As they arrived in Celdic, the majority of the group was awed by the grand market town spread before them. The air buzzed with the sounds of merchants calling out their wares, and the scent of baked bread and ripe fruit drifted through the streets. Sara, however, was still half-asleep from her nap, stretching lazily as she yawned and tried to shake off her drowsiness. Shionne glanced around with mild interest, her sharp eyes taking in the rustic charm of the town. It looked nice—peaceful, even—but she kept that thought to herself.
The group began chatting among themselves, talking about all the things Celdic was famous for. After a few moments, Sara perked up and added with a grin, "Celdic's also known for its beer. They make it from their own rye—but since you're all minors, I'm the only one who gets to drink it."
Rean let out a small laugh, folding his arms. "Are you trying to make us jealous, Instructor?"
Alisa crossed her arms, rolling her eyes. "We don't actually care, you know."
Sara chuckled, brushing off the teasing. "Anyway, let me show you to the inn. It's, uh…"—she looked around, squinting at the signs—"…right over there."
Shionne tilted her head slightly, eyebrow arched. "Why did you hesitate?"
"I haven't been here in a while," Sara said defensively, holding up her hands. "Cut me some slack."
Rean sighed with a faint smile. "Maybe we should just head to the inn before she gets us lost."
The group followed Sara through the busy streets. As they walked, Shionne glanced over her shoulder—and froze for just a moment. Standing a short distance away was a man dressed entirely in white, his light violet hair catching the afternoon sun. His sharp yellow eyes met hers, and he smiled, lifting a hand in a casual wave. Shionne's expression hardened, her gaze narrowing slightly as she thought "what's Bleublanc doing here" before she turned back around and continued walking without a word. She'd deal with him later… if necessary.
Once they reached the inn, Sara introduced them to the owner, Margot—a cheerful woman with kind eyes and an easy smile. Margot guided them upstairs to their room, where the group paused at the sight of the limited space.
While Rean, Alisa, and Elliot were busy having a minor freak-out about all of them having to share a single room, Shionne and Laura wasted no time. Both immediately walked in to claim a bed—there were only four, after all.
"You three might want to claim a bed if you don't want to be stuck on the couch," Shionne said dryly, crossing her arms as she sat on the edge of her chosen bed.
At that, Alisa's eyes widened as she finally noticed the shortage. "Wait—there's only four?!" she exclaimed before rushing forward to grab one for herself.
That left Rean and Elliot standing awkwardly in the doorway. Rean sighed, rubbing the back of his neck with a resigned smile. "It's fine. I'll take the couch," he said, ever the gentleman.
Elliot hesitated but nodded gratefully before claiming the last bed.
After that, Margot handed Rean a sealed envelope containing the details of their field study. The group gathered around as he opened it, scanning through the assignments listed inside.
As they read, Shionne's watch beeped and read:
Sub Mission 4: Complete All Celdic Field Study Assignments
Reward: Model Student Perk
(Note: Sub Mission also given to Rinwell, who must complete all Parm Field Study assignments.)
Shionne winced slightly, muttering under her breath, "Ooooh… good luck, Rinwell."
Once they finished reading, the group left their room and headed downstairs. Margot greeted them warmly and handed out a small plate of freshly baked cookies. The aroma was heavenly.
"These are amazing," Rean said after taking a bite.
"Seriously, these are delicious!" Elliot added with an enthusiastic grin.
Margot chuckled softly, her cheeks warming with pride. "I'm glad you like them. Here—take the recipe."
Shionne's eyes lit up as she gratefully accepted it. "Thank you," she said, pulling out her notebook and carefully adding the recipe beside the omelette one she'd picked up back in Trista.
Afterward, the five of them went looking for their instructor—and, unsurprisingly, found Sara sitting at the bar, already sipping on a mug of beer.
Alisa blinked, looking exasperated. "It's still morning. How are you already drinking?"
Shionne smirked, folding her arms. "Hey, it's five o'clock somewhere."
Sara grinned at that, raising her mug in toast. "Right you are, my dear student! But seriously—why are you kids still here? Don't you have your assignments already?"
The group took a few moments to ask her about the field study details, going over what each task involved. Once they finished, Sara turned her attention back to Shionne. "What about you, Shionne? Any questions?"
Shionne shook her head casually. "No, not really. They seem pretty simple, honestly—change some lightbulbs, fight a few monsters, collect some herbs. Standard stuff."
Sara frowned slightly, setting her mug down. "Yeah, that is standard… if you're a Bracer. How are you already used to stuff like this?"
Shionne quickly recovered, putting on a small, nervous laugh. "Oh, uh… I used to do things like this to help out around my town. You know, small chores, errands, that kind of thing."
Her watch dinged again, the screen lighting up.
New Skill Acquired: Acting Novice — Others are 25% more likely to believe your words, even when you're lying.
Sara nodded, seeming satisfied. "Oh, right—you and Rinwell come from Milsante, don't you? Small towns like that usually need all the help they can get. Sorry for prying."
