As the festivities in Inanis Orbis are brought down to a close, news of the event proper itself spread like wildfire among the mage communities that have ties to the institution. This could all range from large pre-established houses to smaller family units.

And among those small family units were the Clearsights.

Mage society, and by extension Inanis Orbis, has embraced the comoforts of the modern age though admittedly there are still rules in place to make sure this will not compromise the hidden nature of their world.

Once the event was over, Jericho and Claria personally asked the headmaster for a sueprcut digital recording of the event and thus was sent a memory card containing the footage. You would think that there would be a more magical way of going about sending this kind of information but sometimes the easier and simpler method is better. Plus a tiny little card is just as easy to destroy as any old magical letter.

After all, plugging a card into a phone is a far better disguise than being sent a magical letter that shows moving pictures in 3D.

Jericho and Claria Clearsight were enjoying a simple dinner at a rather small diner, opting to sit down and go through the highlights of this batch’s festival of the beginning.

However, as one might expect, these two doting parents ignored all the earlier battles and moved straight into their son's key moments. Sadly, those moments are quite few as Sylvester only chose to act during the last 30 minutes or so of the festival and instead took his time to set up and observe.

As the scene of Sylvester revealing himself to the general public in grandiose fashion played, Jericho could not help but let out a long sigh.

“Dear! Dear! Just look at our baby boy! Look at the faces of all those other students just stupefied! He's grown up so much!” Claria cheerfully lamented.

Jericho merely showed a scowl on his face before giving his own comments.

“I knew this behavior of his is going to get worse once he enters Inanis Orbis.” He paused to take a sip of soda. “The annoying old man isn't doing his job.” He continued ranting.

“Oh just let our boy have fun. You did enjoy the shocked faces of other students when you were younger!” Claria teased.

“This and that are different things!” Jericho replied with a slightly irritated tone. “Our time was a lot different from Sylvester’s, unwarranted arrogance were much more prevalent and public. I simply needed what I had to do.” Jericho explained.

“I didn’t do it for fun or some obscure reason like making a show or something.” He said as he continued to eat his dinner, however, his words only elicited a soft and gentle smile on Claria’s face.

“Well, aren’t you glad that things are a lot different now?” Claria said as she looked at her husband’s eyes.

“At least now Sylvester can experience a relatively happy school life for a while. Though, after this festival, that will depend on what he considers to be happy.” As she said those words her face started twisting into a sad frown and almost instantly, Jericho knew what his wife had to say next.

“Jericho. Did we make the right choice? Is staying in this world really the best for us? For Sylvester?” She asked in a sorrowful tone.

“Claria, there is no true way out. I too would want for Sylvester to have a normal and ignorant life with a promising career, oblivious to the dark underbelly of reality at large.” He then paused and touched his wife’s hand.

“But sadly, that path will only lead to ruin and pain and no matter how hard we protect him, the world of magic will catch up, find him, and drag him by his feet. Preparing him and giving him the tools he needs is the best we could do for him.” He said as he smiled at his wife.

“And besides, he is technically in the safest place a developing young mage could be in. I’m sure he’d grow up into a fine mage despite his uhhh, quirks. So, don’t worry too much.”

Claria’s face then brightened up and the sorrowful frown lit up into a smile.

“Yeah, you’re right. I should really stop worrying all too much. He is our son after all.” She then continued to watch the recordings and she could not help but smile at what she was watching.

“Oh dear dear look!” She said in glee. “Looks like he still uses that spell you made for him as a reward.” She added.

“What spe- Oh no.” Jericho then took a good look at the phone screen and saw the dilapidated labyrinth room transform into a theatre.

As the scenes played out before him all he could do was let out another disappointed sigh, but this time directed at himself.

“I made that spell. I let this happen.” He said as he shook his head. “I guess this is my punishment.” Smiling as he continued to watch the last few moments of the battle.

“Still, he truly has made that spell his own.”

---

Back in Inanis Orbis, Sylvester and his friends could be seen together walking back to their dorms while enjoying the night sky as they made their way through the woods in front of the student village.

