Flicking her finger across the airborne screen, Essairyn scanned the hovering words for more information on The Great Elemental War. But no matter what page she turned, or book she searched, very little was mentioned about that period. It was seemingly missing from Byar’non Academy’s magic archive which was akin to an online library.

Sighing, she stopped flipping through the pages and closed the textbook from her history of As’pyze class, the only book that discussed the war in any substantial length. Through the transparent home screen of the floating device, she saw Darren finishing his conversation with the head professor and knight of the intermediate classes. His face didn’t look pleased when he bid goodbye and left the classroom.

“I guess it didn’t go too well?” Essairyn remarked when he came near to the entrance where she stood. She pressed the indigo power button on the side of her gray bracelet, turning off the suspended display screen in front of her. The bracelet was given to all knight trainees and students and allowed access to all necessary materials for academic life. When she had first received it, she had spent hours poring over its functions and geeking out about how technologically, or more accurately, magically advanced the versatile device was.

“Yeah, if it wasn’t obvious enough.” Darren ruffled his hair in exasperation. “They didn’t agree with me wanting to join the Farinheld mission and using that as an ‘excuse’ to join the advanced classes. Nothing I said could convince him.”

“I see…” Essairyn deflated hearing the news. “Then did you enjoy your classes at least? How’re the people?”

Darren clicked his tongue and sighed as they walked together back to the dorms. “Fine enough I guess. But the combat classes were lame. No matter how hellish Hætherin’s initiation day was, it was still more fun, and I learned way more fighting those people than my current classmates, even if my first sparring partner was mismatched.”

“Well, that’s not surprising considering you’re in the upper half of rank Ds and advanced classes are rank C and up. I do find it odd that they won’t let an ambitious student challenge himself. I mean it’s just two weeks, it wouldn’t hurt anybody if people experimented.”

“Maybe, but since I’m a traveler, they’re being more strict. I need to be taught the ‘basics’ before they’d even consider me moving up.”

“What? That’s stupid, we’re all newbies, so we’re all learning the ‘basics.’ They can’t just discriminate against you for being a traveler when travelers are historically known to generally be stronger than average."

“Right?!” Darren demurred. “It’s ridiculous. Whatever, we have one week before the next evaluation, so I just need to continue excelling in my class and ask again then.”

“But—” Essairyn frowned. She wanted to be in the same classes as Darren. Even if they hadn’t known each other long, she still believed that they had formed some kind of budding connection, so she didn’t want to lose contact in these crucial two weeks.

“Did you mention that I’m also participating in the operation? Maybe they’ll—”

“No.” Darren’s answer was firm. “I don’t want to use you as an excuse too.”

“That’s not an excuse though I’m—”

“It’s okay. Seriously. It’s no big deal if it’s now or one week later. Most of the classes are the same introductory ones anyway.” Seeing the girl’s stubbornly disappointed expression, he chuckled. “It’s okay, there’s no rush. I’ll make it. I told you to trust me, right?”

The reluctant girl exhaled defeatedly. “Fine, then—” Essairyn halted in her step as they reached an intersection in the hallways. “Wait—I need to stop by somewhere first. See you at the dorms later!”

“Huh? Wha—” Darren barely had time to ask where she was going before the girl ran down another corridor. “Jeez… she’s always in a rush.” He left out an amused breath and continued walking back to his room.

“Sorry, Darren.” Essairyn apologized under her breath as she headed for the office of Byar’non Regional Academy’s Chief Knight. But I just have this strange feeling that if you don’t join now… She lightly shook her head. Perhaps it was selfish of her to fear drifting apart from the only person from Earth she knew. But it’s…not wrong for a friend to ask, too? Right, he’s just being stubborn not letting me help after declaring last night that he’ll join the mission.

She halted her dash in front of a golden-edged white door with a silver plaque that read, “Bodraig Hannsfel, First Chief of the Southern As’pyzen Province.” Essairyn stared at the tall entrance and gathered her grit. Clenching and rotating the handle firmly, she swung the door open and locked eyes with the knight who had flicked his gaze up from his desk at the bold entrance.

