In the morning of the next day, deep within the Mage Federation Autonomous Zone…

The magic lamps shine a blue light onto the highway, and the carriage rolling past them. The lamplight floods the interior, swiping across it before disappearing to make way for the next one. Then, all the lights abruptly turn off. The morning sunlight peeks out from above the mountains in the distance. A golden glow gently illuminates the landscape.

Straf continues looking outside. Though the leaves are only beginning to yellow, the autumn chill makes itself apparent, and the edges of the carriage window are lightly fogged over. The terrain is visibly rougher. Large slopes and gravely hills slowly merge into the mountain nearby, replacing the vast open plains from before. However, tall coniferous trees stick out from the patches of ever-scarcer dirt on the way up, and small hardy shrubs grow even through the gravel, here and there.

Tha-thud!

The carriage rolls over a small obstacle with a loud noise, and jumps up a little.

「Mnnnhhnmm…」

Cycelia groans softly, and stirs a little. After a moment her emerald eyes open, and she groggily blinks a few times. She and Straf maintain an eye contact, though it does not appear that Cycelia even realizes it.

「Ah. Straf. Good morning- Wait, is it morning, even?」

She asks as she sits up, and looks outside the foggy carriage windows.

「It's morning somewhere in the world. Might even be here.」

Straf replies with a shrug. The landscape outside disappears, blocked abruptly by the nearby buildings.

「Ah. This must be…」

Cycelia says, and turns to the hatch leading to the driver's seat. She slides it open, and looks through it.

「…Are we at the Academy city?」

She calls out towards the mustached driver. The aging man is initially startled and confused by her voice.

「Huh? Ahh… Your highness… Good morning. Yes, it is. The Academy is just above the city, it won't be long.」

He turns his face to the hatch, and his weary eyes look into Cycelia's. He nods his head, softly smiling at her as he replies.

「Got it, thank you…」

「Our pleasure, your highness.」

She nods back, slides the hatch shut, and gently rubs her face with her dainty hands.

「Nnhnn… I feel bad for the drivers. We're here on time, and they haven't slept at all. And they still have the whole way back before them.」

Cycelia groans a little again, and lowers her hands into her lap.

「They're getting good money for it, ain't they?」

Glancing outside with his arms crossed, Straf scoffs with a small smirk, and shakes his head lightly.

「Ahh…」

Cycelia lets out another groan, this time, a troubled one.

「They are getting good money for it, right?」

He asks, looking at Cycelia's green eyes escaping his gaze. She taps her fingers together, and remains silent, only pouting a little.

「Wow. Driving a limousine, and getting paid like a taxi driver.」

Straf scoffs, grinning a little with his brows raised. Cycelia's shoulders slump, but then her head perks up and tilts a little when she hears new words.

「…Someday a real rain will come.」

He utters out, smirking at his reflection in the window. There is a large, and perhaps rather unsurprising abundance of mages in robes out on the streets. Some are even wearing the big, broad-rimmed pointy hats.

「What's a limousine? Is that like a carriage?」

Cycelia asks, furrowing her brows.

「…I am not surprised you don't want to hear about the taxi drivers, Lia… Yes, it's like a carriage. You could say that we're in a limousine right now.」

Straf replies with a shrug of his hands, and a tight-lipped grimace on his face.

「…What's a taxi?」

「A limousine for the poors, Lia.」

「…What's the difference, then?」

Cycelia asks, looking at Straf, furrowing her brows heavily.

「One is shiny and black to make other people envious, and the other is dirty and yellow to mark you with shame for not having a car.」

He explains, still looking out the window with his arms crossed. The streets very strongly resemble those of the capital, being only somewhat narrower, and the buildings have the same opulent look. Every second shop sign seems to advertise a magic shop, or a magic service of some kind.

「…What's a car?」

She asks another question with a tilted head.

「A tool for some, and a surrogate personality for others, Lia.」

「Huh?-」

「It's like a limousine, Lia. Unless you're vapid, then it becomes you.」

Straf glances at her, and shrugs.

