-Ring!

"Haa!"

I stretch, feeling that a good stretch is necessary after the final bell rings, marking the end of today's school session.

Tuesdays are light, with only a math class that wraps up before noon. I glance at the clock to confirm it's 11:30 AM.

Math is a breeze thanks to the knowledge I retained from my previous life. Middle school-level mathematics in this world is similar, and familiarity with the concepts makes it one of the easier subjects for me.

"Hey, Doms," Arthur calls out, walking over with his characteristic easy stride.

"Sup?"

"Since it's 11:30, wanna hang out somewhere?"

I hesitate, remembering my prior commitment.

"Sorry, I can't. I have training with Professor Maurice today."

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." Arthur pauses for a moment, then perks up with a new idea. "Can I watch?"

His request caught me off guard, but after a brief consideration, I saw no harm in it.

"Sure."

Arthur then remembers something else. "By the way, did you bring any spare clothes for your training today?"

"Yeah, I have extra, but…" I trail off, facing a minor dilemma.

Arthur raises an eyebrow. "But?"

I scratch the back of my head, a bit embarrassed. "I don't know where the locker rooms are."

Despite being at this school for nearly a week, there are still areas and facilities I need to familiarize myself with, including the location of the locker rooms.

Arthur sighs, a playful smirk forming. "That's weird that you don't know the direction, Doms. I'm usually the one asking you for directions since I'm forgetful. It seems you're now the forgetful one."

His comment makes me chuckle sheepishly. It appears the original Dominic has a good sense of direction, a trait I haven't inherited along with his body.

"Hehehe, sorry."

"No worries," Arthur replies with a grin. "Come on, follow me. I'll show you where they are."

Grateful for his understanding and assistance, I follow Arthur through the school.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

After changing into my spare clothes, I am in a predicament.

I'm dressed in a simple white shirt, black shorts, and rubber shoes I'm ready for my training session with Maurice.

I've even tucked both of 'Galahad's Judgement' into my pockets.

However, I'm unsure where to meet Maurice for our training.

Pulling out my Commlink, I hesitate, debating whether or not to call him.

Knowing Maurice's busyness, I don't want to bother him unnecessarily.

With a sigh, I slip the device back into my pocket and head toward the faculty room, hoping I'll find him there or at least get directions.

As I scan the hallway for Arthur, who has promised to wait for me, I notice he's gone.

"Huh? Weird. Wasn't he just here to wait for me?"

I am puzzled by his disappearance. Arthur had specifically said, "I'll wait for you here," before I went in to change.

Suddenly, my instincts kick in. I spin around and swiftly draw one of my 'Galahad's Judgement,' pointing it forward, only to find Arthur behind me, his posture suggesting he was about to scare me playfully.

Arthur's eyes widen in shock.

"D-Doms!"

"Ah, sorry, Arthur."

Feeling embarrassed and relieved, I quickly lowered the gun and slipped it back into my pocket.

"Seriously, Doms, you scared me!"

I can't help but feel a bit annoyed. He's attempting to scare me, yet he is acting as if I'm at fault.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Bruh..."

I mutter, rolling my eyes at the irony of the situation.

Despite the brief moment of tension, I can't stay annoyed at Arthur for long. His intentions are playful, even if they lead to an unexpected standoff.

"Anyway, why did you try to scare me?"

"For jokes and giggles," Arthur replies with a nonchalant shrug.

"Alright." I shrug in response, accepting his reasoning for what it is.

"Anyway, do you know where you and Professor Maurice are supposed to meet?"

Arthur's question brings me back to the dilemma at hand.

I sighed, the uncertainty of the situation weighing on me.

"That's the thing. To be honest, I don't know. I thought about calling him, but I didn't want to interrupt him in case he was busy. I was considering heading to the faculty, but…"

Arthur quirks an eyebrow, prompting me to continue. "But?"

"I don't know where the faculty room is."

I scratch my head, a bit embarrassed by my admission.

Like with the locker rooms, my knowledge of the school's layout is embarrassingly lacking.

Arthur sighs, but there's an understanding look in his eyes.

"Okay…follow me then."

"Thanks, Arthur."

I am grateful to him for his patience and willingness to help.

I follow Arthur, appreciating his guidance. I'm surprised Arthur doesn't find me more suspicious. It's not normal for someone to forget the layout of the school overnight. I don't know what he's thinking, but I'm glad to have him assist me.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

As we navigate the school corridors, I can't help but notice the mixture of stares and whispers directed at both Arthur and me.

While Arthur seems to attract attention for his looks, drawing sighs and giggles from the girls, I find myself on the receiving end of less flattering commentary.

