Four years later…

“Haruki~!” “Coming!” Hello. Once again. I'm Haruki Tooru. Under the Tooru family, once was part of the royal capital, but now supervising the provincial areas with the friendly mayor by our town. And since I found out my father is actually part of the royal army… We’re a special few whom worked our way up the ranks. Not that I know much about that, but my blood in this current life says otherwise. During my eight year-old times, I found out a torn page which gave me the powers to understand magic quick and with a little bit of practice. Until now, I never knew the reason why it happened.

“You're finally going, huh? I'll miss you. Don't forget to send us mails about your stay there.” Mother looked teary eyed. But before any of this happened. Prior to few months ago, I planned out my search of magic development in this world in the royal capital… Solfeigh. My family told me to supervise the town with my brother… but I wanted to do something else.

Of course their reactions wasn't what I expected it to be… but they agreed to me otherwise. I wanted to follow my goals and figure out further lengths with this level of magic. My level of magic. Production. And growing up to become the only sorcerer in the family, of knights, is what I wanted. Honestly I never really wanted to be a noble… but it’s fine since we worked our asses off to be able to access this rank. I’m much more proud at my family than myself. I don’t deem myself as a noble anyway.

“Now that you’re going. Make sure to keep safe and stay healthy, okay?” Mother kept on worrying and kept on giving me items to bring along the way.

“D-Don’t worry. I’ll be fine!” I smiled lethargically.

“Don’t forget this, Haruki.” Hitoshi made his way towards me and gave what seems to be a necklace for gathering Experience Points (EXP)… something that can strengthen you along the way.

“Father and I, thought that it’d be nice for you to keep this necklace. We don’t know what this is really since it is stocked inside the stockroom that we have. Maybe you’ll find it useful or something.”

“T-thanks.” I feel like I am a dumper with these things on me. They don’t even know what it does! I heard a carriage stop behind me as I look at my family once more.

“Your carriage is there. Please… don’t get into any more trouble, okay?” Father smiled at me.

“Heh. You too, father.”

I took turns of waving as I became distant from my family… Yup. It’s time. My adventure begins now. I scanned through my thoughts and I knew I was on the right track. The study of magic. Not only that but many more subjective things await me in this adventure I choose to partake.

A day passed by and I’m boarding my carriage again after taking a stop near the main city and unto the royal capital.

“Young Master, we’re finally nearing the royal capital. Is it okay for you to stay up there?” Ah yeah. I chose to lie down above the carriage because it felt quite boring sitting inside the carriage. Plus, I really insisted doing so.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry. As long as it doesn’t rain.” I replied. Well… The weather looks as if there is 0% chance of raining. The sky is very blue and the clouds are high above scraping the skies like cotton.

“I heard that you’re going to one of the famous schools of magic. ‘Zauber Magia Academy’ was it? I heard there were quite a lot of nobles there as well.”

“Hmm. Is that so? Well, it’s fine really. I’m quite interested about the history of this world anyway so… I might as well dig deeper.” I replied to my carriage driver.

“Haha. Might as well be, young master. Let’s just hope that nothing bad happens to you there.” Now that I remember… Student identifications here in ‘Magia’ is quite fancy and has its own determination of what system you are. I fear that I won’t be accepted in some parts… now that people will know my class and system in magic.

We wore what seems to be black in color as a normal clothes. The cloth is honestly quite prestigious than any school back in my former life. The mixture of white and black with this coat as a school uniform is great. I looked over to the capital which looked finally nearer than ever. The beauty of a lively capital was before me… Living in the provinces is lavish but I didn’t expect that the royal capital still had that much green around it. When it comes to mainland cities, you instantly think of cities covered in infrastructures to the point that there is no grass and trees present anymore.

Truly beautiful. It was as if I am still in the provinces. Stuck in those thoughts. I found myself nearing the main gates of ‘Solfeigh’ the royal capital. I am not very familiar with the landmarks here in the capital but I see beautiful buildings. Now that you know it, the capital really looks humongous when you finally get close to it. Knowing that you came from the mountain tops is surely a beautiful view once you see the capital from a high place. The capital is surrounded by a huge stream of water, somewhat almost like a huge river. Then it has extensions of bridges around it for easy crossing towards the capital. Apart from admiring the view, I saw students with the same uniform as I have. Some wore white or blue and especially black, but all had the same logos of Magia on their coats.

