Hello there will be no chapter next week except for contributors. I will concentrate during this week on exclusive chapters reserved for contributors.
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As the improvised arena, formed by Moses' spell, vanished just as suddenly as it had appeared, Éléonore and Karine rejoiced in their hard-won victory. Those who had stayed behind could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Emma was lying on the ground, utterly exhausted from the repeated spells, while Jay returned with his burns, still carrying Shawn on his back, whose wounds were slowly starting to heal. Beth, Marine, and Eva were eager to go talk to the three main protagonists of this triumph.
"That was incredible when your last attack lifted the goblin into the air!" Beth exclaimed to Éléonore, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
"And Karine, you handled yourself so well in close combat, against a monster twice your size," Marine added enthusiastically.
"That's kind of you, but if we won, it's thanks to Maïli," Karine replied modestly.
"It's true the main architect of our victory is definitely her. Once again, in the final fight, she protected us and devised the plan before finishing off the monster with our combined attacks,"
Éléonore added gratefully.
As everyone congratulated her, they noticed how pale she looked.
"Maïli, are you okay?" Éléonore asked, worried.
With her hands burned and her face ashen, she suddenly collapsed to the ground.
"Maïli!" Eva exclaimed, rushing toward her.
She tried to wake her, but there was no response. Moses and the instructors stepped closer, observing the scene gravely.
"Well, this young girl has exceeded all my expectations," Moses murmured, impressed.
"She's really talented, I can't wait to take her under my wing," Zem said enthusiastically.
"What's wrong with her?!" Eva asked, alarmed, while they spoke so casually.
"It's nothing, just fatigue and the burns she inflicted on her own hands," Peney reassured them about her condition.
"With a good night's rest, she'll be fine."
"Very well, in that case, you may heal her."
"Priest Jean, could you please heal her?" Moses requested.
The priest approached her and cast his healing magic, accompanied by a gentle light that mended all her injuries. The severe burns on her hands took several seconds to completely disappear. However, she still didn't wake up, despite the healing.
"Why isn't she waking up?"
"My healing spells close wounds, but physical exhaustion always remains. And I don't have the proper spells to erase fatigue."
Moses and the priest continued healing everyone's wounds. After the treatment, each returned to their rooms, some falling asleep the moment they touched their beds. Maïli, however, was carried off by Eva, accompanied by their little band. They held a small meeting in her room. Eva, Éléonore, Beth, Marine, Max, and even Karine were present.
"I think you all understand now what Maïli meant about the importance of getting stronger as soon as possible," Eva said, breaking the silence.
"Even without her message, it was obvious we had to get stronger to survive."
"But with this test, it's even clearer; now we have no choice. We need to get strong not just to survive the monsters, but also to protect ourselves from the royal family," Beth pointed out.
"Not just survive, but live!" Éléonore added with determination.
"We need a plan and a leader."
"Exactly, and I think everyone knows who the ideal person is," Max said with a smile.
"After what happened today, there's no question. But just in case, those in favor, raise your hand," Éléonore declared.
Everyone in the room raised their hand without the slightest hesitation. Lying on the bed, Maïli became at that moment the uncontested leader of the small group.
Meanwhile, Moses and the other instructors were giving their report to the King and his children, who listened with particular attention.
"So, how did this test go?" the King asked, his gaze fixed on Moses.
"This test revealed some very promising potential, my King."
"Go ahead, share the details of your analysis."
"To begin, I'll talk about Emma:
The saintly priestess, who will be one of our greatest assets. Her healing magic is already very powerful, and as she levels up, she'll become an indispensable element in any group especially if she learns and acquires offensive abilities in addition to her healing powers. Next, Méverick: despite an obvious lack of self-control, his abilities will make him an excellent tank. Maël, with some training, will become a very good mage, already taking the initiative to attack and protect her priestess. Jay has a very good sense of analysis and positioning. Despite a poor, almost nonexistent mastery of elements and skills, that can be fixed very quickly and easily. Marine and Beth have shown nothing for now; we'll have to see what they become later. Dan and Max, unfortunately, are incapable of fighting. They will be trained by the blacksmiths' and alchemists' guilds. Their professions will surely be useful to us, but I won't speculate yet on their talents as a blacksmith and an alchemist."
"I see. But what about the hero?" the King asked, more interest in his voice.
"Well, he didn't shine much and was rather mediocre, despite having very good skills and elements. We'll need to invest much more time before he can become our key piece," Moses explained.
"That's regrettable, but if you say you can fix it, then it's only a slight setback," the King replied thoughtfully.
"Now then, I'll move on to those who performed best in this test, from the weakest to the strongest.
First, Éléonore, a gray mage with already good control over her element. Strong and enterprising, though with gaps that will need filling. She's more talented than Maël, no doubt. Next is Karine, who has surprising swordsmanship, managing to exchange many blows with a High Goblin and perfectly use one of her skills. However, she lacks control over her lightning element. And finally, the most talented of them all: Maïli, the Paladin."
This admission about Maïli brought the faintest smile to Sarah's lips, imperceptible to the others.
"She controls her wind element far better than the others, as well as her skills. She has an excellent sense of combat and a leader's attitude. Despite a few shortcomings, she is the most promising of them all," Moses concluded.
"Hmm, I see, but focus the majority of your efforts on training the hero," the King ordered.
"Yes, my King, it will be done according to your will."
"Ah, Moses, at the end of this training, if others don't stand out enough to be useful to us…"
The King's expression grew more serious and dark as he looked at Moses, clearly implying something.
"Yes, my King, that will also be done."
The next morning, around 10 a.m., Maïli finally woke from her slumber. Looking out her window onto the training grounds, she could see Eva, Éléonore, and the rest of the group training vigorously.
"Well, looks like the message got through," she said with a confident smile.
Meanwhile, in the pitch darkness of the castle's underground, faint whispers echoed through the gloom.
"Sniff… please, someone… help…"
Distant footsteps could be heard, drawing closer and closer. Finally, a faint light appeared, outlining a silhouette in the shadows. A man walked through the darkness carrying a torch. The footsteps stopped before a cell, and the light revealed an elven girl in torn, filthy clothes.
"Unfortunately for you, no one's coming to help. I burned your entire village, except for you, my precious gift. Or should I call you my new toy," a cold voice said.
The torchlight finally revealed the man's face: it was Raphaël, a cruel smile curling on his lips.
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Thanks to the contributors.
Thanks to Cadméa for her subscription level 4.
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Special thanks to Rebecca/Amari/Zezima/Crowny_66/Bored dragon/ Sky_Shay/A_F_D/Fidelissama/Morgan/Arjunn/TheGreatSucc/Jared/ Grimjaw/Damion/ for her power stones.