Almas's surroundings were distorted as if smeared by a brush, the humanoid figures being indistinguishable from each other and the sounds were being muffled by their heartbeat and breath.

Where did I go wrong? Did I underestimate them? Of course not. rumbling and chatter greeted his ears, but were drowned out.

I lost though, if they're inferior to me that shouldn't be the case. does that make me worthless? He felt something vibrate in his right thigh.

I can't go home like this I can't go home like this I can't go home like this! A noise suddenly pierced his ears, it was a whistle, their heartbeat and breath became more silent, making way for the rumbling of trains, and the chatter of the people surrounding them, they then recognized their sending stone rumbling.

"Shoot shoot shoot! what if its. Oh wait this is only connected to Ziel's stone." Almas says as they look around, seems no one is taking notice of him.

He picked up the sending stone and focused on it.

"Hey brooo! how are you?" Ziel said in a hearty yell.

Almas stayed silent clutching their uniform before responding softly "I lost"

"Hmm? Oh that's fine how many did you beat?"

Would they tell her? Hmm probably not. Wait what am I thinking of course I can trust them Almas's thoughts swirled, his grip on the uniform jacket getting tighter.

"Judging by your silence I'm guessing 1-2?" Ziel says non-chalantly

"Zero"

"Ah th- wait you lost your first match!?"

Almas releases their jacket as they roared "Ya zero! please don't tell!"

A number of passengers heard Almas's roar and stared at the elf. In respone Almas stumbled under the station stairs to gain more privacy.

"Ok ok I won't, you didn't need to shout. What are you gonna do when you get home though?"

Home? Oh right I was going to take the train back. That might not be the best idea I can't lie to save my life.

"Hello? Almas? Damn you always do this!" Ziel screamed before sighing.

"You can always stay there you know?"

Almas snaps out of their stupor, his head accidentally hitting the stairs. "Ow! Wait I can?"

"Ya you still have money with you remember? Just stay there for a week and you have your dorm assigned."

"Hmm not a bad idea, but won't they question my absence? how about my ranking report?"

"Don't worry about that I'll smooth over everything, I will just say that you're taking your first steps or something. Intercept that report should be a easy enough task, they both seem pretty busy, not sure if they will even glance at it." Ziel says as the sending stone was picking up on him pounding his chest.

"Hmm you're right." Almas's chuckles from the gesture. "Thanks for helping."

"Hah I did nothing, just make sure to pretty it up before they notice! don't overwork yourself toward that goal though."

"Anyway gonna be busy myself, good luck out there bro!"

"You too"

Almas puts the sending stone in his pocket.

Alright time to get out of here. Oh wait still have this ticket, should I refund it? eh it's only a few silver. Almas then throws the ticket in a nearby bin, and leaves the station.

It didn't take long for Almas to find a place to stay, he decided on a Inn called the River Newt, its accomadations were way below Almas's standards, but he was only going to be here for a week, and it was only a short walk away from the school building, it didn't take long for Almas to start practicing after acquiring their room key.

Almas was short on breath, 2 small floating spheres of force were as far from him as possible being limited by his small room, the curtains were closed to hide his practice. The dining table and chair along with the bed, were put to the side to make more space for him to work with.

Almas then proceeds to make a soft ember on his wand, with a flick of his wrist 2 flaming bolts hit flew straight as a arrow, crashing against the shields with a simmer.

Hmm, I seem to be able to hit this distance easily, why did I keep missing on my first battle then? I guess it was their winds, but they weren't manipulating some of my bolts. Was it cause it was a moving target? Almas pondered this, as he focused his will to make one of the spheres speed toward them.

Almas tries to cast their bolt, but was reminded of the past battle and closed his eyes on instinct, the shield then pushes him back then dissapates.

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Dammit lost my concentration! That was my only casting for the day too! Almas was about to throw his wand.

Calm down calm down, have 6 more days to practice, at the very least my forms not the problem. Almas took a deep breath before reholstering his wand, then jumped onto the bed.

This feels like a rock, hope the schools accomadations are better. He chuckled to himself.

Just need to pretty up that report huh? Guess if I'm low in the rankings at least my opponents aren't going to be like that guy. Almas clutches the bed cover.

This is a lot more quiet than home at least. At that thought Almas fell asleep.

A week in the Inn passed quickly with Almas being too distracted by their training, though he was hesitant on redoing that moving target practice.

"Finally goodbye rock bed!" Almas exclaimed while cracking his neck. They were on their way to school, when suddenly their sending stone vibrates.

Almas focuses on the stone and places it next to their ear.

"Hello Bro, how are you holding up?" Ziel said vigourously.

"Could be better, Inn I was staying in was a bit too humble for my tastes, but it was cheap at least." Almas says as they open their bag making sure everythings in place.

"You get what you pay for. So anyway got your ranking paper! Ya you have your work cut out for you on prettying this up, but a low rank isn't that bad!"

"Kind of surprised you managed to grab it before anyone saw, did Mother or Father say anything in my absence?" Almas says in a somber tone.

"Nop worked the charm on them!"

"I'll trust you on that, though guess you would be reporting if they had any reaction."

"Of course!" The sound of Ziel pounding their chest picked up through the sending stone.

"Heh alright." Almas looks up to see the school building.

"Gonna break up the connection for now about to enter the school, see you later Ziel!"

"Alright take care bro, your in class 1H! Call me anytime and I'll be sure to pick up if I'm not busy!" Ziel said in a rush.

Almas then hid the sending stone in his bag, He made his way toward the main school building, not that many students were present, though he was an hour early.

As they entered the building they witnessed a primly dressed giant, she was currently standing as still as a statue, perhaps waiting for the students to rush in?

Wasn't expecting this but they do accept all kinds of people for hires here, how do they have enough accomadations here for a giant? Guess that's not important to ask right now. Almas approaches the desk, seems to be slightly bigger than usual but a bit too small for the current worker, there's a plaque on the table with the name Elen etched onto it.

"Ah Ms Elen, I need to find room 1H please." Almas says as he looked up at Elen.

"Oh, right this way!" Elen says in a whispered tone, her finger extending toward the right hallway.

"T-thank you." Almas adjusts his bag and proceeds toward the room as Elen continues their work.

1H 1H, oh there it is. Almas comes in the classroom, seems kind of normal especially after seeing that giant, a few people are present though they seem to be minding their own business at the moment.

Almas takes the front desk right next to the window, then takes a glance at the two present here. One of them was a sleepy individual holding their staff like a stuffed animal. While the other currently had a book on her hand and a violin case on her desk, whatever she was reading must have entertained them due to their slight giggling, and the twitching of her pointed ears.

Almas took immediate interest on the two's focuses.

Not sure why one would choose a staff since that would be slower to cast than a wand, and that violin seems like a odd focus, though I am curious on how it works, might be another odd strategy that can beat me. Almas ponders before the violin owner glares at them.

"Do you need something?" The violin owner says with a firey glare, putting the violin case to her side.

"Ah no, didn't mean to bother!" Almas just stares at his desk for the time being.

He could hear a small scoff coming from them.

Shoot so much for first impressions, guess it's only a few students I still have a chance to gain favor with others as long as I don't embarrass myself. Almas's thoughts were interrupted by the door slamming open.

"Hey everyone!" Gater's voice echoes throughout the classroom.

What's he doing here!?