I wonder what the differences are…

“Young master, this is going to be my last stop. It is nice spending much time with you on the trip. I will be sure to send your regards to your family. I’ll be off now.” The carriage driver slowly became far from me as I waved a farewell to him. I walked towards the main gates along the bridge and then the guard saw me in the Magia uniform and called me out.

“Ah. A new first year student, huh? That’s quite interesting. There are a lot of students enrolling nowadays.”

“Really? Although, why are you calling me out?” I asked.

“Well, you forgot to line up. Haha. This is where the first year line is.” I looked behind me and saw a lot of people. Ah. Shoot. This is so embarrassing. I silently walked towards the end of the line.

I sighed out with frustration. I clearly had no intention of not noticing the line. I was so enthralled with what I was seeing. Most of our identification are placed inside our notebooks so it won’t go missing. Identification papers are hard paper that is better placed inside the notebook to ensure safety. That’s what the guidelines of the school told me before I came here.

“A...Ah! N-No!” I heard a voice of a girl in front of me as I was looking at my notebook. I peered in front of me and saw a troubled bespectacled girl looking towards the huge streams of river surrounding the capital.

“M-my papers!” H-huh…? Oh. Her papers are flying away towards the river… She looks very troubled by it… I can’t really turn a blind eye. Aghhh! Why do I have to act so heroic?! I quickly casted a spell under my breath. Un. This would be a good idea.『Halt Momentum』The paper froze in mid-air as I casted another spell under my breath. This time it will be bringing it back here, that’ll be nothing other than『Manipulation Magic』, that’s also where Telekinesis co-exists with other magic just like ‘Halt Momentum’.

I controlled it all the way to my hands preventing it from flying again. ‘Manipulation Magic’ has demanding features to it depending on what you are controlling. The weight. The way it needs to be moved or such. In this case, I didn’t feel much difficulties with controlling a paper in mid-air. If I was still eight years old, it would be in a medium state of mana consumption and that’s bad.

“Th-thanks. But other than that… That was so amazing!! How were you able to do that?” The girl looked allured to what I did a while ago and she is now questioning me with all her might.

“I…” Why can’t I speak for some reason… Now that I realize… I don’t usually talk to girls back then. Why am I feeling so nervous?! Calm down heartbeat!

“It’s… just ‘Manipulation Magic.’”

“W-wow that’s amazing. You might’ve come from a family full of noble sages who taught you that. I am so envious.”

“Haha…” Actually, I came from a family of knights and I use an underestimated system of magic… there is nothing worthwhile in me.

“Oh forgive me. I am Chiyako Furukawa. I am not a noble in any way… but I strive for the best!”

Now that I realized… She looks way cuter when she smiled. With the mixture of her looks and paired with the glasses. It truly suits my type. Wait… No! Now is not the time to be affected by this.

“It’s fine. I am Haruki Tooru. I… can say that I am noble. Haha.”

“Oh? So you’re a noble? That’s cool. So I may be right that you came from a famous sage family… except… I never heard of that family name… hmm…” It’s because we aren’t, we are a bunch of knights which had an unwanted sage.

“That’s interesting, you’re also from Class B, and in the same year as us.”

“O-oh, that is true, after all. I am quite new here as well.” Chiyako frankly spoke.

“I hope our social classes don’t make any differences between the both of us. I really hope you will take care of me in the future.” I bowed my head before her and she seemed abashed by it.

“W...Whaat…? N-no! I-It’s okay! You don’t have to be formal!” She begged me to refrain from bowing.

“I’m sorry. I am not fond of being an upper class person, it is truly not my intention of being one. My family just worked hard to earn that status.”

“Oh? Is that so? Then it is nothing to worry about. As long as there is hard work done by your family, success will always be the result!” Fair words by a cute girl. I had nothing else to say but to smile at her as she did too. It was too bright. I wish I never smiled and embraced hers instead.

“Identification please.” I gave my notebook and they put a stamp in one of the boxes in the corner of my identification papers.

“Hmm… What is this for?” I asked Chiyako. This means that you are able to go in and out of the royal capital without being intervened by the royal capital guards. And it also gives us advantages. Some other boxes over here is exclusive to some of the people here, it can be stamped even more if they found out you are a noble coming from a noble family.”

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“That means they can access a lot of things when it has approval stamps?” “Exactly.” Wow, she is actually very informative. I like being around her, this way, I can be able to understand more of my surroundings.

“Now that I realized, you don’t know these?”

