Fern is upset with Frieren, feeling that Frieren doesn't comprehend her emotions. Fern confides in Stark that Frieren requested her to replace her staff, which had broken during the second exam. The staff, a gift from Heiter, held great sentimental value for Fern. Kanne comforts Lawine, who laments having to wait another three years before she can attempt the first-class exam again. Denken and Laufen spend some time at Richter's shop and discuss the outcome of the second exam and how they all feel about it. After Denken and Laufen depart, Frieren arrives at the shop. She inquires if Richter can repair Fern's broken staff. Initially deeming it unworthy of repair, Richter later agrees to fix it before Frieren's departure. In the process of fixing the staff, Richter remarks that whoever owned the staff took great care of it. After Fern and Stark return to the inn, Fern discovers her repaired staff laid out on her bed. Pleased with the restoration, she realizes that Frieren had genuinely attempted to understand her. The third exam commences, and all participants await instructions. Serie says that she will personally proctor the final exam as far too many have passed the second exam. She does not blame Sense as Frieren was the one who skewed the results, Serie remarks that a great mage like Frieren should never have been involved at an exam of this level. Lernen says that he is fine with Serie proctoring and that he himself could never fairly proctor a much stronger mage like Frieren. The third exam details are outlined, Serie will conduct one on one interviews and decide herself who deserves the license. Frieren tells Fern that Serie will judge each candidate based on her own intuition and that her intuition is always correct. Examinees enter one at a time and Serie evaluates them at a glance. She immediately fails Kanne for being weak willed, and later Laufen, Dünste, Ehre and Scharf for similar reasons. After Frieren enters, Serie also fails her, because Frieren is not interested in combat magic. Serie questions Frieren on how someone like her managed to defeat the demon king. Frieren responds that she had exceptional allies and couldn't have achieved it alone. Fern enters and notices that Serie's mana is fluctuating similar to Frieren's mana. Serie sees enormous potential in Fern and asks her to be her student, Fern rejects the proposal. Serie tries to convince her and after failing she then passes Fern. (Source: Wikipedia)