Rinwell sat by the river in Trista early in the morning, the mist still hanging low over the water as she patiently waited for a bite. It was their free day, and aside from miraculously completing all of the field study assignments—which had somehow involved her subtly tripping Jusis and Machias into a river that just happened to flow in the direction of their objectives—she'd spent most of her field study fishing and happily filling out her journal.
During their field study, she'd managed to catch kasagin and crayfish, and today, she'd already hauled in a good number of rockeaters and anor carp. Her line suddenly tugged once more, and after a brief struggle, she reeled in another plump fish. As she dropped it into her basket, her watch gave a cheerful ding, the holographic screen lighting up with new text.
Fishing – Novice → Fishing – Intermediate: Greatly increases chances of catching small fish and reduces line breakage on large fish.
Rinwell's eyes lit up, and she hummed happily to herself, pleased with her progress. Gathering her basket of fresh fish, she made her way back toward the dorms, her steps light and rhythmic against the cobblestone.
As she passed through town, a familiar voice suddenly spoke up from beside her. "You making lunch?"
Rinwell nearly jumped but relaxed when she saw Fie appear seemingly out of thin air, her usual calm expression in place. "I am," Rinwell replied with a smile. "How'd you know?"
"You always make food after you catch something," Fie said matter-of-factly, falling into step beside her.
When they entered the dorms, the first thing they saw was Sara sprawled comfortably on the couch, a lazy grin on her face as she prepared to crack open another beer. She glanced up at the two girls and smirked. "Oooh, are you about to make lunch? Might I request something that goes well with alcohol?"
Rinwell's grin turned sly. "No problem." With a quick motion, she reached out and snatched the beer right out of Sara's hand.
"Hey! That's mine!" Sara protested, sitting up with a dramatic pout.
Ignoring her entirely, Rinwell walked straight into the kitchen, setting the beer on the counter as she started prepping ingredients. From the living room, she could hear Sara whining in mock despair, which only made her snicker quietly to herself. She poured the beer into a bowl with some flour and spices, whisking it together as the rich scent began to fill the air.
About thirty minutes later, the dorm was filled with the delicious aroma of freshly fried food. Rinwell set down plates of golden beer-battered fish, crispy fries, and hushpuppies.
Sara was the first to dig in, eyes lighting up as she took a bite. "Okay," she admitted between mouthfuls, "I'll forgive you—since this is tasty."
Fie ate hers with a faint, content smile, her usual stoic demeanor softening as she quietly enjoyed the meal alongside them.
After lunch, Rinwell returned to her room, humming softly to herself as she pushed open the door. She settled onto her bed with a stack of spellbooks beside her, flipping one open and immersing herself in the intricate diagrams and incantations written across its pages. Hours passed in quiet concentration, the only sounds being the turning of pages and the faint hum of magic in the air.
Eventually, the familiar beep from her wristwatch broke the silence. Rinwell blinked, lowering her book and glancing at the glowing display.
Novice Destruction Magic → Apprentice Destruction Magic
Destruction spells now cost less Mana
Novice Alteration Magic → Apprentice Alteration Magic
Alteration spells now cost less Mana
A bright smile spread across Rinwell's face as she leaned back in her chair, satisfaction shining in her eyes. "Looks like the Model Student perk was worth getting," she said, pride lacing her voice. "My knowledge retention is much stronger—and acquiring and leveling up skills is much easier now."
Her grin widened as she glanced back down at her books, renewed determination flickering in her gaze before she eagerly turned the next page.
The day of the next practical exam arrived, and just like before, Sara stood in front of Class VII with her usual mischievous grin. She summoned a combat shell onto the field, its armor gleaming in the morning light.
"Alright, same deal as last time," she announced. "You'll all take turns sparring with this beauty—" Her eyes landed on Rinwell and Shionne, and her tone shifted immediately. "Oh no, not happening. You two decimated the last one, so you're sitting this one out. Got it?"
Rinwell groaned, folding her arms with a pout. "Damn it…" she muttered, while Shionne sighed, accepting her fate with a small shake of her head. The two stepped back, standing off to the side as they watched the others begin their matches.
One by one, their classmates sparred against the combat shell until it was Machias and Jusis's turn. The pair attempted to form a combat link—but it failed miserably, leading to a heated argument that made everyone in the room tense. Once the shouting subsided and Sara finally got them to calm down, she moved on to the next part of the lesson.
She handed out the field study assignments and group pairings, prompting the usual complaints—especially from Machias and Jusis. As the murmurs grew, Rinwell raised an eyebrow and glanced at Sara. "You sure about this?" she asked, her tone cautious. "You're sending the son of Governor Regnitz into what is essentially enemy territory."
At her words, Machias's expression immediately grew uneasy, a flicker of nervousness crossing his face.
"Oh, come on," Sara said with a dismissive wave, trying to keep things light. "The duke might be a jerk, but he wouldn't do anything to a teenager."
Jusis's voice came out flat and sharp. "No, he absolutely would. Rinwell is right to be cautious—you're making a huge mistake."
Sara blinked, caught off guard. "Damn… is he really that bad?"
"Yes, he is," Jusis replied firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
Sara sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration. "Well, ultimately the decision isn't mine to change, so… I'm sorry, guys. You're still going."
Rinwell let out a quiet exhale and muttered under her breath, a determined glint sparking in her eyes. "Okay, plan B it is."
The day of the departure arrived, and Rinwell flopped down into her seat by the train window with a sigh, resting her chin in her hand as the countryside rolled by. Soon after, Emma and Fie took their seats beside her—Emma with a polite smile, and Fie lounging casually, half-dozing before the train had even started moving.
Across from them sat Machias, Rean, and Jusis, with poor Rean stuck awkwardly between the two bickering boy's. The tension was almost palpable.
When they finally arrived in Bareahard, Machias immediately began glancing around nervously, his eyes darting to every guard they passed. His shoulders were tense, his expression suspicious and uneasy.
Without hesitation, Rinwell reached out and smacked him across the back—hard enough to make him jolt. "Ow! Rinwell, what the hell!?" he hissed, rubbing the spot she hit.
"Stop acting nervous," Rinwell scolded, her tone sharp but not unkind. "They'll think you've got something to hide."
"I can't help it!" Machias muttered, his voice dropping as he leaned closer. "What you said the other day has been on my mind. What if they do try to lock me up?"
Rinwell sighed, her gaze softening just a little. "I have a plan if it comes to that," she said confidently. "So just trust me, okay?"
Machias exhaled heavily, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "I suppose… I'll have to," he admitted.
With that, the group continued toward their hotel, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets as they made their way to check in.
Once they were checked in, the group gathered in the hotel lobby to review their field study tasks. The list was straightforward but tedious: retrieve pink salt for a noble's banquet, meet a young man in the Artisan District, and then slay a monster lurking in the nearby canyon before reporting its defeat to the guards stationed at the fortress.
Rinwell scanned over the paper with a small sigh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Alright, guys," she said, looking up at the others with a determined expression. "Let's just take care of this, then get some lunch."