Karina’s eyes held a slight hint of amusement. “Combat skills?” Karina widened her eyes.

Karina, hearing about learning combat skills, was initially skeptical.

“Is it not too far-fetched? Progressing step by step, by the time I reach an intermediate mage level, I’ll finally learn offensive magic?”

Intermediate mage level seemed too distant, leaving Karina in a state of conflict.

Aresia paused before making a decision. She would slowly consider her options. After all, she was still an apprentice in magic.

“For now, let’s not aim too far. Start by memorizing the Spatial Jump incantation thoroughly before attempting to cast it.”

“I must emphasize, spatial magic is riskier compared to other forms of magic, especially when related to movement. There must be no room for laxity or oversight.”

Human studies on spatial research, even in the most advanced worlds, are still in progress. The inherent dangers remain unknown, and it should never be underestimated.

Karina, intimidated by Aresia’s stern tone, reined in her emotions and replied earnestly, “I understand.”

Spatial magic was undeniably challenging, even when memorizing incantations. It wasn’t an easy task, especially considering Karina’s limited magical aptitude in magical languages.

Until Saturday arrived, Karina struggled with the incantation. The entire spell was divided into five segments, making it challenging to memorize. Even the patient Aresia, who usually supported her, felt a pang of guilt, thinking she might be too slow.

Their study was temporarily halted at Jorgus’s appointed time; they decided to meet at a corner of the training ground.

When they arrived, Jorgus and the others were already there, having started their practice.

On the weekend at the training ground, there were still several Warrior-class individuals exercising. The place was vast enough, and Jorgus had chosen a relatively quiet corner, away from others.

Aresia observed their distant figures to discern their combat professions. One, slightly shorter than Jorgus but bulkier, wielded a heavy sword is likely the Warrior. Another, slender and busy with archery, was an Archer, who doubles as a shield warrior. Standing beside Jorgus, a thin lad was engaged in conversation while casually tossing a dagger—a Scout, likely an assassin.

Jorgus introduced them: Rony was the warrior, Sade the archer, and Vic the assassin.

While Rony and his companions were commoners, their fathers were professionals with some influence and even had noble titles, though inactive.

Joining the Royal Academy wasn’t too shabby for them. Particularly Sade, Aresia noticed slightly pointed ears under his covered head, indicating distant Elvish ancestry. Although nearly faded, it granted him a handsome human appearance, blending both lineages, which was quite uncommon.

The Warrior-class individuals were courteous toward Aresia and Karina, not just due to their noble status but also because of their status in the magic department, especially as one was the chief of the magic department.

Rony and his companions couldn’t believe that their team was about to have two magic users (technically apprentices).

The magic department had an air of arrogance. Even if they lacked combat prowess, their rare magical talents made them hold their heads high. Forming a team with a magic department member wasn’t easy, despite Jorgus being the new chief. The fact that their entire team was made up of commoners was enough for some magic department students to reject.

Students at the Royal Academy, regardless of their department, aimed to expand their network besides studying. This was crucial, especially for the magic department, as it determined their access to resources. Choosing a team was a critical decision, one that needed careful consideration, as it usually lasted from entry to graduation.

A team entirely composed of commoners didn’t seem attractive to others. But, due to Jorgus’s dominance in the Warrior department, others were likely vying to join his team, securing a favorable position.

Jorgus had already invited Aresia before the others, causing Rony and the others to worry that the Duke’s daughter might refuse, demand a replacement, or ask Jorgus to reconsider.

However, if she accepted, it might complicate matters, as they acknowledged Jorgus’s leadership abilities, which were not something to be taken lightly.

Aresia’s attitude was neutral, though not warm, and she didn’t exhibit the typical airs of nobility over commoners, which surprised them.

“I heard the nobles like them look down on the warrior department specially commoners. I also heard that this new chief of first grade chief leader particularly hate to interacts with commoners like us. Will it be hard for us to get along with them?” Rony, seemingly simple but not entirely, asked.

The question was met with a stern look from Jorgus.

Jorgus replied sternly, “Don’t spread rumors. Those claims are false.”

It’s tough not to hear those kinds of rumors, and Jorgus, well, he doesn’t seem to have an ounce of it. At the banquet, he clearly understood the absurdity of school gossip and completely disregarded it.

The rumors had spun around Aresia’s interactions with people. Jorgus was aware that it was just normal conversation, blown out of proportion by others.

“Let’s drop this conversation.”

The group glanced at Aresia. While she stood beside the tree shade, chatting casually with her companion, she seemed like an elegant noble lady, yet her simplicity stood out, making it hard to ignore.

“Comparatively, the other noble ladies seem different, right? It’s not about her attitude; it’s more like, if you pay attention, don’t you feel an intimidating aura from her?” Sade, with a trace of Elven lineage, couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was different. However, apart from his archery talent, his keen intuition was notable.

He sensed something others didn’t. The seemingly slender figure emitted an indescribable aura.

“Isn’t this the feeling of an elite among elites? Does Jorgus have this vibe? It’s kind of terrifying.” Vic mused curiously.

Sade hesitated; he wasn’t entirely sure what was different, closing in on silence.

Jorgus interrupted their chatter, “Focus. Miss Aresia are assessing our combat abilities. If we perform poorly, they might change their mind.”

The trio immediately straightened up. Despite being entry-level magic deparment members, Aresia is prominent magic spells like Fireball and Water Sphere. Aresia had even reached a level close to passing the Junior Mage assessment. Such a person, even if lacking combat skills, was an invaluable team member.

However, they weren’t just street-smart; in the Royal Academy, having connections mattered. Hence, when Jorgus extended the invitation, it wasn’t just about acknowledgment of her position as chief but also a way to expand their connections.

Unfortunately, not all nobles took it lightly. Some nobles tried to disrupt Jorgus’s decision or requested Aresia’s withdrawal, but Jorgus wasn’t someone to yield easily. He had already considered his team members carefully and was not open to changing them. He even sought help from other senior chiefs, all to make the right choices.

Consequently, Vic and the others treasured this opportunity. They wouldn’t let Aresia change her mind due to their poor performance. They didn’t want to disappoint Jorgus, who put his trust in them.