「What? Becomes you?-」

「I'm just making an idle statement on consumerism, and the hypocrisy of rich people, Lia. Don't think too deeply on it.」

He adds, with one more shrug of his shoulders, and turns his gaze back to the window. Cycelia blinks, and lowers her confused gaze to the floor, attempting to make sense of Straf's explanation.

《…I should craft myself a sports car. And then never use it. Just let people know I have it. Yeah.》

「…As soon as I'm back…」

Straf mumbles to himself, rubbing his chin as he looks up at the morning sky.

「…Your kingdom sure has a lot of limousines, Straf.」

Cycelia remarks, lifting her head back up with her brows raised in mild surprise.

「Yeah, well, Lia… Every country has its failings.」

He replies and spreads his arms in resignation, before crossing them again. Cycelia tilts her head but dares not ask another question, lest she becomes even more confused.

「…Or a private jet. Hmm…」

Straf humms while looking at the city, idly rubbing his chin as he thinks out loud. After a few minutes, the carriage enters the highway on the other side of the city, and continues up a steeply inclined road…

…

「Heave… Hup!」

The mustached driver grunts as he pulls Cycelia's baggage from the top of the carriage, and presents it to her.

「Here it is, your highness-」

「I'll take it.」

Straf says, and easily takes the heavy baggage into hand by its grip. He casually flicks it over his back, as if it were a small satchel.

「Straf…」

Cycelia softly utters out, smiling at him as she fiddles with the medallion hanging off her neck, blushing lightly. Though she had seen him perform incredible feats of strength before, Straf taking the heavy baggage that she struggled to pull out of the room, and the guards struggled to carry to the carriage makes it more grounded, relatable, and real to her.

「Well then… Is there anything else you need, your highness?」

「No, thank you. Rest well before you set out.」

She shakes her chestnut head with a smile in response, lightly disheveling her hair. The driver bows his head politely.

「Thank you for your concern, your highness… In that case, we'll stay at the inn for a day… Two, at most, and we'll return to Draconis. We'll come for you just before the end of the Academy's term, your highness.」

The man explains, glancing momentarily at Straf's bored face.

「Mhm. Safe travels.」

She nods. The mustached man returns a polite bow, and takes a few steps back.

Fffwooooooooowwwfmmmm…

A powerful, cold wind blows. He shivers, and briefly rubs his arms for warmth.

「Whew. Wear warm clothes, your highness. Autumn.」

He says and a faint cloud of vapor escapes from beneath his smiling mustache. The driver turns away, and begins mounting the carriage.

「…Gotta get us a nice, warm stew, eh?」

「Hnhg- Wha?…」

The mustached driver elbows the young man obscured by the carriage sitting beside him. He replies with a groggy, slurred question. The driver whips the horses with the reins, and the carriage drives off down the steep, stone road.

「Can we see the stupid exam yet, Lia?」

Straf asks, looking at Cycelia while she's staring at the departing carriage.

「Huh? Ah, let's go, yes.」

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A little distracted, her face snaps to him. She nods, and turns around on her heel. They walk side by side, looking at the gigantic castle ahead of them.

「…Amazing, isn't it?」

She asks, smiling at Straf while they're approaching the people gathered in the distance. Straf's bored eyes gaze up at the Academy of Magic.

「…Meh. It looks gaudy, and almost bordering on copyright infringement.」

He shrugs his shoulders, completely unimpressed.

「Wha-? Straf! Don't tell me you're not amazed even a little by how huge it is!」

Cycelia exclaims, almost sounding outraged as she points her dainty finger at the Academy. Straf stops for a moment, and sighs. He gives the complex of buildings another look.

A large, central building dominates the Academy's silhouette. Built of a pale stone, large spires extend out from its roof high into the sky, appearing almost like a Gothic cathedral. On its sides, the smaller buildings are connecting to the main one by a skybridge. It is certainly the tallest, and at the same time, the largest building that Straf had a chance to see yet in Cycelia's kingdom.

