“Dante? N-no… I have no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t have anything related to the sage god.” Why am I being interrogated all of a sudden?

“Hmm. Sorry. This is quite a strange question to ask. I am sorry, enjoy your year by the way.” Drent made his way towards the door until I stopped him.

“Yes. I may know something about that torn page you are saying.” As soon as I said it, his face looked very intrigued. I, then, explained what happened to me during my eight year-old period but couldn’t get the gist of what it truly meant.

“I see… I got mine when I was trying to convince my parents to enroll in a magic academy like Magia back in those times… I was fifteen years-old until I saw a torn page emerge before my eyes… However in your case, you never had the magic system until you came contact with this torn page. Other than that... As you said, it had immense power, that I had nothing else to do but read it before touching. It said ‘blood is bound.’ Other than that, I have no idea what it meant… but it gave me extra knowledge of some magic spells I never heard off… And as far as these years… you’re the only one I felt connected to.”

“I wish I knew what that torn page in my part meant… I am sure it can clear some rubble as well…” I placed my hand on my chin.

“Anyway… Let’s not be problematic about that. I am sure you’re using the power of that torn page safe and well. Let’s talk about this once we’re able to come up with an answer.”

“W-wait… before you go. Why did you ask if I was Dante?”

“...” Instructor Drent looked quite perplexed in his own words as well.

“As much as I don't believe on the god sage’s existence on this world… an echo can be heard from your resonance… however, it’s all so misunderstood maybe. These torn pages aren’t quite the detailed ones you know… other than having three words to describe itself… the other contents of the page is encrypted by some sort of ancient language.”

“...” Now I am the one that is at lost.

“Ah. Whatever. It’s really gonna get late if you don’t head over to your dormitory. I’ll catch up as well once you guys are there. I’ll assign you to your rooms.”

“Yes, sir.” I exited the main courtyard of the school and headed towards the dormitory area where I met people waiting by the benches outside. Hmm, these people might be waiting for instructions as well.

A blond boy stood up and approached where I was sitting and started speaking. “So. I've heard of your name. Tooru. Your hard-earned commoner blood finally reached noble, huh? Well, let me tell you something. It doesn't change anything. If you're a commoner you will be forever.” I really have no intentions on aggravating this person or anything but he has serious issues in attention-seeking.

“I don't have any concerns with your shenanigans, excuse me.” Maybe that'll work. Disrespecting this guy is just the same as being immature… just keep relaxed when handling these people.

“How dare you? You're a commoner and a production marked crest! How can you even move with that filth?! But I, Delvus Suliard, am a close range combat magic user! I bet you can't even lift a sword against me.”

Delvus Suliard, huh? So he's part of the mainstream nobles here who expect the world to be served on a silver platter.

“Your passionate words doesn't even match the sharpness of your blade.” I snickered.

“Why you little…!”

“Enough.” Before something rash happened, instructor Drent showed up to break up the conversation.

“If you're going to duel. I suggest planning this tomorrow. Geez, it's just the start of the semester and someone is already having a duel.”

“Yes. Yes! I'll show this commoner who can fight better with swords and magic.” Delvus arrogantly said while walking away from us.

“I don't have any concern of you having a duel… but make sure to go easy on him. I have a feeling that you may actually be able to kill him with a lift of a finger.” Instructor Drent patted my shoulder.

“How do you know I'll do that? Isn't that a bit overreacting? I haven't even learned basic combat magic in duels.” I have to fully admit… The magic I learned from the torn pages may help me in terms of fast progression on magic development…

However it doesn't improve my knowledge about other spells. I was, rather, limited to a few spells I learned when I fought that beast with father back then. And within those four years was a damp silence in my Mana circulation. The only moments I attained magic were solemn, but I think fighting with this knowledge for now will be sufficient against Delvus… as long as I remember father's swordsmanship training.

“Haruki, you seem to be deep in your thoughts… are you really going to fight, Delvus? I've heard that he learns royal swordplay.” Chiyako spoke beside me.

