Calcination

Scarlett had always harbored a few misconceptions about Cecia's capabilities.

After all, who could have guessed that someone who had taken leave from school for months would possess such a level of magical control?

Her senior had clearly been herding sheep the entire time she was away! Where could she have possibly found the opportunity to practice?

Leaning heavily on her ice sword, she panted in large, deep breaths, recalling the firefly-like sparks that had covered the entire field moments ago. Even the tiny area ignited by the sliver of fire element Cecia had manipulated under the setting sun had possessed formidable power.

If all of them were to ignite at once—Scarlett swallowed hard—it would be like a sun exploding.

Still, that was under the condition that she had restricted herself to only three spells, not to mention that she hadn't used her highest-level skill. If she fought with everything she had, she wouldn't necessarily lose.

Scarlett quietly tallied the odds in her head.

“Senior, is your Fireball already at LV4?” Scarlett asked curiously. “Why does it feel like you've gained a specialization in it?”

“No, it's still at LV2,” Cecia explained patiently, helping Scarlett up as she slumped on the ground. “However, through a stroke of luck, I gained Fire Element Affinity, which allows me to do things ordinary mages cannot.”

“Is it really alright to tell me something like that?”

A mage's natural talent was an exceptionally vital secret. Revealing it carelessly could draw the eyes of malicious individuals and turn one into a sacrifice to the gods.

This was especially true for someone without a powerful family background, like Cecia.

“Of course! After all, we're friends, aren't we?”

Cecia understood that true secrets were best shielded by partial truths, just as the most effective lie was one laced with a thread of genuine fact.

After all, her system was her real trump card.

“Senior really is impressive. If it's you, passing the assessment in eighteen days will definitely be no problem.”

“Hahaha, thank you, Scarlett.”

Following that battle, Scarlett gained new insights—insights that were undeniably precious.

Her previous, one-sided battles could never draw out her latent magical potential. Mages, after all, always needed a touch of mental stimulation to achieve breakthroughs.

Today's spar had benefited Scarlett immensely.

Such an experience was something no amount of precious magic potions could provide.

Supporting each other, the two girls staggered falteringly out of the academy gates.

Cecia escorted Scarlett to her carriage.

Scarlett patted the seat beside her. “Senior, aren't you coming with me?”

Cecia smiled and shook her head. “No, thanks. I still have to head to my part-time job, so it's not on the way. See you tomorrow!”

Scarlett's expression shifted slightly at her response, but in the end, she respected Cecia's choice. “Alright. We're going to school together tomorrow, so don't stand me up.”

“Mm-hmm, definitely,” Cecia promised.

Watching the Roland family carriage vanish into the distance, Cecia hummed a light tune as she set off toward her workplace.

The reason was simple.

【Fireball gained 250 EXP】

【Fireball LV2: 280/500】

Gaining this much EXP from less than half an hour of combat meant that in eighteen days, Cecia's assessment would be an absolute breeze.

Heh-heh.

With that in mind, Cecia walked briskly and cheerfully toward her workstation.

Raven was absent today, so his apprentice was there to guide Cecia instead.

She was a sturdy Rank One warrior and Rank One blacksmith wearing overalls, combat boots, and a simple work tank top.

Right off the bat, the burly Hilna gave Cecia a big hug—a welcoming gesture for a new coworker.

“Whoa! I heard that old guy Raven say I'd be getting a new coworker, but I didn't expect such a cute little girl!”

Hilna's broad chest smothered Cecia so tightly she couldn't speak, while Hilna kept ruffling Cecia's soft, silver-gray hair as she hugged her.

“Let me introduce myself—I'm Hilna, that old man's apprentice. I'm a Rank One warrior and Rank One blacksmith. If you run into any trouble or need help, just come find me!”

“Got it, Sister Hilna,” Cecia mumbled indistinctly.

She really was way too well-endowed.

“C-Can you let go now? I... I can barely breathe...”

“Oh, oh, right! My bad!”

Hilna sheepishly scratched her dark hair, flashing a grin of bright white teeth.

Then, as if changing the subject, Hilna briefly explained the tasks.

Just like yesterday, forge five daggers—no enchantment required, as long as they possessed the “Bloodless Blade” trait.

“On top of that, you need to forge a piece entirely on your own. The requirement is simple: craft it from start to finish yourself, and independently complete its enchantment.”

“What kind of item?”

“Anything goes, as long as it's something you completed yourself. A soup spoon, an iron pot—doesn't matter as long as you finish and enchant it.”

Cecia was in no rush; she decided to warm up with the five daggers first.

Seeing Cecia get to work, Hilna stopped disturbing her and moved aside to complete her own tasks.

By the time all five daggers were finished, Cecia wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Then she nodded in satisfaction.

【Forging EXP +150】

【Forging level increased: LV1 → LV2】

【Forging LV2: 100/500】

Next up was crafting a proper magical item.

Following Hilna's instructions, Cecia rummaged through the scrap pile for two pieces of metal and prepared to forge.

What should she make?

Maybe a scimitar?

In her past life, whenever Cecia watched television shows, she always thought Damascus scimitars looked exceptionally cool.

That was true tempering through a thousand hammer strikes—layering hundreds of folds to create magnificent patterns.

They looked almost like patterns of starlight.

Unfortunately, Cecia's skill hadn't reached that level yet.

She would just forge an ordinary Kukri knife for practice.

Walking over to the scrap heap, she squatted down to select her materials. Cecia understood that not all scraps were created equal.

It was meteoric iron Raven had used for forging last month, and a substantial amount of starlight mana still lingered within it.

Smelting it would be extraordinarily difficult.

“Miss Cecia, are you sure you want to use that piece of material?” Hilna asked.

“I feel like this material is very fitting...”

Hilna refrained from stopping her; letting the young girl suffer a minor setback would help temper her sharp edges.

Forging meteoric iron was exceptionally challenging, placing hefty demands on the smith—demanding strict control over the flame, sharp awareness of the heat, and powerful mental fortitude.

Clang, clang, clang. Cecia's movements grew increasingly fluid, her hammer striking down rhythmically.

She had already learned forging techniques such as utilizing momentum, while her LV3 Meditation mental power made her hammer strikes all the more precise.

Hilna had long since finished her own work and began watching Cecia forge.

Truth be told, Hilna was genuinely curious to see what this twelve-year-old girl could craft.

The bellows roared with intense heat. Cecia's heat control was remarkable; without needing precise instruments, she could gauge the temperature simply by extending her hand toward the flame.

Forging, continuously channeling mental power, communing, connecting—all executed in one fluid motion.