After pairing up, we were taken outside.

The practice grounds were enormous, just like everything else in this academy. There were hundreds of practice dummies for sword training and multiple magic circles were drawn on the floor.

Already out there were the other first year classes, around four. It seems like they've partnered up as well.

I glance at blue hair, she's stiff. I suppose that my rep isn't the best. When she heard that she was my partner her face sure went pale.

Maybe I should try talking to her. Greetings first right?

"Um..."

"Wha-what is it?" she startles and takes a step back.

"I'm Rainen, nice to meet you." I offer my hand.

"Y-yeah..." an awkward response.

Her hand moves slowly towards my own while shaking.

A weak grip.

"Um, I've heard it before but your name?"

"A-ah! Y-yes. I-it's E-Ellar."

I have to assume that I'm the cause of her nervousness right?

I forgot. It could also be possible that she's working for the headmaster.

After that display earlier it would certainly be a good idea to have me under surveillance.

Alright then. If she is working for the headmaster I'll mess with her a bit. Though it's just an excuse, my master's impact is too strong.

I suddenly give her hand a tight squeeze.

"Eek!"

A yelp escaped from her.

"Ah, haha, sorry about that."

"I-it's okay..." she says quietly.

Heh. She's cute when I mess with her.

I kind of doubt that the headmaster would send someone like her to watch over me. Most likely candidate would be Axel.

"The best way to learn is through experience." Miss Ein loudly declares this. "Rainen and Ellar, please come over here."

We both move up.

"You two will attack me with magic, I'll then protect myself using a barrier. Do you best to break it. After that we'll do layered barriers and have everyone practice."

I nod.

"Alright. Begin!"

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

"Rainen. You will be paired with the person who scored the highest on the magic aptitude test, Ellar Wholehart."

When I hear that my heart drops.

"AH!"

My body lets out a noise.

He turns around an looks at me. I see recognition on his face. So he remembers.

I hope that he doesn't hurt me...or that I don't hurt him.

Miss Ein leads the class outside. Elis and Iris are chatting with each other and giving me some worried looks.

I smile wryly at them and continue to walk stiffly next to black hair.

When we hit the practice grounds I notice the other classes already practicing.

"Um..."

I get startled by the sound of his voice.

He reaches his hand out.

I can't stop my hand from trembling even though this should just be a normal greeting.

My handshake has no strength.

"Um, I've heard it before but your name?"

"A-ah! Y-yes. I-it's E-Ellar."

I keep stuttering. He's trying to be nice but I'm keeping him at a distance.

I still feel intimidated by him. Couldn't I have gotten partnered with someone else?

"Eek!"

My hand was suddenly squeezed.

"Ah, haha, sorry about that."

"I-it's okay..."

I give a timid response.

A slight smile touches his lips.

Th-this guy! He's totally messing with me!

We move onto practice. Black-Rainen and I attack the teacher together and we finally break her defense.

Now, it's partner vs partner. Rainen wants to attack first.

I feel uneasy but I agree. It'll be fine to let him have what he wants.

As he flings spells at me I can't help but feel afraid.

His magic is weak.

It's my turn now, I can't help but feel nervous.

His barriers are weak too. What if I accidentally hurt him?

So I hold back a bit. His defenses are easily crushed by me.

A minute later Miss Ein makes an announcement.

"Okay. Practice is over. It's now lunch time, everyone take a break."

*sigh*

I notice the defeated look on Rainen's face.

As his sparring partner I'd better do something.

That said, I don't really have anything encouraging to say.

"G-good work."

"Yeah, you too."

After saying that I quickly glide to Iris and Elis.

"So~" Iris says looking at me. "How is he?"

"He seems to be friendlier than I expected." I say. "His magic feels weak though."

"Huh, I see."

Iris nods while muttering to herself, looks like I've confirmed something.

"Anyways..." Elis taps me on the shoulder. "I didn't know that you had the best score in the class. What's your affinity?"

"Water." I respond.

"Sooooo, can you cause great floods? How about a hurricane? Maybe you can bend the tides to your will!?"

Elis sure has some weird conceptions.

"Elis you idiot. Just because she had a high score on the test doesn't mean she can control the water around her, and it doesn't necessarily mean she knows any high tier spells."

I flinch when Iris's fist slams onto Elis's head.

"Um...hello there."

We each turn to the voice.

"Are you three in Rainen Weaver's class? If you are could you point me to him?"

He has a bruise on his face. Ah, the teacher that Rainen punched before.

I wonder why he's looking for him.

"I'm his partner Ellar Wholehart. He should still be in the practice area outside."

