“I don’t know who you are, but the headmaster instructed me not to hold back. Be careful.”

Abelard had spoken those words at the beginning of our battle.

When I ignored the letters, I wasn’t doing it out of spite. If I could go back in time though, I would just do it out of spite. The old man was obviously trying to kill me. How could anyone call that tier-two magic?

I recalled a conversation I had with Master a few years ago.

“How come I’m still practicing with fireballs? It’s tier-one magic.”

“Magic tiers exist to distinguish the distance magic can originate from the caster. You don’t have much mana, so learning spells above tier two are a waste of time. Even if you could cast tier five magic, it wouldn’t matter against someone with more mana and better flow control.”

Now, I couldn’t cast fifth-tier magic, and I had less mana.

The energy I felt from the six fiery spears floating above Abelard’s head made my body shiver. A single hit from one of those and it’d be over. My barrier wouldn’t block a single one, so the only option for me was to dodge. Issue was, my back was against the wall. He’d cut off an entire half of the arena and if I wanted more freedom, I’d have to bet on my reactions being faster than those spears.

As for my ability, it was best not to use it. If I did, a connection could be drawn between me and The Vigilante, though that would’ve been hard to prove given I used different base magic.

Abelard eyed me as if telling me to surrender. It crossed my mind, sure. Giving up here wouldn’t have any effect on getting registered with the guild or stop me from searching for Kharss. The issue was that Master warned me about the old man. If half of the stories he told me were true, these tests of his wouldn’t end here.

Besides, I needed to test myself against a strong mage sometime.

“Show me why the headmaster chose you.”

The air tore apart as the first spear shot forward. I dodged as it embedded itself into the wall, leaving a hole and radiating enough heat to turn my vision into a jumbled haze. Two more flew at me. I ducked under the first and twisted away from the second. Though useless, I retaliated with a firebolt that broke against his barrier.

Then, he unleashed all three spears.

Well fuck.

Tension built in my legs and I leaped over the first spear. The second followed close behind, arcing to strike when I landed. Tucking my legs, I hit the floor and rolled under. The heat dried my sweat. The third dived for me. The sea of spectators all stood at once. I couldn’t dodge.

In a last-ditch effort, I layered barriers the size of my hands one over the other. Three formed in the split second before the flaming missile hit. They weren’t enough. My magic, fire and electric natures, stirred. I glanced to the side, intending to blink.

Gasps. Then a blur.

It was impossible to focus on anything with all the haze from the heat. I didn’t use my ability and all three barriers were still up.

Abelard was obscured from view. Standing with his back to me, the headmaster’s assistant had his sword drawn. He’d used the sleek blade to disperse the magic. “The duel is over. Abelard Boyat is the victor!”

The old man clapped and the students followed suit, somewhat enthused, somewhat in shock. Abelard held out a hand and I took it. “Your physical capabilities were impressive.”

“Same goes for your magic.”

“Apologies for that. It was a request. Thank you for stepping in, Hector.”

Hector nodded. “It’s great to see you again, Abelard. Rainen, the headmaster wishes to speak with you.”

Oh great.

“Lead the way,” I said, unenthusiastically.

“Best of luck,” Abelard said, waving.

After a brief closing statement, the instructors led the students back. Hector guided me to the headmaster’s office, which was marked by a plaque. He knocked, though no one was inside, and gestured toward the chair. The headmaster’s desk was dark and the grain of the wood curved in strange patterns, meeting in the middle like a flower on the cusp of blooming.

“Like the desk? It’s elderwood. When you get to be my age, you don’t move as quickly anymore. Everyone starts worrying about what might happen if you get attacked in your own office.” The old man ran his wrinkled, calloused fingers over the lines. “Nobody would be so foolish as to attack the academy, of course.”

I didn’t hear him come in.

If I hadn’t known anything about him, I might’ve mistaken him for a friendly old man. Everything lined up too, from the smile, the way he moved, and how he spoke, except for his eyes. Something there threw me off. Maybe it was the burn scar.

He sat, “Hector, what did you think of Rainen’s performance today?”

“He did well, Headmaster. Abelard is not an opponent just anyone could face.”

You can say that again.

Compared to the random criminals I encountered during my few weeks here, Abelard was stronger than all of them, save for Gauntlet. It wasn’t the highest of praise, considering almost none of them used magic, but he was by no means weak. He sized up my fireball the moment I cast it and looked ready for a close-quarters fight too.

The old man laughed. “It’s alright to praise him more, Hector.” He looked at me. “Your magic may not have been at a level the academy typically enjoys, however, I believe your outstanding physical performance out there has more than made up for any shortcomings.”

Either the compliments were too much, or I just wasn’t used to getting that kind of positive feedback. Master wasn’t cold, he encouraged me from time to time and according to him, only did as much as his master did to him. So, why was the old man leaning into it?

“Certainly, Headmaster. I was impressed. Perhaps I should sit in on one of the practical swordsmanship classes in the future.”

“A good idea.”

They’re just going to keep talking without me, aren’t they? Why waste my time? Send me back to class already.

Hector shifted his weight. “Headmaster, though it turned out better than expected, I’m not sure if it was a good decision to have a first-year duel Abelard.”

“It would have been nice of you to tell me about being one of the participants too.”

Hector frowned. “Yes, that would have been the right thing to do. Many of the instructors seemed to feel the same way as me. No offense to you, Rainen, but a student from a noble house would have also been preferable.”

The old man’s smile lessened, “We can’t bend the academy to cater to the wants of the nobles. I made my decision and if any of the visiting nobility complain, they may take it up with me.”

