Frieren: Serie's Apprentice Novel

In the year 22 Before the Sinseki Era, the Continental Magic Association conducted its inaugural mage examination, with Serie serving as chief examiner. She swiftly rejected numerous candidates, dismissing them as unqualified or mediocre. When a boy named Gut approached, Serie noted his decent magical capacity but was surprised to catch him observing her intently. Gut's honest admission that he found her cute and his subsequent observation about her wavering magic amused Serie enough to accept him as her disciple. The following day, Serie offered Gut a reward: he could choose any spell from her vast library of magic tomes. He selected the mythic-era Curse Reversal Spell: Mistilziela. When Serie suggested transferring the knowledge directly, Gut declined, explaining that mastering such an advanced spell would take a lifetime. He expressed his desire to remain by Serie's side to achieve this goal. Serie, impressed by his ambition, acknowledged that she would remember him among her many disciples.