1. Attention, please.
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2. The first-class mage exam
will begin momentarily.
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3. You will not be tested
on your own, but as a party.
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4. The 57 exam-takers
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5. will be split up
into groups of three.
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6. There, see.
I knew you could do it.
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7. Yeah, whatever.
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8. Lawine's rough
around the edges,
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9. but she somehow
always pulls me along.
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10. Tomorrow,
we're finally going to fight
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11. our first dragon.
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12. You're shaking, Eisen.
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13. Don't tell me you're scared.
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14. - I am.
- I see.
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15. In that case...
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16. Huh. You are?
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17. Deeply.
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18. I know how you feel.
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19. I'm scared, too.
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20. - Hm.
- How motivational.
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21. My plan was to mimic
other adventurers
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22. and inspire you with a speech.
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23. I'm sorry.
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24. It doesn't seem to have worked.
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25. Don't say that.
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26. I feel far less nervous.
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27. Be yourself. It's you
we've followed, Himmel.
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28. Every party needs
something different.
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29. We would choose
your voice over a script.
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30. Guess you're right.
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31. Heiter was wise.
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32. Every party really
does need something different.
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33. We finally caught a Stille.
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34. Thank goodness.
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35. Now we can take a breath.
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36. Why are you so relaxed?
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37. Even birdy knows we're only
just getting started, right?
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38. We're a target now.
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39. Our new goal is to keep
the other parties
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40. from taking our Stille.
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41. At last.
Time to spill blood.
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42. Right, then.
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43. Let's review everything
we've learned
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44. from observing the Stille.
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45. Well, we confirmed
what you already told us,
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46. that they fly faster
than the speed of sound.
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47. There's no way we could
ever dream of chasing one down.
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48. Plus, the little things
are tough as dragons,
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49. so common attack spells
have no effect on them all.
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50. Most restraints are useless.
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51. We've seen that they're
very sensitive to mana.
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52. Even when we've suppressed
our power to approach them,
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53. they feel us and fly away.
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54. A problem far bigger
than any of those
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55. is that because the Stille have
practically no mana themselves,
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56. we don't have anything
to try and detect.
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57. All that to say,
there's no quick way of knowing
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58. where they are
or how many there might be.
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59. Yesterday morning, we saw three.
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60. If there aren't
any more than that,
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61. we could be in trouble.
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62. They're probably
just being cautious
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63. because so many people
are after them.
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64. I just hope they're not
cautious enough
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65. to hide forever.
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66. Even if we defy the odds
and find one somehow,
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67. we don't have any idea
how to catch it.
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68. You can leave that duty to me.
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69. After you went
to sleep last night,
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70. I stayed up and experimented
with a spell
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71. that might be useful
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72. for getting our hands
on a Stille.
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73. Gotcha.
So, that's where you went.
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74. What kind of spell is it?
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75. You already know, Kanne.
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76. Hm?
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77. It was made
for capturing birds.
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78. A tribe of hunters
developed it long ago.
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79. The perfect example
of a folk spell.
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80. In their era, magic and mages
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81. were far more common
than they are today.
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82. Wait, are we talking
about the spell
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83. you used to save me?
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84. If it's for capturing birds,
why did it work on a monster?
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85. Folk magic is rather loose.
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86. As long as your target
resembles a bird,
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87. the spell should cooperate.
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88. If it could restrain
that mighty beast,
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89. I think it should work
fine on the Stille.
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90. Why didn't you tell us
about this before now?
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91. If we had known,
we could've caught the one
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92. that we almost had yesterday.
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93. If only it were
as simple as that.
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94. - Hm?
- Hm?
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95. The spell's range
is roughly 50 centimeters.
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96. So we would've needed to be
close enough to touch it.
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97. Well, at least
we have a clear goal now.
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98. How close have
we gotten to one so far?
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99. About three meters
was the closest.
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100. The more concerning part
is that
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101. we haven't been able
to get within 20
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102. before they picked
up on our mana.
