A sudden deafening sound rang out. Rainen jumped back, bringing his flames along with him still in his soulless state.

Hector, landing between the students, kept one hand on his sword, while eyeing Rainen carefully. Leonard hid behind him as he faced off against the outraged student. Malburk, still on the ground, clutched his stomach in agony.

He glanced uneasily at the Headmaster. If he had let him go earlier then none of this would have happened.

Hector picked up the sword at an early age. He practiced with the guards of his village and eventually, overtook them. At the age of 14, because of a brave act which saved a visiting noble, he became a knight of the Ardou kingdom. When he was 24 years old, the kingdom was invaded and made into a vassal state of the empire.

Recognizing Hector's talent, the Headmaster requested him at Renard Academy and offered to teach him magic. He accepted. His talent in magic paled in comparison to his sword skills, but after 8 years he was able to use multiple advanced spells.

For the battle today Hector was given two tasks by the headmaster. Intervene if someone's life was in danger and to not harm the students in the process. If Hector was told to give his opinion on the situation, he’d agree with Rainen’s actions. However, his job was to assure the safety of all those who participated in the battles. Malburk wasn’t in danger but Leonard was.

He wanted to jump in as soon as the first kicks started, but he was stopped by the Headmaster. Why? He didn’t know. He could only assume from the Headmaster’s expression, as pained as it looked, that he was waiting for something.

This time he had been told to go. Rainen Weaver, the student whom Hector saved just the match prior. What was so special about him?

He felt nervous. Ahead of him stood an inferno. Ahead of him stood a student very different than he seemed before.

He had believed that he could do it, but now standing in front of the blazing student, he felt uneasy. He also had the burden of protecting someone else, not to mention that the lizardman wasn't in good condition.

"Stop this right now! Calm yourself and head back to your seat!"

He didn't move, but the flames around him disappeared.

"Can you not hear me? I said to go back to your seat or you will be punished," Hector said firmly, trying to assert whatever authority he had.

With that said Rainen’s mouth began to move.

"You..."

He seemed to be at a loss for words.

“If you teachers, you and the Headmaster, won’t stop him, I will.”

“I wanted-”

“But you didn’t! People like him need to be punished.”

"That lowly lizardman deserved it for making fun of a noble. He's lucky that I didn't kill him."

Hector could feel the rage from Rainen, he had to do something now to stop the situation from escalating further.

Rainen was right, Hector thought. He could have jumped in and stopped Leonard's abuse but he didn't, even though the Headmaster stopped him he still should have tried.

"I'm sorry."

It was inaudible.

He knew that what he was about to do wasn't the most optimal way, but this was the way he knew best. He performed a short chant and three large water balls appeared around his head.They each shot out like a beam.

Rainen produced a barrier and repelled the attacks.

Hector hurried to reform the spell. If a short attack won’t work, then a long one was needed. The balls of water returned, however, this time, they attacked Rainen’s defenses like whips with their constant lashing.

Hector dashed toward Rainen and launched a roundhouse kick, while also preparing the neutral spell stun. Rainen blocked the kick and swept Hector's legs out from under him. Hector twisted his body and released the spell.

[Stun!]

The ball of green light flew and Rainen dodged. Hector hooked his leg and brought him tumbling to the ground. Rainen hurried back to his feet and Hector greeted him with a fist to his stomach. He lurched forward, fell to his knees, and collapsed on the floor.

Hector closed his eyes and let out a sigh. Seeing how Rainen was unhurt by the fire lances earlier, he worried that he wouldn't be able to handle the situation without bringing out his sword.

Since coming to the academy Hector felt a bit lacking. A student who graduated a few years prior had come back during the summer to challenge him. In sword skills, Hector was still the superior but with the use of magic Hector had been defeated. The slight need he felt to defeat Rainen stemmed from that loss.

A sudden chill ran down his back.

Rainen stood up despite the fact Hector knocked him flat moments earlier. In the short glimpse Hector caught, the boy’s eyes were completely empty as if his soul had been sucked out.

A mana-charged fist connected and guided his head toward the ground. It cracked. The ground where his head hit, cracked and he was no longer moving.

Rainen slowly walked toward Leonard while wearing a thin-lipped smile. With each step Rainen took, Leonard took one back. Fear began to engulf Leonard. His muscles tensed, sweat beat down his brow, his breath short and weak, and he found himself backed into a corner.

"S-stop! D-don't come any closer!"

Rainen’s hand wrapped around his neck and lifted him off the ground.

"U-unhan-"

Leonard's voice was cut off as the hand squeezed harder.

“[Stun]!”

