Bulria's Mad Awakening

Jenella and Bulria were evenly matched in skill. Even though Ash and I had been helping with her training and giving her special sessions, the gap in accumulated experience and proficiency was still there.

But she was definitely catching up. She'd surpass him soon.

—Or so I was convinced.

"...Am I seeing this wrong?"

"...No. Doesn't look like it."

—I want to believe that too...

But Jenella was getting utterly dominated by Bulria.

In mana capacity, control, technique—everything was overwhelmingly lopsided.

How the hell?

I wanted to jump in, but the tree branches blocked us. It seemed to mean we couldn't interfere unless they came near us first.

...That growth rate is insane.

Bulria had solid talent. But he wasn't some once-in-a-millennium prodigy.

There was no way he could've crushed Jenella, who was getting special training, after just a few days. Her skills had skyrocketed from it.

It wasn't a gang-up either. One-on-one. Jenella was losing in pure technique.

...Something's off.

I narrowed my eyes and spotted something weird about Bulria.

His power felt like at least 2nd circle, maybe even 3rd?

No.

His eyes.

They were pitch black, no whites—like he'd dabbled in black magic.

"Eodukshini. You see that guy up close?"

-No. Soon as we got here, I got isolated...

I tapped the ground with my foot. A tree branch slithered up.

What do you want to know?

"Professor. Is that student involved with black magic?"

It shook side to side.

No.

"Can I intervene?"

It shook furiously.

Absolutely not.

I wanted to butt in. Pin him down and blast him with Divine Power first.

If he had even a hint of negative energy, it'd purify him on the spot.

But no matter how reckless I was, I couldn't meddle in an exam. It'd get me disqualified—and drag Jenella down too.

...Not black magic, then.

I subtly infused Divine Power into my eyes to sharpen my vision. No reaction meant no black magic.

But something was definitely wrong. The sudden power spike was suspicious as hell.

Doping?

"Isn't that guy on something shady?"

The branch formed a '?' shape. What do you mean? Of course they'd have checked already.

"Never mind."

The branch slithered back underground.

I watched the fight with a heavy heart. A red spear slammed down on the one-sidedly pushed-back Jenella.

Flames erupted on her arm, spreading to devour her whole body. Gritting her teeth, flames whirled around her, sweeping the area.

But with a gesture from Bulria, mana control shifted—the blaze died and backfired, engulfing her instead.

"!"

Flames wrapped Jenella's body. They compressed, the color shifting slightly as the licking tongues shrank.

The blaze vanished. Bursting through, Jenella twisted space behind her, summoning multiple fire spears.

Even now, she was growing fast.

But.

Rumble rumble rumble...!

It wasn't enough against this freakishly awakened Bulria. He raised his hand, and a massive fireball bloomed in the sky.

Is that a Fireball?

Sparks flew from the flames around Jenella, lightning coiling around her spears too.

Meteor versus spears.

Spears lose, obviously. Bulria looked down at her arrogantly.

"Think that puny spear can block my 'Meteor'?"

This guy's fucked up.

I was sure now.

Should I jump in?

One hit from that, and she's toast. Safety measures or not, the mental shock would stick.

"Eugene. She's fine."

Ash grabbed my hand. Her deep blue eyes met mine, calm like still waters, steadying me.

"Believe in Jenella."

The spear and fireball collided. A massive explosion and smoke billowed up.

I saw it.

Jenella using the smoke as cover, bolting away. Dousing any clinging flames just in case, darting into the forest.

"Hahaha! Die! Ha! You lowly commoner bitch! I went easy on you, and you think I'm some fucking pushover!!!"

Boom! Boom boom boom!

The idiot who didn't notice her escape kept blasting empty smoke.

"..."

Well, that's the right call. Can't win? Run.

But bailing right after "believe in her" was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shitty timing.

"See? Told you to trust her. She's escaping great."

"Thought she'd awaken and win or something."

"How? Guy's lost his marbles. And she doesn't need to win now. Heard it's points-based? She's ahead, so surviving gets her first."

Right on cue, the alert chimed.

What a psycho professor. Toss us in this hellhole for two and a half hours?