By visiting nobility, he likely meant the auction. I heard about it a few times while walking around the dorm. Nobles would come visit their children about a month into the semester, but that was an excuse to go to the auction held in Aurora City.

“You may leave now, Hector.”

Please don’t leave me with this crazed old man.

Once the door closed, the headmaster leaned forward in his chair. His smile renewed. “How are Reinhard and Carlyle? The two never pay this old man visits anymore.”

I wonder why.

“Is that all you called me here for? Master said he was busy and just dropped me off here. I’ve tried writing to him a few times with the communication scroll he left me but he never responds. As for Carlyle, well, he doesn’t seem like the type to pay visits.”

He gave a hearty laugh. “Carlyle hasn’t changed a bit, I see. Same city but he can’t even spare the time. I may have been a bit harsh on them, but I’ve no need to be like that anymore. Let’s not be strangers. I want to help you. I’ve even done you a favor by hastening the exploration of the labyrinths.”

He’s the one who did that? Wait, then he had to have heard it from Carlyle. Was he just lying before?

He smiled innocently.

That doesn’t make it easier to trust you.

With as much power as he had, allowing me to register as an adventurer early shouldn’t be an issue for him.

“I know what you’re thinking, and no. I will not allow you to skirt the rules.”

Did the old man have mind-reading powers?

“Why’d you call me in here then? Did you want to simply connect with your student’s student?”

We’d been playing games ever since he showed up. The person I imagined from the stories Master told me was a harsh and punctual man, who sometimes bordered on stoic. Not the old man currently in front of me.

Again, he smiled, but this time it felt different. Before, the burn mark would seem to fade, smoothing out for his rising cheeks and the deep wrinkles of a man who’s lived a life filled with laughter. Now, however, the mark looked bigger, like a fire carving out a forest on the side of a mountain.

“You’re an oddity,” he said. “Fire and electricity are your base magics?”

“So, Master went around telling everyone he knew?”

“It’s a secret best kept close and only shared with those you trust. He specifically asked me to enroll you into this academy without anyone knowing I was involved. I would have done the favor regardless, but Reinhard was always the respectful one. He also wanted to know if I knew of any oddities surviving past the age of twelve.”

I shrugged.

He meant the “curse” that affected all other oddities. Around the ages of ten and twelve, oddities would lose control of their magic and eventually die, whether from some kind of internal issue or mana exhaustion.

“I’ve never experienced anything like that ‘curse’.”

“Good. I’m certain your two natures will contribute greatly to what Renard Academy hopes to achieve. You can produce it yourself, can’t you? Unison Magic, that is.”

“Yeah.”

It was a type of magic that combined the different affinities that two people were born with, such as water and air, to create a significantly stronger version of the magic used. It was one of the reasons why a specialist mage, like a chronomancer, would still practice their innate form of magic from time to time even though they chose to focus on something else.

Unisons were difficult to pull off. No one knew for sure what requirements needed to be met for two people’s magic to merge together. Some scholars said that their mana control had to be the same, yet many teachers and their students who shared the same control couldn’t perform Unisons more than anybody else. A few thought that blood ties were important, but that also failed to hold up. Others guessed it was the mana in the area, the innate magic combining, or the time of day. All of them also didn’t seem to make it more common.

“I wish you the best of luck during your time here. Tri-nature Unison Magic. That would be quite the sight.”

“Can I leave now?”

He nodded. “It wasn’t such a difficult thing, speaking to me, now was it?”

I’m not so sure about that.

As I reached for the handle, he called out to me.

“Ah, I almost forgot about this.” He pulled out a letter from his desk. “Per the rules of the academy, your maternal grandparents were contacted. Son of the runaway Yurfray daughter. I admit, it was a surprise to learn. It caused quite a stir at the time considering some of her suitors.”

“You told them I was here?”

It didn’t really matter. When the fire happened, I left with my uncle on my dad’s side.

“Yes, this was required to enroll you without a sponsor or recommendation.”

“The Yurfrays paid for my entry?”

“No. I sent the letter we send to all families and paid the amount in their stead.”

“And I guess that letter is them telling you they want me kicked out.”

He sighed again. “I swear, you’re much more like Carlyle than Reinhard. No, this letter is from your sister.”

Aisha?

It felt like my heart had stopped.

“If you’d like, I can have the letter delivered to your room later.”

“...No. I’ll take it.”

It felt like a jolt to my whole body. I read the name again to make sure it was from Aisha then stored it in my bracers to read when I had time. I had to focus. Once I got the major core, then I could open the letter. There were too many things to worry about.

Back in the classroom, all the students were walking around and talking to each other. Ms. Ein was writing on the board and Axel waved me over. Halfway up the steps, I saw a streak of blue shuffle in front of me. It was her. Blue Hair. The same one who helped me yesterday. “H-Hello…” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Did she recognize me?

I was sure I didn’t use my normal voice yesterday. Actually, it hurt too much for me to speak normally, so that wasn’t an issue. But why was she talking to me?

“Hi,” I said, feeling the slightest hint of worry. Blue Hair, despite jumping out like an arrow, couldn’t meet my eyes. Her braid rested on her shoulder, being pulled and fiddled with by her opposite hand as if to hide as much of her face as possible, while the other gripped onto her side like a wounded soldier.

“Um…” Her voice trailed off. The longer the silence went on, the more she seemed to shrink.

She wasn’t this nervous yesterday.

“Is there something you need? My seat’s right behind you.”

“S-Sorry… It’s just that we’re, um, we’re partners…”

“Oh.” I held out my hand. “I’m Rainen.”

She slowly took it, whispering her name under her breath.

“I couldn’t hear-”

“Everyone, to your seats.”

Blue Hair scurried into her chair, leaving me clueless about my partner’s name.