Rainen dodged. His grip loosened and Leonard fell to the floor, gasping for air.

"I guess I pushed you too far... sorry."

The expressionless Rainen said nothing and fired a fireball, one much more powerful than the previous ones.

The headmaster easily dodged it and disappeared from sight.

A moment later, Rainen fell to the ground. This time, he was truly unconscious.

Where am I? I look around in the pitch darkness. Although I can’t see anything, I don’t feel… scared. It’s surprisingly warm here.

Maybe, maybe I’ll stay awhile.

----------------------------------

I awake in a blinding white room. Where am I? I push myself up and look around. It’s obviously not my room, nor is it my master’s. He’s not really one for books, and even if he was, they wouldn’t be lined up so nicely on the bookshelves.

"Had a nice dream?"

An old, evil, man sits on a leather chair overlooking a stack of papers. His grey-black hair is matted on his head and he sports a low cut beard. It’s the Headmaster. Yeah, an evil guy.

Standing next to him with a sword on his hip is a tall, brown-haired, sharp-featured man, around his 30's I assume. He has a broken nose and a bruise on his face.

"Why am I in here?" I rise from the couch and face them. I don’t recall coming in here. Everything’s a bit fuzzy. The only thing I can think of, despite how weird it is, is the warm feeling from the dream I just had.

"You don't remember,” the Headmaster takes off his thin-rimmed glasses and pushes the paper in the middle of his desk toward the pile. “You beat up a teacher, Hector over here. Gave him some pretty good bruises.”

I look at Hector. He gives me a weary smile and a slight wave. I respond in kind. "I don't remember fighting him." Did I lose? Is that why I’m in here? I search through my jumbled memories, trying to confirm what he just said.

"You tried to kill a student and he tried to stop you."

The search lasts much longer than I thought it would. The memory’s fuzzy, nothing’s really clear. Not everything has come back, but the memory of him sitting there while the lizardman got kicked around revitalizes my anger.

I wait for a second then speak. "Why didn't you do anything," I say the words slowly.

"...Because you didn't want to show your true power so I had to draw it out." He responds as if forcing students, who don’t fight seriously, is the only way to go about doing things. Some Headmaster he is. Some teacher he is.

“You did that… You did all that to see my ‘powers’?”

"No...It wasn't planned, I knew that Leonard had a problem with other races but I didn't intend for anything other than a mock battle between students."

"Then why didn't you step in?" My voice is getting harder to control.

"I was going to, but I saw- you. So I decided to let it continue to get a better look at what you were hiding.”

“Was it worth it?”

“Yes. I don’t regret my actions.”

I look at Hector and he averts his eyes.

"Are you going to give punishments to the perpetrators, or do I have to?"

"Hmph! Of course. We have sent Leonard's parents a letter and have put magic restricting cuffs on him for the time being."

"That's one, but how about you?"

"I did nothing."

I clench my fists. He doesn’t understand. "Exactly. You did nothing! You just watched as it happened."

The Headmaster’s voice hardens and his expression turns sour. He begins to tap his fingers against the hardwood desk. "I've already apologized to Mulburk about the incident. I needed to see just how powerful you are. Because even Reinhard felt the need to put a seal on you… or something on you.”

Why would my master tell him about the seal and then go on and tell me to hide my powers? They’re not anything special. Not as long as it doesn’t come out, not as long as the seal keeps it in its place. It’s not even my own power.

He places his glasses back on their resting spot and pulls the paper back to him. "I see that you somewhat understand. Now go back to your classroom. Miss Ein wouldn't like it if I kept her pupils too long."

I slowly turn and walk towards the door. "What you did… It still isn't right, old man." With that, I leave the headmaster's office.

I need to get that thing under control soon. One day, it might just get loose. I have to get rid of it before that ever happens. And if it ever happens again, I hope someone’s there to stop me or kill me.

Once we arrive back in the classroom everyone starts talking about what just happened. Miss Ein listens to a student in the first row as he explains what went on inside while all the teachers, save for the Headmaster and his assistant, were away.

“That wasn’t a very good match.” Elis comments. “It wasn’t fair, and that Leonard guy was being a jerk. If I run into him in the hallways, I’ll challenge him to a fight and show him what it’s like.”

“Honestly, I’m glad that he stepped in. Rainen, was it? If he didn’t go in, I hope that I would have, eventually.” Iris seems a bit disappointed in herself.

“I-I’m sure there were lots of people who wanted to step in.” I try my best to cheer her up. “H-he just beat everyone to it.”

She frowns, “That’s one way to make ourselves feel better about it.”

