***
The third and final day of the First Trial. It started off as a somewhat solemn day, as Mizuki had already collected all the shards they needed 2 days ago. Quite frankly, they were bored.
A good few hours passed by without any activities, and Mirage felt as if she was wasting time doing nothing. She stood up and announced to Mizuki, "Let's spar!"
Mizuki looked up at her as if she was insane. "Seriously? Me? Why not Astrid?"
"Because Astrid is a mage and doesn't use any weapons. You are a swordsman, and i'm a scythe-mage so it's a perfect match!"
"Not really...but okay, if you say so."
He stood up, took a couple stretches before unsheathing his iron sword. Mirage shook her head in discontent.
"No Mizuki, use the other sword, the one with the black scabbard. I know thats the one you usually use."
After a sigh and a sword swap, the battle finally began. Infusing his sword like always, the mana blade appears, blue mist surging off it. In a second, he is surrounded by a dozen clones, with a burst of yellow aura around them. They had already enhanced themselves with strength. Astrid watched in astonishment as Mizuki wiped out half of the doubles in a single slash.
"¿₩§€#¡..."
Mizuki looked Mirage with a twisted expression and for a moment, she was given the unnerving hunch that she was going to die if she didn't move. Mizuki's eyes radiated emptiness and just as she thought, his presence vanished, but reappeared above her. She leaped to cover of the trees before a barrage of purple flames were blasted at her previous position. She sprinted to Mizuki to scold him off.
"Mizuki! What the hell is wrong with you? That could have killed me! Are you crazy?"
His eyes reverted back to normal, speaking back to Mirage.
"....." What? Mizuki opened his mouth to speak again. Nothing came out. He began to panic, slowly verging to the point of madness. Even so, Astrid approached him with tender care.
"What happened? Do you remember?"
The mute shook his head vigorously.
"Hmm...Strange..."
Mirage, who wasn't accepting any of this, bonked his head.
"Oi! I'm still here! Apologise, now!"
Mizuki bowed in sorrow, making her all flustered.
"O-okay, I guess I forgive you.... Just stop bowing..."
***
After an hour of problem solving, the group decided that Mizuki should use a notepad to share his thoughts. Since it took an hour, a large bell was heard and an announcement was made.
It was repeated a few times and in advance, the bell continued to ring.
Following the noise, led them to, as expected, the main entrance of the school, where most students had already gone. They had to go to an examiner to review their heart crystals. The examiner, after looking at the bag, let them go.
"They were presumed to collect 50, not 150!"
Hotaru later appeared: shouting in a valiant way, she said, "Well done to those who have made it through the first trial! As I recall, I said the second trial was a test of mentally. You will be put under a dream spell without any memory, and those to wake up in under 3 hours pass! Simple, right? So let the dreams begin!"
A roar of determination filled the area. They were ready, ready for anything.