I took a deep breath, the scent of earth flowing into my nostrils as golden mana filled my vision. The calm of the mana rippled through my being as I sat in the room. I’d closed my eyes to maintain my [Mana Sanctuary] skill and activated [Meditation]. I could sense objects within the ocean of gold, each one bringing their own unique properties into reality.

One sat on the opposite end of the room, my friend William. The other rested on my shoulder. Gold’s stomach moved in and out as he took deep breaths alongside me. I wasn't sure if he had a [System] like I did, but if he did then he'd learnt [Meditation] at some point by watching me.

Suspended in midair, flowing over my skin, and tickling my nostrils was mana of bright gold and mellow orange, intermingling colours that vied for attention and space. I’d had my [Mana Sanctuary] skill active for an entire hour, and the mana was slowly dissipating. At first I'd kept the mana stabilised, but after ten minutes a snowball of mana dissipation had begun. At the end of the hour the final vestiges were dissolving into the surroundings, returning to nature. Or perhaps someplace else.

[Mana Sanctuary (II) has reached level 2.]

I let out a long breath and the skill cancelled as I reached my limit. My brain was foggy, and it would be at least a day before I could use it again. The remaining gold mana disappeared instead of returning to me. Small motes twinkled goodbye as they left.

Bye, fun, again.

"I feel like I just ran a marathon and haven't eaten for a week.” My voice resounded through the storage room. “That skill is an endless sinkhole for my mana.”

I opened my eyes and saw that the surroundings had returned to normal. Five bare walls surrounded me, and a thin layer of dirt was on the ground. To add metal mana to the surroundings I'd laid down five silver poles, one for each corner of the room.

It hadn't helped much.

[Mana: 11,3420/28,520]

I shivered. I’d managed to create a cultivation room for a single hour, but the cost to do that was horrendous. The average adult magician only had six thousand mana. The cost for this was beyond the means of an ordinary magician, and even a Marked One would have trouble maintaining the skill for extended periods of time.

"People have been killed for having this kind of skill." William had opened his eyes and was gazing at the surroundings intently. “Using a cultivation room for an hour can help people with their breakthroughs into new skill levels. You’re not even stuck to one location. Not to mention your divine mana can transform into other elements.”

“I'd rather not measure a skill by how deadly it is for me to have it.” I said. “But I get what you mean.”

Inventories could carry physical objects, but mana would move where it willed. Cultivation rooms held ordinary objects infused with mana of a specific element, and if they were placed into inventories the mana within the objects would vacate.

It was still possible to use the moved materials to create a new cultivation room, but it would take time for the process to be completed and the mana to return.

My spell temporarily made the mana of the room dense enough that it became comparable to a cultivation room. A true cultivation room gathered mana until the air was dense with it at all times. The mana didn't dissipate because it considered the room it's home.

"Okay, okay." I held up my hands. "Let's stop for the day. My brain is starting to slow down from the strain.”

“How is that different from your regular self?” William said dryly.

Gold tittered from my shoulder at his words, and I sprayed them both with a light shower of dirt, much to their horror.

Even though my mana reserves weren't fully depleted, I would still need a while to recharge until I reached my maximum mana. It wasn't that my regeneration rate was slow, my manapool was just too big to fill quickly. If by some chance I reached zero mana, my [Mark] would activate.

That meant that my maximum mana would increase by 50. It also meant that I would undergo pain so intense that it would bypass my [Pain Tolerance] skill and knock me unconscious. If I was lucky.

It would also force my body to grow older. Something I wasn't quite ready for yet, although I’d been considering the ups and downs of that recently.

“One month.” William said.

I stared at him.

"If you think I'm going to activate that skill for an entire month then you're dreaming.” I kept my voice firm. “Higher levels make it easier to keep the mana stable, but it'll still start leaking after a few minutes regardless of what I do.”

In order to turn my surroundings into a cultivation room-like environment there were a few conditions. The room needed to be enclosed and it couldn't be too big. It also needed a constant stream of mana. I couldn't activate the skill and then turn it off every few minutes.

"No, I mean the rankings. Our excursion is in a month, so if you want to get into the top ten and get exclusive rights to enter the holy land early you have to do it in that timeframe.”

Gold jumped from my shoulder onto the floor at William’s words, sound similar to the scattering of raindrops filling the air as he made his way across the ground. He was trying to get as close to William as possible to hear his words.

"Oh, that.” I tapped my side pensively. “Is there a way to do it easily?

"Sure, if you beat me then you'll gain half my points. But I'm not letting you fight me while you're at a low rank.” William snorted. “I want to get richer too and nobody will want to fight me if I lose my spot. And nobody will want to fight you either. If you don't get enough points then that's it. You're done. It doesn’t help that you're basically unranked.”

"Basically? I thought I was unranked." A memory of two students floated into my mind. "Right, I won that fight with the earth and water magicians, Shar and Vesper.”