I recoil slightly at her response. It’s true. Even though I wanted to do something, I wouldn’t have done anything. If he didn’t go and help Malburk, then we could still be sitting in the arena just watching. I wasn’t brave enough to do anything.

“Hey,” Iris taps my arm, “I didn’t mean to make you feel bad about it. I know you were trying to help me. As a daughter of a military leader, I just felt like I should’ve done something.” she breaks into a smile. “But, at the very least, I have a new interesting person to learn about in the school.”

“Mhm. He looks strong,” Elis nods in agreement.

“Miss Ein,” one student raises his hand, “How long do we need to work on our protection spell to withstand an attack like the one the teacher Hector took in the arena?”

"I didn’t quite see it happen but I would assume quite a bit of time would be needed. People, whether they’re humans, dwarves, elves, etc. generally have weak bodies. Unlike some beastmen, we have no natural protection. So, those who are able to use magic, naturally generate a protection ‘spell’ on themselves, although most are unaware they’re even doing so. The user is then able to receive blunt attacks at a greatly reduced damage output. The pain is still the same but the body will not break as easily."

Elis’ arm quickly shoots up, "What spell was used to make the lances of fire?"

Miss Ein raises an eyebrow. "Fire affinity?"

Elis nods.

Miss Ein paces back and forth, "I see. The spell was an advanced version of [Flame Lance] it was [Barrage of Flames]."

Elis’ confusion clearly shows through as she tilts her head. "I thought that [Barrage of Flames] used fireballs."

"That's true, but switching some words of the incantation produces different results. Although I say that there aren't many that are named the same."

“Ooh. I hope I won’t have to memorize too many different chants,” she rubs her temples as Miss Ein continues to answer other questions.”

------------------------------------------------

I silently walk back to the first year room on the first floor. I can hear the chattering of the class from the hallway. When I open the door the room goes quiet. I close the door and walk to my seat. Many of my classmates inch away from me. Those in front of me press against their desk and those behind me lean back.

Only one person, just a seat behind, doesn’t move. "Yo! Good thing you did back there man," he whispers to me.

“Uh, thanks,” I respond.

"AH! My name's Axel. Nice to meet ya."

"Likewise, I'm Rainen."

He extends his hand and I take it.

"Alright, so now that everyone is here I'll reintroduce myself, I am Miss Ein. We'll start off with our first lesson, the tiers of magic and affinities."

Most of the people here should already have a grasp on these so I’ll summarize it. There are fifteen tiers of magic, 1-3 are basic, 4-6 are intermediate, 7-10 are advanced, 10-12 are expert, and 13-15 are master level.

“The affinities were Wind, Earth, Water, and Fire. Those are the main elemental affinities. Lightning is an outsider affinity, as in it lies just slightly outside of the elemental description. It is one of the two destructive type affinities. “

“Those that summon monsters usually have an earth affinity and wind affinity is the closest to arcane magic. There is also light and dark magic which are specific to angels and demons, however, humans and the like can specialize in those types of magic as well. Examples are priests who use light magic.”

“There's also magic that doesn't fit into any single group, those are either called basic magic, which conflicts with the tiers, or normal magic. Healing has its own base in wind, water, earth, fire, light, and basic magic. Speaking of tiers, the fire lances we saw today were of the sixth tier."

Sixth tier. That’s impressive. The highest tier spell I know is in the fourth tier and it's rather weak, not because the spell is but because my magic is. All the magic I use is better thought of as utility than actual weapons.

A girl in the front raises her hand, “What type of spell would one need to block something like those sixth tier spells?”

Miss Ein looks at me, “Care to explain which you used?”

Me? “I didn’t use any special kind of spell. Just barriers, one right over the other.” it’s something my master taught me while we traveled together. When my magic awoke, he started training me right away. Because my magic was a bit lacking, he didn’t teach me anything too advanced.

“I see. Layered barriers, that’s quite impressive. Barriers are great defenses in general but couldn’t stand up to piercing spells like a fire lance without something extra.”

“Only layered barriers?” I hear someone whisper. “I thought it would be more advanced. Guess he really should have been put into a different class.”

That person obviously doesn’t understand. Because I’m not just some sitting duck, and since I take risks, I can use layered barriers. To get enough of them to protect you, you’d have to focus it on the point of impact meaning that only one side is safe.

"Alright, everyone please find a partner. Your partner will be who you spar against in class for practice, and who you may end up spending quite some time with."

I turn with the intent to ask Axel but Miss Ein calls me to the front. "Rainen. You will be paired with the person who scored the highest on the magic aptitude test, Ellar Wholehart." that name sounds familiar.

"A-ah."

I turn towards the sound.

“H-hello…”

It's Blue Hair.