"Gah! Arthur, notice me!"

"He's so hot!"

"Yeah!"

"I agree, but who's that shameless display with him?"

The last remark stings a bit, but I let it slide. I have more important matters, like finding Maurice for my training session.

Soon, we arrive at the faculty room. Peering through the glass, I try to spot Maurice among the various teachers but have no luck.

"Weird, I don't see him."

"Same here," Arthur echoes my sentiment. "I'll go in and ask."

"Thanks, Arthur." I appreciate his willingness to help and stepping back to give him space.

But as I take a step back, my surroundings abruptly change. The dense foliage of a forest replaces the familiar school environment.

"What the!?" Surveying my surroundings, it's clear I'm no longer at school.

"Hey there, Dominic."

Maurice's voice cuts through the confusion.

I whirl around to find him dressed for training, just like last time.

NEW QUEST! Quest: Survive Maurice.

Reward: 100 Stat Points.

Before I can process the sudden change in location, a new quest notification appears in my vision.

The new quest in my vision brings a gulp to my throat.

The reward is tempting, even greater than the one for the duel with Lumi.

But it also means I'm alone in this training session, without Arthur or anyone else to step in if things get too intense potentially.

André has warned me about Maurice's reluctance to hold back.

"Let's now begin the first segment of today's training!" Maurice announces, raising his right hand.

-Flick!

With a flick of his fingers, the temperature around us drops suddenly, making me shiver.

"So, I hear you have a duel against Lumi tomorrow." Maurice materializes a cane in his hand. "Consider this training a preparation for that duel."

Taking a deep breath, I draw 'Galahad's Judgement' from my pockets, aiming them squarely at Maurice.

-Bang! Bang!

I fire my guns at Maurice, who dodges easily, making it seem like he's merely stepping out of a slow breeze, not bullets.

In response, he points his cane directly at me.

"Icicle Lance Barrage!”

Reacting quickly, I leap to the side and roll to safety.

-Boom!

When I glance back, I see the ground where I've just been standing is now littered with sharp, spear-like icicles.

I could've died from that.

"Dominic, the Everhearts are renowned for their 'Ice' magic," Maurice mentions, lifting his cane again. "But remember, they often lack in close combat skills."

I bite my tongue, staying silent even though I'm already aware.

"Cryoquake."

With a powerful slam of his cane, Maurice unleashes a wave of ice crystals from the ground, targeting me.

I sprint to the side, trying to outrun the creeping ice, but it's fast on my heels.

Left with no other option, it was time to activate the 'Chrono Pendant.'

"Activate."

Tick-tock!

Suddenly, the world around me moves in slow motion.

I seize the moment, weaving through the icy obstacles Maurice has created.

Closing the distance, I aim my guns at him and fire again.

-BANG! BANG!

To my surprise, Maurice's gaze meets mine, a knowing look in his eyes.

"dleiF emiT nezorF"

His words are foreign, but their effect is immediate. A giant ice clock appears out of nowhere, and Maurice conjures an ice shield in front of him.

-Boom!

My bullets collide with the shield, scattering smoke and ice shards. I shield my eyes from the debris.

"So, you possess an artifact that slows down time?"

I lower my arms. Maurice moves as if unaffected by the slowed time, calmly pushing aside a floating icicle.

"The spell I use isn’t from the Everheart’s arsenal," he continues, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It’s an ancient spell crafted by my ancestor. So, don’t be too concerned."

A lump forms in my throat as I swallow hard, the reality of the situation sinking in. Maurice's counterspell has effectively nullified the one advantage I thought I had—the ability to manipulate time with the Chrono Pendant.

But Maurice is an [SS] ranked Magician, a title that carries weight throughout all of Sylvestria. [SS] ranked Magicians possess mana reserves sufficient to power the entire Magi-tech infrastructure. Yet, strangely, I can still speak normally to him despite his spell. Has he perhaps limited the mana used for the spell?

“Professor,” I venture, trying to steady my voice, “did you limit the amount of mana you used in the spell?”

He nods, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Indeed. I used a [B+] level of mana to evenly match that artifact of yours.”

In Sylvestria, spells aren’t ranked like Magicians are; all spells are theoretically equal on paper. However, they differ significantly based on how much Mana a Magician or Manaficial pours into them.

“Enough talking, Dominic,” Maurice declares, his tone shifting to one of seriousness. “Let’s fight.”

Even as time crawls around us, the forest stands as a testament to the clash between my artifact and Maurice’s ancient spell. The leaves tremble in suspended animation, caught in the crossfire of conflicting magic.

I'm back to square one, facing a formidable opponent without my trump card, the stakes higher than ever.