Amanda and I had fought against two magicians in the arena. The reasons were personal rather than a passion for battle but beating those two would have given me part of their points, if I'd understood William’s explanation properly.

"How many points did I get for beating them?” I asked.

William brought out the ranking sheet and I skimmed over it, quickly finding my name.

Andross Silver: 4 points. Rank 178.

Amanda Mitra: 3 points. Rank 185.

"Hang on, why does Amanda have less points than me? We both beat the same team.” I wasn't too fussed about my low rank. I could always challenge more people to fights.

"Because her brother beat her in a different fight." William explained. "By the way, if you want to make a real impact then you might have to play a bit dumb. And weak. Nobody wants to fight a losing battle.”

A chirp hit my ears and I looked down to see Gold reading one of the papers. As he saw me looking, he dragged it over to me with his talons.

Several of the names in the paper had been highlighted in red for me to look over.

Hassin Fre: 20 points. Rank 140.

Prin Kley: 22 points. Rank 132.

Orga Reigh: 24 points. Rank 125.

These were the people that William thought would accept my challenge.

"You're saying I should win, but not too convincingly?” I frowned. "Why do these people have so many points? Looking at this, you have over two hundred. That shouldn't be possible if each person only started with one.”

"Battles are the most direct way to rank up. But there are more ways to get points than just that. Don't forget we have an entire military wing in the academy. People can do extracurricular activities to gain points and participate in other events as well.” William tutted. “Just because you've been busy doesn't mean everybody else stood still.”

His words were harsh, but his tone was joking. It was true that I hadn’t delved deeply into the intricacies of Koshima Academy. I'd attended classes and fought a couple of battles, but that was the extent of my exploration.

"You know I'm helping the church now and getting to know what they do. I don't really have time for clubs or events.” I said.

“Even if you have to fight a bunch of people that are ranked lower than you, you'll still get some points for beating them.” William tapped the sheet. "That's why you have to fight. Smashing a few heads in is the best option sometimes.”

"Wise as always.” I replied.

The excursion to the holy land would mark the middle of the year and the end of the first semester. I wasn't sure where the higher year level students went for their excursions, but with possible benefits influencing their futures I wouldn't be surprised if the next excursions were even more highly contested.

“But if everybody saw me beating Shar to a pulp, I'm not really going to get too many takers for fights, am I?” I ran my finger down the list.

I couldn’t see the earth magician listed anywhere in the bottom ranks. Then I looked up the page and saw his name.

Shar had 91 points and was ranked 21.

I whistled. He’d been incredibly busy since he'd fought us three months ago. Judging from the number of points I’d gotten from beating him, he'd only had around ten or so when we’d fought.

That battle was the only thing keeping him from being in the top twenty.

"I have a way around that. Or rather, the school does.” William’s eyes twinkled. “They don't require you to register your name for your fights if you don't want to. Instead, you can use a pseudonym that they'll enter into the rankings in your place. We call it a [persona].

“Nobody makes it into Koshima Academy with mediocre abilities, and some want the rewards but would prefer their peers and future potential business rivals to stay in the dark as to their identity. And their skills.”

Before I could respond he brought out a new sheet of paper and I saw it was a form. Not only did it include the sheet to create a persona, but it also had an addendum form that asked the academy to reduce my persona’s points to 1.

“The responsibility for staying hidden is placed on the student.” William said. “Sometimes it works. Other times it fails horribly.”

“I get it.” I read through the papers carefully. “If the persona starts with the same number of points as I do then it would be useless. People will figure out my identity eventually.”

However, if I reset the points that I had, then I could be anyone in the Academy. Even a newcomer looking to try his luck at the battle rankings.

William nodded. "Normally, people rely on promises and oaths to make sure that their opponents don't reveal their identities after the fights. And it is mostly effective, but—”

“But I've got something better.” I finished the sentence for him.

With a wriggle of my fingers an item appeared in front of me.

It was a mask.

The mask hadn't come from within my inventory. Instead, it had come from within me. It was a regent I'd kept on my person for the express purpose of hiding myself from a divine being, but that wasn't all it could do.

When I wore the item, my presence disappeared entirely. People wouldn't be able to tell what kind of magician I was, and if they looked at me using mana sensing skills they would only see reality warping around my features. The mask itself physically covered most of my face.

My lips curled into a smile.

“I guess it's finally time to use this.”

****

Grass folded underneath my feet as I strolled through the gardens of Koshima Academy. The scent of flowers flowed through my nostrils and a gentle breeze caressed my skin. The talk William and I had yesterday was still fresh on my mind.

Gold glided through the skies, accompanied by a blazing red phoenix. Their happy chirps reached my ears as they embraced their freedom, and I quickly lost sight of them. Behind the garden lay Koshima Dome, home to the academy’s arena.

I’d scheduled a fight and had to enter in a few minutes, but I had something else to do first.