“Yes?” He voiced questioningly when she just stood in the doorway like a staunch statue.

Essairyn moved forward as soon as he opened his mouth and closed the distance to the desk in long strides. She halted a step from the table’s edge for just a breath’s interlude. Deciding that she should be more assertive about the matter instead of allowing him to easily reject her request, she crossed the last step and placed her palms securely down on the varnished mahogany surface in front of his paperwork.

“Sir Bodraig, would you consider letting Darren attend the advanced courses too?” Although forceful in her tone, her words were still veiled in politeness.

A crooked grin tugged at a corner of his mouth. “That is Chief Knight Bodraig to you now. Though, I appreciate the ‘sir.’ You’re speaking of your friend from the entrance exam?”

Essairyn’s eyebrows furrowed slightly deeper, and she leaned back and straightened herself. “Yes, Darren. The one whose sword you flung at me.”

A low laugh rumbled within his throat at the cheeky girl. He smiled faintly and replied, “So you want him to attend the same classes as you do?”

Her left eyebrow twitched at him beating around the bush. “Yes. So please allow him to attend. I promise he’ll do well!”

Bodraig blinked with amused eyes. Before he could question how she could promise on behalf of him, Essairyn hastily blurted, “He’s joining the Farinheld mission! So he needs to learn better skills as much as I do!”

A chuckle escaped him as he nodded casually. “All right, Miss Essairyn. Although I don’t fully approve of your request, especially now that I know Darren is brazenly joining the expedition, youths will be youths. I will allow him to attend the advanced courses.”

Essairyn blinked. She was surprised that after his waffling, he forthrightly accepted her request. Bowing, she thanked the Chief Knight for his permission.

“However.” Bodraig’s face grew stern. “This is not the usual manner in which we accept such requests. I was informed over the faculty’s magi-net that Darren’s professor already rejected it, so I understand why you came to me directly. But––” Bodraig clasped his hands together with his elbows on the table. “Do not expect another ‘yes’ in the future. You may be talented, Essairyn, but that does not come with the privilege to bypass formal procedures. You are not the only student of this Academy, so restrain yourself from further acting on self-interest.”

Astonished and ashamed at being called out after the positive response, Essairyn mutely bobbed her head, feeling as if she were suddenly talking to an army general.

“Is that a ‘yes, Chief’?”

“Yes, Chief!” Essairyn reflexively saluted.

Bodraig gave a nod and returned his gaze to his task, indicating that Essairyn was to leave. Taking the cue, the girl quickly shook her stupor away and exited the office. Once she had left, Bodraig picked up his pen and tapped it thoughtfully. As one of the three Chiefs in the Southern Province of As’pyze, and one of the fifteen total across the entire kingdom, he outranked the campus headmaster of Byar’non and could overturn most decisions. No administrative official or knight except for one of the five Commanders and their directly subordinate Lieutenants in the Order could question his orders.

Bodraig had personally witnessed Darren’s potential during the entrance exam despite not having him as a student in the advanced classes like Essairyn. Although growing to the required rank C from his current upper-middle D rank in two weeks was a stretch, Bodraig was curious about what these two travelers would do in this world. Many travelers he had known had significantly affected Sol’h’meyr whether as ardent adventurers or acclaimed scholars. The only times these individuals hadn’t caused a stir was when they chose to live quietly in Neu’arth.

However, most travelers arrived separately and didn’t encounter another until both had lived in Sol’h’meyr for a while. Thus, Essairyn and Darren arriving almost simultaneously in the same general area and subsequently meeting one another within that short window of time was beyond rare. While some fearful, superstitious people might have split up the two, Bodraig wanted to see what this fateful meeting would entail for Sol’h’meyr.

