The second-year students gathered early in front of the dungeon's secondary entrance. Professor Trébol, arms crossed and wearing a stern expression, explained the new practice exam.
"This time, you'll face an ice boss on the ninth floor. You'll go in pairs. There's no time limit, but you'll be evaluated on teamwork, magical control, and performance in real combat." He paused meaningfully. "The pairs have already been assigned."
Liana narrowed her eyes with curiosity, while Ares felt a strange unease in his stomach.
"Dana and Ares."
"What!?" Liana and Agust exclaimed at the same time.
Trébol ignored them and continued:
"Liana and Agust."
Dana smiled. Ares swallowed hard. Liana, meanwhile, clenched her fists as her eyebrow twitched slightly.
"Problem, Miss Liana?" Trébol asked with a hint of irony.
"None, professor," she replied, forcing a smile as stiff as the ice they were about to face.
---
Inside the Dungeon
Dana and Ares descended together to the ninth floor. The temperature dropped with every step, and frost covered the walls. Blue followed them closely, silently observing.
"Nervous?" Dana asked, sending a spark toward a stalactite to shatter it.
"More about the exam than the monster," Ares replied honestly. "Though… I'm glad you're my partner."
Dana smiled, but her eyes remained alert.
"Careful. Here it comes."
From the icy mist emerged the ice boss: a humanoid beast over three meters tall, wielding a colossal ice axe and covered in crystalized scale-like skin.
Blue roared, and Ares activated his enhancement magic. Dana wrapped him in an electric field that boosted his speed. The combination of unstable blue flames and precise lightning strikes formed a lethal offense. Blue guided Ares through telepathic instructions, helping him aim the fire exactly where the ice was weakest.
In less than five minutes, the creature fell—shattered into frost and steam.
Ares panted, exhausted but thrilled.
"We did it!"
Dana, wearing a proud smile, threw him a playful look.
"We make a great team, huh?"
---
Meanwhile, in another sector of the floor…
Liana and Agust were facing the same boss, duplicated via a special spell. Liana summoned her turtle, which blocked attacks with its stony shell, while Agust created ice spears and hurled them with fury.
"Why are you so aggressive today?" Agust asked, noticing her hardened expression.
"None of your business."
"You're jealous. No need to deny it."
Liana shot him a deadly glare.
"Shut up and fight."
Agust smirked.
"As you wish. But… you should tell him how you feel. If you don't, maybe someone else will."
She didn't reply, but her attacks grew fiercer.
---
After the Exam
Trébol reviewed the results: Ares and Dana earned the highest score for synchronization and speed. Agust and Liana came in second—by a very narrow margin.
"Good work… all of you," Trébol said, casting a fleeting glance at Ares, less disdainful than before.
Liana didn't celebrate at all. Seeing Ares and Dana exchanging smiles and knowing looks stirred something inside her.
She felt like she was losing him…
And she still didn't know if it was as a friend—
Or something more.