"You seemed pretty impressed when I showed you during the exam," Raze stated.

"Well, then I saw you as a genius student, and what you showed was enough to be a genius student. But now, I want to know what sets you above the rest," she said and then stood straight. She made her hand into a blade-like shape, and lightning gathered around it.

"This is a battlemage technique," she stated, then dashed forward. Her speed was so great she covered the distance in an instant, slashing forward at the same time.

Raze was forced to react. He kicked his feet against the ground, dodging by a hair's length. His eyes locked on her hand, if that touched him, it would be game over.

He lifted his hands as he moved back. "Flame Stream," he called out, and a huge jet of flames rushed at her, but rather than block or dodge, she swung her hand down and split the flames in two, only to be met with another barrage of flame arrows.

She dodged each one with clean footwork and then locked eyes with Raze again. "I see, you have an extraordinarily fast casting speed. You don't have a mana recoil, or yours is pretty low," she stated.

Raze already knew what she was talking about. When magic is cast, there is residual energy within you that needs to be dissipated, and another spell can't be cast until that clears up.

Some people recover faster naturally, while others are slow. Most mages train all their lives to cut down that time and ensure faster casting.

'I never really thought about it, but I don't have a recoil. I cast spell after spell with ease and speed,' Raze thought.

"Despite the fact that I don't believe you are special enough to get all this attention and special treatment, you are quite special still," Sofia said and dropped her hands, not fighting anymore.

Raze saw that she wasn't fighting anymore and let out a sigh of relief. He looked at her, a soft smile on his face. "So tell me, how much did you go against me?" he asked.

"That was roughly ten percent," she replied without hesitation.

"Damn, the gap is massive," Raze said. Taking into account that she used no ranked spells, that was a terrifying ten percent.

"Either way, I'm done with you now," she said. "If I fight anymore, I'd have to push you farther, and that could hurt you."

"I'm sure I can take—" He didn't even finish the statement as her hands were already wrapped around his neck, squeezing slightly. He hadn't felt her move, seen her move, or perceived her move at all.

Yet her hand was wrapped around his neck now, and if she wanted, she could snap it.

"No, you can't," she whispered into his ear and then let go of his neck, taking a few steps back. "When you finally get done with this academy, or whatever agendas you have, come join my chapter," she said. She then walked away, leaving the training room without saying anything else.

Raze stood there; he could still feel the linger of her hands around his neck. He hated that feeling, the feeling of weakness and complete uselessness. She could have ended him there, much like how Shadow had almost killed him before.

"How can I build a sanctuary when there are people that can snuff out my life that easily? I'll be forced to listen to them and do what they want. Tsk, I'm not having any of that. Staying in this academy is just wasting my time. I should be in Ribest," he said, gritting his teeth. He got ready to move, he had to tell Lady Rose first, so he headed toward her office.

He was a bit blinded by emotion and didn't check with God's Eye if there was anyone else inside, and the secretary had come to ignore him after learning that he was special to the headmistress.

So he knocked twice and pushed the door open. The moment he stepped inside, he froze. He laid eyes on the beautiful crimson hair, pale skin, clad in a clean dress of a white blouse and thick black trousers with boots.

Her face was unmistakable, her character already terrifying from the first glance. Marine Vermillion, the Queen of Vermillion, the daughter of Rudeus Vermillion the Third. She managed to take the crown away from her three brothers and become the first female ruler. She got married to her childhood love, but she remained the ruler.

She was ruthless, cunning, and extremely powerful. Her actions earned her the name "Undying Queen."

'What the hell is she doing here? No, no, I have to leave. Not now, not ever,' Raze screamed in his mind as he took a step back, but in that moment Lady Rose spoke.

"Raze, I was just about to send for you. This is Her Royal Majesty, Queen Marine Vermillion, the current ruler of the kingdom. She came to see you specifically." Those words left her mouth and reached Raze's ear, leaving him stunned.

She came along with Sebastian, her butler, who she trusted. But Raze knew that she wasn't alone with Sebastian here, as the organization known as the Queen's Abyss always followed her, regardless of where she was going.

They existed from youth with only the purpose of serving and protecting her. Their strength was rumored to be greater than any of the ten chapters, even combined together.

So if he dared to run away now, they would bring him back instantly. It wasn't worth the risk.

'Shit, what did Rose do? I explicitly didn't want to meet her at all. Her presence throws huge issues into everything that is my plan.

But I have to be calm, act properly, and ensure I don't look suspicious. She is a perceptive snake that sees everything,' Raze thought.

He let out a calm smile and then bowed slowly, moving down until ninety degrees. "Your Majesty, it is an honor."

She didn't reply yet, but a sinister smile similar to what Raze always had formed on her face as she looked at him.

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