「Meh. I've seen bigger.」

He shrugs again, completely disinterested as he continues onward.

「…Bigger? Where?」

She mutters out an unheard question with furrowed brows, falling behind, Cycelia then hurries to catch up to Straf. Despite the steep incline on the way up, the Academy of Magic and its peripheral area is relatively flat and grassy, even if not perfectly so. Falling just short of being a mountain, but too elevated and steep to be called a mere hill, the Academy occupies an odd spot between the two. They approach the group of mages outside the Academy's walls.

「Ah. More new students?」

An old man asks, running his hand from his chin down to his chest along his long, white beard.

「Yup. Where's your stupid magic test? Any crystals we can blow up?」

Straf nods, and stands with his fists on his hips in front of the large group of mages, easily numbering in the hundreds at the least.

「Crystals?- Ah, you mean a resistor crystal test? Ha ha ha… I don't believe a resistor test will be necessary. The Mages' guild membership is entirely optional, after all.」

The old mage in gray, faded robes laughs softly with his eyes wrinkled by crow's feet. He pinches the frame of his small, circular spectacles and adjusts them as he draws closer to Straf.

「I am Corvus. Corvus Umbrus, I head the Academy of Magic in the name of the Mage Federation. And who might you be?」

Corvus asks, inquisitively rubbing his beard as he looks at Straf and Cycelia.

「Ah- Uh- I'm-」

She stammers, somehow blindsided by the simple question. Her panicking eyes turn to Straf. He briefly glances at her with a bored face, then turns his gaze back to Corvus.

「I'm Straf Katastrof. This is Lia Vindict. I'm her bodyguard.」

「V- Vi- Vi- Vindict!?」

Straf nonchalantly introduces himself, and the young woman beside him. A silent echo slips out of her lips in a surprise squeal, and she covers her rapidly reddening cheeks with her palms.

《Lia Vindict… Cycelia Vindict… Ahh… I can't! I am the queen of the Redwing throne! This is the Redwing Kingdom!… But maybe Redwing-Vindict Kingdom could work…》

Lia Vindict begins breathing rapidly, and her emerald eyes aimlessly dart across the ground while she peeks through her fingers.

「Ah. Bodyguard? You do not intend to study?」

The old man's brows rise in mild surprise, and he momentarily glances at Lia while she quietly giggles.

「Do I have to, to be her bodyguard?」

Straf rolls his eyes, spreading his hands.

「No, of course not. We have made exceptions like these in the past… But are you certain, Mr. Katastrof?-」

「Just call me Straf.」

He interrupts the old man, shrugging his shoulders.

「Very well… If you were to attend as a student, we could grade you and attest to your rank. This could lead to an advancement in the Mages' guild, if you are registered with them…」

Corvus nods, and begins explaining. He briefly looks over his shoulder at the numerous group of young mages behind him.

「…But if you decide to be a mere guest, a bodyguard… Well, pardon me saying this, Straf… It appears like a waste of time to me. Your duty, or oath to protect Ms. Vindict notwithstanding.」

He says, and joins his fingers together. His arms remain low in a dignified, serene posture, matching the old man's calm face well.

「Huh!? Ms. Vindict!?-」

Ms. Vindict snaps out of her daze, and looks at them both in panic.

「Ah- Yes, that's my name. That's my name, yes.」

She quickly reassures Corvus, nodding her head as she lowers her blushing face, though the tips of her flushed ears poke through her hair. Straf and Corvus peel their eyes off of her, and look at each other.

「…Nah, I'm good. Can I not try your magic exam thing if I'm not a student?」

Straf asks with a bored expression, placing his fists back on his hips.

「You can try, yes. I am curious to see what you are capable of as a bodyguard.」

Corvus nods, and smiles gently at Straf.

「Headmaster, I believe we can begin?」

A middle-aged man in a large-brimmed hat approaches from behind Corvus, and asks.

