Assesement test

Once the sorting was all finished, everyone was led to their respective coven's base of operation. Both outside and in, all looked the same and offered no one amenity the other didn't have. The sole difference between each coven was thus, the ones that made it up.

Taking note of the shockingly pristine state of the Misfit coven's main gathering area, Yabei shifted her gaze around and around the room.

"Oi, snob, are you some drugged up owl or something? You're looking around the room like monsters are about to burst forth from all the walls at any second," Yurika snarled.

But Yabei was already too deep in thought. "I'm the only noble here... They know, they know! Yabai, yabai, yabai, yabai, YABAI! Are they going to try and blackmail the house? No, that would just lead to my death. Father would exterminate me on the spot if he ever found out, just like-"

"OI STUPID! You deaf or something!? Coven head's calling us over for orientation!" Yurika shouted.

Yabei's paranoid thoughts paused ever so briefly as she heeded the words and joined Yurika at the center of the room.

"And that's everyone. Though this is dubbed the worst coven, it could also be viewed as an exclusive club of sorts given its acceptance rate is the lowest, second only to Platinus. Now, you already know who I am, but formal introductions are required. Shuna Tsunayoshi. I'll be serving as the coven head of Misfit. You two are the coven's only new members, but not the only ones."

"There's more students here?" Yurika asked.

"Just... one."

Scowls plastered themselves on Yurika's and Yabei's faces as Doku revealed himself.

"This is your senior, Doku Doku Dokumire Dokuro the fourth. 4D4 as some call him."

"I permit just the first and last name. Come. We are to train," Doku snarled as he gestured towards a doorway.

Entering, the group found themselves in a large training hall.

"This is the coven's exclusive training hall. Now while you might be weary of Dokuro's words, we do require an introductory battle of sorts, simply to test your abilities before classes truly take off. Last thing we need is a classroom embarrassment to befall you. However, I shall be handling the combat test, not Doku," Shuna glared.

"Do we need to go all-out?" Yurika scowled.

"For this test, we'll be looking for three things. Magic power level, control, and physical aptitude. There is no strict pass or fail, this is merely to assess your prowess at current."

"Well, guess I'll take it easy then. Considering you're in a suit n' heels, it tells me you're not exactly expecting intense combat."

"You're getting cocky. I'll have you know I wore this exact outfit a year ago when I handled Doku's test, and was able to hold my ground just fine even though he went all-out."

"Three," Doku mumbled as he held up three fingers. "I counted three ribs I broke..."

"Just as he says. Now, are you going to be stupid like him?"

"And if I leave you flat on your back?" Yurika scoffed as she threw off her robe and cracked her shoulders.

"A shame. I heard you built up a reputation as a wonderful individual with a polite personality. Don't think I'm taking you lightly though. I'm well-aware your mana levels are extraordinarily high. As such, we'll brawl for no more than a minute."

"And if I win-"

"You still want to go on about that? Fine, should you fail to incapacitate me..."

Crack!

"I'll have you strung up and gagged in the dungeon."

"There's a dungeon here?"

"In the bowels of every coven, yes, there lies a dungeon for where we imprison those who impede the rules, or perhaps, maybe your own covenmates will imprison you by majority rule if they so choose to. That much is permitted via the student code of conduct. Now, are you sure you wish to wage war against an instructor on day 1?"

"Shave your head."

"Huh?"

"I win, I'm shaving your head and eyebrows, eyelashes too. All to match me."

A vein burst on Shuna's forehead. "Now you're asking for it. The battle starts NOW!"

Without warning, Shuna sunk into a shadow on the ground and vanished completely from sight.

"Shadow magic, huh. Poor matchup," Yurika thought as she seemingly stood motionless.

Yabei blinked in confusion while Doku narrowed his gaze. "She has her."

"Huh?"

Yurika began to smirk as Shura blasted up from the ground behind. Faster than the eye could see, Yurika spun around and delivered a powerful kick to Shuna's stomach, sending her flying into the wall.

"What foolishness. She showcased her strength to my shadow clone. It truly was an impressive physical feat, yet thanks to your provocations, I'm afraid you'll be getting a beating and punishment rather than the praise you'd normally get," Shuna thought as she prepared to rise from the ground for real.

Yet as she did, she felt a small bit of resistance. "What!? Glass!? It's so thin, it doesn't really impede me, plus my magic shields me from any potential shards. What is- BLUGH!?"

And just like the shadow clone, the real Shura was sent flying into the wall with a kick to the gut.

"Wow, are teachers only capable of teaching and not learning? You sure walked right into that," Yurika laughed as Shura coughed up blood.

"There's still 30 seconds left... I'm still huh?"

Shuna trembled as she stared down at the large shards of glass impaled in her stomach. "H- How..."

Thud!

"And does that mean I win?" Yurika smirked.

Doku nodded and raised his fist. "You're strong. I remember a year ago when I left her reeling on the ground with three broken ribs."

"Wait, I thought she broke three of your ribs!" Yurika cried.

"As if. Stringing her up in chains in the dungeon... It remains a fond memory I replay in my dreams."

Yurika wearily nodded as she walked up to Shuna. "Well, you lost, so let's go shave that head of yours."

But as she grabbed her wrist, she began to go pale. "Uh... Anyone here know healing magic?"

"Poison. Poison is my way," Doku mumbled.

"Why should a noble like me waste my valuable mana to save a servant like her? That's the kind of job for a pleb," Yabei scoffed as she flicked one of her twintails.

"Tch, I'll just have to drag her to the infirmary," Yurika grumbled as she picked up Shuna and ran out as fast as she could.

Yabei let out a sigh of relief. "I guess this means no test for me... Good."