Rose watched Iri start chanting her magic the instant the situation called for it, and couldn't help teasing under her breath:
"Hm, he calls this stat build a 'hexagonal mage-tank,' a spellcaster-tank. Honestly... it's pretty fitting?"
The others had just started to crack a smile when the scene abruptly changed.
A surging wave of magic churned violently, and ring after ring of swirling air swept outward in every direction with Irisviel at its center.
Then, under everyone's stunned gazes, a dizzyingly intricate diamond-shaped pure-white magic circle unfolded beneath Iri's feet like a domain.
"Huh?"
"!!!"
"???"
"What is this...?"
Staring at the magic circle that had appeared out of nowhere, everyone present froze on the spot.
Aura, being a Mage herself, looked the most bewildered of all.
"Impossible... absolutely impossible..."
"She doesn't have the Mage Development Ability. How is she deploying a magic circle?"
Before anyone could finish gasping, the next second...
As Iri's brief chant and the spell's name slipped from her lips, the immense magic she'd been building released all at once.
"White Grail, sing!"
"White Grail, activate!"
A warm, reassuring milky-white light surged across the entire field like a rising tide.
"That feels so good..."
The uninjured ones felt their bodies and minds suddenly lighten, refreshed as if waking from a deep, restful sleep.
And Aura, who had collapsed with serious wounds...
The injuries Laurier had inflicted on her were closing at a visible speed, and even her pale complexion turned ruddy again.
"Mngh..."
In mere seconds Aura came to, and even rose to her feet on her own.
The sight was nothing short of a medical miracle.
"So strong!"
"..."
...
The door banged open. Leon, monocle on and hair a complete bird's nest, gaped at Irisviel standing at the center of that pure-white magic circle, arms spread wide, head tilted slightly back, eyes closed as she softly chanted.
"Good lord, what have I done!"
"I had a feeling Iri's performance might be utterly ridiculous..."
"But I never imagined her very first try could be ridiculous to this degree!"
"I suppose it's only fitting for genuine Einzbern craftsmanship..."
Standing there muttering to himself with a stunned look, he was of course noticed by everyone over by the wall.
Rose shot him a puzzled glance and spoke up:
"Leon?"
"What's with you?"
He shook his head first, then explained:
"I was in the middle of practicing, then I felt this violent surge of magic, so I came up to take a look."
"Truly, you don't know until you see it, and once you see it, it scares the hell out of you."
"I figured the most Iri's performance would amount to was a slightly stronger spell effect. I mean, her skills and magic speak for themselves. But it seems I really did underestimate her potential."
"Tch. She hasn't even reached Lv. 2, she doesn't have the Mage Development Ability, and she only got her Falna carved a few days ago... and yet, on her own ability alone, she forcibly deployed a magic circle that only an Advanced Mage should be able to learn."
"It's just... terrifying." Why did the word "terrifying" coming out of Leon's mouth feel so off?
Like ants crawling all over your skin, no part of you comfortable.
It wasn't until Kureha quietly snarked, "The one who really deserves to be called terrifying is you, isn't it?" that everyone suddenly got it.
"Shameless!"
Jeanne spat lightly and stopped paying any attention to the self-absorbed man, turning instead to focus intently on Iri and the magic she'd cast.
By now Aura had woken, all her external wounds fully healed. Aside from a trace of fatigue in her expression, she was practically good as new.
But Iri, "simple" as she was, didn't stop her magic. Just as Jeanne had instructed her earlier, she wanted to test the limit of how long she could sustain the spell, to see exactly how long she could hold it at full power with her current mental strength.
"Laurier, again!"
It was hard to come by conditions for total healing like Iri's, and if Aura didn't seize the chance to spar with Laurier a few more times, she'd absolutely regret it.
"With Iri's magic backing me up, under the pressure of knowing one slip could get me hurt or even badly wounded, my Concurrent Chanting technique is improving fast. Even my close-quarters fighting has visibly leveled up after a real life-or-death exchange."
"As expected, this Baptism mode is perfect for backline Mages who normally can't fight at melee range!"
The fighting spirit reignited in Aura's eyes, and before Laurier could say a word, she struck first.
...
Watching Laurier and Aura clash again within Iri's healing light, the corner of Leon's mouth curled up and he chuckled softly:
"You really can't tell normally, but deep down this little Aura is a battle junkie too."
Rose picked up the thread with a smile:
"Every Mage hides a melee fighter's heart inside them... weren't those your words? Before, there was never the chance. Now it's a different story."
That said, she looked at Iri, whose mental strength still flowed on without end, an inexhaustible reserve with no bottom in sight, and changed the subject:
"Since we've finished testing Iri's healing ability, let's not waste any time either."
"Kureha?"
"Finally! I can cut loose and have a real fight!"
Kureha drew her beloved sword, her silver-white hair lifting in the falling snow. She looked toward Rose and Jeanne, fighting spirit blazing in her eyes.
"Come on!"
Seeing them gearing up to jump in too, Leon hurriedly greased his heels and prepared to grab a bucket and bolt.
"You all train, I'll get back to my research. I need to finish the Wonder Pack as soon as I can."
"Yeah, good luck with that!"
Leon reluctantly pulled his gaze away from the ladies, muttering inwardly the typical straight-guy question, Dressed that lightly in the snow... aren't they cold?, as he strode off toward the basement.
Little did he know, a "Baptism" of his own had already been quietly arranged for him in Jeanne's mind.
Living under the same roof, you might dodge today, but can you dodge forever?
...
...
Before he knew it, a whole afternoon had passed.
When Leon finished cleaning the workshop with his ice clones and dragged his exhausted body back to the living room to collapse onto the couch, he noticed Iri and the others sprawled out across the couches and carpet, looking just as worn out.
"Tired?"
"Mm."
"Looks like the Baptism's intensity really is solid."
[Read 70+ chapters ahead on Patreon: patreon.com/NiaXD]