There were two ways to use magic. The first was simply imagining the spell and, with that visualization, using mana so it would manifest. The second way involved the first, but used words of affirmation, which were the names of the spells. This form made it more powerful. Although some disagreed, because depending on the visualization, saying the name of the spell became obsolete.
Even in those cases, it could happen that someone managed to visualize and cast strong spells and, at the same time, if they used words, made them even more powerful. So, no matter how strong someone was in magic without chanting, if that person used any chant, their power became even stronger.
Jasly never said the names of the spells she cast, seeing her doing that made me rethink if I really was stronger than her. I had never cast using the name, but maybe I should. Besides, I felt I was stronger, even having less mana, my spells were better. She didn't need to save mana, since she seemed to have an unlimited stock. I had to learn how to use less mana, even though I didn't need to save anymore, I ended up getting used to it.
I felt a little sorry for the examiner, it had been an exaggeration to use a seventh level spell. I didn't even know if people were supposed to know Jasly could do that. Silas gave me that ring so I could hide two elements, so I thought she should also hide part of her power.
The first examiner kept watching the scene, he wasn't able to understand, at least that's how it looked, he was nervous and looking at Jasly, alternating his gaze at the fallen examiner. There was a little blood, but nothing that a healing spell wouldn't fix.
"Don't worry about that, there's always someone stronger than you," a man in expensive and flashy clothes said as he approached the fallen examiner. He used healing magic and helped her stand up. He was serious, but laughed when he looked at Jasly. "Congratulations, you are automatically in A-rank, and know that it has been many years since a candidate managed the feat of defeating one of the examiners."
The first examiner took a medal from his pocket and handed it to Jasly. The medal was golden, it looked like gold. The person in B-rank received a silver medal.
The man took the woman away and then returned, sat down in one of the examiners' chairs. He seemed very important and, judging by the expensive clothes, must have been some noble who had the hobby of being an adventurer.
Some mages fixed the arena. It wasn't like before yet, but temporarily it would do. Seeing earth magic being used in construction was something interesting.
I was called.
"What is your class?" He seemed impatient.
"Mage." When I said that, his expression changed.
"I will be the examiner." The man in expensive clothes stood up from the chair.
"Are you sure about that?" A woman who was beside him asked.
He nodded before taking off his coat. With that, I could see a white medal, which meant he was SS-rank. I wouldn't stand a chance.
The first examiner said his name was Kalil Torch, the frost mage.
To be honest, I would say he was a fighter and not a mage, a muscular body like that wasn't built just by using magic.
"You don't need to be afraid, there are healing mages and they won't let anyone get hurt. I myself can heal you."
The man was calm, I would also be calm if I had defined muscles like his.
I thought of a quick attack. When the test started, I tried to move quickly to the right and then I would attack, but I didn't expect him to move even faster. He was big and heavy, yet he moved very fast. What was the logic in that?
He didn't attack, he only dodged some spells I cast, the fireballs were useless.
Silas asked me to choose two elements and hide the other two. I decided to keep fire and the dark element, which now turned out to be a big mistake, I was better with the water element. The dark element was still in development, just like my master spell, it was almost finished, but still needed some adjustments and using it in a fight wasn't the smartest option.
He attacked, used ice magic. I managed to dodge, but a shard cut my arm. I used healing magic while I moved away from him.
Sometimes a man had to act, even if it was complete idiocy, or maybe suicide.
I was all sweaty and tired, the man just looked at me. I needed to find some opening to attack, but he had none, at least I couldn't find any.
I had no choice, I needed to show my strength. I started using several different fire spells, one after another. I ran through the arena while trying to find some opening. His defense varied between simply dodging or defending with an ice wall.
While I attacked with my right hand, I used my left hand to gather mana and nurture a small flame of fire, it was blue.
This lasted a few seconds, then I pretended I would attack with the right hand and switched to the attack with the left. That strike managed to break the ice wall, but my hand was stopped by his hands. He was strong and managed to stop my attack, he didn't take any damage, the fire was extinguished.