“Ah yeah. About that… I came from the provinces you see…”

“Ooh… That’s so interesting. I am from a city near here actually. And also knowing the fact that you came from the provinces is so interesting and pairing with your impressive magic… You’re so mysterious. As mysterious as the province people.” I just snickered in return to her statement. Obviously, a city girl like you who hasn’t seen the provincial areas is quite normal to not know what it is to be in a province.

“Now that I know you're a noble… why aren't you wearing those white coats then?” Hmm… So those white coats are for those who are nobles…

“I don't want to stand out too much. Wearing something like that is awkward honestly. People have different insights about you.” I replied.

“Hehe. That's true. I like what you said. Now… off to the next rendezvous point. Let's get a seat together in the school ceremony okay? I'll meet you by the school entrance. Bye bye~!”

“Uh… yeah…” She is very energetic and quite fun to be with. This is a good thing.

I have personal developments as well. Mhmm. Time to attend that school ceremony she talked about. I walked my way towards various shops scattered across the royal capital square. It sold different weapons, items, clothing, and many more. It all looks pretty but it's expensive. What a word. Even if I'm a noble I still find it hard to handle expensive prices. There was a bookstore as well, my oh my, I would like to check out their stocks. But it was early in the morning and the shops were all closed yet, readying for the wave of people in midday.

Woah… that must be Magia. It looks beautiful from here. I really feel quite nervous going all the way here just to learn different things. I grabbed a folded message that said:

“Greetings. We have received your mail. Thank you for sending this message, Tooru family. Your presence here is a great addition in the studying environment of Magia.

We would like to speak about our subjects for the first years…”

The message then explained to me the various types of subjects that didn’t include only magic training but sword training. This is very cool. The bell rung from afar and I noticed I was late for the ceremony. I ran towards the gates of the school and was intercepted by what seems to be my seniors in this school.

“Hello there! The auditorium right this way~! Please make haste before you get late!” The onee-chan just told me as she pointed at a building that fit the image of ‘auditorium.’

By then, I didn’t notice that there were signs along the sides of the passageway towards it. I smiled and bowed then walked away. Hmm, it seems like there isn’t anymore vacant seats… what am I supposed to do? I saw someone waving at me… it couldn't be me right? I looked behind and looked at the person waving at me again. Ah. It wasn’t any mistake that I was being waved at. Chiyako? I think that’s her name. I rushed towards her and sat on the chair she kindly reserved for me.

“I… really appreciate that. Thank you so much.”

“No problem! That was at least paying you for getting my identification with those COOL MAGIC!” Heh. She’s so enthusiastic about magic as well… but both of us aren’t that different.

“Heehee~! This doesn’t pay that much. But at least I helped, right?” She smiled at me. Again, I can’t take the brightness of her smile and simply nodded.

“Students of Magia! We welcome you with a warm embrace. Thank you for coming and letting yourselves indulge with our prestigious magic and sorcery development and studies. And we hope that this will help you along the way of becoming the royal capital’s best students…”

Along the lines of what seems to be the head of this school, he said.

“Now you may know, and quite obvious, Magia isn’t the only school of magic that teaches here in the royal capital, and because of that, there will be competitions against one school and another to test the students and determine the school of winning!” I leaned towards Chiyako.

“That’s honestly fun.”

“I… I think it is. Hehe.” She replied but she seemed uneasy.

“What’s wrong?”

“I-It’s just that… I am interested in the way magic works out fine but… I am not quite confident about my firepower in magic.” She pushed her spectacles once more and her eyes affixed once more towards the stage.

I see… I didn’t say anything in return anymore because I don’t have much idea of how she handles magic. I also looked at the stage and listened to the principal until the ceremony was finally over.

“Haah… Now that’s finally over… I wonder what we’re going to do today.” I laid back at a bench near the cafeteria with Chiyako beside me.

“Well… I heard that we will be in the same classes and await for further instructions by our homeroom teacher.”

“Oh we are? Hmm. Alright then.” I shifted my gaze from her to the sky and wondered.

The world of magic really packs a punch to my life… but I never asked why I got the crest of magic by the time I was eight. Most of the crests are given instantly by the time they were born… but I heard that I was given the crest late. After touching that weird torn page around that time. It was surely real and I truly felt something from that. But I can’t guarantee that it was the reason why I had magic. Apart from that, I can’t also discern the writings on it by the time. It’s all a blurry image right now.

“What’s wrong, Haruki? You seemed troubled.”

“No. It’s nothing.” Un. I shall deem it nothing for now… Maybe one day I will cross paths with that memory again and solve it by that time.