「The exam will take a while, and the latecomers can join while it's in progress.」

He adds while they look at the mages gathered behind them.

「…Yes, it may be a good time to start. I'll make the announcement.」

Corvus nods, and pats the man on the shoulder as he walks past him, heading towards the crowd. He momentarily pauses to look over his shoulder at Straf and Cycelia.

「Please come along, Mr. Straf. Join the rest.」

He waves his hand for him to follow, and continues onward.

「Just Straf.」

「Hmm? I'll keep that in mind, then.」

The old mage humms, glancing over his shoulder at Straf as he follows behind with Cycelia. They stop near the large gathering of chattering, robed mages, and stick out like plainclothes sore thumbs in the crowd.

Corvus walks out into the open space away from the crowd, and turns around to face him.

「Ladies and gentlemen! Fellow mages! Attention, please!」

The old mage calls out, and the murmur of the crowd dies down. All eyes are now on Corvus, as he calmly looks to see if everyone is paying attention. Pleased and with a smile, he continues.

「Welcome to the Academy's entry exam! Your magic aptitude will be tested, but we want to see something more than sheer power, mana capacity, or throughput!…」

He exclaims, spreading his arms with large, droopy sleeves.

「…Instead, impress us!」

Corvus nonchalantly shrugs his shoulders with a soft smile, and rubs his white beard. The prospect student crowd begins murmuring, and Straf's brows rise on his bored face.

「Our examinators will observe your attempts!… The goal is simple!」

He continues, and points his hand off to the distance at the black slabs of what looks like stone. Almost like archery targets, but rectangular and appearing very plain. The young mages stop their chattering to listen.

「You will hit those targets. They are resistant, but not immune to magic. You may use any magic to do so, but you are not allowed to cross the line over there.」

Corvus points his hand at a long line of small stones on the grass, and then moves his hands behind his back, one holding the other.

「Once again, we merely want you to impress us. Whether it be a clever use of a spell, a novel idea, or perhaps something else… Impress us. Show us, that you are worthy of ripping out the chance to attend from someone else's grasp.」

The old mage says, looking at each of the students with a soft smile.

「Let me remind you, young mages!… A mage is one, who imposes his will! We bend, and sometimes break the mundane to suit our needs and whims! You will have to fight each other to attend!…」

He says, pausing for a few seconds while the prospect students glance at each other.

「In the ages past, this would involve a duel. Commonly so, to the death. But we live in more elegant times, now. While our Academy honors the dueling tradition, we settle these matters in different ways.」

Corvus nods, and momentarily peeks at the black targets off in the distance.

「But make no mistake! This is no different, than a duel to the death! By succeeding, you will deny your opponents the chance to live as a mage! This is not much different, than outright killing them!」

He turns his eyes to the crowd of mages, speaking in a loud and clear voice. He spreads his hands, shaking his black, hay-like head as he reminds them.

「Listen, and listen well, young mages! He, who is unable to impose his will on the world, is worthless as a mage! He is merely swept away in the currents of those greater than him!」

The old man's face becomes surprisingly stern. His soft smile and gaze have disappeared off to somewhere, as he's calling on the prospect students.

「Have no mercy! If your will is to attend, then impress us! Crush all else, and rise above!」

Corvus gestures, crushing the air with his wrinkled hand, then raising his open hand above his head.

「Our Academy has expanded enough to hold 300 more students this term!…」

He points his hand to the grand Academy building behind the group, sheltered beyond a great wall.

「…But I can already tell, not all of you will make it in! We will hold two more exams! One in a week, and then one more a week after that! Then, the term will officially begin!」

He quickly counts the mages, and warns with his wrinkled, bony index finger extended, wagging it a little before returning his hands behind his back once again.

「The competition will be cutthroat! If you fail the first exam, there is a chance to try again in the next one… Provided we still have the room! But if you have failed to impress us the first time…」

Corvus grimaces a little, his eyes soften and return to their previous appearance as he looks at the grass beneath, thinking…