Because today was a special event, there were no classes immediately after the festival and the rest of the student body were free to frolic around and relax. Naturally that includes Sylvester who was really pleased with today’s turn of events.

After all, they did win and managed to create their own little organization that Sylvester got to name; The Magician’s troupe.

Even so, their celebration was still relatively limited and frugal as their funds were finite and thus they had to spend carefully and not do anything too lavish.

Sadly for Sylvester, the payment he had to give his pet set him back by around 200 credits, meaning he was once again in the red and there were still a few days left before the reset.

“Oh god!” Sylvester slumped down his shoulders and let out a groan of defeat. “I guess it’s back to noodles and canned goods again for a few days. Oh and bye bye breakfast I guess. Just when I thought things were going my way.”

He then kicked a rock in front of his path due to simple childish frustration.

“Wow, I didn’t expect your pet to eat that many muffins, even though all he really did was play as a very expensive prop in your little show, right mr Magician?” Artian said in a joking tone.

“Well it was worth it in the end. It was but a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.” He continued his defeated musings.

“You’re rather happy go lucky with living expenses and yet you are a cheapskate when it comes to spell points.” Artian blurted out. “I can’t believe you didn’t even buy a spell with 1500 points.”

Sylvester then shook his head as he explained his decision.

“Dude, I was like a hundred points away from the spell I want. I’ll just wait for the missions I guess.” Sylvester said.

Rossa, who was silent for a while, decided to go back to the earlier topic of expenses.

“We could try looking for a cheap group meal you know? Just so we could share the burden for this week at least.” She suddenly suggested. “I think I saw some flyers mentioning a set meal good for 4 to 5 people for only like 200 credits? If we split it up we just pay 50 each and I think there were cheaper options too.” She explained.

“Huh. How considerate of you, thanks.” Sylvester exclaimed in a really energized tone as Rossa nodded in turn. Estelle then smiled at Rossa before deciding to join the conversation.

“Wow, Rossa.” She then skipped in front of the three and walked backwards. “You sure are getting really used to this world.” She said in a playful tone.

“Well, it’s not like I have a choice now do I? Oh and looks like this is the part where we go our separate ways.” She said as she declared that they have reached the student village.

“Ah yes, alright. See you girls tomorrow!” Artian declared.

“Oh man, when are we gonna be allowed to do missions? I really want that spell!” Sylvester complained as he and Artian walked away.

“Yeah, just a little bit more and I can buy another spell too.” Artian replied.

“Come on Headmaster, let us do something already!”

As the two boys horsed around while walking, the two girls then moved back to their own dorms at their own pace. Rossa and Estelle now often found themselves engaged in small talk of various topics that expanded beyond the realms of myth and legend. Though there is still a barrier when it came to personal stuff, a line that they both know not to cross for now.

Shortly after they arrived at front of their dorm, immediately retreating to their rooms to rest their tired bodies.

But as Estelle quietly sank into the confines of her dreams, Rossa was still wide awake, taking out her quill pen and some paper to write a letter home.

Despite her outward composed demeanor, she was feeling extremely excited about telling her parents about today’s adventure.

She then sat down in front of her desk lit up by the night sky and began to strike her pen against the white paper sheets.

“Dearest father.”

“Today was a day of competition in Inanis Orbis and I, of course, participated in it. It was a curious little venture as the rules and the actual competition itself could be considered obtuse and chaotic.”

“As you might have expected I managed to gain victory but not in the way you would assume I would. For I technically didn’t “win” but rather helped someone else win.”

“Normally I would be opposed to the terms and conditions laid out to me by my.. friend but against my better judgement I decided to go along.”

“Maybe it was only for the sake of trying new things but at the end of the day, all went well. I also found myself relying on someone else.”

“All in all, this day felt like a violent stormy sea, casting violent waves and winds and shaking and rocking a boat that simply wanted to pass through.”

“Don’t worry about me anymore father. I am slowly moving forward and one day, I will find my own path to follow.”

“Your dearest daughter, Rossa.”