The reason for Elion sending a message was because Viron apparently wanted to talk with me. I was supposed to come by earlier—but that was like three or five days ago. I had been way too busy with training as well as the shop that I often forgot about dropping by the mistresses' house. That, or I felt too tired to.

After classes ended for the day, I went out to the camp to find Elion, and was invited by its residents to join for dinner. I had to refuse since I already ate, but I was a little reluctant because it would seem Elion and Viron still had to eat.

"Evy, you're here." Elion came over with a smile.

I nodded with a smile. "You're going to eat, right? I'm sorry to disturb you."

"Come join us for dinner?"

"No, thank you. I actually just ate. I dropped by because you sent me a message, but I can't stay long because there are a few things I have to go over for the exams."

The finals decided whether we could continue with training or be expelled. Therefore, I really could not neglect this affair.

I looked to the side and found that Viron's eyes had found their way over. Seeing me, he dropped what he was doing—chopping vegetables—and went over to me in a fluster. He nearly tripped over the pots stacked on the ground by his feet, but managed to find his balance in time and jogged over to where we stood.

"You're Miss Evyionne, right? I'm so sorry for troubling you," he said.

"It's alright. I wasn't helping you entirely for free," I told him. "To be honest, I actually need your help with something, so you don't need to be so grateful."

"No...It was a lot of money you had to pay," he replied. "I was very desperate to earn something that I nearly killed myself in the process. Elion has already explained to me what you sought me out for. I'm willing to promise my service to you for life...if you can please help me with finding my little brother."

"You don't have to be so stiff," I said with a reassuring smile. "I'll naturally pay you for your services, and the money spent towards the contract bought off of that merchant from the docks will be deducted from your salary. As for your little brother..." I cast a look about and lowered my voice. "I heard from my mistresses that the situation may not be too easy for me to solve, either. However, we already talked, and they told me they will prepare to seek out information on where he is. I can't go out right now since I'm too busy, but you can rest assured we will help you thoroughly and get him back soon."

"Thank you...I've already talked with Lady Veronika as well. She did say the same thing. However, she mentioned that I ought to thank you instead, because she would have not taken the initiative to help me if you hadn't."

"You're welcome," I said. "Well, then...I'm still tied up for the next three days. Elion should know what kind of job you ought to do, so I'll leave it to him to give you a look around, and then we'll meet to talk over the specificities of how you'll be working for River End. Will that be okay?"

"Yes. Yes, of course."

"Then I'll leave you because I have to rush back."

They both nodded, and I nodded back.

I then turned around and left to leave, and was followed by greetings of good night and goodbye all around as I left. I could also vaguely hear Viron telling Elion, "It's really no wonder our people like her so much."

"Didn't you know?" Elion replied with a smile. "The matriarch mentioned she might be Astorian royalty."

"She—what?!"

"Shh. It's a badly kept secret, but don't doubt and ask too much."

Oh...so it's a badly kept secret, isn't it? Although my relationship with the Nemerian Duchy was still not confirmed, I already knew for a fact that my family might not be so ordinary. With my earliest memories of this world involved around the reverence of vassals towards my father as well as the eight-legged spider emblem scattered around the mansion.

A part of me really wished I could've spent more time with my biological parents, but circumstances didn't allow it.

No matter. Once I settle matters here in Erindal, the first thing I would do was seek them out and see if they were still alive.

Were they looking for me, too?

-*-

The final part of the exam was a team assessment, and as first years, we would be grouped together to achieve a goal set by an overseeing monk. We would not be told of the contents of this exercise until we were actually in the arena ourselves, but it would most definitely be a test of coordination and teamwork.

Thankfully, they didn't ask us to group together with people we didn't know yet. I really wouldn't say we were close, but our year's disciples were at least acquainted with a somewhat good relationship. There was the occasional friction, but nothing too serious.

"I just talked with the seniors regarding the task," said Erlan. "Apparently, it'll be best if we set positions for the group beforehand and agree on who's going to do what. Rather than argue an hour before."

I did not look up from the notebook I was writing on and simply nodded.

"I elect Evy to be leader," Erlan suddenly said.

I paused and looked up with my brows raised. We were all sitting around the lunch table. Rarely were we in the same place, but there we were—Maun, Erlan, Miles, Arondite, and me.

I looked around for any signs of disagreement. There was none.

"Why me, exactly?" I asked.

"I think you have a good assessment of everybody's strengths and weaknesses, and you're very mature and observant," Erlan said.

Maun nodded and shook his hands to cheer.

Miles shrugged.

Arondite was silent, slicing through his chicken elegantly.

"Is this unanimous?"

"I think in this case, silence means yes," Miles said.

