Chapter 8: Teaming Up

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

Among the many human heroes, her gaze fixed on the face of the Silver Sword Princess, Selina.

Looking at that cold, beautiful face, she felt inexplicably furious, thinking this person didn’t deserve veneration here.

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

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

What am I thinking again?!

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

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

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

Anima, seeing it was Via, reminded her with annoyance.

“Sorry, Teacher Anima.”

Via shrank her head.

Some time had passed since vacation ended and campus life resumed; the assessment loomed near.

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

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

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

The intense elimination system, plus a certain mortality risk, made every graduate highly sought by various forces.

As the cradle of heroes producing powerhouses, assessments tied directly to real combat.

This time, students formed teams of up to three, teleported under school rules to monster-infested danger zones, completed assigned tasks, and survived.

“Uh… about that…” Via stammered.

“You haven’t found a team yet, have you?”

“…Yes.”

Via was helpless.

Normally, teams balanced frontliner, damage dealer, and support.

Some went triple frontliner for aggressive rushes.

Of course, rare; most preferred a cleric nun with healing and purification to handle complex battles.

But a nun like Via, who couldn’t even use basic healing? No one sane would team with her.

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

Leaving that, Anima departed.

History repeating felt inevitable.

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

Thinking of later parting with her sister, Via felt suffocated—she had to find a way.

…

“Um… excuse me, do you still need a member for your assessment team?”

“Teaming up?”

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

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

One politely responded.

“Sorry, classmate Via. Our team is full; we don’t need anyone else.”

“I see. Okay.”

Via smiled awkwardly—she had clearly overheard their talk.

Yet 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? So late—it’s past curfew.”

“I was… wandering around.”

Via brushed it off.

She was too embarrassed to admit today’s repeated rejections.

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

“Nope.”

Via figured Mary had long since found hers.

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

“I haven’t found a team either.” Mary replied.

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

In her current first-stage strength tiers—Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond.

Bronze was Avalon’s entry requirement.

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

As for Via…

Not Bronze; strictly, below it—Black Iron.

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

“A while back, I argued with those guys. Don’t want to team with them this assessment.” Mary answered nonchalantly.

“Come to think of it, yeah.”

Via recalled Mary quarreling with others in the academy 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 pick me…”

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

“Mother?!”

“Long ago. Lady Sylvia encouraged me.”

Mary pulled out a photo with a personal signature—the universally revered perfect saintess, Sylvia Shirleyford.

Speaking of it, her face showed a heartfelt smile.

“That time, I ran into Lady Sylvia. She didn’t look down on my ordinary background but 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 have entered 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 to avoid expulsion.”

“I see…”

Via stared at the photo’s mother—the adored red-haired saintess with a near-perfect image, flawless smile…

Her own aura was truly nothing like Mom’s.

Normally, she’d never want to burden others.

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

“Okay, Mary, let’s team up!”