"Oh~?"
A peer with purple hair, golden eyes, and a proud expression, dressed in a long skirt, walked over from the side. The moment she saw the newcomer, Kiana placed her hands on her hips and echoed the exact same tone.
"Well, if it isn't the little pufferfish who lost to me in the entrance exam~"
"Did you cook up some new toy over the summer vacation that makes you brave enough to come puff your chest out at us?"
The girl was Sirin Schariac, also a new student at St. Freya. Her mother was Cecilia's younger sister, and Sirin even shared the same birthday as Kiana. However, due to some special (family) reasons, she had always held an inexplicable hostility (affection?) towards Kiana.
On a side note.
The entrance exam referred to was the practical combat test, not the written one. The latter existed, of course, but in the grand scheme of the Empire, especially at a place like St. Freya Academy, practical combat clearly carried more weight in the overall score.
Just as the tension between the two was mounting.
"Good morning, Miss Mei."
"Good morning, Bella."
Following just behind Sirin, a girl in a maid outfit with long, silver-purple hair had already begun exchanging greetings with Mei. As the "attendants" of the main pair, both of them were clearly accustomed to Kiana and Sirin's usual dynamic.
"You look…"
"Very different."
After their greetings, Mei sized up the girl before her with some surprise.
Her perception was exceptionally sharp—most [Newborn Species] who studied the "Authority of Thunder" possessed a level of perception that exceeded their actual power.
"…"
"You are as perceptive as ever, Miss Mei."
Bella walked over to Mei and turned her body slightly, revealing two inconspicuous openings hidden behind her shoulder blades.
"Is this?"
"Please don't tell my 'Miss'."
When a [Newborn Species] is born, they exhibit partial non-human characteristics from deep within their genes. These traits gradually disappear as they grow older and their control strengthens, only to reappear when they reach the threshold to cross over from a [Newborn Species] to a [Primordial Species], revealing a part of their "Super-transformation" form. To adapt to this change that is difficult to fully control, most people prepare specialized clothing in advance.
Simply put.
The Bella standing before them had already entered the "Super-transformation" stage.
She was incredibly close to being able to fully unleash the power of the "Collapsed State" and ascend to the rank of [Primordial Species]—a dream coveted by all.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you. But as for you, Miss Mei…"
Bella graciously accepted Mei's goodwill, then tilted her head up slightly to look at the other girl's forehead. With her own strength enhanced, Bella could faintly sense that Mei was different. The third-place winner of the entrance exam seemed to be habitually suppressing her own power.
"Shh!"
Mei gently raised a finger to her lips.
"Let's just keep this as our little secret."
Both of their gazes shifted simultaneously to Kiana and Sirin, who were currently baring their teeth at each other.
"As long as they're happy."
"Well, you have a point."
---o---
"Hmph hmph hmph☆~"
"You Kaslana dunce, you can only run your mouth for now!"
Sirin gave her flowing, hip-length hair a magnificent toss.
"Come and witness the fruits of my bitter training!"
Vwmm!
A cruciform sigil faintly appeared in her golden pupils. Five Authorities slowly gathered as she raised her arm, coalescing into a massive "fireball"!
"If three Authorities aren't enough to beat you—"
Unlike Raiden Mei, Kiana possessed three Authorities simultaneously: "Void," "Ice," and "Death." They originated from her initial awakening (her own) and the bloodlines of her parents, respectively.
It was worth mentioning that this was an extremely rare situation.
Most people could only inherit one of the Authorities from their parents' bloodlines. To inherit both was already a one-in-ten-thousand chance, and to awaken one's own at birth was even rarer. According to common belief in the Empire, anyone who could achieve this was a blessed newborn, having absolutely received the Monarch's gaze, or perhaps even his benediction.
"—then try facing… the power of five Authorities!"
Sirin's talent was no less than Kiana's. She was also born with three Authorities: "Flame," "Death," and "Void."
Within the Empire, knowledge regarding the twelve Authorities was open to all citizens.
The only limiting factor was one's talent in learning them; there was never a lack of opportunity. Generally, Authorities derived from one's bloodline were learned more efficiently and wielded with greater power.
It was uncommon for someone like Sirin, who, finding it difficult to improve certain Authorities in a short time, would instead pivot to practicing others.
"Ha?"
As Sirin's long skirt began to split apart into "tentacles" adorned with intricate patterns and eye motifs, a vortex-like, circular, and irregular cone of stone appeared behind Kiana, glowing with a crimson-gold light. Both were external manifestations of their Authorities.
At the same time, a single rainbow-colored wing and a Subspace Lance materialized beside Sirin and Kiana, respectively.
"So you just added two Authorities you're not even good at."
"You think you can beat me with just that, pufferfish?"
The two were clearly getting serious.
The crowd of excited new students that had originally gathered around had long since fled the disaster zone at the school gate.
Although both girls were still only prospective freshmen, the ability to externally manifest their Authorities required a level of control over Imaginary energy that was no simpler than entering a "Collapsed State."
In other words, in terms of combat power, Kiana and Sirin were already at the level of official St. Freya students… no, they were probably on par with graduates.
"Kia—"
Mei and Bella prepared to intervene.
This was St. Freya Academy, not to mention today was the incredibly important freshman entrance ceremony. For the first and second-place representatives to start a fight at the school gate, with both belonging to the Kaslana and Schariac families respectively… Mei dared not even imagine the consequences.
However, just as lightning began to flicker from the corner of Mei's eye, and a purplish-red "warrior" phantom flashed into existence behind her as the horns on her forehead bulged—
Ding!
A clear, pleasant bell chimed from the academy's main gate.
The tense standoff between Kiana and Sirin was suppressed in an instant!
"Kiana, Sirin."
"If you two wish to spend your first day of school in the confinement room…"
"I'm sure Mei wouldn't mind taking the stage to give the freshman representative's speech on your behalf."
The newcomer had wavy, light-golden hair with coral-colored gradients, eyes as blue as the deep sea, and a proud, awe-inspiring figure.
"S-Sis… Sister?"
"Lady Sister?!"