The rate of travelers have sharply increased in the last two years, so perhaps more incidents of concurrent arrivals will happen again… He faintly smiled while staring absently at the stack of papers under his hand. This mission will be an interesting one… Ah, I wonder if I should increase the difficulty of the first week’s assessment. Bodraig entertained the thought upon considering Essairyn’s speculative upper C mage rank and upper D knight rank. Although I was the one who had asked her to join the Farinheld mission, it’s better to be harsher in order to prepare them for the reality of this world… Bodraig typed a quick magigram and sent it via the extended Knight Mage Academy magi-net. Smiling, he was assured that one of the arriving students would bite.

Fetching a particular document from his drawer, Bodraig skimmed it before smirking and whipping out a piece of official stationary. After writing a brief note in formal script, he activated his personal mailing system from the left desk menu. A transparent screen popped up, and he inserted the finished letter into the displayed outbox. As it disappeared into thin air, the smile grew on Bodraig’s face. What would happen if those three met? He chuckled to himself and resumed his paperwork. It was unlikely that this second request would be granted, but should it happen, Bodraig would enjoy watching the events unfold.

Outside, Essairyn reflected on the meeting which went easier than she had imagined. But, I still got scolded in the end. While she knew she was being impudent, Essairyn didn’t expect the usually laid-back Bodraig to be so strict, especially after practically begging her to join the Farinheld mission. Perhaps the situation on lacking mages is severe enough that he’s granting a request he’d usually reject? It does fall in line with how knight cadets aren’t given dangerous missions for a few years… Either way, I got ahead of myself. Essairyn sighed, feeling mortified that she came off like some pushy big shot, even if she had only acted that way to give herself more confidence. But recognizing some truth to Bodraig’s words, she curbed her pride and took note for the future. I hope it’s not going to be too awkward in his class now, though…

Still satisfied with how the school day ended, Essairyn couldn’t help letting a small bounce in her step emerge as she went back to the dorms. Now that Darren would be joining the advanced classes, she finally had a friend instead of being the rebuffed newbie. Since high ranks were rare among humans, none of the recent recruits had made it to the advanced classes. Most students in this class were senior cadets who had studied at the Byar’non regional campus for at least a year.

Initially, her seniors had welcomed Essairyn out of respect for making it to the advanced classes. But upon learning from the professor’s formal introduction of the new student that she was a traveler who had arrived less than a week ago and didn’t take the Oath, they suddenly treated Essairyn as if she was taboo.

Completely taken aback by the blatant shift in attitude, Essairyn could only awkwardly sit in the back row by herself and ignore the occasional look of contempt. From their open remarks about her, and the knowledge she learned from history class, Essairyn realized that As’pyzen people took the Knights Order very seriously. As a ‘lucky traveler’ that had rejected the Oath while studying at the Academy, Essairyn was viewed as having taken advantage of her favored status and the school’s resources. It was understandable that people would dislike those that supposedly had it easy after toiling themselves to get where they were. And finding out that she was the rumored mage allowed to join the Farinheld mission only made matters worse.

If this had been Earth, Essairyn would have pried away their misgivings out of a need to reverse their presumptuous impressions as well as to be accepted and known for who she was. But even then, that act had merely been a social device of hers. Very few had actually seen beyond her safe boundaries and past the towering, entrenched walls around her chaotically regulated heart and mind. This time around, she didn’t even bother to waste her time on something so pointless. If she wanted to make an acquaintance, she would. But just as easily as she gave up on pursuing people at times, she was also steadfast in holding near those dear to her. But, perhaps even that was a beautiful lie now.

Regardless, Essairyn disproved of their spiteful behavior and typically would stand up for herself. Unfortunately, she did in fact feel guilty because no free lunch existed on Earth, and yet here in Sol’h’meyr, most everything was being handed to her on a silver plate because of her magical abilities. Even Chief Knight Bodraig had given in to her opportunistic demand. So, she couldn’t argue against them and willingly accepted her ‘outsider’ status. But, while she could pay her classmates no heed and get by just fine for two weeks in their company until she never had to see them again, Essairyn felt her loneliness heighten in this kind of environment. It had made her wonder whether she would be by herself yet again in this world too.