“C-Can we exchange identification? It’s weird but… I just wanted to look at your status.”

“Oh yeah, sure. Let me borrow yours as well.”

“Sure.” We exchanged Identification Cards (IDCs) inside our notebooks and peered through the information.

Impressive… She uses 『Long Range Combat Magic』. Most of the long range combat magic-users uses staffs in order to amplify the effects of their casting once they are able to keep their distance. Others don’t use staffs for a reason, yet I can’t fully comprehend the importance of magic amplifying weaponry. But there is an empty space here that says…『Class: 』

Well… we’re both not sure of our desired classes yet.

“You’re using production magic, huh?”

“Oh… yes, that’s true, is there a reason?” I took a glimpse at her and she was smiling again.

“I admire production magic you know… It has the specialty of making magic in terms of support, it’s truly an industrious type of magic.” She seems like she really likes magic… but why this?

“Why so? You are quite the good one actually. A long range combatant.” I asked her.

“A...Ah… Haha. You see, it’s not my forte to be outside in the field. I always feared violence when it comes to magic.” A true angel but I seriously beg to differ.

“No matter where you go and what system you are born with. You are destined to learn and protect the ones you love.” And even if I said it like that way, it doesn’t make me cool.

“Y-You’re right! I like what you said, Haruki. You’re more than meets the eye.”

“T-thanks, I guess?” I smiled nervously as she shook my hands with sparkling eyes. She is definitely wife material. But I still doubt that I said anything cool. The school bell rung again and the students were instructed to make way to their classrooms to start the introductions.

We arrived inside the main building and into our classroom. There stood a middle-aged man that looked at his students lethargically.

“Good morning… I’m your homeroom teacher. Sigh.” C-Could he be a little bit sensitive about this?

“Right. I am Drent Wilsdorf. Let’s see if we can make this a good year, huh?” What’s with that introduction?! Is he even fit of being an instructor?! As soon as I finished ranting in my thoughts, I heard whispering along the corners of the classroom.

“Wilsdorf…? Isn’t that one of the best magic-users out there?”

“I heard he came from a noble family of famous sorcerers.”

“He doesn’t seem like it. But that’s amazing!” Woah… this guy is quite famous in this place. Although, that name surely does ring a bell, I just don’t know where I heard that name… No, maybe it is nothing. Instructor Drent took a glimpse around the room and caught his eyes on me.

W-what… what does he want? Why is he looking at me. As soon as I was about to panic internally, his eyes shifted away towards the other people inside the classroom. Later on, Drent introduced the class along with the guidelines of the school with a lazy attitude that made the people quite awkward. Everyone stepped on the stage and stated their names along with where they came from, and what system of magic they use.

“I am Haruki Tooru. I came from the mountainous province called Fjall Imperium, also known as the ‘mountain empire’. I use production magic as my specialty. Nice to meet you all and I hope we’ll be able to study alongside one another.”

I heard slight whispers of jeers and sarcasm but I didn’t seem to get annoyed by it. It was an expected reaction after all, except… Chiyako still seemed impressed by me.

“Interesting…” I heard a slight whisper from Instructor Drent but it was followed by,

“Alright, head back to your seat… next.” I sat down and wondered what was that all about. Interesting? How am I interesting? Was I too obvious of being noble blood? I’m sure not everyone knows the nobles governing in the Fjall provinces…

“Remember that your dormitories are separated from the nobles. First years are separated from the other years as well. I hope this will help you guys out. You’re grown ups now.” Instructor Drent yawned. The day felt long but it finally ended.

“Hey, Haruki. It’s really nice to know where you came from. Your province really has a nice ring to its name, you know?”

“I guess so. Haha.”

“Also, don’t get too affected by the reactions of our classmates about your system of magic, it all depends in our efforts.”

“Wow. You’re more than meets the eye, Chiyako.” I smiled.

“G-gosh. Don’t use my words against me. Anyway, see you by the dormitory.”

I was about to leave the classroom until I was called by Drent.

“Yes, sir?”

“Haruki, right?” I nodded in reply.

“By any chance… are you aware of any torn pages along the Fjall regions?”

“H-huh… No…” Torn pages? Did he mean the one I had contact with four years ago? “Yes. This might sound weird but… I felt somehow familiar of your presence. And this isn’t the normal mutual feeling between distant acquaintances or whatnot…”

“...What is it then, sir?”

“You’re Dante, the sage god, aren’t you?”

“H-Huh?”