Practical Ground Test Arc: Chapter 13.
The five remaining flying frost imps screeched as their hands glowed, preparing a ranged attack—an icebolt spell, an ability that all frost imps have.
The frost imps hurled their icebolts, aiming them at the two support backlines, Catherine Aber and Eya Herfin. Hojou Sathoru quickly reacted, pulling Catherine Aber and Eya Herfin away from the icebolt trajectories.
*Thump!* Catherine and Eya hit their buttocks on the ground as two flying frost imps were struck in the chest by thrown daggers, killing them.
Four flying frost imps remained.
A single frost imp curled itself and let out a scream, more piercing and different than the previous screeches. The frost imp then charged as its figure glowed, periodically becoming brighter.
It was going to self-destruct.
The flying frost imp charged straight towards the two supports. A crossbow bolt and a thrown dagger shot past it, missing the frost imp.
"Shit!" Kaye Ketsk cursed, throwing another dagger but still missing.
"Lyle!" Hojou shouted, nervously reloading the crossbow pistol and glancing at the charging frost imp.
*Wham!* A thunderous boom roared as Lyle Cass leaped straight to the flying frost imp, catching and grasping it tight.
(Ah, what the fuck!? This is so cold!?)
He then spun backward and threw the frost imp with blinding speed straight toward the bunched group of frost imps. The explosion upon impact killed one and staggered two others.
He then managed to latch on to a tree branch just as his martial skill effects faded.
As the two staggered frost imps fell, Kaye threw both of her daggers and accurately struck the frost imps' heads, killing them before they impacted the ground.
A tense silence fell as they stared at each other, catching their breath after the encounter. An icy explosion momentarily broke the silence.
"Hurrah!" Eya Herfin shouted in victory, repetitively jumping on the air in celebration as Catherine Aber collapsed onto the ground, smiling in relief.
Hojou Sathoru dismissed his conjured crossbow pistol and sat down beside Catherine, catching his breath. Kaye Ketsk wiped her daggers, briefly glancing at Lyle Cass who was slowly climbing down the tree.
"What did I tell you? So very easy." Lyle said, wiping his white uniform and approaching the group.
(I'm impressed. These uniforms of ours aren't that difficult to maneuver with. They're also practical and appealing. If only it wasn't white.)
"There was hardly any teamwork since you mainly did everything but I guess I can't complain. Some are better suited to fight head-on after all."
Eya Herfin said, rising and patting her bottom before extending a helping hand to Catherine Aber.
The guiding ball of light then appeared in front of them, glowing in a green hue. Signifying that they passed the first test and they were to return to the clearing for their next challenge.
Kaye Ketsk sheathed her daggers and approached Lyle Cass, meaning to ask a question.
"So.... are you trained in martial arts or close-quarters combat?"
Lyle crossed his arms, still feeling the lingering chill from the earlier encounter with the frost imp. He paused before answering:
"Not really, no. I have no close-quarters training. Why'd you ask?"
Kaye glared with a pensive expression, taking in Lyle's answer.
"Nothing. I just wanted to ask."
She dismissively replied, disappointingly shaking her head and joining the others who were following the guiding ball of light.
(Kaye Ketsk. Probably another side character since nothing about her stands out. Her character design is rather bland.)
He thought, joining the others who were heading to the clearing.
After some time walking, they've arrived but to his surprise, his team was the second one to arrive.
The first team to complete the challenge was Team 7. It was Mary Anne Grace's team. She was standing a distance away from her three conversing teammates while cleaning her signature silver rapier.
(If memory serves right, Mary swiftly killed eight frost imps. Souring a certain girl's mood.)
A girl in the distance, also her teammate, stared at Mary with an annoyed expression. Lyle Cass noticed and recognized Hanna Bae, one of the main antagonists but not a villain.
(Hanna Bae, it's that class thief. That mini-arc should occur somewhere in three weeks from now?)
The expression displayed on Hanna Bae was different from what he remembered and read. He paused for a while, trying hard to remember.
(She's definitely way more angrier...)
He thought, breaking away from his team and heading to his previous comfortable location. The large tree with a cool shade beneath, he was planning to take another quick nap.
"This is a curse in disguise. How can we show off our skills to the judges and instructors when SHE will kill everything."
A furious teammate from Team 7 whispered out, angrily slamming her blue longbow on the ground. She scratches her hair, briefly glancing at Mary.
"She killed all ten of them!"
Another furious teammate added, angrily burying his sword on the ground while wiping his face with a warm towel.
Lyle Cass stopped upon hearing the complaints, turning his head to Mary Anne Grace who was now crossing her arms while staring at the sky with an enigmatic expression. The silver rapier sheathed on her waist was dimly glowing.
(Ten!? It was canonically eight. No wonder Hanna Bae is angry. Originally, she was supposed to kill the last two remaining frost imps.)
He worriedly thought, resuming his pace and finally resting beneath the large tree.
(Hanna Bae's father is an abusive aristocrat, always pushing his daughter to excel. Hanna's performance, while commendable, in the practical ground test was rather lackluster, causing her father to cut off her weekly allowance.)
He mused, fully immersed in his thoughts, unaware that his teammates had huddled around him again. Expecting another strategic discussion.
(That's all I remember. She's not that important to the story. The class thief mini arc mainly served as the introduction for another main character.)
"This is probably nothing, just a slight detour." He reasoned, finishing his thoughts and closing his eyes, feeling the lull of sleep.
"What slight detour?" Hojou Sathoru asked, instantly waking and surprising Lyle Cass.
"W-w-what!? What are you guys doing here?" Lyle Cass asked, tone slightly agitated.
"What do you mean? We're here to talk about our next strategy. The next challenge is surely endurance-related, we need to talk about that."
Catherine Aber added while adjusting her eyeglasses, confident about her research. The rest agreed, nodding slightly and turning to Lyle.
"Right," Lyle replied, putting on a serious front. (I wanted to take a nap.)
⟐ Thirty minutes later...
The challenge was over, and all teams passed the frost imp test. Madame Cassie Cydonia, approached the teams, congratulating them on a job well done.
There were four suited instructors behind her, murmuring while glancing at the students. Madame Cassie Cydonia, the teacher, pulled out her notebook, reading aloud the team rankings.
First: Team 7.
Second: Team 4.
Third: Team 5.
Fourth: Team 2.
Fifth: Team 3.
Sixth: Team 8.
Seventh: Team 1.
Eighth: Team 6.
"You've all passed, as expected of Class A-1. However, that was just the introductory stage of the practical ground test. It's going to get harder from now on. Follow me."
Madame Cassie Cydonia added, grinning widely.
Lyle Cass exhaled, sighing loudly. Aware of the challenge ahead. It was an endurance test, primarily demanding stamina and perseverance, whether physical or mental.
"How confident are you about your 'educated guess,' leader?" Eya Herfin worryingly added, brows furrowing.
"One hundred percent and save your breath—you'll need it." He added, breathing anxiously.