The sudden question caught Goethe off guard.
He shook his head, surprised that Mrs. Pence wasn't focusing on Kiel.
"I don't know," Goethe replied honestly.
"Secret Arts are the 'extraordinary powers' that 'Gifted Ones' can manifest by speaking Tufurian in a specific order. Most require accompanying gestures and certain items, while only a few can be performed with language alone," Mrs. Pence explained in a stern voice before turning her attention to Kiel.
"What is 'Baptism'?" she asked.
"I... I don't know. I haven't studied that yet..." Kiel tried to explain, but Mrs. Pence interrupted him.
"Baptism is the stage where a 'Gifted One' truly separates from ordinary people. After undergoing the Baptism ritual, a Gifted One's physical abilities will be enhanced, doubling or even tripling, and they gain extraordinary power. Unlike with Secret Arts, a Baptized Gifted One no longer needs language, gestures, or specific items to wield this power."
"They only need to will it, and the corresponding extraordinary power will manifest."
"This makes a Baptized Gifted One far superior to a regular Secret Arts practitioner in normal circumstances."
Mrs. Pence's explanation grew increasingly critical, her stern face showing unabashed disappointment.
"I expected you to surprise me, given that you were recommended by Morey."
"And what did I get?"
"A real surprise!"
Mrs. Pence mocked Goethe and Kiel.
Goethe remained silent.
But the previously timid Kiel raised his head.
"This is my own fault. I didn't prepare properly. It has nothing to do with Morey!" Kiel retorted.
This response surprised Goethe, who glanced at him.
Mrs. Pence, however, laughed—coldly.
She looked down at Kiel.
"Taking responsibility alone, do you think that makes you a gentleman?" Mrs. Pence asked sarcastically.
Then, without waiting for Kiel to answer, she loudly declared, "You are the worst students I have ever taught."
"Teaching the likes of you will require even more effort from me."
"I have to repay Morey's favor, but I don't want to waste unnecessary energy, so I think I need to set a challenge for you!"
The old woman's voice remained low, her face showing disgust as she glanced between Goethe and Kiel, with a hint of malice in her eyes.
Then she continued, "Normally, a Secret Arts user can never match a Baptized Gifted One, but there are exceptions to every rule, and the extraordinary is no exception!"
"When you risk your life, when you fight with all you've got, these exceptions can occur."
"Or rather..."
"A miracle!"
Mrs. Pence's voice had turned icy, her severe expression as cold as frost, and a suffocating pressure began to emanate from her, enveloping Goethe and Kiel.
Then, two slender daggers flew out from the corner of the room, stopping right in front of the two young men.
The sharp aura made both Goethe and Kiel's hair stand on end.
"Now, I'm giving you a chance to create a miracle!"
"Fight me!"
"If you can last ten seconds, you pass. Everything continues as before; I will still teach you Tufurian. But if you fail to last ten seconds, you will learn nothing from me."
"Or..."
"Apologize to me and admit you're not worthy of my teaching!"
"Don't worry, I'll still give you the chance to learn Tufurian, but you'll have to do it on your own!"
"You have three seconds to decide."
As Mrs. Pence's words echoed in the air, Goethe maintained a calm expression, but his hand was already gripping the handle of his gun.
Kyle sat with his head down, like a frightened quail.
He realized that he had messed up.
If he hadn't spoken out of turn and confronted Mrs. Pence, they wouldn't be in this situation.
More importantly, he had dragged Goethe into it.
Thinking about this filled Kyle with guilt.
"Sorry," Kyle turned his head and muttered in a voice barely above a whisper.
Goethe didn't respond directly; instead, he subtly nudged Kyle with his elbow.
Kyle was startled, then instinctively glanced at Goethe's arm and immediately understood what he meant.
Without hesitation, Kyle gently tapped Goethe with his knee.
At this moment, Kyle had no other thoughts.
Any earlier unpleasantness was already forgotten.
He only wanted to make amends for the trouble he had caused Goethe.
So!
He chose to follow Goethe's lead.
At that moment, Mrs. Pence began her countdown—
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"Have you made up your minds?"
As Mrs. Pence asked, the two slender daggers moved closer to Goethe and Kyle, as if they were about to pierce their throats.
Goethe immediately rolled to the ground, creating distance, while repeatedly pulling the trigger of his revolver.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
He didn't know if Mrs. Pence's claim of surviving for ten seconds was true, but he knew better than to trust his life in someone else's hands, even if they claimed it was just a test.
Kyle's reaction was quick as well. As soon as Goethe fired, he rolled behind a chair, kicking it and another chair toward the flying daggers aimed at them.
"A gentleman should not remain silent in the face of unjust accusations!"
"A gentleman who makes a mistake should bear the responsibility alone!"
Kyle shouted, firing his revolver continuously.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The bullets reached Mrs. Pence but had no effect.
Two more daggers flew out from the corners.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as the newly appeared daggers expertly deflected the bullets.
The chairs Kyle had used as shields were reduced to splinters by the initial daggers.
As wood chips fell, the daggers continued their trajectory toward Goethe and Kyle.
Their faces tightened, but they didn't stop shooting. One continued firing at Mrs. Pence, while the other targeted the incoming daggers. Then, they both headed toward the door.
Though it was their first time working together, they displayed remarkable synergy.
Both Goethe and Kyle knew that as ordinary people, they stood no chance against the 'extraordinary' Mrs. Pence.
Their only option was to work together to slow her down.
And then?
Escape.
That was the best choice.
One by one, their bullets were blocked by the daggers swirling around Mrs. Pence. She stood still, watching as they neared the door, her presence growing stronger. The flames of the surrounding candles flickered violently, nearly going out.
Under the dim candlelight, Mrs. Pence's shadow seemed to engulf the entire classroom.
But just as Goethe and Kyle's hands touched the doorknob, everything stopped—
"Congratulations, you've passed!"
Mrs. Pence smiled.
Her severe, grim expression melted like snow.
Her cold gaze softened.
She looked at Goethe and Kyle, speaking in a gentle tone.
"Sorry to have frightened you."
"But this is your first lesson in the 'extraordinary world'—"
"Courage and cooperation!"
(End of the chapter)