Ridiculous.

But complaints wouldn't stick. Should've griped at the class placement exam.

Professor Nipella was the normal one.

Never saw his test, but inviting an outsider to teach nobles? Probably standard.

Not like this madness.

Tap, tap tap.

A branch poked me. Hurry up.

I glanced at Jenella, set Eodukshini from my shoulder to the ground.

"Eodukshini. Keep watch. Gotta take my exam."

-...But why're you here?! "Figured that out now?"

And hell if I know, damn it.

* * *

The exam went fine.

Nothing tough.

Pop! Blorp blorp blorp!

"Gasp."

"What, did you brew lava potion and trip?"

Fizzzz! Blorp!

"That made an underwater lava zone."

"..."

Problem was, it only hit me.

Materials were team effort, but brewing solo. Ash and Banana—no, Princess Banasi—suffered.

Still, no fails.

"Ugh..."

"Good work. Jenella's probably done too?"

"Yeah. Saw it end on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠way."

"Cool. Head there... Wait, why're you here? When'd you arrive?"

"Just got here."

Adria stood beside me in the classroom.

Not just standing.

Rummaging my priest robe pocket like it was hers.

"What're you doing?"

"Stockings tore during exam... Put spares in your pocket? Gimme."

"Why're they in my pocket?"

"No pockets in my outfit. Yours has space."

"Then just wear a robe..."

Adria ignored me, snagged the stockings.

Checking her tear, she casually asked the mess that was me and Ash.

"So, lava potion exam?"

"..."

Ash. Don't clench your fist. Scary.

* * *

Jenella was in my dorm. Face-planted on my bed.

This your house now?

Absurd, but "I'm depressed" vibes from the bed made it awkward to snap.

What's her deal?

'Lost to Bulria today.'

'Lost?! How?'

'Guy seemed off.'

I sat on the bed, ignoring whispering Ash and Adria. Eodukshini, sensing tension, dove into my robe pocket.

I waited without speaking. Soon, muffled words.

"...Sorry. I lost."

"To what?"

"One-on-one..."

"Points? Or pinned?"

"...Not that. But got crushed. Running was best."

"Saw it. Guy was weird."

Jenella's head snapped up.

Messy face, like she'd cried. Pillow soaked where her face was.

But mouth agape, staring—no hiding it.

"...Wait. You saw? My fight?"

"Yeah."

"How?!"

"Professor dropped me near your spot."

She trembled.

"Why show that embarrassing shit!"

That's what pissed you off?

"Your face now's more embarrassing."

"You've seen it tons."

"Next you'll say shower together openly?"

"Ew~ With Ash here?"

"Means you would without?"

"...Nah?"

Jenella ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠averted eyes slyly.

What're you playing at.

At least mood lightened.

"Anyway, that guy. Weird."

"'Cause you lost?"

"...No!!"

That reaction sells it.

Hugging knees, gloomy, she vented.

"Super weird. Cringy chuuni talk, one-dimensional moves, magic leagues stronger than yesterday...

"Yeah. Eyes were fucked."

"Right!! But no one stops him, didn't feel off to me... People even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠'Finally, that blood awakened'—thought I was crazy."

Jenella ranted like she'd waited forever.

Just a kid.

Seventeen's kid age.

"And lines so cringy? 'I'll snap your throat, voice like an ogre...' If I'd won there."

Suddenly mopey mid-rant.

One at a time, damn.

"You won points, he'll see you got pushed. Rumors'll fly."

"Yeah. You'll be the talk—getting stomped. So?"

I patted her shoulder.

"Results? You ain't lost. Final battle matters most. Public opinion now? Whatever. Not as big as finals. Win early, lose late? People remember winners. Opinion fix costs cash later."

"...Broke."

"I'll cover. Pay interest. But not the point now."

"Right."

Ash timed her entry perfect.

"How'd he power up that much? Sneaky enough to dodge professors—what was it? We need answers."

"Wait, what? Lost? Pushed? To that spinach-headed prick?"

Adria, only one out of loop, whined.

"What happened? Am I the only one clueless again?!"

Her aggrieved voice filled the empty dorm.