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103. We're just one piece away
from solving the puzzle.
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104. That's a disturbingly
large piece.
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105. Catching a Stille
with your magic
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106. might not be possible,
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107. but could either of you
devise a way to stop one?
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108. There are a million ways
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109. ice magic could slow down
a normal foe,
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110. but ours is sensitive to mana
and resistant to freezing.
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111. I fear it would escape
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112. before we could attempt
to fix it in place.
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113. If we had access
to loads and loads of water,
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114. I'm confident we could stop
that bird dead in its tracks.
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115. Thing is, my magic
can only control water
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116. that's already there.
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117. Nifty as it would be, I can't
create water out of nothing.
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118. My best bet would be
to find a lake or stream.
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119. Of course, mana struggles
to penetrate
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120. large bodies of water,
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121. but I could infuse it
with my mana
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122. well before we're
planning our big move.
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123. Then, no matter
how much water there is,
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124. even if it's scattered
like rain,
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125. I can manipulate it.
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126. Although, I guess
instilling the water with mana
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127. would definitely make
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128. the mana-sensitive
Stille stay away.
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129. Stay away, huh?
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130. You're right.
They would stay away.
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131. - Huh?
- Huh?
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132. I have a plan
that just might work.
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133. It's not a bad idea,
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134. but we would certainly
be taking a risk.
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135. If we do this,
we'll be picking a fight
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136. with all the other teams.
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137. Yeah, but I don't think
we could catch one otherwise.
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138. Hm.
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139. Lawine. Are you scared?
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140. You're gonna rip 'em
outta my head!
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141. Would it kill you
to show some mercy?
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142. - Hm.
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143. If you're sure,
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144. let's do it already.
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145. We're so close.
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146. We should lay low and stay
hidden until the test is over.
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147. Boo, that's no fun at all.
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148. Mages shouldn't
tuck themselves away
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149. 'cause they're
too scared to fight.
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150. They also shouldn't fight
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151. because they're
too reckless to wait.
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152. Huh.
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153. Before we do anything,
we need water.
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154. I believe there was a lake
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155. in the middle
of the testing area.
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156. Regardless of what
happens next,
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157. I'm glad we caught
a Stille so quickly.
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158. If we can remain
in the shadows until sunset,
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159. we'll pass the first test.
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160. What now?
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161. I'm afraid
it won't be that easy.
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162. I thought this gravel
was a road at first,
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163. but it's actually
a dried-up riverbed.
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164. Unfortunately,
this isn't the first one
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165. we've come across.
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166. Say, Land?
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167. At the very beginning,
they mentioned something
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168. about a barrier, didn't they?
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169. Yes. They're standard
for these sorts of tests.
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170. Physical barriers so strong
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171. not a speck of dust
could bleed through.
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172. If that's the case,
do they block water, too?
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173. Well.
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174. Judging by the dryness,
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175. I'd guess this barrier
was erected over a week ago.
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176. I see.
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177. Then most of the water
will have collected in the lake
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178. in the middle of the basin.
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179. We test-takers need
water to stay active.
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180. It's like they're
exploiting the fact
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181. we're living creatures.
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182. Fair observation.
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183. But needing water
doesn't necessarily mean
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184. gathering around the lake.
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185. You're right.
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186. Because we can carry
water with us.
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187. But the Stille, which are also
living creatures, cannot.
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188. That's a good point.
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189. Surely others
have realized this.
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190. It's safe to assume that
they're lying in ambush
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191. around the bank as we speak.
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192. - Huh.
- Huh.
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193. I've made our decision.
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194. We'll give up on finding water.
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195. I haven't had anything
to drink in ages.
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196. Do you want your poor teammate
to shrivel up and die?
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197. We can find
a small pond.
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198. Maybe a puddle.
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199. Would that
even be sanitary?
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200. If we boil it, perhaps.
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201. Huh.
