Chapter 8 : Team up

Via stood in the campus corridor, staring at the portraits of outstanding alumni on the wall.

Among the many human heroes, her gaze fixed on the Silver Sword Princess Serena’s face.

Looking at that cold, beautiful countenance, she felt inexplicably furious, thinking this person didn’t deserve such reverence.

She even felt an impulse to take down the frame, smash it on the ground, and stomp on it repeatedly.

As her hand reached out, she suddenly snapped back, pulling it away.

“What am I thinking?!”

She glanced around—thankfully, no one noticed, or it would be impossible to explain.

The pink-haired girl quickly fled the corridor, turning a corner and nearly colliding with someone.

“Via, watch yourself! Don’t run wildly in the halls!”

Professor Anima, seeing it was her, reminded irritably.

“Sorry, Professor Anima.”

Via shrank her head.

Some time had passed since vacation ended and school resumed; the assessment loomed.

“Via, most students have submitted their team lists for the assessment. When will you submit yours?” Anima asked.

At Avalon Academy, besides monthly regular exams, there were two major assessments yearly—midyear and year-end—affecting direct grades.

Poor assessment scores led to expulsion; not every student graduated smoothly.

The intense elimination and certain death risk meant every graduate was highly sought by various forces.

As the cradle of heroes producing powerhouses, assessments involved real combat.

This one required teams of up to three, teleported to beast-infested dangerous zones under school rules, to complete tasks and survive.

“Uh… about that…” Via stammered.

“You haven’t found a team yet?”

“…Yes.”

Via was helpless.

Normally, teams balanced frontliner, damage, and support.

Some went triple frontliner for brute force.

Rarely, but most preferred a priestess nun with healing and purification for complex combat.

But a nun like Via, unable even to cast basic healing? No one wanted her.

“If no one teams up, the academy will automatically assign unteamed students.”

Leaving that, Anima departed.

History repeating seemed inevitable.

Random assignment, teammate disdain, assessment failure, bottom scores…

Thinking of parting with her sister afterward, Via felt suffocated—she needed a plan.

“Um… excuse me, do your assessment teams still need members?”

“Teaming up?”

Two Avalon students discussing teams heard the timid inquiry, turned together, and saw the hesitant Via.

They did lack one member, seeking support, but after exchanging glances, both understood the other’s thought.

One politely responded.

“Sorry, Via, our team is full. We don’t need anyone else.”

“Oh, okay.”

Via smiled awkwardly—she had clearly overheard their discussion.

But after mustering courage for nearly half an hour only to fail, her ears burned; she fled in embarrassment.

Night.

Exhausted Via returned to the dorm. In the living room, Mary in pajamas sat cross-legged on the sofa, reading study notes under a small lamp.

“Mary, I thought you were asleep.” Via greeted proactively.

“Almost,” Mary lowered her legs. “You’re late—past curfew.”

“I was… wandering.”

Via brushed it off.

She was embarrassed to admit repeated rejections.

“Via, found assessment teammates?” Mary asked casually.

“No.”

Via assumed Mary had long found hers.

Unlike Via, Mary had good relations and decent grades; finding a solid team was easy.

“I haven’t found one either.” Mary replied.

“No way?” Via was surprised. “Mary, you’re Bronze rank, right?”

In the first strength tier, ranks were Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond.

Bronze was Avalon’s entry requirement.

Mary was late Bronze, close to Silver—joining a Silver team was no issue.

As for Via…

Not Bronze—strictly, below it, Iron rank.

Without the Holy Land, she couldn’t even enter.

“A while ago, I argued with some people. Don’t want to team with them this assessment.” Mary answered nonchalantly.

“Now that you mention it…”

Via recalled Mary quarreling with others days ago.

“So, Via, want to team with me?” Mary closed her notes.

“Me?” Via thought she misheard.

“Yeah.”

“But I can’t do anything. As a nun, I can’t even use healing.”

“I know that, of course.”

“Then why choose me…”

“Actually, I met Lady Sylvia once.” Mary named someone that shocked Via.

“Mother?!”

“Long ago. Lady Sylvia encouraged me.”

Mary showed a photo with a personal signature—of the universally admired perfect saintess, Sylvia Sheliford.

Speaking of it, her face lit with genuine joy.

“I encountered Lady Sylvia by chance. She didn’t look down on my ordinary background—instead, she approached warmly and encouraged me.”

“So Mary met Mother… You never mentioned it.”

“It’s a precious secret to me. I don’t flaunt it unless necessary. Without that encouragement, I wouldn’t be at Avalon.” Mary gazed at Via. “Via, you really resemble Lady Sylvia. So I want to help—get you at least a passing grade in the assessment, avoid expulsion.”

“I see…”

Via stared at the photo of her mother—the revered red-haired saintess with a near-perfect image, flawless smile…

Her own aura was nothing like Mom’s.

Normally, she’d hate dragging others down.

But this time, no choice—Mary’s kindness was her lifeline. Overthinking and rejecting meant no retreat, not even staying near her sister.

“Okay, Mary, let’s team up!”