Lernen led Frieren and Sein through the winding corridors of the tower. The halls were quiet, the walls lined with portraits of mages who had long since turned to dust, their eyes staring out from faded canvases. The floors were polished stone, smooth and cool beneath their feet, and the air was still and heavy, as if the tower itself was holding its breath.
They stopped before a large door, ornate and carved with symbols that Sein did not recognize. Lernen pushed it open, and they stepped inside.
The hall was vast, larger than Sein had expected, with a high ceiling that seemed to disappear into shadows. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with grimoires and scrolls and artifacts that glowed with a faint, steady light. A large window dominated the far wall, showing a view of the city below, the streets and roofs and towers spread out like a map.
But Serie was nowhere to be seen.
Frieren stood in the center of the hall, her hands clasped behind her back, her expression calm. Sein stood beside her, his cigarette extinguished, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of the legendary mage.
Then they heard someone speaking. "I was not expecting a request from you of all people, Frieren."
They looked up. Serie was floating above them, a grimoire in her hand, her robes flowing around her like water. She moved gracefully, placing the book on a high shelf, then descended to the floor, her feet touching the ground without a sound.
She was smaller than Sein had imagined. Her orange hair was long, calm and her eyes were sharp and deep, the eyes of someone who had seen everything and forgotten nothing. Her attire was plain, unadorned, but the power that radiated from her was unmistakable.
"It has been a while, Serie," Frieren said.
Serie tilted her head, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "A few centuries, maybe. Time passes differently for us, does it not?"
Frieren nodded. "This was an urgent matter. The demon is dangerous."
Serie's smile widened. "Did not seem all that dangerous to me."
"It killed Rivale," Frieren said. "Apparently."
Serie shrugged. "Could be a lie. Demons are known for their deception."
Frieren's voice was steady, insistent. "It inflicted wounds that could not be healed. Wounds that resisted all attempts at treatment, even divine magic."
Serie's expression shifted, just slightly. Her eyes narrowed, and she studied Frieren with a new intensity. "Hmm. So what do you want again?"
Frieren met her gaze. "If you have not killed it already, I would like to take the demon. I have questions. I need answers."
Serie stared at her for a long moment. Then she scoffed, a short, sharp sound. "Such arrogance. You dare to show your face after so many years and demand things? You left without a word. You refused my teachings. And now you come back, expecting me to hand over a demon like it is nothing?"
Frieren's expression did not change. "It is not intentional. The stakes are big. The demon's actions, its abilities, its origins, they could have implications that affect all of us."
Serie's eyes gleamed. "What makes you think I would do such a thing for you without you paying a price?"
Frieren paused. Her voice was quiet, measured. "Name your price."
Serie grinned. The expression was not warm. It was the grin of someone who had just found a way to turn a situation to their advantage. "Pass the exams," she said. "And the demoness is yours."
Frieren's eyes narrowed. "Fair enough. Though I will not become your student."
Serie waved her hand dismissively. "As if. The only rule for you is that you cannot kill your fellow participants."
Frieren stared at her for three seconds. "I accept."
Then Serie turned to Lernen. "Take her."
Lernen bowed, his expression unreadable. He gestured toward the door. "This way."
Frieren and Sein followed him out of the hall, their steps echoing in the silence. Sein glanced back over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of Serie as she settled onto her throne, her smile still in place, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
The door closed behind them.
Sein let out a breath he did not know he had been holding. "That was intense," he said.
Frieren did not respond. She walked beside Lernen, her face calm, her thoughts hidden.
Sein shook his head and followed. "I feel something bad is about to happen,"
Behind them, Serie sat on her throne, smug and content. The pieces were in place. The game had begun. And she was looking forward to seeing how it would end.
───✧───
Frieren arrived at the hall where the examinees were gathered. The room was vast, its ceiling high and arched, its walls lined with banners bearing the insignia of the Continental Magic Association. The floor was polished stone, reflecting the light of the chandeliers that hung above. The air was thick with anticipation, the kind of tension that came from a room full of people who were all competing for the same prize.