"It's no big deal," Shionne replied smoothly, though inwardly she sighed. I really need to check what kind of background me and Rinwell have in this world before I slip up. And I'm definitely complaining to Tet later for not giving us that information upfront.
Sara leaned back in her chair, taking another sip of her drink. "Alright, you kids have fun. You've got two days here in Celdic, and you'll return to Trista tomorrow evening. Until then, do whatever you like. I won't be forcing you to do anything."
After a brief discussion among themselves, Rean glanced around at the others. "Alright, what should we start with?"
Shionne was the first to answer, her tone thoughtful. "I think we should start with the church—talk to Father Zirbel first. After that, we can head to the orbal factory to see what they need. That way, we can sweep through and finish everything efficiently, leaving the monster quest for last."
Alisa nodded approvingly. "That's actually not a bad idea. It'll save us time in the long run."
Laura crossed her arms with a nod of agreement. "I concur."
"Yeah," Elliot chimed in, smiling. "If we're gonna be running all over town anyway, we might as well make it efficient."
Rean grinned. "Then it's decided. Let's head to the church first."
With that, the group set out, determination—and mild excitement—shining in their eyes as they began their first official field study together.
After a brief conversation with Father Zirbel at the church, the group made their way to the orbal factory, where they received the replacement light bulbs along with a small slip of paper containing the code needed to open the lamp housings for the swaps.
From there, they headed to Celdic's bustling grand market, the air filled with the chatter of merchants and the scent of fresh produce. After a bit of searching, they managed to find and purchase the bear claw herbs that Father Zirbel had mentioned earlier. With that done, their next stop was the East Celdic Highway to replace the bulbs and collect the carrots the priest had requested from a local farmer.
However, as they reached the path leading out of town, their progress came to a halt. Three soldiers in blue-and-white uniforms stood blocking the way, their posture rigid and authoritative.
"The Kreuzen Provincial Army…" Rean murmured quietly, straightening his jacket.
The soldiers stepped forward, demanding to see their identification. Shionne folded her arms and stayed silent, letting Rean and the others handle it—she didn't trust herself not to snap at them. Her expression remained calm, but her eyes carried a sharp, unmistakable edge of irritation as the soldiers spoke to them.
Once they were past them and out on the open road, Laura glanced over, her voice curious. "You're awfully quiet, Shionne. Something on your mind?"
Shionne blinked, realizing she'd been lost in thought. "Oh—pardon me. I'm just a little worried about Rinwell. She's got Jusis and Machias on her team, so I'm hoping they can all manage to complete their assignments without issue."
Alisa winced slightly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Oh, right… I forgot about that pair. Surely the two of them wouldn't let their constant bickering get in the way of their field study, right?"
Elliot frowned thoughtfully. "I really hope not. That would make things rough for everyone."
Rean exhaled softly, a hint of amusement in his tone. "They've got Gaius and Emma with them. Maybe that'll help keep things balanced. Everything should turn out fine."
The group continued chatting lightly as they made their way along the road, passing golden fields and spinning windmills that creaked lazily in the afternoon breeze. A few monsters crossed their path—nothing serious, just a couple of evil crows and deathcargots—but the fights were over quickly. The only real threats on the highway were the fanged wolves, whose speed and coordination forced the group to stay on their toes.
After dispatching several more enemies, Shionne clicked her tongue in annoyance as she glanced at her watch.
"Seriously…?" she muttered under her breath, seeing her familiarity had only risen to 008%.
They made their way toward the path leading to the next area, only to find it blocked by several snarling, fanged wolves.
Laura stepped forward, brandishing her greatsword with calm precision. "Stand back. I shall clear the way."
Holding her sword in front of her, she took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing in fierce concentration. "Behold my most powerful strike!" she declared.
Her blade became engulfed in a radiant, bluish-white glow that intensified until it looked almost twice its size. With a swift motion, she dashed forward, her movements sharp yet elegant, cutting through the wolves in a flurry of deadly arcs. Each swing landed with crushing precision, leaving the beasts in shredded pieces upon the ground.
"Incredible," Alisa breathed, eyes wide in awe.
"Awesome!" Elliot exclaimed, grinning as his voice echoed through the fields.
"That's the Arseid school for you," Rean added, his tone filled with admiration.
Shionne crossed her arms and said. "Not bad… for a work in progress."
Alisa blinked, clearly offended on Laura's behalf. "What do you mean? That was amazing!"
Laura, however, gave a small nod. "No, Shionne is right. I'm still far from where I'd like to be." She looked over at her, curious. "Did any flaws stand out to you, Shionne?"
"The technique itself is fine even if it isn't perfected," Shionne said, analyzing her calmly. "The problem is that using it takes too much of your stamina and leaves you winded. Even now, you're trying hard to catch your breath—you're just really good at hiding it."
"That can't be right," Elliot protested, frowning.
Laura let out a soft laugh before sitting down, exhaling heavily. "I can't fool you, can I?" she admitted between breaths. "So, what should I do?"
Shionne tapped a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "You're in the swimming club to train your stamina, right? That'll help in the long run. But for now, I'd suggest only using that technique when you're in a real jam. If you'd waited a moment, I could've taken out those wolves with some explosives."