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202. Aren't you a thorn in my side.
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203. I was shooting to kill, lady.
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204. I'm surprised you could
react so quickly.
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205. Eh, whatever.
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206. Just leave the cage
with the Stille inside.
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207. And what if I tell you no?
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208. Then I guess we don't have
any need for words.
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209. That came from the lake.
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210. Hm?
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211. That girl just froze
the entire lake!
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212. What sort of a plan
could require that?
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213. A seriously unfunny one!
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214. This mana
is from a member
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215. of the second party.
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216. What could they be thinking?
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217. These jokers looking
to make 50 new enemies?
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218. C'mon, give it all you've got!
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219. If you can't melt it,
we're done for!
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220. Denken.
What should we do?
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221. Not what they're doing,
I can tell you that much.
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222. Trying to melt it now
is useless.
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223. After such a showy
display of magic,
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224. the Stille won't come anywhere
near this lake again.
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225. At this point, we have
no choice but to steal.
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226. And if the second party
was bold enough
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227. to pull this stunt,
there is no doubt
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228. they will soon have
one for the taking.
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229. Mistress Frieren,
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230. what could you
possibly be doing?
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231. I say we scatter for now.
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232. Hurry up!
We're running out of time!
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233. How foolish they are.
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234. If the spell the second party
used to freeze the lake
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235. didn't scare off
the Stille for good,
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236. these paltry efforts to melt it
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237. will certainly
get the job done.
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238. - Hm.
- It's safe to say
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239. the Stille won't return.
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240. - Ready to go?
- Yeah.
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241. That way!
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242. Those sharp enough
to put that together
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243. are busy scanning the terrain
for other watering holes.
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244. But their mana detection
is inadequate.
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245. They won't be able to handle
the airborne threats.
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246. Amateurs.
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247. Apparently,
the second party went crazy
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248. and froze the lake!
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249. Are they trying
to sabotage the exam?
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250. Sabotage it?
No. Not at all.
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251. This is the second party's
well-laid plan.
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252. And until we can figure out
what that plan is,
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253. we won't get anywhere.
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254. This is the work of monsters.
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255. No helping them now.
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256. Move along.
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257. Come on, sir.
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258. We should at least
take their bodies down.
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259. You can see the beasts,
can't you?
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260. They're circling
above us right now.
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261. Not just one or two
of them, either.
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262. They've laid their magic
on those corpses.
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263. If we tried to move them,
they would know we're here.
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264. That's the way of the Geisel.
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265. They use the remains
of one victim
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266. to lure in the next.
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267. This party was so naive
as to fall for their trap,
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268. and look where it got them.
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269. This isn't right.
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270. Why hold the test in a place
with such awful monsters?
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271. It's like the proctors
don't care
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272. if the participants get killed.
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273. This is obviously
your first time
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274. taking the exam, Laufen.
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275. - Their reason is rather simple.
- Hm?
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276. Anyone who is killed
on a stage like this
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277. is unqualified
to be first-class.
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278. The Continental
Magic Association
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279. is keen to uphold
the standards of that title.
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280. For many of them, the idea
of what a mage should be
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281. was cemented long ago
by the noble few
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282. who took down
the Demon King's army.
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283. I have no patience for that
outdated school of thought.
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284. That surprises me, Denken.
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285. I thought of all people,
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286. you would be the one
to take their side.
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287. The quality of a mage
is irrelevant.
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288. - Hm?
- It's more important
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289. for first-class mages
to be symbols of power
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290. than powerful themselves.
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291. Strength means nothing
if a mage can't act
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292. as that symbol.
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293. In the real world,
casting spells weighs
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294. much less than winning hearts.
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295. I've seen countless mages
far more skilled than myself
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296. fall from grace
and be persecuted
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297. by the same people who once
celebrated them.
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298. Great power's a thing
to be feared.
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299. And rule by fear
can only last so long.
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300. Neither magic nor strength
should be put on a pedestal.
