C-Ranked Knowledge [Althea's/RainCalamity's C-Rank Exam]

Althea Eventide ♢ Fairy Tail ♢ D-Rank

Althea took the slingshot and ammo, bringing them close to her face for an inspection.  She didn’t really know how they worked, the forked stick and paint orbs weren’t like anything she had used before.  Stepping up to the targets, Althea tried to guess how to use it, placing the orb on the stretchy part of the stick and pulling it back before releasing it.  But, the shot only traveled a few measly feet before losing its momentum and dropping to the ground.  Deciding to try the technique again, this time drawing the orb farther back, Althea shot at the target.  It ended up flying too far this time, landing in the bushes far behind the static target.  One more time, Althea tried hitting the target, only to horribly miss.

Wondering if she was doing correctly in the first place, Althea held the stick by one of its shorter ends, swinging at the ball as if she were playing some form of table tennis with a stick instead of a paddle.  It was a much more natural way for her to hold something, and had no problem hitting something on a small point due to her training with a spear.  Along with her skills and a bit of luck, the orb met it's point in the middle of the target.

Moving on the the moving target, Althea attempted her newly developed technique, missing by a long shot.  Realizing she’d have to adapt to hit something that moved, she revisited the first thing she had tried.  Deciding she would rely more on force rather than the arc she shot it at, Althea aimed directly for the target, pulling the ammunition back as far as she could.  It would be more like shooting a gun than drawing a bow.  Releasing the orb, it barely missing the middle of the target, landing just on the border.  Once more, she attempted it, but this time the orb found itself squarely in the middle of the moving target.  Now, Althea only had one more target standing in her way, but it would be more difficult than the rest.

On her first attempt with the ‘aggressive’ target, Althea attempted to lower herself to the ground, assuming that it wouldn’t be able to hit her.  Pulling back the orb like she had beforehand, she was in the middle of releasing it when a flurry of snowballs found themselves right smack in the middle of Althea’s face.  Three hit her, stacking on top of each other in an ice cream-like fashion.  Using the hand she was pulling back the orb with, she wiped the slush off, causing the ball to fire at the target.  “Er, whoops.”  Deciding that the target had some sort of miracle tracker that somehow just knew where she was.  Getting to her feet, Althea drew back the orb, keeping on her toes.  As the target threw snowballs at her, the wizard dodged them, ducking and sliding every which way.  She never took her eyes of the moving target, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

And in no time, such an opportunity presented itself.  Standing directly in front of the target, Althea released the orb, sending it flying into the center of the last target.  As the shot connected, she threw her hands upwards, laughing triumphantly.  “Ahahaha, I did it!”  Turning to Mura, she grinned widely.  “What’s next?”

Althea Eventide ♢ Fairy Tail ♢ D-Rank

Althea either didn’t notice the ball-like creature that seemed to be a dragon’s expression or just chose to ignore it, with her it was always hard to tell.  Instead, she was completely focused on hearing what she would have to do in order to finish her exam.  According to Mura, she was halfway through it, which was good since she wanted to get to C-rank as quickly as possible.  D-rank jobs weren’t the most exciting things out there, consisting of requests to get a cat from a tree, keeping someone’s elderly mother company, and the occasional escort mission.  They were fine if you just wanted a few easy, quick jewels, but not if you wanted some serious work like Althea, so the idea of advancing to the next rank was pretty invigorating.  But, that wasn’t the only thing that excited her because her next task was was something that was right up Althea’s alley.

“Oh wow, I get to fight you?”  The wizard exclaimed, disbelief present in both her words and her features.  But, she soon managed to wrap her head around the prospect of fighting someone so far above her own level.  “Alright then, I’ll try my absolute best then!”  She reckoned that the guild ace was going to hold back on her anyways, so she would just have to pound him into the ground as much as possible in an attempt to bring the level of difficulty up.  Readying her stance, Althea first focused on bringing out everything she had.  A faint, blue aura formed around her, not strong enough to be noticed at all unless you were actively looking for it.  Soon, she had already collected her resolve and was prepared to start ‘exchanging a few blows’ as Mura had worded it, although was Althea wanted was a full-blown battle.  Clenching her hands into fists, she didn’t wait any longer to abruptly launch herself strait at the shaman, set on winning the fight.

She first threw a punch at Mura, something fairly predictable due to a movement and was effortlessly dodged.  Now being launched at a rock instead of Mura, Althea had to swig her leg around to redirect her momentum.  Deciding that the leg would make a good kick, she aimed it right for her opponent’s head.  But, as she made contact, Althea didn’t hit flesh but instead something that felt like steel.  What is that a green rock…? Her natural instinct was to withdraw, but now there was a chance for her to strike.  Moving in closer to her guild ace, Althea let loose a barrage of punches, trying to hit hard instead of quickly.  Out of her several hits thrown, only four really did anything.  Eventually, the wizard’s target took a step backwards, causing her combo to disconnect.  Standing squarely on her feet, Althea debated her next course of action.

She wanted to finish things up right now, so why not just pull off one of her most powerful attacks?  But, she’d first have to make sure it’d actually hit Mura.  The wizard rushed at him in a similar fashion she had during the beginning of the exchange, gaze set squarely on her opponent.  As expected, they reacted in the same way before, stepping out of the way.  But, Althea exhaled, a small stream of jet-like water coming from it.  The backlash of it caused her momentum to die off, and Althea only had one more thing left to do.  Standing sturdily, she launched herself headfirst at her target, making contact with a hefty headbutt.  Falling to the ground after impact, Althea felt very dizzy, but accomplished.

“Yeah!  C-rank…!”