Danmachi – Card Wizard

After a total of ten minutes had passed since the familia's captain had given the instructions to choose a team captain, report both of their names and keep silent afterwards, the pallum spoke up. "Alright. It's been ten minutes. From the thirty-two teams, those who haven't reported yet can leave. We can't have people who can't follow simple instructions come with us in the dungeon as it would threaten everyone's safety. As for the three teams of Maxim and Josiah, Alfie and Angus and the team of Courtney and Eliza, you three teams are also disqualified.

Once again, you can't follow the simple instructions of not talking after reporting your names. Those are simple instructions which adventurers must be able to follow since once again, everyone's safety relies on it."​​

"Hey! We only talked about who the best captain would be! It's not as bad as you make it sound!" Said one of the adventurers who hadn't yet chosen who would be the captain of his team.

"Yeah! We just talked to pass the time!" Said another group who had reported their name but not followed the instruction.

"Indeed, it's not that bad when it is in a small familia since they don't go deep and don't do expeditions. However, we are an exploration familia where any distraction can be fatal. If you can't follow a simple instruction of choosing someone in a team of two, you may risk hundreds of us during an expedition. It is not something the familia can tolerate.

Besides, if your fit is better in a smaller familia, it doesn't mean it's a bad thing as you will have the opportunity to lead the team as the captain if you put in enough effort. In the Loki familia, everyone gets recruited as a supporter first, and if you can improve, you will become a member of the fighting force. If not, you will stay as a supporter until you change familias."

"I...I see." Said the few groups of people as they were convinced and knew before that no matter what they said, the familia wouldn't accept them.

Once those groups left, the blond-haired pallum spoke once again. "Congratulations on everyone for passing the second phase of the test. You are all accepted in the familia." He said as a smile appeared on his face. "I'll present myself. I am Finn Deimne, the captain and top executive of the Loki familia." "And I am Gareth Landrock, also a top executive of the familia." The dwarf finished as the adventurers in front of them had an excited look on their faces since the Loki familia had accepted them.

"So, what was the point of forming the teams if we became part of the familia before fighting?" Asked the strongest recruit.

"It was to see how you would act when someone ordered you to find a team and choose a captain for the team. That's all." Said Finn as he moved down from the platform and went a bit further than the group. "Now, I will fight with the various groups to see where you stand in terms of strength. I will be using the level of the strongest in the group to fight you. You will come at me with the intent to kill. The first group will be Aidan and Ais. You have two minutes to explain your abilities to your partner." He said while looking at the two children.

Nodding to him, Ais and Aidan walked towards the field while talking.

"I use a sword to fight and my card magic. You?" Asked Aidan as he looked at the sword of Ais. "I use a sword. What is card magic?" She asked as she looked at Aidan, a bit confused.

Aidan showed two cards to Ais as he explained: "I can use the spell I sealed in that card once. One is 'Fireball,' and the other is 'Shield.' You can understand both." Aidan said as he took back the two cards.

"I see. We won't be able to win. The opponent is strong. We can only catch him off guard." She said the longest sentence Aidan had heard from her as he nodded his head.

"We use my fireball to take him by surprise, attack him, and when he's about to attack either of us, I use the 'Shield' card to block or at least slow the blow a bit to give us a chance?" Asked Aidan as he also knew that they had no chances of winning.

"Yes." She answered as she nodded her head.

As they agreed on their plan, less than twenty seconds had passed as they looked at Finn. "Are you two ready?" He asked with a smile.

Nodding, they drew their weapons. Ais took her white sword from the scabbard on her waist while Aidan took the blue sheath he held on his shoulder and drew his sword about his body's length while leaving the sheath on the side. The black blade and orange on the edge of the blade made everyone look twice at the sword.

Holding the sword with his right hand, the adventurers around and even Finn looked surprised as they didn't expect him to be able to wield the sword, obviously too long for him. They had at least expected him to wield it with both hands with difficulty. However, he held the blade with one hand and pointed it to Finn, who was on the other side of the field.

Giving a glance at Ais, who also glanced at him, they both started running towards Finn as they separated on the right and left to provide a chance at the other to strike.

As they approached, Finn looked at Aidan as he was slightly faster than Ais. As he came closer, he took out his 'Fireball' card and threw it towards Finn, who only looked puzzled at seeing a card thrown at him. Extending his hand to catch the card, it immediately transformed into a Fireball when Aidan willed it, effectively taking by surprise not just Finn but also Gareth and the other adventurers by the side.

Although surprised, Finn quickly used his training lance to blow the fireball away. When he hit the spell, Ais, who sped up, reached Finn, who turned around immediately and aimed his lance towards the left side of the girl's chest. However, as he was beginning to wonder why she wasn't dodging and was going on with her attack, another card flew directly in between Ais and his lance.

As soon as the card appeared, Finn had a doubtful look. However, before he could do anything, a transparent shield materialized at the place of the card as it blocked his blow. He was currently holding back his strength to see their fighting instincts, and because of it, the shield managed to slow down his impact, which allowed Ais to continue with her attack while easily evading the blow.

As Ais used her sword to stab the captain of the familia to the heart, Aidan behind him also slashed with his sword towards the neck of the familia's captain. Their blow seemed to surprise not only Finn but also Gareth and the adventurers, as while the captain had said not to hold back and attack with the intent to kill, they would never have had the guts to do it and aim at a vital area. However, this only brought a smile to both Finn and Gareth as they saw their potential and willingness to become stronger.

Evading the blow of Aidan and blocking Ais's attack, he retreated, signifying the end of the fight. "How long have the two of you known each other for Ais not to dodge my blow since she knew you would block it?" Asked Finn as he raised an eyebrow. Such things were hard to do even amongst first-class adventurers since you would effectively leave your life in the hand of the other. Of course, this situation wasn't life-threatening for them, and they knew it. However, even in training, the attacked party would still have tried to slightly change its position to dodge the blow had the other party not blocked it for them.

In their case, however, Ais didn't care as she seemed to be sure that her teammate would be able to block it. Once again, it was in training and planned, but such a perfect collaboration even in practice was highly extraordinary. At least, he couldn't do it. He couldn't leave his life in the hands of another except for the closest to him, such as Gareth.

"We met this morning." Answered Aidan for Ais as he already knew her preference of not talking except when necessary.

"I see. And why did Ais trust you to block the blow for her?" He asked Aidan again.

"Simple. We had planned it." Aidan said while looking at Ais, who nodded her head with a slight smile.

"I see. Well, congratulation on joining the familia. You two go with Orba. He will bring you to our goddess for the crest ceremony." He said while smiling at Aidan and Ais.

Nodding to him, the two children put their swords back into their sheaths and followed Orba as they entered the Twilight manor.