"Alright, for the third practical evaluation this sester, we will be conducting paired battles," Nero announced, his voice carrying easily across the classroom. "You'll be working alongside a partner to demonstrate teamwork and coordination in combat."
Lucifer leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "So, just another sparring match?"
"Not quite," Nero responded smoothly. "This isn't a test of raw strength. This evaluation is about how quickly you can build synergy with a partner you aren't naturally compatible with. The focus is on adaptability, communication, and combat cohesion. Consider it preparation for real-world missions, where you won't always get to choose who you work with."
He tapped his wristband, and a holographic display flickered to life, outlining the details. "As with the previous two evaluations, this will contribute ten percent to your final sester score, which determines your rank at midterms. Make sure to take it seriously."
Rachel's brows furrowed slightly. "Professor, could you elaborate?"
"Of course." Nero clasped his hands behind his back. "Simply put, I've deliberately paired you with soone you don't have a strong positive connection with. That's the challenge. So of you might work well with certain people, but the real test of skill is whether you can build chemistry with soone who isn't naturally aligned with you."
A low murmur spread through the classroom as realization dawned.
Lucifer smirked, already seeing where this was going. "And I assu you've already decided the pairs?"
"Naturally." Nero's expression held the faintest trace of amusent. "I based my selections not just on who lacks chemistry, but also on personality differences. That being said, here are the assigned pairs:
Lucifer Windward and Jin Ashbluff.
Ian Viserion and Ren Kagu.
Cecilia Slatemark and Rachel Creighton.
Arthur Nightingale and Seraphina Zenith."
The mont Rachel's na was uttered alongside Cecilia's, a flicker of irritation crossed her features. A hush fell over the room as she exhaled through her nose and, for the first ti in a long while, raised a hand.
"Professor," Rachel said evenly, though the strain in her voice was evident, "do I really have to partner with soone like Cecilia?"
A soft chuckle rippled through the class. Even Ian looked vaguely entertained.
Nero t Rachel's piercing sapphire gaze with unwavering calm.
"I understand the reasoning behind avoiding close partners," Rachel continued, her tone still composed but firm. "But I could just as easily work with Jin or Ren. Soone who, at the very least, isn't actively insufferable."
"You make a fair point," Nero said, nodding slightly. "And that is exactly why I paired you with Cecilia."
Rachel blinked. "...Excuse ?"
"You are a natural leader, Rachel," Nero explained patiently. "You are kind, reasonable, and easy to work with. Even if you weren't particularly close to Jin or Ren, you would be able to functionally cooperate with them. Your magic also leans toward support and auxiliary, making it easier for you to adapt to almost anyone."
He gestured toward Cecilia, who smirked, enjoying every second of this.
"But Cecilia," Nero continued, "is the opposite. She thrives on conflict, unpredictability, and individual dominance. You and she are fundantally different, which is exactly why this test matters. In real combat, you won't always have the luxury of choosing teammates who fit your preferred dynamic. You'll have to learn how to manage people you don't like, don't trust, or outright despise."
Rachel exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. She wanted to argue. Badly.
Cecilia stretched lazily in her chair, then shot Rachel a mockingly sweet smile. "Looks like we're going to be spending quality ti together, Ray-Ray."
Rachel's jaw tightened. It took every ounce of restraint not to blast Cecilia across the classroom.
"And that," Nero said, a knowing gleam in his eyes, "is precisely why you two are paired."
"What task will we be getting?" Ian asked.
"It will depend on each pair," Nero replied, "Due to the different strengths of each pair, the task itself will be different to make it fair. For example, I can't give the sa task to you guys as the students in Class D right? Even though they are your peers by age, the strength gap is too much. Now, I want all of you to practice communication and try to get along with each other."
So the third practical evaluation was exactly as I rembered. A test of teamwork, not strength.
I turned my gaze to Seraphina Zenith, my assigned partner for the battle assessnt. As always, she had that distant, half-lidded stare, as if the entire world existed in a soft haze around her. Not bored, not dismissive—just detached.
Part of it was her elven blood. Even in this modern world, elves carried an innate sense of stillness, their thoughts moving at a slower, steadier pace than humans. It gave them a certain aloofness, an air of unshaken serenity that often made them seem untouchable.
Combine that with royal upbringing, and Seraphina's presence in a room felt like an unbothered goddess who had neither the ti nor inclination to care about mortal concerns.
She barely reacted when Nero announced the teams. She didn't even blink when I turned to her and said, "Hey Seraphina, we're partners for the third evaluation. Nero's giving us ti to strategize."
She tilted her head slightly, her silver hair shifting with the movent, eyes a cool shade of glacial blue. It was a slow, deliberate motion, as if she were considering whether or not to acknowledge my words at all.
Then she finally spoke, her voice as quiet and serene as a whispering breeze. "Okay."
I almost sighed. 'She really is the sa as in the novel.'
Not good at socializing. Not particularly interested in anyone's affairs. A walking enigma wrapped in a frosted layer of indifference.
Still, I needed to get through to her. I leaned in slightly. "We'll need to work together," I reminded her. "We should at least talk about our strengths."
Seraphina blinked once, then nodded. "I am Seraphina Zenith, princess of the Mount Hua Sect." She paused for a brief mont before adding, "I specialize in wind and ice magic."
That was all. No elaboration. No 'Nice to et you' or 'What about you?'
She simply stated facts.
I exhaled, resisting the urge to chuckle. This girl.
"Arthur Nightingale," I introduced myself in return. "I use multiple elents, and I'm also a swordsman. Like you."
For the first ti, sothing in her gaze sharpened. Her icy blue eyes flickered over , asuring, weighing.
"You're strong," she said simply.
It wasn't a complint. It was an observation.
I raised an eyebrow. 'Her senses really are different.'
Most people at our level wouldn't have imdiately picked up on the change in my strength. I'd only recently reached high Silver-rank, and even though Seraphina was still at mid Silver-rank, she had already noticed.
'Then again, she was raised in a martial sect,' I mused. 'Her entire life has been dedicated to swordsmanship and combat. Of course she'd have sharp instincts.'
And, of course, her Grade 6 art was another factor. Even if I was technically stronger in mana rank, her martial skill bridged the gap.
If this was anyone else in Class A, I would have had to plan around their combat style, adjust my strategies to compensate. But Seraphina?
She didn't need to adjust for her.
If I was a storm of unpredictable adaptability, then she was a force of pure refinent. Precise. Unshaken. Absolute.
Which made things interesting.
"We'll make a good team," I said, giving her a small grin. "Just try not to leave behind, Princess."
Seraphina blinked once. Then, to my shock, the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
No words. Just that brief flicker of amusent before she looked away.
I couldn't tell if she was agreeing with —or challenging .
Either way, this was going to be fun.
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