The exam group included many different kinds of people who showed their various backgrounds and magical styles. One older tester looked like a serious politician, with a neat gray mustache and beard, clean robes, and straight posture. A dangerous young woman stood out with side-swept green hair, a sharp look, and a black dress with many straps made for easy movement. A very studious young man wore round glasses and neat brown hair, reading a book closely while tracing the words with his fingers. A northern soldier with battle scars wore a heavy winter coat with fur and messy dark hair, his face showing old injuries. A tall, adult woman with long, braided purple hair stood near a young pair made up of an energetic girl with bright orange pigtails and her partner, who had smooth, pale blue hair.A serious scholar in dark robes was easy to see because of the single glass lens over his left eye and his cold, calculating look. A young, fast fighter had two hair buns and bright, traditional southern robes. The rest of the applicants included a girl with short reddish-brown hair and neat robes, a young man with spiky dark hair, and a small boy holding a very large staff. A few extra people blended into the crowd wearing standard imperial traveling cloaks.
Frieren's eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar face. She spotted Übel leaning against a wall, her green hair bright against the stone, her expression relaxed, almost bored. Übel was Linie's traveling partner, the one who had accompanied the demon on her journey through the north.
Frieren walked toward her, her steps measured, her face calm. The crowd parted around her, sensing something in her presence that made them step aside.
Übel looked up as Frieren approached. A smile spread across her face, slow and knowing. "It is you," she said.
Frieren stopped in front of her. "Were you not aware that Linie was a demon?"
Übel's smile did not waver. "You mean Subaru? Hm, of course I knew from the start."
Frieren's eyes narrowed. "Then why did you help it?"
Übel tapped her chin, as if considering the question. "She is interesting."
"Did it not occur to you that it might be fooling you?"
Übel laughed. It was a short laugh, the kind of laugh that was more about showing teeth than expressing amusement. "I could kill her anytime." She paused, her gaze shifting. "Hm. Why are you asking me about Subaru?"
Before Frieren could respond, a voice cut through the noise of the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen."
The room fell silent. A man stepped forward, his presence commanding, his voice carrying easily across the hall. He was tall, with sharp features and a stern expression. His robes were dark, his staff polished, and his eyes swept across the assembled examinees with the practiced ease of someone who had done this many times before.
"I am Genau, your proctor for the first phase," he announced. "Your mission will be retrieving a bird in three days from a sealed forest. Those who do not have a bird by the end of three days will fail."
A murmur ran through the crowd. Some examinees looked confident, others nervous.
"There will be teams of three each, based on the colors of papers you randomly pick," Genau continued. "The rules are simple. You can do everything aside from murder."
He paused, letting the words sink in. Then he reached into a bag and pulled out a handful of colored papers.
"Before you pick papers," he said, "this year, we have a peculiar addition."
Someone began to step down from the shadows as he spoke. The figure moved slowly, deliberately, her footsteps echoing in the silence.
"Demons are never allowed in human territory to participate in our events," Genau said. "However, with direct order from Serie, we are making an exception."
Frieren's eyes went wide as she saw the figure step out. Subaru. The demon. She was not wearing her turban. Her horns were visible, two curved points rising from her hair, catching the light of the chandeliers. Her dress was simple, dark, and her expression was nervous, unsure.
Übel grinned. She noted that Subaru did not have her turban and was showing her horns. Wirbel smiled, amused. Denken narrowed his eyes. Richter summoned his staff, the wood appearing in his hand with a soft hum. Kanne and Lawine were shocked, their mouths hanging open. Ehre stepped back, her hand reaching for her weapon. Laufen's eyes widened, and she took a step away from the demon. Land tilted his glasses, his expression unreadable.
"No demon has ever participated in a mage exam," Genau finished. "We have one…"
Frieren's hand shot up, summoning her staff. Her fingers curled around it, and mana gathered in the tip, bright and cold. The air around her crackled with energy, and the examinees near her stepped back, their eyes wide.
The beam of light shot forward, fast and precise, aimed directly at the demon's heart.
"Zoltraak,"