“Is he really…?” That's quite troublesome now that I know. But it would be easier if I'll deal with him using this swordplay I have learned ever since. Good thing I practiced learning the Tengyokukenryuu, (天極剣流), which means Divine Extremities Sword style. The Fjall region used to be inhabited by the Eadril people that came from the eastern countries, they traded with the people of Fjall.

Other than that, there are solemn traveling practitioners of that style. Now that I remember, I haven’t bought a sword yet… maybe there are swords that are shipped from Eadril to the royal capital…

“Haruuuki. Don't think too deep again. I might lose you this time.”

“Ah… I'm sorry. I just remembered something.”

“Heeeh… And because of that, you missed the assigning of the rooms. But don't worry, you're just a floor below me. I'll show you once we get to the stairs, and by the left you'll be able to enter your room in an instant. Easy, right?” Chiyako smiled while explaining.

“Hehe… I guess it is. Thank you.” She headed upstairs leaving me in the living room of the dormitory.

“Haruki… was it?” A gray haired girl, that was a little bit smaller than me, approached me.

“U-uhm… yeah, is there something you want?”

“...My name is Emilia Delacroux. I am interested in knowing you.” Hmm. That's quite strange, I never thought someone would just socialize with me in an instant. Without any thought of it, Emilia handed over her IDC to me and gestured to borrow mine as well.

“A..ah… here…” I held onto hers as I borrowed mine. Emilia Delacroux, huh… Such a noble name. I'm not quite familiar with the nobles of the royal capital but she might be someone famous. Other than that, agile combat magic system, huh? Crests are sometimes not seen unless the person casts their magic. In most cases, crests are seen embedded on the arm or the hands of the person.

I never got mine until I came to know about the mysterious torn page.

“Production magic… you might be able to…”

“Hmm…?” I curiously looked at her when she fixed her gaze on me.

“N-no… sorry, I didn't mean to bother you with trivial matters. Here's your IDC back, I'll head off to my bedroom. Thanks for taking your time with me, Haruki.” S...strange… I didn't get the meaning of what she was about to say.

But it doesn't matter for now, I have to rest. I have a duel that I didn't basically arrange… whatever, I'll just do it. It'll be too late to back out for now. I walked upstairs and entered my room.

“What… what happened here…” I said out loud as I entered my room. Everything is… sliced. The walls are vandalized. My bed is torn like it was slashed by a sword.

“Who did this…?” I frowned while I clenched a fist.

“Hahahaha! Look who's angry. You'll be thirsty for victory, won't you? I told you. Being my opponent will make you suffer the differences of the commoner’s world from the nobles. HAAAAHAHAHAAA!” Delvus laughed while walking away with two dudes who seemed like hired goons.

“Oh. I guess I will have to show you the differences as well.” I whispered to myself. My frown wasn't there anymore, but rather, a smile of excitement.

I entered the room and sat near the bed and pulled my notebook from my coat pocket. Un. While the night passes, I'll spend my time revisualizing that torn page I saw back then… I started scribbling some magic circles I learned from the sorcery books Hitoshi gave me when I was 9 years old.

The basics of making magic circles are definitely based on the perspective of the magic user himself, not everyone can have the same but can replicate it. Just as the same way of visualizing magic, magic can be seen as the same thing but when the magic user makes his own image… it will be his own idea of what he is creating.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

This comes with the mixture of ideas and that is why magic theory is connected to magic development. Thanks to the late and famous magic users in this era, we can make even more advanced magic. And especially, casting magic without the use of chanting. I was able to attain the power of the torn pages when I touched it. The power and knowledge was immense to the point that I could make magic appear without saying anything or to at least shorten the time of casting. But the power of the torn page lasted for a few months when I depleted my mana one time against the hunter wolf.

And even if I still have the power of the torn page, it wouldn’t help me to figure out other magic… it would be up to me to find out. The night is getting colder as I sat still concentrating at the magic circles before me. “No… This isn’t going to help me.” I whispered to myself. I knew that in the first place, I wouldn’t be able to understand the complexity of the torn page’s power… however, remembering the magic I used at that time could be a better reference than the one written on that paper.

