The autumn leaves on the trees have fallen, and white snow flakes are flying in the air.

"It's going to snow," said Griffith, who got out of the warm bed, went out to the balcony to feel the cold air, and immediately ran back into the house, put on his coat, washed his face and brushed his teeth quickly, then put on his helmet, cuirass, handguards, and shin armor, and then carefully put on his sword and dagger, took up his spear and shield, and ran out of the dormitory as lightly as he could.

When he went out, the two roommates rolled over under the covers and went back to sleep without difficulty.

It was still an hour and a half before the ordinary students got up, and the Shutolals had to rush to the early morning practice before breakfast.

At this time, the sky is slightly bright, the sun has not yet risen, and the quiet campus is still shrouded in silence and dim light.

Griffith quickly walked through the quiet corridor and habitually glanced at the rooms in the girls' dormitory. Galadia often wakes up early for morning exercises, but never knows where she's gone. Sonya, who is used to reading at night, certainly hasn't gotten up yet.

Rana and Murat, who were also heavily armed, came down from the other building, nodded quietly to each other, and ran together toward the cliff to the north.

Professor Erich of the Military Command Section is fully dressed and in the same spirits as he has been in the military for decades. He stood upright on the grass on the edge of the cliff, watching as the Shutlals, who were also silent, quickly gathered in formation.

"Why does this uncle get up so early every day?" muttered Ophelia Cadet Knight, who was on the same team. Beside her, a stout and athletic Midianmaia had just buckled his helmet to her blonde hair.

Every morning, Griffith maintained the habit of the army, participating in early morning exercises with the rest of the Shutolars. They began with a heavily armed ten-kilometre march through the hills and ravines of Holmonwartsburg.

Except for the senior students who were out on a mission, the remaining seventy or so Shultolar formed a neat column and quickly crossed the rugged cliffside path into a valley. The scouts on duty in the team were like shadows, quickly widening the distance from the column and scattering to a distance to be on guard.

"An enemy scout team appears on the ridge in the direction of 3 o'clock. "Professor Erich sent a message of an imaginary enemy based on the terrain shortly after the departure of the training column.

Griffith and the Shotorals in his squad immediately followed a senior cadet towards the ridge for reinforcements.

"The brigade has been hit from a distance," Erich did not leave the others idle, and added after a moment, "the incoming fire is a trebuchet projection, not a rain of arrows." ”

The Hutolars, who had just raised their shields, scattered like a litter of rabbits, hiding themselves in ditches and puddles.

"Whoa!"

Griffith stepped into a puddle of muddy water, and the cold muddy water made him shiver. Behind him, the handsome Ophelia von Ishthal midshipman stepped on Midianmaia and flew across a low wall. Lana and Murat followed, several pairs of iron boots "snapping" up the mud-covered ladder.

"Hurry up! Trolls with broken legs are better than you!" "Erich, who had already led the team away from the dormitory on campus, shouted, "If you don't complete the detour in 5 minutes, the brigade will be annihilated by long-range fire, and you poor worms will be hanged!"

The third-year student who led the team gritted his teeth and sprinted towards the high ground against the biting wind of the coast. Griffith and the others were covered in mud and water, struggling to keep up with the rubble.

......

"Storm Configuration 9, Surface Liquid Designation, Volatilization," Lady Marianne stood a few steps away and waved her wand, casting two small spells that were commonly used, "Storm Configuration 30, Surface Sludge Designation, Flaked. ”

The grizzled Huttorals stood in front of the entrance to the dining room and watched the clock strike eight o'clock. Traces of cold water were rapidly drying and solidifying on their armor and clothing, followed by large patches of mud peeling off and piling up at their feet.

"Professor Erich, if your students are a little bit late, they will have an additional training called 'Hunger Tolerance'. Ms. Marianne gave a solemn and solemn glance at the professor of the Military Command Section, whose boots were covered in mud.

"Suggestion, ma'am," Erich sat down comfortably in a nearby chair and summoned a brownie to polish his boots, "I'll try it another day." ”

"This scoundrel!" Ophelia, who had cleaned up, put her armor and weapons in a corner by lightning, put on the pre-folded robes of the Brownie elf, and ran into the dining room.

