01x18 - First-Class Mage Exam

[bunniefuu]

[STARK] So that's Auberst,

the largest magical city in the Northern Lands.

[FRIEREN] We still have a long way to go.

Let's hope we can hitch a ride on a carriage.

♪

So, we'll stay there until you can get your

first-class mage certification,

then enter the Northern Plateau.

I don't think there's any particular reason

I have to be the one to get certified.

I won't be able to use it for long, anyway.

[FRIEREN] You should take the test, Fern.

You really don't know this stuff, do you?

[FERN] Not just anyone can pass.

Of all the skilled mages out there,

only a fraction have ever reached the rank

of first class.

I certainly couldn't do it.

Ah.

Interesting.

You don't sound interested.

[STARK] I should've asked sooner,

but why do we need to be accompanied

by a crazy-powerful mage to enter the Northern Plateau?

[FRIEREN] To increase the chances of survival.

That area has long been home to many cunning,

magic-using monsters like the Einsam.

There was as time when you wouldn't have dreamed

of crossing it without both a skilled mage and a priest.

The travel restrictions they have in place suggest

that danger is on the rise again in the region.

Something fairly serious must be happening

out on the Plateau.

We can find out more about the exam

once we arrive in the city.

But according to Fern, there will be a combat element.

I should contemplate strategies.

Surely you'll be fine, though.

With power like yours, any test should be a breeze.

Even when you are suppressing it,

your mana is still that of an experienced old mage.

I'll thank you not to call me an old mage.

Aw, and now she's sulking.

You couldn't have found some other way

to describe her than that?

Fine, I apologize.

It's better than calling me an old hag,

like someone else once did.

[STARK] How long ago was that?

[FRIEREN] Forget it, nap time.

Wake me up when we get to Auberst.

Sheesh.

Never mind.

Why? Is something wrong?

[FRIEREN] My view of the sky was partially obscured.

[STARK] What?

Just so you know, Fern, mana is far from the only thing

that determines a mage's strength.

[FRIEREN] Technique and experience,

the spells they use, their control.

Never mind tenacity and effort.

Some of those sound more like warrior traits.

[FRIEREN] Finally, there's talent.

All of these factors come into play.

In my life, I've lost eleven times to mages

who had less mana than I did.

Four of those times were to demons.

[FERN] Including Qual, years ago.

One loss was to an elf like me,

and the remaining six were to humans.

I should have eyes on the graf's city

before much longer.

[UBEL] The road to Auberst hasn't been an easy one.

Guess I'll take a little break.

[MALE BANDIT A] That's an awfully nice staff

you've got there.

Oh, what's this?

Yet another group of filthy bandits?

[UBEL] You'd think things would be peaceful

now that Aura's been defeated.

Instead, we just get a different kind of trouble.

Save your speeches, lady, just hand over the goods and...

[grunts]

♪

You bastard!

[grunts]

[grunts]

♪

If you value your lives, then I suggest you leave.

[groans]

Let's get out of here.

[sighs]

[UBEL] My hero, thanks for the rescue.

I'm Ubel the Mage, by the way.

And I'm Kraft the Monk.

Nice ears, you must be an elf.

I've never met one of your kind before.

You have the flat eyes of a k*ller.

Rescuing you wasn't my goal here.

[KRAFT] I found the torn-up bodies of bandits

in the woods nearby.

They'd been k*lled by a mage.

One with tremendous skill.

[UBEL] Ah, I see.

So you came to lecture me, then?

No lecture, I'm just an adventurer.

I won't criticize you for defending yourself,

though the cost was high.

[KRAFT] I was simply saving what lives I could.

You're a shrewd old man, how boring.

[KRAFT] Are you on the road to Auberst?

Yeah.

I'm taking the first class mage certification exam.

Interesting, that was Frieren's plan, too.

[KRAFT] She should have some good stories to share

the next time we meet.

[FEMALE CLERK A] The exam will take place in two months.

This will be your last chance for some time,

as it is only administered once every three years.

Also, a fifth-class mage or higher certification

is required to sit the exam.

[FRIEREN] Well, Fern, it's up to you.

Mistress Frieren, I can't do this alone.

Sure you can.

And what happens if I fail?

Are we going to wait three years for the next exam?

We'll either hire ourselves a first-class mage,

or travel by sea.

That would be incredibly expensive, though.

We wouldn't be able to afford snacks anymore.

But I don't have any kind of certification.

Wait...

[FRIEREN] I do have my holy emblem.

Will that work?

[FERN] I still don't get the significance of that antique.

[LERNEN] Excuse me.

Might I take a look at that pendant, please?

♪

[gasps]

[clears throat]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you here for the mage exam?

[both gasp]

[FRIEREN] Looks like I get to take it after all.

I'm surprised there's anyone around

who still knows what this is.

[FERN] He acted like it was something impressive.

[FRIEREN] Well, it's supposed to be.

[HIMMEL] Frieren, you're not part of a magic guild, are you?

