power, why did you think of yourself as weak?"

"My parents...taught me powerful magic so that I could protect myself if need be," Fearne said strongly, wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of a hand. "I was so afraid of causing harm that I promised never to use these spells during a duel with another human, but I won't ever catch up to my friends unless I give it my all, will I?" Fearne felt her Essence pulse inside her, rattling her stomach, provoking the trio of snaptrappers to roar in unison.

A breath cloud escaped her as Adeline smiled. "Then do it. Give me your best, Fearne Lavender."

Fearne raised her wand, and a bellowing snaptrapper lunged forward, moving so swiftly that it made Fearne's ponytail whip through the air. She observed as the creature glided across the ground, resembling a massive, plant-like serpent.

In the presence of such a formidable creature, it would be understandable for anyone to consider fleeing. However, Adeline remained steadfast, planting her feet firmly in the grass as she confidently wielded her Advanced Wand, swiftly flicking it with determination. "Ice Magic: Caelum!" she shouted, a bolt of blue-colored energy streaking from the wand.

The snaptrapper's roar was silenced prematurely as, from the moment Adeline's attack struck it, it had been completely consumed in a layer of famished ice, eclipsing its bulbous head in seconds and gradually working its way down its extended stem, inch by inch. Adeline whispered out a breath cloud as she stared remained in place, mere inches from the snaptrapper was frozen with its unhinged jaw ready to swallow her whole.

Adeline possessed an extraordinary talent for Ice Magic, rivaling even a Professional Sorcerer. However, her confidence was shattered by a sudden, bone-chilling crack. Once unbreakable, the snaptrapper's ice coating began to splinter and fracture until it ultimately burst into a shower of glistening shards, allowing the now-liberated snaptrapper to lunge menacingly toward its petrified snack.

"Primary Magic: Voneras!" Simon shouted eagerly, casting a spell that made the tip of his wand ignite with turquoise-colored sparks. The snaptrapper's jaws clamped shut, and Adeline was yanked off her feet, narrowly avoiding a mouth that could very easily fit an entire carriage inside.

Wide-eyed, Adeline was flung several meters away as if tugged by some enormous invisible hand, skidding on and off the ground uncontrollably. She crashed violently into the grass near Simon, her feet tossed up in the air. "You need to be more careful!" Simon said harshly, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "Something's changed. We can't afford to underestimate her anymore. Should we fall for such a naive trick, it might spell disaster for the both of us."

Sitting upright on frozen grass, Adeline aimed a dazed look, and Fearne couldn't tell if she had heard anything that Simon had just said. "That...was the closest anyone's gotten at landing a blow against me...in a long time..." she said pensively. Knuckling a knee, the girl steadily climbed to her feet, brushing strands of grass off her uniform. "Thank you for saving me, Simon. And you're right. I was too reckless. Fearne here is plainly intent on defeating the two of us. This won't be an easy battle."

Simon grunted. "As long as you can acknowledge as much."

"Henceforth, there isn't a point in me holding back anymore." Fearne flinched as she sensed a spike of magical energy discharge throughout the forest clearing, originating from where the ice mage now stood cloaked in sapphire-colored light that caused her auburn hair to ripple in waves.

Fearne swallowed as she instinctively tightened the grip around her wand's handle. So this is what it's like...to be in an actual duel. It took everything she had to fight off the rush of fear pouring over her that made her breath turn heavy and her knees tremble, but as she reaffirmed her objective—her dream—she felt herself turn numb. "I'm unsure if I can do this. Even so, I have to try!" 

Above her, three enormous snaptrappers let out deafening roars, thrashing and snapping in a wild display of primal anger. Fearne couldn't help but wonder if they were responding to her Essence. Did they, too, share the same fervor as their creator? Regardless, she was grateful to have them on her side. Facing formidable adversaries like Adeline and Simon, she knew she needed every advantage. 

The Hidden Melody grew louder in her ears, dispelling scattered doubts lingering in her mind. "I'm tired of feeling useless, of being a burden to family...and my friends," Fearne whispered. "From now on, I'm going to fight for myself!"

*

* *

Jared's bellowing laughter nearly caused Allan to gasp in surprise; seriously, did the damn giant have to be so loud all the time? "Ha! Would you take a look at this!" he hollered, pointing a finger at the magiscreen. "I knew there was something special about her! Yet I could have never guessed she'd such strong magic power!" Jared's wide teeth shone within his smile. "I kind of wish she was always like this! Her passion for this duel is getting me all pumped up!"

Admittedly, it was disarming to see the soft-spoken and naturally polite girl he'd known since the semester started going through such a drastic transformation. As Allan lifted his chin at the floating magiscreen, he almost didn't recognize his student. No, this mage was somebody else, someone he'd never met before.

Fearne's face was a portrait of unwavering resolve, her clenched jaw and intense gaze reflecting the inner fire that fueled her. Her ponytail danced wildly behind her, while eerie green flames surged from her feet and engulfed her in an ethereal blaze, seemingly unnoticed by her. Meanwhile, her monstrous plants stretched as they lunged towards their adversaries, Simon and Adeline.

Allan vividly remembered the moment Fearne's admission to the academy was secured. It was on the strength of a recommendation letter from Professor Dragonthrone, a highly respected and admired Professional Sorcerer. In the letter, Fearne's exceptional talent was emphasized, and it was evident that she had the potential to become an outstanding sorcerer. Additionally, after a meeting with Fearne's parents, it became apparent that she was not just another typical noble mage.

Her potential was akin to a rare and distinctive flower; Fearne Lavender stood out as a unique mage in multiple aspects. As her professor, it was his responsibility to uncover and nurture that potential and to reveal the latent talent buried deep within her. It was logical that she would unleash her true power while being in the vicinity of a Magic Zone, but it was certain that she would need further training to avoid accidentally causing harm to herself or others.

"Yes, sir, I bet you're pretty proud right now, aren't you," Jared badgered, elbowing a disgruntled Allan in the ribs. "Seeing your little implings put on such a show for you has got to strike something in that cold, dead heart of yours."

"What am I? A corpse?" Allan muttered. "On the contrary, I'm more disappointed that none of the Sparrows have come close to reaching the...the..."

"Butt Rock?"

"Their objective!" Allan hissed, crossing his arms. "Most are just idling by, trying not to get cornered by a Griffin."

"Ah, yes, well, I assume they must have uncovered the little secret of this exam." A powerful slap on the back from Jared's hefty hand earned a groan out of Allan; improper footing would have resulted in him falling right over the edge of the plateau. "Don't you worry, my friend. This exam is still in its early phases," he snickered. "I assure you I'm just as impatient as you to see an awesome duel unfold, and I suspect, in time, this forest will turn into a warzone."

"A warzone, huh?" Allan said contemplatively, returning a quiet stare at the multiple magiscreens hovering above. "A murder of tormented crows crammed inside a cage. What might that look like, I wonder?"