What am I? A child? Why couldn't I sleep yesterday? I was so full of energy at sunrise…

I just had to prepare things early. I practiced a lot of spells for this test, because I didn’t know what would it be. I ended up using up my entire mana three times just learning them. Hermes, on the other hand, was quite attentive and even excited about learning. While repeating the skills, he moved with so much grace and style, it resembled a dance. He was very proud of it too.

I arrived at The Guild soon after noon, perhaps too early. It sadly gave me time to think about last night. They will probably prepare for war since an allied county was occupied. Will they attack back or only defend the border? It also means that I wont be able to see Hansel as much as I’d like to. He’s the only friend I have, I hope it won't get lonely here.

Some time passed, and Hansel and Wallace arrived at The Guild too. They had some light, shiny armor on them, Hansel looked astonishingly handsome with the blue metal covering some parts of his body, showing some dark skin here and there. His muscles are so incredible… I… yeah, I should stop. Wallace seemed quite attractive too with orange armor. He had a warm smile hiding under his mustache when he saw me at the cantina.

“Leonard,” he called me. “Are you ready for today’s trial?” he reminded me of a child going to the amusement park.

“I am as prepared as possible, Sir Wallace.”

“But scream it to the world!” N-No, Wallace. Please don’t embarrass me.

“Glad to see you again, Leo.”

“Me too, Hansel,” I felt the caution in his voice. “Shall we go to the counter and find Lady Ursula?”

They both assented. We reached the desk and found the woman giving some missions to a party of hunters. She noticed us in the distance and signed us to wait a moment.

It wasn’t long until we were in our way to the training ground. Wallace was just at Ursula’s side the whole way, complimenting her and flirting every possible moment. Hansel, on the other side, was shying behind me, maintaining his distance and an awkward silence. It… was just too much.

“Prince Hansel, you should hurry a little more.”

Hansel felt even more uncomfortable when I called him prince. Good, perhaps that pushes him to break the ice.

“Are you feeling well today?” poor child.

“Are you doing well? If you think I’m upset about yesterday, you are yet to know me better, little prince.”

“I understand my father was quite harsh on you because of me… and I-”

“Don’t, Hansel. You don’t need to apologize. It was not your fault, and I didn’t feel offended.”

“Aren’t you saying this to make me feel better?” I am, but that is not what you need to hear now, is it?

“I can assure it, Prince.”

“I told you to call me Hansel.”

“I know, but I do love to tease you,” he laughed.

He relaxed a lot after that. He is just a man trying to meet his father’s, and probably the whole queendom expectations. He also has a mean sister, so I guess he doesn’t need to feel bad or awkward around me. I want him to trust me. We talked about a lot of things on our way, he slowly got that charming smile from before.

“I’d like to tell you something,” Hansel became serious when spoke. “I have to take a diplomatic mission next week, and I’ll be far away for some time,” diplomatic… yes, I see how things are going for the queendom now. “When I come back, how about we try this dinner thing again? If you want, of course.”

Why do I have the feeling he’s asking me out on a date? I know he isn’t but the vibes!

“I’d love too. Somewhere more public this time,” we both laughed.

We reached a clearing near the skirts of the city, in the east. It was a beautiful sight with the sunset’s light. Ursula handed me a scroll and began explaining the test.

“This is the Appraisal spell. You’ll need it. As for what you will do, it’ll be some Kilswips, 25 to be precise. Pretty simple.”

Kilswips are bug type monsters resembling wasps from my world, just bigger, like a Doberman size. I’ve read about some of the low rank monsters in this country, and these ones are D- Rank. Not too strong, neither too weak. I only read the ranks so this is as far as I go.

I opened the scroll and saw a circle with some wind runes and the incantation.

“To the throne high in the sky, I call you. Open my eyes to the truth to appreciate the beauty of a world yet unseen. Wind: Appraisal.”

I did say that, but there is no monster nearby to cast it on.

Wait, does that mean I can’t use normal appraisal on another person? God, I want to ask so many things but I’m not sure if I can.

“Now, let’s begin.”

“Just to clarify, Lady Ursula. What exactly will you asset on this test?”

“In the first place, your strength. I’ll just tell you right away that no hunter will start his career here being a B rank or above, even if you have the skills. Secondly, I’ll test your decision making, abilities and combat style. Please, do your best. If things get hairy, I’ll have these two gentlemen intervene.”

“You’ll do just fine, Leo. We believe in you.”

“Break a leg, Little Leo!”

I know it’s an expression, but break a leg is not something I want to hear right now. In any case, I just need to pass this and get in my way home.