### Chapter 14: Partners
"Regarding each of your strength, heart, and soul, this old man has observed carefully. There are four participants in total!"
"Mirajane Strauss!"
Makarov announced the name of the first participant.
"Great! Mira-nee! It's your name!"
Lisanna jumped up happily.
"Congratulations! Sister!"
Elfman also beamed with a silly smile.
Mira clenched her fists: "This day has finally come. I will definitely become an S-Class mage."
She had waited for this day for so long. Last time, her name wasn't called, while Erza became the youngest S-Class mage in the guild last year at the age of 15. This made Mira, who had always been rivals with Erza, feel like she was being suppressed.
Mira looked into the crowd and met Riku's gaze. Riku gave Mira a thumbs-up, and Mira felt very happy in her heart.
"Cana Alberona!"
Makarov read the second name.
"Cana!"
"Cana participated last year too!"
"Cana's strength is not bad! Her mission completion rate is also very high!"
Riku looked at Cana. Cana was Teacher Gildarts' daughter, a point that only Cana and he knew.
Cana had always wanted to become an S-Class mage to prove herself before revealing her identity to Gildarts. It was just a pity that the Fairy Tail guild was full of monsters one after another.
Although Cana had high potential because she was Gildarts' daughter, her combat power was only mediocre because her Magic was relatively ordinary.
Cana also had a bit of a headache at this moment. She got a spot last year, but her opponent was that monster Erza, and she lost completely.
She got a spot again this year, but her opponents had become three monsters. She felt like the promotion exam was getting harder every year.
"Mystogan!"
Makarov read the third name.
"Mystogan?"
"That guy, he uses Sleep Magic every time. Apart from the Master, no one has even seen him!"
"But that guy's Sleep Magic is indeed domineering."
Although the guild members had some complaints about Mystogan putting everyone to sleep every time he took a mission, they all admitted that his strength was very strong.
Riku naturally knew Mystogan, but he hadn't seen him either. After all, he had been in the guild for a short time, and the other party was elusive, so it wasn't easy to bump into him.
Makarov said: "The last person."
"Me me me!"
"It must be me!"
Many people in the guild were praying, hoping to get the spot.
Riku saw Natsu beside him praying to get the spot.
"The last person to obtain the promotion exam qualification is Riku!"
"Riku?!"
Hearing Riku's name was somewhat unexpected for some people in the guild.
Riku's strength was indeed very powerful, but he had only joined the guild for three months. Could he get a spot so quickly?
"After discussing with other S-Class mages, Riku is excellent in terms of strength, will, and soul, so he can obtain a spot."
Hearing this, everyone in the guild nodded in agreement.
Since joining the guild, Riku hadn't done many missions, but almost all of them were high-difficulty subjugation missions with rewards over 500,000 Jewels.
Moreover, Riku had a good character and trained very hard, which was obvious to everyone in the guild.
Gildarts stepped forward and said: "Since there are first-time participants, I will first explain the rules. The four selected people must choose a partner within a week of preparation time."
Erza continued: "There are two rules for choosing a partner. First, the partner must be a member of Fairy Tail. Second, you are not allowed to choose an S-Class mage as a partner."
Makarov concluded: "The specific content of the test will be explained after arriving at the Great West Forest. The four selected candidates and their partners will gather at the guild in a week. That is all!!"
After Makarov finished speaking, he announced the dismissal.
The guild members began to discuss in groups of three or five who could become an S-Class mage. The suspense this year wasn't small.
Cana, Mira, Mystogan, and Riku—all four had a possibility.
At this moment, except for Mystogan, the selected few were sitting at a table.
"Cana, who are you going to choose as your partner?"
Lisanna asked Cana curiously.
Cana shook her head: "I haven't decided yet. What about you, Mira?"
If Riku hadn't obtained a spot, she would have tried to get Riku as her partner without hesitation. Even exposing her identity would be fine, as that would greatly increase her probability of promoting to an S-Class mage.
But Riku was now also one of the competitors. She needed to understand the opponents' situations before carefully considering her choice of partner.
"Of course, I choose my brother, Elfman."
Mira patted Elfman on the shoulder. This choice was not unexpected. Since joining the guild, Mira had always been doing missions with her brother and sister, and their cooperation was more tacit.
Choosing a partner would definitely be from her siblings.
"I will definitely help Big Sister promote to S-Class mage!"
Elfman said with a serious face.
"What about brother-in-law?"
Lisanna looked at Riku. Since Riku and Mira got together, Lisanna changed her address to call Riku brother-in-law, and Elfman followed suit calling Riku brother-in-law as well.
As for Riku and Mira dating, that big-mouthed uncle Gildarts had long spread it so the whole guild knew.
Mira glared at Lisanna, her face slightly hot.
Although everyone in the guild knew they were dating, it was too early for Lisanna to call him brother-in-law; after all, they weren't married yet.
Riku, on the other hand, was very satisfied with this little sister-in-law Lisanna; hearing "brother-in-law" felt very comfortable.
"Me? ..."
Riku didn't expect to get a spot, so naturally, he hadn't considered the issue of a partner. Just then, Riku saw Happy eating fish on the table, and his eyes lit up.
"I choose Happy!"
"Eh————?!"