The organizations that manage magic

are constantly changing.

[FRIEREN] I can't join a new one every time they do.

Huh.

[FRIEREN] Besides, I have this to identify me.

A genuine holy emblem, impressive, right?

I have no clue what this rusty thing is.

-Heiter? -None at all.

♪

Fine.

[FRIEREN] But this is the only thing that proves I'm a mage,

so if you don't recognize it...

[smiles]

[HIMMEL] Frieren, we may not understand the significance

of that necklace.

But still, we know what you're capable of,

and we know that you're an incredible mage.

Isn't that enough?

[FRIEREN] You'll die so soon, though.

[smiles]

[indistinct chatter]

[FERN] Mistress Frieren.

We may not know what that thing is,

but we do know that you're an incredible mage.

[FRIEREN] Good point, Fern.

[birds chirping]

[FRIEREN] According to the Continental Magic Association,

a person becomes a proper mage

once they have achieved at least a fifth-class ranking.

Why did you get a third-class certification?

It was the one with the soonest available testing date.

Apparently, there are mages

who are at least fifth-class.

If you include apprentices from sixth to ninth class,

there are , mages total.

[FRIEREN] Among them, are first-class.

That exam is held every three years.

Here, at the northern branch in Auberst

and at the headquarters in the holy city of Strahl.

Many years, no one passes the test at all.

Injury and death are expected outcomes.

Sounds moderately challenging.

Either way, there are a lot fewer mages around these days.

[FERN] There used to be more of us?

[FRIEREN] A century ago, when the Demon King's

att*cks intensified, you would almost certainly

encounter at least one mage

while strolling through any given town.

These days, you hardly see them outside of the magic cities.

Oh.

[FRIEREN] There are two months until the exam.

We should spend them training.

♪

[GENAU] Attention, please.

The first-class mage exam will begin momentarily.

This year's test-takers seem rather exceptional.

[FALSCH] There's Wirbel, a second-class mage

and the captain of the Northern Magic Corps.

He's fought against the remnants

of the Demon King's forces for years now.

That crafty looking older gentleman passed

the second-class exam with flying colors.

He became an imperial mage after surviving

a bloody power struggle.

Denken will be one to watch.

And then we have Fern, the youngest mage

to ever receive a third-class certification

with top marks.

Undoubtedly a good egg.

But we have bad eggs, too.

That girl is Ubel.

She's a third-class mage who was disqualified

from the second-class exam two years ago,

when she k*lled the first-class mage who proctored it.

My.

See any other promising faces?

Huh?

[FALSCH] That woman is radiating the mana

of an experienced old mage.

-Know her? -I don't.

Listen closely.

I will now announce the content of your first trial.

[GENAU] You will not be tested on your own, but as a party.

The exam-takers will be split up

into groups of three.

We will now assign your parties.

[FRIEREN] Interesting.

They're engraved with numbers.

Seems I'm in the second party, then.

Imbuing the bracelets with mana allows us

to quickly locate our teammates.

A unique alternative to reading off names.

This should be amusing, to say the least.

These party compositions are far from normal.

You're bound to end up with groups of magical misfits

that can't work together

and struggle to relinquish control.

First impressions are important, here.

I should be careful not to make any waves.

I sense my teammates' bracelets nearby.

[KANNE] Okay, that's enough, already!

Ow, ow, ow!

You're gonna rip them off my head, you jerk!

I'm gonna k*ll you, you hear me?

-I dare you. -Ow! Get off!

[FRIEREN] v*olence has been chosen.

Nice to meet ya.

It's nice to meet you, too.

[birds chirping]

Now that we've reached the testing area,

I will explain your instructions.

[GENAU] This place is home to a small species of bird

known as the Stille.

As you can see, each party has been given one cage.

There are two conditions you must fulfill

to pass this initial test.

The first of which is by sunset tomorrow,

your cage must contain a Stille.

-[KANNE] Get away from me! -[GENAU] The second requirement

is that all party members

are present at that time.

For the most part, you are free to do as you wish,

but if anyone is foolish enough to leave the testing area,

they and their entire party will be failed immediately.

That shouldn't be a problem, considering there's a barrier

around the testing site that not so much

as a speck of dust could get through.

We're stuck, whether we wanna be or not.

You two were listening through your combat.

[GENAU] Ready yourselves, the first test begins now.

Before we do anything, we need to come up with

-a solid plan! -How stupid are you?

A plan won't do us any good if we can't find a bird

-in the first place! -v*olence is the default.

[groans]

Why don't we get moving, and introduce ourselves

while we're at it?

[grunting]

[FRIEREN] Also?

Use rock-paper-scissors to decide

who will carry the cage.

[grunts]

You can call me Frieren. And you are?

Lawine, I am a third-class mage.

I'm Kanne, I'm a third-class mage like she is.

The two of us go way back.

We graduated from the same magic school.

[FRIEREN] Did they happen to teach you anything

about the Stille there?

