The training grounds were quiet.
Only the faint hum of magic filled the air as Lily stepped forward, the advisor standing silently behind her.
In front of her, three wooden targets stood in a row, each encased in a faintly glowing barrier.
Lily exhaled slowly.
Then she raised her hand.
A small flame flickered into existence—unstable for only a moment—before it condensed into a fireball.
Without using her staff's ability, she released it.
The fireball shot forward.
Boom.
It struck the barrier directly.
The flames scattered… and vanished.
Not a single mark was left behind.
Lily frowned slightly.
"As expected…"
The advisor said nothing.
Lily lowered her hand and instead gripped her staff.
This time, she focused.
Mana surged from within her and poured into the staff all at once. The sudden drain made her shoulders tense slightly.
"…Tch."
That method wasn't efficient.
She paused, waiting.
Seconds passed.
Her mana slowly refilled.
Then—
She raised the staff again.
This time, she activated its ability.
The fireball formed once more… but it didn't stay small.
It expanded.
Twice its original size.
The heat intensified, distorting the air around it.
Lily's eyes sharpened.
"Go."
The enhanced fireball launched forward.
BOOM.
The impact this time was different.
The barrier flickered violently, and when the flames cleared—
There it was.
A faint crack.
Not much.
But it was damage.
Lily stared at it, calculating.
"If I push it to five times…"
She already knew the answer.
She would need to inject mana three separate times, waiting in between each cycle.
Too slow.
Far too slow for real combat.
"…Not worth it."
She lowered her staff.
There was no point continuing blindly.
She needed to understand her equipment better first.
Without another word, she turned and left.
Back at the mage guild—
Lily sat on her bed, staff resting across her lap.
The room was quiet, lit only by the soft glow of afternoon light filtering through the window.
She stared at the staff.
Then she spoke quietly, organizing her thoughts.
"Three things…"
She raised a finger.
"First—it amplifies spells using my mana. Each time I inject mana, it stacks."
Another finger.
"Second—I can control how many times it multiplies the spell."
A third.
"And third…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's not just spells."
She tapped the staff lightly.
"It can amplify anything… numbers, intensity… maybe even other effects."
That part was dangerous.
And useful.
Very useful.
Her gaze shifted.
Across the room, a cloak was draped over a chair, hanging loosely like a shadow.
She had left it there on purpose.
Waiting.
Observing.
Yesterday's conversation echoed in her mind—
"Ah, I forgot to tell you," the advisor had said, scratching his head. "That cloak's other ability—besides mana reception—is imitation."
He paused.
"…Well, its real ability is related to that. But the headmaster told me to only tell you this much."
Lily's brows furrowed slightly.
"Figure it out yourself," he had added.
She clicked her tongue.
"So annoying…"
Her eyes stayed on the cloak.
But before she could test anything further—
Knock knock.
A voice rang out from outside.
"Lily! Come out—the master has a request for you!"
Lily blinked.
Then quickly grabbed her staff and stood up.
Outside, Trisha was waiting.
"What is it?" Lily asked as she approached.
Trisha crossed her arms.
"Well… since you haven't paid your rent this month," she said bluntly, "the master thought he might as well send you on a mission."
Lily's expression didn't change.
"How long will it take? What's the pay? Is food and lodging included?"
The questions came out instantly.
Trisha flinched slightly.
"I-I don't know! Just ask him yourself—I'm taking you there anyway!"
The mage guild was lively as always.
Voices, laughter, the clinking of mugs from the bar below—
But the upper floors were quieter.
More serious.
Rooms lined the hallways, reserved for mages who could afford them—or those granted permission.
Like Lily.
They stopped at a door on the third floor.
Trisha knocked.
Three times.
In a strange pattern.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"Come in."
A deep voice.
Lily stepped inside.
The door closed behind her.
The guildmaster sat at his desk, his presence heavy despite his relaxed posture.
"Lily."
"What now, old man?" she replied without hesitation.
He sighed.
"Try to show at least a little respect."
"No."
"…You really haven't changed."
Lily crossed her arms.
"Get to the point."
The guildmaster leaned back slightly, studying her.
Then, as if remembering something—
"You know," he began casually, "you could just solve all your problems by becoming an official guild mage."
Lily's eye twitched.
"…No."
"It comes with benefits," he continued, completely ignoring her refusal. "Free lodging, access to restricted spell archives, priority missions—"
"No."
"—and a steady income. You wouldn't have to worry about rent every month."
"No."
He folded his hands together.
"You'd also be under my direct guidance."
Lily's expression immediately darkened.
"Absolutely not."
The guildmaster let out a long sigh.
"I've asked you… what, six times now?"
"Seven," Lily corrected flatly. "And the answer hasn't changed once."
"You're wasting your talent."
"And you're wasting your breath."
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Lily straightened.
"Are we done?"
The guildmaster exhaled, finally giving up
"…Fine. I have a request for you. It comes from the adventurer's guild—the one next to that bakery that sells those weird-shaped breads."
Lily rolled her eyes slightly.
"So?"
"A party is looking for an intermediate-level mage or above," he continued. "They're planning to raid an abandoned castle."
A pause.
"It's currently occupied by dark elves."
Lily froze.
"…What?"
That wasn't a small job.
That wasn't a performance.
That was a real mission.
"I want to go," she said immediately—
Then stopped.
"…Wait."
Her eyes narrowed.
"How long will it take? I have school in a month."
The guildmaster nodded.
"It should take around ten days. Travel, operation, return."
He continued calmly.
"They'll cover your travel, food, and lodging."
"And the pay?"
"Five silvers upfront. Twenty more if the mission is completed safely."
Lily didn't hesitate this time.
"Okay."
A small, excited smile formed despite herself.
"I'll do it."
Dark elves.
Creatures she had only ever read about.
Mysterious.
Dangerous.
Unknown.
Her grip tightened slightly around her staff.
I wonder what they look like…