Time passed by…

“Aaahh~” I yawned and stretched as I looked at my progress on the notebook. In some degree, the usage of production magic is limited especially in combat, however I have never used a single combat magic like elemental damage to opponents. Now that I remember what I used to do, enchanting the wooden sword without the proper magic circles for it. And due to that, the wooden sword broke because it was across its limits. In another case, father wasn’t expecting the way I used my magic.

And as far as I know, not everyone can enchant a weapon to almost 3 and above enchantments. Heck, two is already powerful and too rare to be seen in this era. What the hell is up with this power… Now that I am able to see the overview of what I did before with these basic magic circles. Next from what I remember, is the usage of concealment magic, physics manipulation, Placement magic, and rigging magic placements as well. I remember these but now looking at it… I swear that it is a lot more complex than I thought.

I sighed and got shocked when I saw the clock at 2 in the morning. Ah! It’s already that late?! I was just analyzing over these… Guess I never know when to stop until I am tired. I yawned once more and head towards my bed forgetting to turn off the lamp lighting my desk…

“GAH!”

I instantly woke up as the door of my bedroom burst opened. My sweat began to rush out of my pores and my eyes quickly scanned the room of any threats. It was dark and nothing was seen in the naked eye. It was in the dead of the night that this incident is happening.

“Haruki… Haruki…” I heard a voice calling out to me from the hallways towards my open door. I stood up and clenched my fist and repeated ‘it’s nothing’ over and over again in my head. Time to wrap this ruse up. I casted『Magic Light』that hovered over my hand then I tossed it over to the door making it light up the wall on the hallways. I-It’s nothing! Why did I even throw it?! It doesn’t matter, I can make another one after all, I casted the second time. And this time, I walked towards the door slowly but surely. As soon as I approached my open door, I peeked over to my left and saw the hallway connected to a broken hallway that floated across of what seems to be another world.

“Woah… What happened here?” I thought aloud and looked all over the atmosphere of the world. It looked wonderful but different at the same time. It was as if time wasn’t moving in that place. The skies were magenta and the sun and moon wasn’t present at all. There I saw a man standing from afar calling upon me.

“You may not be able to approach me at all, well, at least for now.” The man started speaking in my head.

“Hence, I am fully aware of that and so are you. I apologize for such a sudden outburst of calling you upon here… in this dreadful place.” It continued speaking.

“Who… who are you?” I hesitated asking but it went out of my mouth.

“That’s for you to know someday… I wish I had more time to talk to you… but I am afraid that this environment is very, what can I say? Unfriendly.”

“I…”

“I’m sorry for now… but I have to explain this to you really quick before time runs out. The world of yours may be in danger and you’re probably the only one who can change the course of this danger. But not only you of course, you need a companion with you, it doesn’t matter if you are a lot or anything. As long as you can fight against this danger… Your world will be fine against anything. The torn page is everything you’ve got. Venture out… and you will understand.” Wait… the torn page? Who is this person? Why does he know about the page? Could he be the person who made these magical abilities?

“S-sir?”

“I’m sorry, Haruki.”

“Sir.” I saw the ceiling lit up by natural light that my bedroom is filled up with. It seems to be morning. My hand is raised up towards the ceiling when I said ‘sir.’ Who was that person? And what about changing the course of this danger? I don’t understand this for now and I’ll just take it for granted. But this doesn’t make me less cautious, now that it is implanted on my head… I don’t have any way to deny that. Venture out, huh? Did he mean that I am going to embark on an adventure with some people? I wonder if I’ll be able to convince them with this idea. Hmm, it may be possible because of my experience with the torn page’s power.

That may work then… I sat up and felt the slit open part of my bed that I forgot about.

“Oh yeah, the noble guy did this to me.” I said to myself. While I was looking at the slices on my bed, I heard knocking coming from my door.

“Haruki, wake up, it’s uh… breakfast.” Judging from this voice, this might be Chiyako. I opened the door and said,

“Good morning.”

“Ha… What happened to your room?” Chiyako gasped as she looked over my shoulder that I tried hard enough to block.

“Guess there is no hiding from it then, huh? Haha. Well, this is quite my problem you see…”

“Is it that noble guy again? He is really looking forward to fight you in a duel Haruki.”

“Yeah, if I don’t accept his proposal, it’ll be worse than it is now.”

