His next exam is combat, and he goes to the training hall. He sees Grog, and they greet each other with fist bumps. They are both nervous, but also eager. The teacher explains the exam will be a mock battle of groups against each other for a portion of their grade. Felix's group consists of him, Grog, and two other students in the class. The other group consists of four other students. The teacher divides them, and gives them some time to prepare.
Felix and his group discuss their strategy. They decide that Felix will be the leader and the ranged attacker, Grog will be the tank and the melee fighter, and the other two will be the support and the healer. They agree to communicate and coordinate as much as possible, and to adapt to the situation.
The mock battle begins, and the two groups face each other. The teacher blows a whistle, and they charge. Felix casts a fireball at the enemy healer, trying to take him out quickly. Grog runs ahead and engages the enemy tank, exchanging blows with him. The other two students stay behind Felix, and cast buffs and debuffs. The enemy leader, a smart and sly girl, casts a mirror image spell, creating four copies of herself. She sends them to attack Felix from different angles, while she stays behind and casts more spells.
Felix curses, and tries to figure out which one is the real one. He uses his detect magic spell, and sees that all of them have the same aura. He realizes that she must have cast an illusion spell to mask her presence. He decides to use a different approach, and casts an area of effect spell, a flashbang. He creates a bright and loud explosion that stuns and confuses the copies and the enemy healer. He then casts a magic missile at the leader, hitting her and breaking her concentration. The copies disappear, and she staggers back.
Meanwhile, Grog is having a tough time with the enemy tank, who is using a shield and a sword. The enemy tank is defensive and skilled, blocking and parrying Grog's attacks. Grog decides to use his wilder powers, and summons his spirit claws. He slashes at the enemy tank's shield, breaking it with a powerful blow. He then punches him in the face, knocking him down.
The other two students join the fight, casting healing spells on Grog and Felix, and a slow spell on the enemy leader and healer. Felix sees an opening, and casts a lightning bolt at the enemy healer, causing them to yield. The enemy leader recovers from the flashbang, and tries to cast a fireball at Felix. But Felix is faster, and casts a counterspell, canceling hers. He then casts a telekinetic push, knocking her to the ground. Grog runs over and makes them yield, ending the mock battle.
The teacher blows his whistle again, and announces their victory. He congratulates them, and tells them their strengths and weaknesses. He says they did well, but they could improve their teamwork and communication. They thank him, and shake hands with the other group, who are gracious in defeat.
His third exam is general education, and he goes to the classroom. He finds Luna there, and they sit together. The exam is a written test, covering various subjects such as math, history, literature, and science. Felix finds it boring and tedious, but he tries his best to answer the questions. Some of them are easy, some of them are hard, and some of them are tricky. He struggles with some of the math problems, and some of the history dates. He finishes the exam with some doubts, but also some relief. He hopes he passed, but he's not sure.
His last exam is psionics, and he goes to the psionics building. He enters the exam room, where Eleanor is waiting for him. She smiles at him, and tells him to sit down. She explains that the exam will test his mental abilities, such as telepathy, telekinesis, clairvoyance, and so on. She says she will ask him to perform some tasks, and to also answer some questions.
Felix nods, and begins the exam. Eleanor gives him a deck of cards, and tells him to shuffle them and draw one without looking. He does so, using his telekinesis to manipulate the cards. He draws a card, and shows it to her. It's the queen of hearts. She nods, and tells him to put it back. She then asks him to read her mind, and tell him what she's thinking. He closes his eyes, and focuses on her thoughts. He sees an image of a cat, and tells her so. She smiles, and says he's correct. She then probes his mental shield and finds its good enough to be considered passing.
She then asks him some questions about psionics theory and ethics, and he answers them with confidence and clarity. She seems pleased with his performance, and tells him he's done. She says he did well and has made good extensive progress from when he first entered the class. He thanks her, and leaves the room feeling happy and proud.
Returns home and eats dinner with Nya and Melina. Before doing more of his mana cultivation while Nya grades tests, and makes sure to do it in a different room from Felix. After Nya is done, she gets Felix and they go to bed together. They talk about their day, and how they feel. They kiss and cuddle, and fall asleep in each other's arms.