“Mmm, now it’ll be okay.” Essairyn cheered to herself as she opened the door to her room and flopped onto the bed. She sprawled contentedly on the blue covers before checking the time before dinner on her bracelet. Through the transparent clock face hovering above her wrist, she also spotted Akari slinking into the room through a window.

“Welcome back,” Essairyn greeted while sitting up on the edge of her bed. “So how was your day out? It’s too bad they won’t allow you to join our classes anymore.”

Akari shrugged. “Not surprised considering the distraction I posed during the mock battles yesterday. That bore looked ready to whack me off the hammock. But—” The fox licked her paw. “I think he was just jealous he couldn’t recline and had to watch kids all day.”

“Hahaha, Hætherin, wait—are you calling me a kid?”

A smirk played across Akari’s face. “Well, when you’ve lived this long, any human is like a kid.”

Essairyn sighed in wry amusement. “I always forget that behind your cute appearance is a spirit god that’s lived hundreds of years.”

“Tsk, of course! You might like this innocent appearance of mine, but I looked super cool in my prime.”

The girl chuckled at the fox’s overt vanity. “Yes, miss greatest spirit god in Sol’h’meyr, now, tell me, what would you like me to bring back from dinner for you?”

Akari’s eyes instantly shined in anticipation and she jumped up from her perch on the table to the bed. “Meat! Bring all the meat!” Essairyn burst out in laughter. This fox was far from innocent, but she did have her adorable moments just like this one.

“How’d I know you’d say that? You’re the same as me!” She winked and took the opportunity to take the distracted fox into her hands for a quick pet. Akari squeaked in discontent but soon stopped her struggle, dissolving under the expert scratches of Essairyn, making her giggle. Stopping after a half a minute passed, Essairyn got up from the bed and headed over to her desk to study a little before the dinner hour. Akari immediately missed the massage and indistinctly grunted her discontent without admitting she liked being petted by the girl.

Activating her bracelet, she linked it to the desk’s display and flipped through her class textbooks. She opened several at a time, lifting the various books from the desk onto separate projected screens in front of her. As she swiped through different books and jotted down her notes on the desk that automatically processed her movements into words, Essairyn soon became surrounded by encircling, transparent screens of pages, photos, and maps.

Essairyn usually disliked studying, but this world’s subjects all fascinated her. She never expected a day when she would enjoy school topics like this. The change was a refreshing spin from her past life, and had Akari not prodded Essairyn about the time, the absorbed girl might have even missed dinner. But after eating and returning with an array of various meats for Akari, Essairyn energetically resumed her studies.

The following day, Essairyn spotted a solitary Darren hanging out at the back of the crowd waiting for the teacher to unlock the field house doors. Two times each week, the advanced classes would practice combat exercises, utilizing their learning through a hands on session that lasted the entire day.

Noticing Essairyn approaching, Darren felt relief wash over him. He waved with a bright expression, making the girl smile cheerfully. He felt out of place among his new peers who had learned about his class advancement at the same time as him. A knight had fetched him from his dorm just as he was about to head to class that morning and announced the news to everyone waiting outside the field house. Unexpectedly, he received a cold response, a stark contrast to the enthusiasm and curiosity of his former intermediate-level classmates.

“Essairyn!” Darren eagerly greeted and explained why he was there. Seeing his happy face, she felt glad she had made the right decision asking Bodraig to move him.

“That’s awesome! Congrats! I’m glad that someone I know is here.” She jerked her head toward the posse of students by the water fountain. “They’re not very friendly, haha.”

Darren laughed in agreement, but before he could respond, he noticed another familiar face exiting the corridor toward them. “Leœss? You’re also in this class from intermediate?”

Upon hearing the name, Essairyn turned around. Recognizing the young man who always seemed to have an annoyed look on his face, she tentatively waved with a welcoming smile. Leœss eyed Essairyn and responded with the most subtle of head nods. The corner of her mouth quirked up briefly in irritation before masking it with a smile again. Well, what do you expect? You snubbed him that day too by avoiding his question…

“Hm? Someone knows you in this class too, Ace?” A boy with black hair followed by a second one with curly brown locks approached Leœss from the water fountain. At the sound of his disparaging tone with his nickname, Leœss clicked his tongue and brushed the guy forcefully off his shoulder before storming past Darren.

