In the beginning, there were only a few that could use magic. Over time, that number grew to the point that all could use magic. They started making schools to teach the young generation how to use it more effectively, and jobs around the towns and cities required more and more magic. However, this was not the only thing that happened. On top of this, thirteen potent Witches were created. Their amount of magical skill far exceeded anyone else in the land. No one knows why or how they were born, but they were supposed to unite the world and rule the land. Unfortunately, the uniting did not happen; the Witches all despised each other and waged wars against one another. Some went into hiding, and some deemed it necessary to rule a country.

One of these Witches is known as the Twilight Witch, ruler of the country and city of Sanoptia. It is a beautiful city with a river running through it to the ocean, the streets paved in marble, and despite being a Witch, the people there all love and worship her. Every year, they hold a festival in her honor which she attends. That festival is happening at this moment, in the dead of summer. Everyone was enjoying the festival and celebrating. Food stalls were up around the city, and games, music, and fun were. A young man with long black hair tied in a ponytail was among the crowd. This man was named Itsuki Yachi, a newly licensed mage.

Itsuki walked amongst the crowd with a fish cracker in his mouth. Unfortunately, he just moved into the city a month ago, so he never witnessed the Festival of Twilight. Nevertheless, he was smiling ear to ear; he was so happy to experience this! He eventually reached a merchant stall with various jewelry, but a young blonde girl bumped into him as he approached it. He stumbled back a bit but caught his balance.

Itsuki: A-Are you okay?

Girl: Y-Yes….

He looked at her; she had a yellow frilly dress and an amulet around her neck. Her eyes were blue, just like his, but her eyes were more sparkly than his. As he was about to say something, the crowd around them looked in a specific direction. A group of guards was walking in the streets, surrounding a beautiful woman in a sparkly purple dress, she had purple eyes, and her long flowy hair was purple with white streaks. Itsuki’s eyes lit up; it had to be her…the Twilight Witch herself, Aurora Kuroishi. Itsuki moved out of the way for them, but the girl just stood there looking at the Witch.

Itsuki: H-Hey, you are in the way! That’s the Twilight Witch!

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Girl: Wi…tch..?

Guard: Hey, kid! Move aside, please!

Aurora: Move aside, guards.

The guards instantly move to the sidelines, still forming a barrier but letting her walk ahead towards the girl. Aurora smiled as she looked at the girl’s eyes.

Aurora: My my…what beautiful eyes you have. Do you have a name?

Girl: I don’t know…I don’t remember.

Aurora: Hmm…what a pity. Men, come along.

The Witch walked past the girl, with the guards reforming their positions around her. Itsuki walked to the girl and sighed.

Itsuki: You are lucky you didn’t get jail time or anything…but uh, what was that all about? Do you really not remember your name?

The girl shook her head as the guard from before spoke up to Aurora.

Guard: Was that really okay, ma’am? I mean, what if that was an assassin?

Aurora: You don’t think I could handle an assassin?

Guard: N- No, ma’am! What I meant was-

Aurora: Hehe…I was only playing. The girl possessed no magic; she was no threat to me. Still…for someone to have no magic and seemingly no memories are strange.

The girl looked up at Itsuki and proceeded to walk away, but he grabbed her arm.

Girl: Yes…?

Itsuki: Do you really not remember anything?

Girl: I’m afraid not….now, please let go. I have to find a Mage.

Itsuki: Well, I’m a Mage! What do you need?

The girl broke away from him and looked at him.

Girl: You are…a Mage? What Rank are you?

Itsuki: B-Bronze!

The girl instantly turned away. In this world, Magic and Mages are graded. Magic goes from Grade 1 to Grade 12, with Grade 13 exclusive to Witches. Mages are graded from lowest to highest: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, Diamond, and Painite.

Girl: I need a strong Mage, not a beginner…

Itsuki: Give me a chance! I want to be stronger; I want to be a hero!

The girl turned around and glared at him.

Girl: Hero? There are no such things in this world, only those that pretend to do good but are genuinely evil beings!

Itsuki: Then let me prove you wrong! I’m going to be the best hero!

The girl stood silent but then turned away and sighed.

Girl: Come along then; I am in a hurry. Let us go to an inn for now.

Itsuki: Alright, Akeru!

Girl: Akeru?

Itsuki: Mhmm! You don’t know your name, so I have to call you something. Akeru, it means to unlock because I want to unlock your memories! My name is Itsuki, by the way!

Akeru: Very well then, I will accept it.