Felix wakes up on Friday feeling anxious and curious. Today is the day when the exam results will be posted, and he can't wait to see how he did. He hopes he passed all of them, and did well enough to impress Nya, his friends, and his mother. He gets out of bed, and finds Nya already awake and dressed. She smiles at him, and gives him a hug.
"Morning, Felix. How are you feeling?" She asks, her voice soft and caring.
"Morning, Nya. I'm feeling... nervous. I really want to know my grades." He says, his voice shaky and honest.
She kisses his cheek, and says, "Don't worry, I'm sure you did great. You're smart and talented, and you worked hard. You have nothing to be ashamed of." She says, her voice reassuring and loving.
He smiles, and says, "Thanks, Nya. You're the best" He says, his voice grateful and sincere.
They go to the kitchen, where Melina has made breakfast for them. She greets them, and wishes them good luck. They eat quickly, and then head to the academy. The campus is buzzing with students who are also eager to see their results. They go to the main hall, where a large board displays the names of the students and their grades for each exam. Felix and Nya look for his name. They find it, and stare at it.
Felix got a perfect score on his magic exam, a 95% on his combat exam, a 75% on his general education exam, and a 90% on his psionics exam. He feels a mix of emotions: relief, pride, disappointment, and curiosity. He's happy that he aced his magic and psionics exams, and did well on his combat exam. Yet he's also a bit bummed that he didn't do better on his general education exam, but it's not shocking and he knows exactly why. Even with Luna's help it ended up like this, he definitely doesn't want to know how badly it would have gone without her help.
They then go to the administration office, where they can revise their schedules for the next term. Felix talks to the staff, who tells him options based on his grades and interests. Felix is told that he can take an advanced magic course, which will cover more complex and powerful spells, as well as magical theory and research. He is also told that he can drop his general education course, since he has already completed the minimum requirement, or continue with it. He says he absolutely does not want to continue with it, and wants to swap it for an enchanting class. The staff checks the availability, and finds a suitable class for him. He fills out some forms, and gets his new schedule. He's excited about his new classes, and hopes he'll learn a lot from them.
He meets up with Nya again, who wishes him luck in the advanced magic class with a new teacher. She then tells him, "I need to prepare for the next term, but you're free to send the rest of the day how you want. I'll see you at home after I'm done." She says, her voice warm and professional.
He says goodbye to her, and walks around the campus before deciding to go to the adventurer's guild. He hasn't been there for a while, and he wants to see what kind of requests are available, as well as make some money. He enters the guild, and sees Silva there. She waves at him, and walks over to him.
"Hey, Felix. What's up? Did you get your exam results yet?" She asks, her voice cheerful and friendly.
He replies, "Yeah, I did. I got good grades, of course. Well, most of them were great, but I passed everything." Before asking, "Are there any good quests you're looking at?"
She laughs, "Congratulations. I knew you would. And yeah, there's one quest that caught my eye. It's a bit dangerous, but also rewarding. Do you want to check it out with me?"
He shrugs, and says, "Sure, why not? Lead the way." He says, his voice casual and adventurous.
They go to the quest board, where a large paper catches his attention. It reads:
"URGENT REQUEST: The Town of Elvandar is under threat by numerous undead that have risen from the nearby cemetery. They are led by a dangerous necromancer, who has a mysterious artifact that allows him to control them. The town guard is overwhelmed, and requests the aid of brave adventurers to stop the necromancer and destroy the artifact. Reward: 5000 gold coins, plus a bonus of 1000 gold coins if the artifact is confirmed destroyed. Deadline: As soon as possible."
Felix whistles, "Wow, that's a lot of money. If you're sure it's doable, then let's get going." He says with his voice impressed and eager. Silva nods, "Me too. Though we should let the guild clerk know we're taking it."
They go to the clerk, a young woman with glasses and a badge, who registers them for the quest. She gives them a map to Elvandar, and tells them to report to any adventurer’s guild branch when they're done. They thank her, and leave the guild.
Felix and Silva walk out of the adventurer's guild, and Silva stops. She reaches into her pocket, and pulls out a small silver sword. She whispers something to it, and throws it in the air. The sword grows in size, and hovers in front of them. It looks sharp and elegant, with intricate runes engraved on the blade.
Felix looks with excitement and curiosity as he wonders how it grew in size like that..