Griffith and the others followed in a swarm into the hall.

Students from the four houses are gathering around the table like a big family, chatting about last night's homework and sipping milk cereal, butter bread, bacon and yogurt for breakfast.

"Good morning, Griffith!" Sonia greeted the midshipman with a smile. Her face was more beautiful than the morning light Griffith had just seen in the muddy water on the edge of the cliff.

"Good morning, Sonya," Griffith quickly sat down on the seat reserved for him next to Sonia and greeted the elf lying on the table, "Morning, Galadia. ”

The elf buried his head in his arm and moved his long, pointed ears twice to say "good morning".

"You've got less than fifteen minutes to eat," Sonia put down the yogurt in her hand and smiled as she watched as the midshipman grabbed a large piece of bread and stuffed it into her stomach with milk, "Eat slowly, be elegant at all times, this is the knightly way of the Lamor family." ”

"Yes. Griffith, who had already stuffed a loaf of bread to cushion his stomach, dignified six pieces of bacon and ate them elegantly in three bites.

At the table next to him, Rana took Fiona's prepared plate, stuck the baguette with sausages, bacon, and vegetables into his mouth vertically, and then slammed the food like sawn wood with his palate and jaw at high speed.

"Hahahaha!" Sonia laughed as she covered her mouth, "Lana is laughing the way she eats, no matter how many times she looks at it...... Griffith, you don't try!"

Griffith regretfully put down the bread with a lot of bacon and sausages, broke it into several pieces, and ate it carefully.

"Any news?" said Lana, with his mouth full like a hamster.

"Don't talk while eating," Fiona criticized him, and then picked up the morning newspaper that had just been delivered, "I'll take a look~."

"The Grand Triumph took place in Bayeran!

"Hey, you're all missing. ”

"Ahh

Ophelia patted the table from afar and asked, "What about the bonus? What about the prize money after the big win!?Did anyone get it?Why didn't I get a penny?"

Fiona continued:

"The Department of Justice has suspended proceedings against residents of the Eastern Province who have evaded military service, and young people of appropriate age can apply for citizenship.

"According to the latest survey by the Bureau of Statistics, after the grand triumphal ceremony, the government support is +20, the people's belligerence is -50, the available manpower is +100, and long live the wise senate. Ah, here, the council is working on the details of the prize money. The bonuses of local legions and auxiliary legions will be issued by the Ministry of Finance to local lords, and will be arranged by the local government, and the bonuses of directly subordinate legions will still be uniformly distributed by the central government. ”

A sigh of relaxation rang out on the long table. Most of the Shotolars, including Griffith, can now claim their bonuses directly from the Lord.

Fiona flipped through the other pages and read on:

"Trade between Bayerland and the Southern Provinces has increased by 1,500% in the past three months, grain and commodity futures are volatile and the Arcane Council and the Senate are discussing the latest trade and tariff bills.

"The BI50 index is up 59.17% from the previous thirty trading days. Sonia Sonya, should we invest a little bit with our private money?"

There is no intuitive feeling...... Griffith listened hard for a moment, unable to think of the implications of anything other than the bonus policy.

"Look! The messenger is coming!"

A flock of pretty ravens and owls deftly walked through the skylight in the hall and hovered above the dining table. Fiona, who was reading the newspaper, also stopped.

"Come, Palulu," Sonia held out her white hands to one of them. The calling fat bird ignored her, flapping its wings and landing on the fruit bowl at hand, pecking at the nuts on its plate.

"You're still the same~" Sonia sighed, scratching the little thing's head as she took a small package from its body.

As soon as the girl opened the package, Griffith noticed that it contained a bright red vial. The pure bright red was purer than the red of roses, lava, and flames, and even a quick glance made the midshipman's heart boil.

The small crystal bottle is like having life, and it is sending out invisible fluctuations and temptations. Imperceptible whispers echoed in the air.

"What is this?" said Galadia, looking up as if sensing something, "Potions?"

"Well, potions, and a letter from our family to Griffith, written to you by Sauron," Sonia said, flipping through the small package, "you can actually communicate." ”

"Who is Sauron?" asked Fiona.