“Well, I guess you have to do what he wants you to do. But other than that, I don’t want you to suffer bad news by the time you wake up! There’s food downstairs… and uh… make sure to uh… wear something decent before opening the door for someone okay?” Oh… what… WHAT??!! I was wearing boxers all along and I didn’t notice!

“I’m very very very sorry!” But before I apologized Chiyako already ran downstairs. I sighed… but it was caught up by the strong smell of food that was very alluring.

“That smells really good… Yup. Time to clothed up and eat, there’s a duel later and I won’t go there with an empty stomach!” After clothing up, I went downstairs and ate with the other dormitory people I am with.

“Well! If it isn’t Haruki eating with his friends, don’t think that our duel is over. Remember, you’re just a wannabe noble with a system weaker than anybody.” Delvus walked up towards our desk with a couple of people behind him. Wow, it might be so hard to manage when you live together with this asshole.

“No, I haven’t. Besides, I think that it isn’t really necessary to fight regarding the fact that I am ‘weaker’ than you.”

“So you are admitting that you are hopeless… But this doesn’t change anything, my hobby is to crush insects like you—!” Delvus was about to start a racket until he was abruptly stopped by someone.

“I believe that is not needed, Delvus.” Instructor Dante showed up with his arms crossed by the entrance of the dormitory.

“You’re not supposed to play with food, even the noblest of people work hard enough to have a meal before them. Go back to your dormitory areas now, I believe your adviser might be looking for you and your friends.”

“Tch.” Delvus retreated with his group while glaring at me.

“Haruki, if you’re going to fight that boy, know that there is a probability of destroying your reputation.” Instructor Delvus started explaining.

“I didn’t know that but if he keeps on giving me trouble, I’ll have to do what I have to.” It is going to happen after all, without proving the fact that I can fight… nothing will change. Explaining peace to fools won’t work.

“Now with that ruse over, let’s start with the essentials of the school.” Time passed by when Instructor Drent started explaining the ins and out of the campus with the different facilities located around the school. He explained the directions to where the Gymnasium, training grounds, library, research stations, and nearby local market outside the school.

“This is the royal capital after all, no doubt that there will be an accessible store outside and also inside of the school.” Chiyako started leaned towards me.

“Wait, there is also inside?” I replied to her but we were overheard by Instructor Drent.

“Yes, there is. That is the cafeteria area of the campus where they sell many things. Not only food, but also useful supplies along the way of the students. Can you listen now, Haruki?”

“Y-yes sir.” I sighed and glared at Chiyako who was acting like she didn’t do anything. Whilst Instructor Drent was talking one of the teachers approached him with a bunch of students behind him. I noticed that it was Delvus and some of his goons I saw earlier, other than that, some were students I didn’t know.

“Instructor Drent, I believe there was an official statement of a duel yesterday.” Wait, it was an official thing? Nobles really get somewhere fast just by waving money on people’s faces.

“I see, it is a coincidence that you approached us in an open field just to get this over with. I, Drent Wilsdorf Instructor of Year 1 Class-B, approve of this duel.” The rest of the class saw me walk up to the side of Instructor Drent while Delvus stood right in front of me.

“You’re going down.” Delvus smiled at me mischievously. I didn’t say anything in return this time. It was too early in the morning to digest so I felt aloof and calm.

“I, umpire of this match, Lucas Deucatix, shall judge and secure the safety of the contestants.” Alright. This shall do it. I felt 『Duel Shield』 before me that was casted slowly. It is an official way of shielding contestants in order to avoid injuries. I noticed that it was too thin for a fight like this, was it really that safe to begin with? I never even read about the rules in duels.

“Wait, before you start, what are the rules.” I asked Instructor Drent.

“Don’t kill your opponent and win by a checkmate.” Okay, that wasn’t clear enough… but if it was something like that then I don’t have to worry about dying… maybe. And since he didn’t say anything about prohibited actions, I shall use a little bit of magic I made from my free time.

“Wait, I don’t have any weapon.”

“Well, that’s something you have to figure out yourself since we already started the duel.”

“W-wait!” Once I said this, it was already too late to do something. Using magic would be enough then.