Silva smiles, "This is my flying sword. It's a qi-infused weapon that can fly and carry me. It's also very useful for travel, and definitely convenient when I can keep it in my pocket when I’m not using it.".
She steps on the sword, and beckons Felix to join her. He hesitates, "Are you sure it's safe? It looks a bit... unstable." She laughs, "Don't worry, it's perfectly stable. I've been using it for years. Just trust me, and hop on."
He sighs, and decides to trust her. He steps on the sword behind her, and holds on to her waist. She giggles, "Hold on tight." She makes the sword rise up, and they fly into the sky. Felix gasps, and feels a surge of adrenaline and fear. He clings to Silva, who seems to be unfazed and enjoying the ride. She steers the sword with her qi, making it turn and soar with grace and speed.
Felix feels his fear gradually replaced by awe and thrill. He looks around, and sees the academy city below him, shrinking as they ascend. He sees the mountains, the forests, the rivers, and even the clouds approaching. He feels the wind in his hair, and the sun on his skin. He feels free, and alive.
"This is amazing! I’ve never flown like this before!" He shouts, his voice loud and ecstatic. Silva laughs, and says, "I told you so. Isn't it great?".
They fly for about an hour, following the map to Elvandar. They chat and joke along the way, getting to know each other better. Silva tells him about her clan, her family, and her hobbies. Felix tells her about his mom, his friends, and his interests. They find out they have some things in common, like their love for adventure, and some things they don't, like their taste in music and food. They enjoy their conversation, and their flight.
Eventually, they see a large town in the distance, surrounded by a wall. It looks old and cozy, with numerous humble houses and several shops. The entrance gate is closed, and guarded by soldiers in armor. They also see smoke rising from some parts of the town, and hear faint screams and clashes. They realize they have arrived at Elvandar, and that the undead are already attacking.
Silva lowers the sword, and lands near the gate. She makes the sword shrink back to its original size, and puts it away. She looks at Felix, "Well, here we are. Ready to thrash some undead?" Felix nods, "Ready as I'll ever be. Let's do this."
They approach the gate, and show their quest paper to the guards. The guards look relieved, and let them in. They tell them that the situation is dire, and that the necromancer is in the town plaza, which is on the other side of the town. They also warn them to be careful, as the undead are everywhere.
Felix and Silva thank them, and run into the town. They see chaos and horror. The streets are littered with corpses, both human and undead. Some of them are walking around, mindlessly attacking anyone they see. Some of them are more intelligent, and armed with weapons. Felix and Silva fight their way through, using their magic and qi to destroy the undead. They also help some civilians who are trapped or injured, and direct them to safety.
They reach the center of the town, where a large plaza is. There, they see a huge mob of undead, led by a man in a black robe. He has a pale face, sunken eyes, and a cruel smile. He holds a staff with a skull on top, and a pendant around his neck. The pendant glows with a dark purple light, and seems to control the undead.
"That must be the necromancer." Felix says with his voice grim and angry. Silva adds, "The amulet that must be the artifact."
They look at each other, and nod. They know what they have to do. They charge at the necromancer, ready to end his menace. The necromancer sees them coming, and sneers. He gestures with his staff, and a wave of undead soldiers rush to intercept them. Felix uses his fire and wind combo to produce a fire vortex which he uses to cut a path through thje undead while keeping more from approaching, and then he runs through the path created before the mob closes in again. Silva follows him, using her qi to move with more speed and agility. She disrupts and destroys undead with her qi strikes as she passes.
They reach the necromancer, who is ready for them. He points his staff at Felix, and shoots a dark beam of energy. Felix dodges it, and counters with a lightning bolt. The necromancer blocks it with his staff, and sends a blast of cold air at him. Felix shivers, and feels his movements slow down. Felix uses fire to counteract the cold right away. He tries to cast a fireball, but the necromancer counters. He summons a swarm of bats from his robe, and sends them to attack Felix. Felix uses his telekinesis to push them away, but they keep coming.
