Sousou no Frieren - episode 21 - 01 Feb, 2024

A thousand years ago, Flamme introduces Frieren to Serie, who was her master. Serie offers any single spell to Frieren, but she states that she only finds happiness in searching for spells herself. Serie criticizes Frieren's apparent lack of ambition but Flamme says firmly that Frieren will be the one to defeat the Demon King as she can envision a peaceful era, unlike herself or Serie. In the present time, Frieren and Denken's parties engage in battle. Lawine and Kanne do their best to win, but the difference in mana compared to Richter is too great an he manages to restrain them, stating he will spare them as long as Denken wins his fight. Denken uses high level spells to overwhelm Frieren, but she reacts swiftly and manages to defeat him with a close range magic blast. Frieren baits Laufen into the open by threatening to kill Denken, and intercepts her and recovers the Stille. Denken then reveals that he wants to become a first class mage so that he can return to his hometown which is on the other side of the Northern Plateau. Aware that Richter will likely kill Kanne and Lawine due to Denken's loss, Frieren chooses to destroy Serie's barrier, shocking the examiners. With the barrier destroyed, rainfall reaches the exam area and Kanne her water magic to defeat Richter. Fern's team take shelter in a cave, with Land warning them that they will be rivals in the second exam. As Frieren's team leaves, Denken's team escapes their bindings and finds a weakened party to attack and steal a Stille from. Serie is amused at the destruction of the barrier and muses that he remains a mage due to the world of magic's potential to surprise him. The first exam concludes and six successful teams are shown. The examiners congratulate them and announce a break before the next exam, which will take place in three days. Stark meanwhile waits at a Tavern for Frieren and Fern's return. (Source: Wikipedia)