-[LAWINE] No. -[KANNE] Nuh-uh.

I have a fair bit of knowledge on them,

but I've never seen one in person before.

Let's start by finding a Stille and observing it.

♪

[KANNE] I'm exhausted.

You are so undisciplined.

I think we could all use a break.

Since I feel all right, I'll check things out up ahead.

It's way safer for everyone if we stay together.

Yeah, great idea, if you want to waste all our time.

Lawine, are you strong?

Stronger than her.

You wanna fight, huh?

Are you stronger than me?

[groans]

[LAWINE] I wouldn't want to fight you, no.

[FRIEREN] I see, fine.

Go on, then.

Come back if it starts looking too dangerous.

Right.

And make sure that you watch the skies.

Way ahead of you.

[sighs]

[FRIEREN] I fear the worst for this party.

Wow, Frieren, you're kinda like our teacher.

And you're a super good leader, too.

Your constant fighting has thrust me into the role.

I'd rather not be in charge.

Yeah, I'm sorry.

For whatever reason, we've kinda always been like this.

But real quick, what did you mean by that?

-Why watch the skies? -I meant exactly what I said.

Do you detect mana well?

Uh, why?

[LAWINE] Hey.

[FRIEREN] That was quick.

I came across a Stille.

[FRIEREN] Nicely done, Lawine.

Now watch it closely.

♪

I told you to watch it, not catch it.

It's going to fly away.

[LAWINE] I think not.

That's pretty nice work, Kanne.

Ah, not bad.

But you really should get down before it's too late.

Huh? What for?

♪

-[grunting] -[water splashing]

Stille are incredible little creatures.

At top speed, they move faster than sound itself.

[FRIEREN] Trying to restrain one like that is pointless.

[LAWINE] It was right there, we almost had it.

[KANNE] We were so close.

Capturing one is going to require careful observation.

We'll use the remainder of the day

to learn more about their behavior.

[FRIEREN] Kanne used her magic to control the water

and Lawine used hers to freeze it.

Their timing was perfectly coordinated.

Superb teamwork indeed.

You couldn't achieve something like that overnight.

I was worried for a while there,

but this might actually work.

Let's go find it.

They must like the lake, we should stay here!

[LAWINE] If we waste time on your assumptions,

-we'll lose it! -[FRIEREN] Or maybe not.

The v*olence prevails.

♪

[rain splattering]

[sighs]

Do you guys hear that sound?

Huh?

[KANNE] Where'd Frieren go?

You can barely hear it,

but it sounds like rain, all right.

It's clearly not raining, so?

Oh, I see.

This must mean that we're close to the...

[gasps]

♪

A monster!

[grunts]

My staff.

La... Lawine!

♪

[expl*si*n]

[thudding]

That would be why I told you to watch the skies.

Oh... Right.

Feeling calmer?

Hm.

You called Lawine's name just then.

Yeah.

But you don't like Lawine, do you?

No, I don't.

Clearly.

So, explain to me how the two of you

work so well together.

[FRIEREN] I'm curious.

From time to time, I can be a coward.

In the past, whenever a critical moment

has popped up, I completely freeze.

[KANNE] It happened the very first time

that I had to cast a flying spell.

♪

Thanks to someone's nail biting,

the others are way ahead of us.

You'll have the water beneath you,

so it's not like you'll die.

If you don't have the courage to do it, I could kick you.

I hate your guts, Lawine.

[LAWINE] I'm well aware.

[KANNE] I would be braver if you weren't always

so mean to me.

I'm the kind of person who needs praise

to blossom, you know.

You must be kidding.

This is a prime example of why parents

shouldn't baby their kids like little princesses.

[LAWINE] But if it'll help you fly,

I'll be as nice as you want.

Then tell me my strengths.

If you wanted to k*ll me, you should've done it by now.

[groans]

[LAWINE] Even though you're a complete coward,

you try really hard.

Huh?

You wanted to hear your strength.

Yeah, but...tell me some more.

What? Seriously?

♪

[LAWINE] You work hard even when no one's watching,

and you're always very considerate

of the world around you.

More, please.

[groans]

[LAWINE] I guess that you're cute when you smile.

[KANNE] Huh? Gross.

[screams]

Yikes, close call.

I told you, see?

That wasn't so terrifying, was it?

Now that you can fly, I'm done being nice.

Lawine's rough around the edges,

but she somehow always pulls me along.

She taught me I can do most anything if I go for it,

no matter how scared I might feel inside.

[smiles]

[KANNE] Before you go, Frieren...

Listen...I noticed something that might be handy.

Do you think it could be useful?

Yes, I do, excellent find.

We might be able to capture a Stille, after all.

[LAUFEN] There's something wrong.

[LAWINE] Fine, let's do this.

[RICHTER]They're all amateurs. [FRIEREN]Someone's detected us.

-[UBEL] It's time to spill a little blood. -[KANNE] Shut up.

[DENKEN] This is the second party's well-laid plan.