"My father's secretary, Armand Sauron's apprentice," Sonia thought for a moment, and said in a language that her friend could understand, "the one with beautiful and melancholy eyes, pale and serious. ”

"I've got an impression!" Fiona pounded the table, "he's handsome." ”

"It's far from Bayeran, and I'm asking Mr. Sauron to help me look into something. Griffith replied.

It is not known if there is any progress in the investigation of Isis and the Cook gang. Griffith carefully tucked the letter into his close-fitting pocket, ready to review it later.

Sonia nodded, and with her slender fingers held up the bright red pill bottle, examining it by the light:

"This is a bottle of advanced potion from Paladin Path Sequence 9 'Recruit' to Sequence 8, it has been blended, I originally said that I could just send the raw materials over. While improving the overall physical and mental abilities, the user also gains access to several extraordinary abilities. For Griffith.

"However, it's up to you to decide whether you want to take it or not. ”

The girl's soft words drew the eyes of everyone nearby. It was an expensive potion worth more than 2,000 silver francs. Sequence 8 is the minimum requirement to become a knight class, and may be the end of many people's life's growth, and it will take many years of hard work to reach the threshold. However, Griffith will be promoted as long as he drinks it, and everything will change. He was destined to become a nobleman and a knight, unlike most people.

Curious, envious, greedy glances drifted from the nearby long table, projected onto the tiny parcel and Griffith's face.

Sonia handed the potion to Griffith, and the bright red glow immediately caught his eyes. The potion, which was more crystalline than blood, seemed to contain life, calling out to the midshipman's mind with some kind of voice.

Fiona, who was sitting not far away, looked at the small sequence potion with great interest, patted Lana, who was sitting next to her, on the shoulder and said:

"The Spellbreaker, Paladin, and Witcher paths are very interesting, and the ranks of Sequence 9 are all 'recruits', and you can choose the direction of growth at will during the progression process.

"While each path has its own advantages and disadvantages, for those of you who aspire to become army commanders, paladins are generally considered to be the best solution, with both combat and protection, the ability to pray to the gods for gifts, and strong teamfights. ”

Lana disagrees:

"Griffith and I have both shown a talent for spellbreakers. If you want me to say, stabbing the enemy head-on is a man's battle, and the paladin's way of riding the wall between the warrior and the spellcaster is the only way for the sissy to choose. ”

Fiona, who has the heritage of the Paladin family, grabbed Lana's face and pulled hard at both sides: "Say it again!

Sonia smiled and explained to Griffith:

"This potion comes from a sacrificial knight, El de Nova, Sequence 8 'The Substitute',

"Like most advanced potions, this potion carries some of the memories and knowledge of previous generations. When taking this potion, you may be able to hear the voice of the El Knight.

"Knight El de Nova has the ability to pray to the Light and receive blessings, and inheriting some of his power and knowledge will make you a Paladin, which is why I hesitate to hand him over to you. The theoretical community has not studied the principle of extraordinary property inheritance completely. ”

"Thank you, Sonia, this potion far outweighs my meager contribution, and in my current state, I should be able to break through on its own next spring," Griffith handed the little crystal bottle full of seductive magic back to the girl with great perseverance, trying to withdraw his gaze from the light of the potion.

"I know," the blonde girl smiled sweetly, carefully tucking the small package into her pocket, "there is something special about this potion. I want to prepare it for you first, and I don't want you to drink it now. ”

The brilliant luster was covered by the wrapping, and the strange aura that seemed to be absent disappeared. Griffith seemed to hear sighs of regret and jealousy all around him.

Galadia rubbed her sleepy eyes, thought for a moment and said:

"The number, type, and strength of the abilities mastered in the process of progressing will vary from person to person, and sometimes even if you are very talented, you may be unlucky enough to gain some strange extraordinary abilities, and relatively speaking, the improvement brought by the identified potions is predictable and safer.

"But, then again, why do you need to stock up on potions now?"

"The other day, the Provost informed us that the first year was going on a staff trip to the edge of the Whispering Forest for this semester!" Sonia suddenly remembered something important, "I've heard that it's a good place to study alchemy and dark magic countermeasures, but I've always had a vague feeling that something is going to happen lately, so I have this potion prepared at home just in case." ”