"I'm Hector Oswald, thank you for your help Miss Wholehart."

He walks off.

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

After lunch, we head back to the classroom where Miss Ein teaches us some of the basic recovery spells.

I wonder how long it'll be until we learn higher level spells.

I glance at Rainen at the other side of the room. I still feel a bit intimidated just by looking at him. I can still remember the how I felt at that time.

I was scared.

He lost control and went berserk.

-----------

School had just ended.

The lessons about the recovery spells were useful. My master had already taught me many basic ones but none past that.

I'm walking to Treant Park right now. I have another meeting with my master today. He's supposed to give me my bracers back.

I head on through the marketplace. I look around for the stand that I want to buy something from but I can't find it. But the marketplace is very lively.

Children are running around playing games while the adults shop.

"Aha! Got you!"

A young boy runs past me and slaps a girl on the back.

"No you didn't!"

"Your always so unfair sis! I got you fair and square."

The little boy pouts.

They stare off for a minute.

"Hmph!" The little girl turns her head and walks away.

The boy chases after her.

That reminds me. I haven't seen Aisha since the incident 8 years ago. I'm 15- no I'm 16 now. Aisha should be around 14, I should send her a letter. Getting into contact with my grandparents shouldn't be too hard. They are nobles after all.

I make a mental note in my head and move on.

Man. There are a lot of students that attend Renard Academy.

I look around as I get deeper into the heart of the marketplace. Many of my fellow students are here, some buy food from the stands, some are in the shops looking for clothes, others are buying accessories.

*haaaa*

I still haven't found it. The shop I was looking for. I was told by my master that there would definitely be in this city because this was the third largest city of the empire after the capital and the Green City.

I continue my walk.

I stop when I see the little boy and girl from earlier. They're staring at something.

I follow their gaze.

"..."

There it is. The thing that I've been searching for.

An ice cream shop.

I go inside the shop, it's cold, almost no one is inside. That makes sense. Despite the fall season coming, I can't help but want to eat the cold treat. Behind me I feel a tug on my clothes.

It's the two children.

"Um. C-could you buy us one too mister?" both of them ask in unison.

"Alright. Why not?" I give them a slight smile.

They both beam at me.

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

They wave to me as they walk off. Orphans huh? Sure are lively. Aron and Maia, I'll make sure to remember them for helping me find this shop.

I walk through a dark alleyway, a shortcut to the park.

Three people appear in front of me. Thugs. Two appear behind. I don't change my posture, it stays relaxed and calm. The appearance of someone used to battle.

"Give us your money and we'll let you go unharmed kid."

The biggest one says that in a low voice.

"Hey boss, he's a mage, look at his clothes. He's from the academy." the one on the left says so in a hushed voice.

After hearing that the one wearing a cloak covering their face crouches and pulls out a knife from under the cloak. Not a knife that I would've bought, it looks cheap and worn.

"Don't worry." a feminine voice comes from the cloak. "He won't be able to cast any of his spells this close." somewhat true.

I finish my ice cream.

"Here, take my money."

I toss my pouch on the ground. The coins make a series of *chings* as it hits the floor.

"Heh, good boy." the burly man says, happy with the sound of the purse.

"Boss we gotta be careful. As soon as we get the pouch he's gonna use magic." the girl in the cloak says. A little bit troublesome, I didn't plan to let them just rob me anyways.

"Probably. Alright. Guys, knock him out."

The two people behind approach me. The boss grabs the pouch and opens it, eager to see the treasures he's managed to obtain.

*POOF*

*Gak*

The three are coughing due to the smoke.

The two behind are dumbfounded.

One of the two finds themselves with a fist in their stomachs, "GUH!" with a lurch and a sound he falls.

I turn to the next one. He's waving a knife about with his right hand. The downed man looks like a good distraction so I grab him and throw. The man with the knife hurries to catch his friend, unfortunately for him I'm already on the move. With a quick step and a low duck, I catch him completely unaware, he falls.

"ARRAH!"

The person with the cloak lunges at me with the knife. I slightly move my body, using only the necessary amount of movement to defend myself, like my master taught me to.

She stabs at my face, I lean to the side grab her right arm and flip her over my shoulder, I cast the spell [Stun].

The boss does a shoulder charge. With his eyes closed and his body simply moving forward, I side step his reckless attack and cast [Stun] again.

Before anything else happens the last man drops his knife and runs away, chasing him wouldn't do anything.

I walk forward, pick up the pouch, and continue to the park.

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THIS IS THE NEXT PART http://royalroadl.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=30624