If I hadn't seen him use magic, I would say he was a fighter, very strong, but still I would say he was a fighter and not a mage.
The first examiner asked us to stop, the other examiners were silent. The first examiner was trembling.
"Congratulations, you managed to enter A-rank." Kalil seemed angry.
I was frustrated, but there was no way to win, he was too strong and I was at my maximum limit of strength.
Jasly was smiling at me, on the other side the group of troublemakers were looking at me strangely, as if they were afraid of me.
The first examiner approached me and introduced himself. His name was Dain, he wanted me to join his group.
To be honest, I didn't want to, but since I was a beginner, being part of an experienced group would make the work easier, but I would only join if Jasly joined too, for that I should ask her.
She approached and Dain introduced himself and invited her to the group. She looked at me and I nodded.
We accepted the invitation, now we were part of the Wolf Fangs group.
Back at the inn, I was in the room creating more salt. Jasly was all sweaty, I was dirty too. She went to a bathroom that was in the room, which reaffirmed how expensive that inn was.
I created a lot of salt, the next day I would try selling again. The head chef said he would buy all the salt I brought, but I wasn't that confident.
Jasly came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. When I saw her, I got embarrassed, my face blushed. She just laughed.
"We are siblings, you should get used to seeing me like this."
In a way, she was right, but still it was very strange to have that contact.
The strangest thing was that I didn't feel like that with other women. In my past life, it was common for several women to bathe me, even do other things. My attention, without a doubt, went to the breasts of several women, but with Jasly it was different, I couldn't explain.
Then I went to bathe, afterwards we went to eat, the inn served three meals a day to the guests.
The food was actually good, but Thalia could make tastier food. I miss her, Silas too, even Bedelia, even though she killed me several times and broke all my bones.
The next day I got 20 silver coins selling the salt.
At the guild I met Dain, he introduced the group. Other examiners were part of the group, like Jasmine, the mage with large breasts, and Elys, a dark elf who was sitting with the other examiners, her breasts were medium, but they looked firm. The rest of the group was Nima, who served as support, her breasts were very small, they almost had no volume, and Tobias, a dwarf rogue.
We were looking at a board full of missions, some were impossible for an A-rank group, others were too easy.
Dain took the mission to hunt orcs, which was good enough for each one to receive at least 5 silver coins, since we could sell the meat to the guild's butcher.
The mission consisted of hunting orcs that were causing problems in a nearby village. According to the description, there would be at least three adult orcs and a cub.
I had already hunted orcs with Bedelia, but I had never seen a cub, I wondered if I would be able to kill one.
We left the city immediately, we walked a lot, being an adventurer wasn't as glamorous as I had thought it would be. We stopped on the road and set up a small camp. Elys used some sticks and made fire to light a small bonfire.
Dain took a cauldron from the item bag and the others began cutting some vegetables and made a soup with them. I took out some orc meat from my item bag, I was embarrassed not to contribute with anything.
Tobias gave a wide smile.
"Did anyone bring the bread?" Jasmine asked.
"I thought it was your turn to bring it," Dain said.
"Don't worry about that, I have bread," Jasly said pulling bread out of the item bag.
"This bread is so soft," Jasmine said while squeezing a piece.
"My mother made it," Jasly said.
"You are lucky to have a mother-in-law who makes such delicious bread," Dain said, Jasmine got angry and elbowed him.
"I apologize for that remark, it was very inappropriate, but it's hard to control what he says," Jasmine said.
"Don't worry, but we are siblings," Jasly said.
They exchanged looks among themselves.
"You two really look like a couple."
Jasmine punched him.
We ate the soup and took turns between sleeping and keeping watch. But it was a quiet night, the next day we kept walking a bit more and soon we arrived at the village, it was big. The villagers were in their houses, their fear of orcs was understandable, but the orcs could break the walls of their houses.