Essairyn tipped her head to the side, extremely curious why Leœss was suddenly in the advanced classes and how these students knew him. It didn’t look like they were really friends by the way he had acted. But paying it no mind, she and Darren started after Leœss who had gone through the now opened field house doors.

A sudden expression of enlightenment arose on the rude black-haired boy’s face as they passed. “Wait, are you the girl that he was talking about who made him supposedly perform badly during the first day evaluations so that he didn’t make the advanced classes?”

Essairyn shrugged while sneering inwardly at the boy’s attitude toward Leœss. Flashing a glance toward Darren, she stepped past the two boys leaning against the doorway.

“Oh whoa there!” The boys dramatically backed off as she went through. “So sorry to be blocking your way.” Instead of responding or glaring back at them, Essairyn merely ignored their taunts and complained to Darren once they were out of earshot.

“Jeez!! What the hell was that?!” She resisted stomping her foot in aggravation. “And who the hell do they think they are? I was fine with them ignoring me up to now, but this is just—!!”

“PFT.”

Essairyn whipped her head around at Darren who was desperately struggling to withhold his laughter. Caught in the act, he waved his hand, saying, “Sorry! That was just so funny! From Leœss’s resting bitch face to your reaction—” He clamped a hand over his mouth and snickered.

“All right, all right, I get it,” Essairyn responded dryly, the inching smile on her face giving her away. “I do wonder what that was all about. But I guess you weren’t the only one who was moved to the advanced classes?”

Now composed, Darren murmured his agreement. “Looks like it.” He reflected back to the reasons cited on his student portal about allowing him into the advanced classes. They were the exact ones he had used against his professor who had sharply refused. He didn’t believe that his relationship with either Bodraig or Hætherin was close enough for this kind of preferential treatment. And no matter what angle he looked from, his current self was unsuitable for the mission. The Knights might as well be sending him off to his death, the exact opposite of their creed toward safety.

His deliberation naturally progressed in the direction of Essairyn and Aispin, the only ones whom he shared his plan with besides also partaking in the mission themselves. Did they tell the Knights? Maybe Aispin is sworn to inform them of decisions like mine? I doubt Essairyn would do so after our talk, but even she doesn’t have enough sway to convince them as someone new to the Academy like me. He shook his head. Maybe I’m just underestimating myself, and they saw enough potential in me for this mission. Yeah, let’s stop being so cynical about this now.

However it happened, Darren couldn’t focus on the cause of this circumstance. He already had enough to concern himself with after his bold decision to join the mission. Ah, really, why do I get myself into these situations when I can avoid them? He ruffled his hair in agitation. This competitive streak of his always clashed with his more rational self. Even in a world more dangerous than the previous, Darren still felt compelled to match those around him. He thought he gave up most of this unhealthy compulsion after not making the college basketball team, but that sense of defeat always lurked under his easygoing facade.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

Darren glanced at Essairyn and waved his hand, assuring, “It’s nothing. Just wondering what class will be like.”

Essairyn grinned at the back of Leœss standing resolutely by himself. “I see. Well, I certainly think this class will be more interesting now…”

But contrary to her hopes to talk to Leœss, who Essairyn had now one-sidedly dubbed Leo despite the syllables being different, she had no chance in the grueling regime that seemingly dragged the whole day. She felt like it was day one again with Knight Hætherin. Exhausted, she beelined to bed early after dinner.

Over the next two days, Leo somehow managed to evade all of her advances, so Essairyn was determined to once and for all set it straight with him on the last day of their first week. She didn’t understand why he was so slippery and averse to talking with her after being the one to approach her first. And she knew it was because of her and not Darren who already was on friendly terms with him from his previous class.

Luckily, today was the mock battle evaluation milestone, so she was certain he couldn’t escape again during this full-day event. But the assessment, infamously called, “The War Game,” received an unexpected surprise for both on-site faculty and students gathered from all class levels.