I've never really been in love before.

I was born with immense talent as a mage. Talent that surpassed even most royalty. Many countries were dying to get their hands on such a youth. Even if that youth already belonged to another country. However, I was born and raised in the Kingdom of Knightford. This is my home, and I wouldn't leave over trivial matters such as money.

I had a loving family that provided me with whatever I needed for training. I could easily obtain something like a magic book or magic trainer if I asked them for it. The Maxon house wasn't a high-ranking noble house, but they were still very wealthy.

As time passed, I was taught by many powerful magicians. One by one, I eventually surpassed all of them in power. Before my fifteenth birthday, I made it to the rank of third-class mage.

I continued training, and by the time I turned eighteen, I was already a second-class mage. I didn't need to go to the Knightford academy because I always learned from the talented mages hired by my family. But I wanted to get more powerful.

I trained and trained to the point of total exhaustion every day. But I could never break the barrier to first-class. I became depressed and drowned myself in alcohol and women. I particularly enjoyed the women and spent as much time with them as possible.

While having relations with one particular woman, she told me that she was an adventurer. I was uninterested at first. A lot of women try to make small talk with me after sex. However, when she recounted the numerous opportunities for the battle that adventurers get, I got excited.

The human-demon war was still occurring, but I couldn't enlist in the army because I didn't go to the academy. So I became an adventurer. I specialized in all of the elemental magics and even light magic. This made me an excellent all-rounder for an adventurer party.

My parents didn't want me to become an adventurer. They said it was too dangerous, but I convinced them that I would be fine.

I passed the written examination given by the adventurers guild with ease. I spent my free time immersing myself in all kinds of books. Then came the ability test.

The guild had multiple rooms designated for the different classes of adventurers. I entered the area designed for mages, and the instructor was waiting for me.

"Ah, it seems that you are finally here. Please follow my instructions to pass the exam."

"Yes sir."

The instructor smiled and brought out some sort of crystal looking thing, "Alright, please put your hand on this crystal and pour your mana into it."

I nodded and placed my hand on the crystal. I began pouring large amounts of mana into it. The crystal gradually began changing color. First white, then it gradually became redder.

I kept putting mana into the crystal, and the instructor's face became pale. I ignored him and kept pouring. This amount of mana wasn't even enough to make me sweat. The crystal changed from a light red to blood-red in seconds. The instructor hurriedly asked me to stop.

"Umm, sir, that is quite enough!"

"Oh, okay, I still have plenty more though." I said dejectedly.

"What? May I ask your mage class please?"

I expected him to ask me as soon as I entered the room. I guess this is just how they usually do things around here.

"I'm a second-class mage." I said that with a shrug. The instructor looked bewildered when I told him my class and hurriedly bowed his head.

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I passed with flying colors, and he immediately promoted me to B-rank. I was relieved that the testing was finally over. I thought there would be more to it, though.

I was able to sign up for and join an adventurer party made up of two B-rank newbie adventurers and two veteran B-rank adventurers. That's where I met her. She had a beautiful face and sky-blue hair. I had been with many women until that point, but she stood out to me.

I was going to ask her for her name, but the two veterans began taking roll calls before I could converse.

"Mason Turner, the swordsman apprentice?" One veteran called out.

"Here, sir!"

"It says here that you were self-taught from childhood and even developed your techniques. That is very impressive."

I turned to see a brown-haired man smiling at the veteran with excitement. He had on leather and chainmail armor with a longsword at his side. He looked to be in his early twenties, and he was probably the oldest one out of the three. He seems kinda uninteresting though.

"Everett Maxon, the all-rounder mage?"

"I'm here." I reply in a neutral tone so as not to offend anyone here. The last thing I would want is to make someone angry because of my attitude.

"I heard that you are a second-class mage at such a young age. That's very impressive."

The veteran taking roll call looked at me with an impressed expression. He looked to be in his mid-forties. His body was very muscular from the years of experience, and his face had many scars.

"Yeah. That's impressive and all, but don't get too cocky. And this goes for all of you! I've seen many young adventurers in my time killed because they thought they were strong enough to handle themselves."

The adventurer beside him gave out a warning to us. He had a darker skin tone than the older-looking veteran and had pointed ears. He looked considerably younger than the other veteran, but still gave off an air of experience. He must be a dark elf, as most call it.

"Yes sir."

"Hmm." He nodded and became quiet once more.

My parents taught me to be respectful to my superiors regardless of race. He seemed far more experienced than me when it comes to these things. I should just listen to him.

"And finally, Liara Cross. The swordswoman."

"Here." The blue-haired girl beside me answered the veteran with a neutral expression. She was wearing a white and black Knightford Academy combat suit. That was a suit only given to those who graduated at one of the highest ranks of their class under the swordsmanship category.

The suit looks like it's constructed of a flexible and strong material. It wrapped around her body perfectly and appeared tight. That's kinda hot. She had a long rapier at her side. That must be the sword she wields.

"Well if it isn't the Lightning Flash Liara. It seems that we have some very talented youths among us." The muscular veteran responded.

"Wow, it says here that you graduated at the top of your class, and you specialize in quick and precise attacks! Now that's cool too!" The other veteran spoke up.

The two veterans seemed more interested in her than they were in me. That makes me a bit sad. She kept the same neutral expression as she listened to the praise from the veterans.

"All that aside, I will now tell you about your assignment."

The assignment given to the three of us would solidify our party name in history while also kick-starting our relationship as a party and friendship.