"I don't think silence means consent," I replied. "Should there be any disagreements later on, someone will say 'I never said yes, I just went with what everybody wanted,' so if you are opposed to me taking up this job, you ought to say it now so that I won't be blamed later."

They exchanged glances.

"I agree," Arondite said first.

"I agree," Miles said.

"I agree," Erlan followed.

Maun could not speak, but he signed, "Agree! Agree! Agree!"

"Well, you all agreed, then that's fine. What other positions should be decided beforehand?" I asked.

"The main attacker, main defense. Also a deputy leader," Erlan said.

"For the deputy, Aron's the first thing that comes to mind," I said. "But then if you allocate him that position, we're going to have some trouble with the main attack and defense positions."

"What about Maun?"

"Maun's suitable for both," I said. "But if I were to be asked, I'd rather have him in defense. He may be a tad willful," I said as I messed his hair, "but he knows how to lookout for others, and he has high agility, so he's capable of moving around very quick. He covers all the bases. On the other hand, Aron's a specialized sword. He is a sharp blade—not very suitable for defense though."

"What about me and Miles?" Erlan asked.

"You're suitable for mid-ranged combat. Your ability is flexible, and you work best when you're a considerable distance away from the enemy. You've been debating between a sword or a spear, but I think the spear's most suitable for your type."

"You said exactly what master told me," he said.

"As for Miles..." I looked at him for a while.

"You are not fair!" he asked huffingly.

"How am I not fair?"

"You're just not fair!"

I don't really know what this boy's going on about.

"Whatever you're worried about, it's not that I don't think you're good. As a matter of fact, you're very useful," I said. "You make a good assassin."

Miles puffed out his chest proudly. "I thought so."

Ah, kids. So easy to upset, so easy to please.

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes and sigh, then proceeded with the assignments. "Anyway, there's no particular reason why Aron—"

"Don't call me that."

I ignored him, "—can't have two positions all at once if he can manage it, but Erlan can also take up the deputy position pretty well."

"Really? Me?"

"You're a little annoying, but you do have some management skills, considering where you come from. And you're a people's person—Arondite's not."

Thankfully, Arondite's not an asshole—well, maybe a little bit. A little condescending, though.

"You can all vote who you want for the position, but that's just my thought. But I prefer we settle the matter with Maun first. Once he's placed, we can move on to the next problem. But if we put him as main offense, our defense may be lacking."

"I think defense for Maun is great. So, where will Maun be?"

"I want defense!" Maun said. "I want to protect you, Evy. Like you protected me!"

I looked at him questioningly. It seemed I failed to take into account how they could also decide for themselves.

I smiled. "Maun says he wants to be in defense," I said.

"I have no complains," Erlan said.

"Same," Miles followed.

"Yes," Arondite said.

"Then, Arondite, what would you feel you're most suitable for?"

"Main attack," he replied.

"Then, Erlan...?"

"I'll be deputy."

"Am I the only one with no designation?" Miles pouted.

"Aren't you the assassin?" Erlan pointed out.

"I want a title!"

I suppressed a sigh. "Then you'll be...the libero," I said thoughtlessly.

"What's that?"

"Someone who's flexible enough to take on any positions," I told him. "Fill in any hole in the team there may be. You're actually the cleanest slate among everyone here. You can grow into any position you want."

"Really?" he asked, eyes shining.

"That's right!"

"Yes! I'm the libero!"

Maun looked at me. "Does that even exist?" he signed to me.

"I guess. In another world," I signed back.

Looking over this team, I felt a little hopeful this exam could be passed with flying colors. We didn't lack synergy, but I suppose I would be babysitting to some extent tomorrow. Maun and Erenol were usually a handful, so I was not quite sure whether these guys would be the same.

Having to handle teenagers was usually a lot harder than much younger kids...and it wasn't like I could talk to them from an adult's standpoint, considering I was supposed to be their age.

Maun tapped on my shoulder. "Is there a problem, Evy? You're no longer finishing your food?"

"Nah. Just a lot of thought in my head," I signed while speaking. "Mostly about tomorrow's events." I picked up my fork once more and nodded towards Erlan. "Erlan, do you have any information on the past exams? The more the better. I'd like to go through them to see if I can spot any similarities. Might help and inform how we'll react for tomorrow."

"No problem," he said. "I'll be meeting some seniors. Do you want to come with?"

"Isn't it exam week? Won't they be bothered?"

"They often finish earlier than the first years," Erlan said. "It's alright."

"That's good. We'll go together later, then."

"Can I come with?" Maun asked.

I looked at him for a while. I was going to tell him to be quiet...but then again...wouldn't that be unnecessary? Knowing this kid, he would most likely just sit on one side and begin carving, drowning out the rest of the world.

"Okay," I said.