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301. I see now.
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302. So, someone as weak
as you is perfect for the job.
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303. You would be wise
to watch your tongue, whelp.
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304. I could beat you to a pulp
with my hands restrained
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305. and eyes closed.
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306. Hm.
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307. Still no luck.
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308. The second party is good.
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309. Good at concealing
their mana, at the very least.
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310. There's been something
eerily similar
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311. about every watering hole
we've come across.
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312. Huh.
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313. Though it's faint, I can sense
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314. there was mana
poured into this pond.
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315. I can't pick up on anything.
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316. Strange. Can you?
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317. Not even a little.
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318. Just what could they be up to?
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319. There's such a small amount
of mana here
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320. that I highly doubt
even the caster
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321. could successfully detect it.
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322. But the Stille could
sense it without difficulty.
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323. They won't be coming
near this water again.
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324. The only reason
you would want that is...
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325. Of course!
There must be an untouched
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326. watering hole somewhere.
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327. And if we can find that,
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328. we will find
the second party, as well.
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329. But how can we?
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330. I'm going to rest a bit.
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331. Denken.
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332. The testing area is enormous.
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333. It would be impossible
to find a mage
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334. who truly doesn't
want to be found.
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335. Just wait.
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336. They'll have to show us
where they are soon enough.
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337. I think I finally did it!
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338. I poured mana into every pond
I could find!
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339. I guess there could be
other ones
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340. we don't know about, though.
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341. Limiting the watering holes
the Stille can use
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342. should be enough
for our plan to work.
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343. So all that's left to do now
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344. is wait for one to come
and get a drink.
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345. I had no idea that
mana was something
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346. a mage could
completely turn off.
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347. No, not completely.
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348. Even the slightest movement
causes some mana to eke out.
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349. Sense it?
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350. Not at all, actually.
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351. Kanne and I will stand watch.
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352. Hm.
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353. Provided she can handle that.
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354. Oh, shut up.
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355. If it rained, I could take down
just about anybody.
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356. If it rained,
the barrier would deflect it.
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357. Wow, Frieren! Did you catch it?
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358. This was well worth picking
a fight with the other parties.
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359. Now we're gonna
pass the first test
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360. with flying colors!
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361. Or not.
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362. Well, it's about time.
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363. One of their members
had to use magic.
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364. No mage, no matter
how skilled they might be,
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365. can fully conceal their mana
as they wield it.
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366. We need to leave.
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367. Someone's detected us.
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368. Well, you're certainly quick.
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369. So much for getting away
from here.
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370. Now, Jubelade.
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371. Doragate.
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372. It's like a cannon.
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373. She keeps backing off.
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374. Huh.
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375. Her technique is refined
and near seamless,
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376. but it's old-fashioned.
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377. It feels like I'm fighting
my grandfather.
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378. Ordinary offensive
and defensive magic?
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379. Nothing more
than the most basic of spells.
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380. Playing things close
to the chest, are we?
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381. I was taught
from a very young age
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382. to only use basic spells
during combat.
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383. This philosophy's coming
from your master, then?
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384. Yes. She said
the basics are enough
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385. to defeat mages of this era.
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386. Oh, yeah?
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387. Predictable.
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388. It's so simple it feels wrong,
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389. like I'm fighting a mage
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390. who just learned
her first spell.
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391. You're going to struggle.
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392. If you try to take on Wirbel
with this technique,
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393. you would be dead
after the first blow.
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394. That doesn't
make any sense.
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395. I thought you were
the strongest one here.
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396. Or was I wrong?
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397. Wirbel and his men
took on the remnants
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398. of the Demon King's army.
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399. He's captain
of the Northern Magic Corps.
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400. He has far more
experience in battle.
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401. His magic is utterly devoid
of character,
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402. designed to win at all costs.
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403. I pity the girl
who's up against him now.
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404. She'll surely be killed.
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405. Is that so?
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