Of course this had happened. Talk about reaping what you sow. The words that he’d heard not so long ago struck me deeply.
Watching the two speak with familiarity, Dorothea interrupted.
“Are you two friends?”
“No, we actually met for the first time just outside, at the reception window.”
“Oh, I see,” Dorothea replied.
Suimei then asked a question of Lefille, who had just answered Dorothea.
“Gurakis-san, how’d your assessment go?”
“Ahh, I just finished, actually.”
“And the result?”
“Not bad.”
As she replied, her eyes closed and she smiled valiantly. From the looks of it, her “not bad” wasn’t a “I managed to get by” so much as a “I didn’t have to go all out.” She didn’t look tired, nor was she breathing heavily.
Once Dorothea realized who Lefille’s opponents had been, she looked simultaneously stunned and distressed.
“You fought those two and you can still say ‘not bad’? Those two are considered real masters around here, you know?”
“Really? I just fought like normal.”
” ‘Like normal,’ is it… Lefille-san, it sure is a pity you don’t plan to stick around.”
“…? You’re heading somewhere else?” Suimei, surprised by Dorothea’s comment, unwittingly asked Lefille.
“Ah, about that—”
“Sorry to interrupt you two, but it’s about time for us to get started here. Is that alright?”
Concerned about the time, Dorothea’s question drowned out Lefille’s answer. On that note, they had spent quite some time conversing as they walked.
It seemed continuing to while away the time like this would create problems for others.
“Ah. I’m ready whenever.”
“Understood. —Then, Raikas-san and Enmarph-san! If you would!” Dorothea suddenly called out, having turned to face the depths of the training field.
Voices called out in return, and two men walked out from within the inner room doors. One was a leather armor-clad warrior who carried a two-handed sword while the other was dressed in a robe and carried a staff in one hand, a mage by the looks of it.
Her statement seemed directed at this pair, making them his match opponents for the assessment. The only thing was—
“There’s two of them?”
“Yes. Please select your opponent from between Raikas-san and Enmarph-san. Raikas-san is a warrior and Enmarph-san is a mage. Although their specialties are different, they’re both very skilled, and either should be just fine for assessing your strength.”
“Hmm…”
As she finished speaking, Suimei took the opportunity to evaluate the pair. Magical power, presence, menace. Neither one gave him the frightening chill that accompanied opponents whom he dare not let his guard down around. Suimei calmed himself and approached.
Suddenly, the warrior – Raikas-san, it seemed? – called out in a resentful tone.
“You’re the new guy?”
“Yeah.”