Fern/Synopsis

Beyond Journey's End
Frieren travels in the outskirts of the Holy City of Strahl looking for Heiter. She stumbles across a young Fern who leads her to Heiter's House. She is surprised to learn that Fern has been adopted by Heiter after she became orphaned from a war in the Southern Lands where she was originally from. Heiter unsuccessfully tries to make Fern Frieren's apprentice. Instead, he then asks Frieren to decipher a grimoire which supposedly contains immortality and resurrection spells. Fast forward a few years, and while Frieren is busy deciphering the book, Heiter collapses. Fern continues her training and manages to reach a level where she can defend herself before Heiter dies. The book that Frieren was deciphering did not contain the immortality spells nor resurrection spells, but due to the time it took to decipher, Fern is now worthy of being Frieren's apprentice. They stay with Heiter until his death and then, after burying him and pouring alcohol over his grave, depart on their journey to collect interesting magic and learn more about humans together.

First Class Mage Exam - First Stage
Twenty-nine years since Hero Himmel's passing. Fern, Frieren, and Stark head to Äußerst, the greatest town of magic in Northern Lands. To gain access to the Northern Lands, they need to have a first class mage to accompany them. As Frieren said Northern Lands are a perilous place filled with monsters that use deceptive magic and it is impossible to venture into the Northern Lands without a mage and priest. However Frieren reluctant to earn the first class mage qualification while Fern think it is not possible for her. Fern think the exam will be easy for someone with mana as much as Frieren. Frieren disagrees that mana is the only thing that determine mage's strength.

They arrive at Äußerst. The First Class Mage Examination is only held once every three years and the next will be held in two months. Frieren plans to have Fern take the exam alone, but Fern insists that Frieren join her. Frieren rebuts Fern, saying that she is unqualified to take the exam as she only possesses a Holy Wand Emblem as proof of her skill as a mage. However, in the present day she would need to have passed the Third Class Mage Examination to be qualified. However, an old man recognizes the emblem and lets Frieren join the exam with Fern. They then prepare for the exam in two months.

The exam starts by dividing the examinees into parties of three. Fern is paired with Übel and Land. To complete the first stage, they need to capture a small, mana-sensitive bird called the Stille before sunset the next day and with all of their respective party members present. Fern and her party manage to capture one early on the exam. They head to the lake at the center of the examination area to replenish their water supply. Midway, they notice that other parties will probably lay in wait at the lake because it is the biggest water source in the area, and the Stille needs water to live. They decide to avoid the center lake. However, before they can leave the area, they are ambushed by Wirbel's party, which is aiming for their Stille.

Fern is able to block the surprise attack aimed at them. The battle starts with Fern battling with Ehre, a second class mage. Fern fights with only basic magic as that is the way she was taught by Frieren. Ehre tells Fern that Übel might be killed by Wirbel. Fern defeats Ehre by overwhelming her with a swarm of offensive magic. Fern goes and ambushes Wirbel before he can finish off Übel. She bluffs and tells him that she has killed Ehre, so Wirbel assumes he has failed the exam and leaves.

Afterwards, Fern and her party take a shelter from the rain inside a cave after Frieren breaks the examination area's barrier. They chat inside and stay there until the first exam concludes. Fern and Frieren both pass the first exam.

First Class Mage Exam - Final Stage
Fern is able to detect the instability in Serie's mana. Serie takes a liking to Fern and asks Fern to be her apprentice. However, Fern rejects her offer. Frieren had told Fern before the third stage of the exam began that Serie will for sure let her pass the exam no matter what Fern tells her so she shouldn't surrender to Serie's demands. True to Frieren's word, Serie lets Fern pass the exam, officially making her a first class mage. At the special privilege conferment night, Fern asks Serie for the legendary spotless clothing magic, much to Serie's dismay. The next day, as the party is preparing to leave Äußerst, Fern proudly shows the result of her new magic to Frieren.