Rean raised a brow. "Wait—you have more of those?"
"I always have some on me," Shionne replied with a faint smirk. She walked over to Laura and, with a practiced motion, pretended to pull a bottle of water and some peeled orange slices from her satchel. "Here. This'll help."
Laura smiled gratefully and accepted the snacks. "Thank you."
After a short break and a chance to catch their breath, the group resumed their journey, walking together down the path toward the distant farmhouse ahead.
They entered the farmhouse, and after a short conversation with Paul, they managed to collect the Imperial Carrots that Father Zirbel had requested.
On the way back, Rean stopped to change the light in Lamp B-02 while the others fended off the nearby monsters. Once the task was done, they returned to town and reported the completion of the lamp assignment to Samus at the orbal factory. Afterward, they visited Father Zirbel again to deliver the herbs and carrots he had asked for.
With that finished, the group exited through the eastern gate and made their way onto East Celdic Highway. The sun was beginning to dip lower, painting the fields in hues of gold as they walked. After a while, they reached the East Highway farmhouse. While the others discussed the monster problem with Syro, Shionne was off to the side speaking with his wife, who, noticing her interest in cooking, handed her a recipe for a tomato sandwich. Shionne smiled faintly and thanked her before rejoining the others.
After leaving the farmhouse, they continued down the road and climbed a steep hill where they found the creature that had been terrorizing the farms—the Scary Dinosaur.
(Author's Note: Yes that's the actual name.)
The battle began immediately. Rean and Laura charged forward, meeting the beast head-on with synchronized precision. Alisa fired arrows from a safe distance, each shot whistling through the air, while Elliot stood behind them, casting supportive arts to strengthen his allies and keep their wounds at bay.
Meanwhile, Shionne crouched low, her rifle steady in her hands, waiting for the perfect opening. The moment the monster reared its head to roar, she fired—a sharp crack echoed through the air, and one of its eyes exploded in a spray of dark blood.
The creature bellowed in agony, staggering to one side. Rean seized the opening, rushing to its blind spot and slashing deep into its torso with his tachi. The impact sent the beast crashing to the ground. Before it could even attempt to rise, Laura dashed in with a powerful leap and brought her greatsword down in a single, clean stroke—decapitating it instantly.
Once the fight was over, the group returned to the farm to report their success. The grateful farmer rewarded them with a basket of eggs, berries, and a pouch of salt as thanks.
After trekking back to town, they entered through the eastern gate, only to hear a commotion erupting from the grand market. While the others ran off toward the noise, Shionne hung back for a moment, glancing at her wristwatch as it suddenly blinked with new data:
---
Familiarity: 010%
Stats Increased
Ability"Healing Artes" Unlocked
Name: Shionne (Regina)
Race: Renan
Health: 700→900
Mana: 600→800
Level: 4
Strength: 24→34
Perception: 28→38
Endurance: 22→32
Charisma: 20→30
Intelligence: 22→32
Agility: 28→38
Luck: 22→32
Perks: Undead Slayer
Skills:
Firearms, Krav Maga – Intermediate, Throwing – Intermediate, Kickboxing – Intermediate, Marksmanship – Intermediate, Sniping – Intermediate, Cooking – Master, Combo (Locked), Acting – Novice
Abilities:
Enhanced Strength, Novice Destruction Magic, Novice Conjuration Magic, Renan Astral Artes, Healing Artes
Characters: Lei, Megumi
Familiarity: 010%
---
Shionne smiled faintly, her reflection flickering in the glass face of her watch. "Not bad," she murmured, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But I really need to find a chance to level up my magic."
She rejoined the others just as they finished speaking with the market manager.After the meeting, they stepped out by the well and found Sara waiting for them.
"Alright," Sara said with a grin, hands on her hips. "Looks like you five are on top of things. I'm gonna go check on Group B."
As she walked away, she waved over her shoulder. "I look forward to your reports!" she called before boarding her train.
"And… she's gone," Shionne muttered, watching her depart. She turned to the others. "So, what should we do now?"
Rean folded his arms in thought. "Let's check out the market now that we've got a minute."
Checking out the market, however, somehow turned into a stall owner roping them into helping him sell his products—calling it a learning experience. By the time they finished, everyone was tired but amused.
Back at the inn, Shionne chatted briefly with Margot at the counter and received another recipe—one literally called Whole Juice. She chuckled softly at the name before joining the others at the dinner table.
After finishing their meal, Shionne stood and stretched. "I'm gonna head to the room to start my report."
"Aww, I forgot about that," Alisa groaned, slumping in her chair. "I just wanna go to bed."
"Me too," Elliot admitted, rubbing his eyes. "Let's just do them so we can sleep."
The three of them left together, though as they did, Laura called out to Rean, asking to speak with him privately.
Meanwhile, Alisa and Elliot lingered outside the room,quietly eavesdropping on the pair's conversation—while Shionne, already back in the room, finished her report and slipped into bed. Sleep claimed her quickly, her mind at ease after another long day's adventure.