Meanwhile, Silva engages the necromancer in close combat, with her fists and feet glowing with qi. She uses her flowing combat style to circle around him and keep him guessing about which attack angle she’s going to try to hit him from. The necromancer parries some of her attacks with his staff, but others land on his body, causing him to grunt in pain. He retaliates with his own strikes, using his staff as a weapon. He hits her arm, and she feels a sharp sting. She looks, and sees a dark mark on her skin. Felix uses the opportunity to strike while the necromancer is focused on Silva. He casts a force missile at the artifact, trying to destroy it. The necromancer senses it, and blocks it with his staff. The impact makes him stagger, and Silva takes the chance to kick his staff away.
The necromancer growls, and reaches for his pendant. He touches it, and the dark purple light intensifies. The undead in the plaza stop moving, and turn their eyes to Felix and Silva. They start to move towards them, with a new purpose and malice. Felix and Silva realize that the necromancer is using the artifact to take direct control of the undead, and to make them stronger. They also notice that the mark on Silva's arm is spreading, and that she feels weaker.
"We need to destroy that artifact at any cost!" Felix shouts with his voice urgent and desperate. "I'm trying!" Silva replies with her voice strained and pained.
They fight their way back to the necromancer, who is laughing maniacally. He taunts them, and tells them they are fools to challenge him. He says he is the master of death, and that they will join his army soon.
They ignore him, and focus on the pendant. They coordinate their attacks, and manage to land some hits on him. Felix uses his telekinesis to pull the pendant off his neck, while Silva punches him in the face. The pendant flies in the air, and Felix catches it. He feels a surge of dark energy, and hears a voice in his head, tempting him to use its power. He resists, and throws the pendant on the ground. He then uses a stone spike to shatter it. The dark energy dissipates, and the voice goes silent.
The necromancer screams, and falls to his knees. He clutches his chest, and coughs blood. The undead in the plaza collapse, and stop moving. The mark on Silva's arm fades away, and she feels her strength return. She looks at Felix, and smiles.
"You did it, Felix. You saved the town." She says with her voice proud and relieved. He smiles back, "We did it, Silva. We make a good team."
They walk to the necromancer, who is dying. He glares at them, and spits at them. "You may have won this time, but you will regret it. There are greater powers than you can imagine, and they will not be pleased with what you have done." He says with his voice bitter and menacing.
Felix mocks him with his hand doing a blathering gesture, "Blah, blah, blah. 'Greater powers', whatever man. Just shut up and die." The necromancer's eyes widen, and then close. His body goes limp, and he breathes his last. Felix and Silva look at each other, and nod. They have completed their quest, and saved Elvandar. They feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
They leave the plaza, and head to the gate. The guards see them before cheering, and welcoming them as heroes. The citizens also come out of their hiding places, and thank them. They offer them food, drinks, and gifts. Felix and Silva accept their gratitude, but politely decline their offers. They say they just want to turn in the quest and rest. They ask the guards to take them to the guild office, where they can claim their reward.
The guards agree, and escort them to a small building near the wall. Inside, they meet a guild representative, who congratulates them and gives them their money. Which they split evenly. They also give them each a letter of recommendation, and a badge of honor. They tell Felix and Silva they can use the letter of recommendations to get better quests and privileges in the future. Felix and Silva thank them, and put them in their bags.
Silva takes out her flying sword again, and flies them back home. "That was a good quest, don't you think?" She asks with her voice cheerful and relaxed. Felix replies, "Yeah, it was. Though next time, let's not take a quest that involves necromancers next. They give me the creeps."
Silva laughs, "Sure, I'm not a fan either." She then lands them at Felix's house and they go inside. They find Nya there, and greet her. Felix tells her about their quest, and how they succeeded. Nya hugs him, and says she's proud of him. She also thanks Silva for taking care of him. Silva says it was her pleasure. Then while they're chatting, Silva sees some of Nya's things around the house, like her clothes, her books, and her toiletries. She also notices how comfortable and familiar Nya is with Melina, and how they act like a family. She gets curious, but decides directly confronting her about it would be too forward. Especially with how the head of household seems to endorse and support Nya undeniably.
They have dinner together, and then go to bed. Felix and Nya go to his room, while Silva goes home. She flies back to the Silver Claw clan headquarters, and lands in the courtyard. She puts away her sword, and walks to the main estate. She enters the living room, where her family is waiting for her. They greet her, and ask her how her quest went. She tells them about the adventure, and how she and Felix defeated the necromancer and saved the town. They praise her, and say she did well.