With a sharp turn I veered to the side of the Dome where a line of trees transformed into a forest. It was a peaceful and quiet location, with the occasional nature and life-attuned student meditating underneath the large branches. The earth was rich in mana, and it twinkled in greeting as I strode between the tree trunks.

In moments I reached the area I'd designated as my own. It was a section of the Dome wall surrounded by trees and foliage. I sat down and laid my back against the wall, the shade cooling the breeze over my skin.

“What are you going to do about your hair?”

I turned my head to the side and found myself facing a pair of bright eyes and flaming red hair. A teenage girl leaned against a nearby tree, a bird on either shoulder and a smile on her lips. Agni gazed at me in amusement, clearly holding back curiosity about the upcoming fight. Gold chirped happily from Amanda’s shoulder, and I shook my head.

There was no doubt in my mind that Gold had already told both of them everything.

I ran my fingers through my hair. “It shouldn't be too much of a problem.”

Even if the mask covered my face, it wouldn't cover my hair. When I looked up three pairs of shining eyes filled my vision as Gold, Agni, and Amanda leaned toward me.

"Show us.” Amanda’s eyes glimmered. "We’ll be the judges on whether it looks convincing enough.”

"Okay, okay.” I placed my hand against my chest. “No need to stare into my soul.”

There was a tug within my chest as I willed the regent to appear. The only problem with maintaining a secret identity was putting on and taking off the mask, but the trees at the back of the dome were devoid of people and covered us from sight.

It was a strange sensation to feel a physical object melt out of my soul. Or at least out of my body. Technically, the mask resided in my mind and body alongside the two symbols of the elements I’d attuned to. Earth and metal. And the Mark of the Crijik, representing my status as a Marked one.

A moment later the mask appeared in my fingers.

My hand disappeared. In its place was a bone-white plate surrounded by darkness. Light, mana, and reality itself was warped by the mask’s ability to conceal. This was what people saw when they gazed at me while wearing it, as though my face and eyes were an abyss and the longer they stared, the more they were sucked in.

My [Mana Sense] deactivated and the darkness disappeared, leaving only the bony-white mask that had been in its centre. It was light in my hands, and the white plating was interspersed with orange materials and a single teal gem plate on the forehead.

I placed it on my face, and it fit perfectly, despite having been made when I was younger. Over the years it had shifted and changed, growing as I grew, and feeding on my mana from within.

“Woah.” Amanda’s voice broke the silence. “You're really hard to see.”

I looked up and saw her making a square with her fingers, her eyes peering through it like it was a window. I held back a smile. It looked like she was taking a picture. She shook her head and blinked rapidly.

“Ugh. Okay. Too hard to see.” She scrunched her eyes shut.

I chuckled and the birds tittered. I knew Amanda had the ability to see mana. Not every element, but at least fire. Possibly more.

It was confirmation that my mask worked the same way for everybody. If they tried to gaze at me using magical sight skills, then I'd be perfectly hidden.

“But if I turn off my skill, I can still see your hair.” Amanda tilted her head. “And it's not like I couldn’t figure it out from that if I really wanted to. People are already keeping an eye on you as a member of our class. Nobody goes under the radar when people think of them as future business rivals. I'd give it a day before they figure it out.”

“A day?” I stared at her. Then I leaned back against the dome and sighed. “I was hoping to fool at least the first few fighters. Are you sure?”

Amanda gestured with her fingers and a mirror appeared in her hand from the inventory she kept in her pocket. She turned it toward me, and I got a proper look at my disguise.

It was perfect.

The mask covered all but my jawline. Its right side was longer than the left, which curved upwards and exposed part of my cheek and lips. The only thing it didn't cover was my hair.

Before I could comment on it, there was a flap of wings, and a bright red ball of feathers flew onto my lap. I looked down to see Agni staring up at me with beady eyes. She gave me a quick chirp and flapped her wings.

I’d know.

The phoenix’s message was simple and clear.

I stroked my chin pensively. There wasn't much I could do in the time between now and my next fight. Even if I found a way to dye my hair immediately, it wouldn't be a permanent solution. And people would know it was me because I had class right after the break was over.

"My next fight is in a few minutes.” I said. “I think I'll just have to risk it.”

Agni brushed her feathers against my arm as she heard my words. Her flames licked over the white robes I wore, and I raised my sleeve to get it away from the phoenix, but the flames curled up my arm and strummed against my shoulder.

A single chirp of amusement sounded out from beside my ear. Agni had travelled through her flames onto it.

I have. Idea. Flames. Hiding.

"Agni, when did you get onto my shoulder?" I asked. Then I saw that wasn't what she wanted me to ask. "Wait. Are you saying you have a plan?”

She chirped in agreement.

Agni explained her idea and a picture formed in my mind. There was a common skill that Amanda and Agni used in their fights. The two could cooperate and allow Amanda to grow wings using Agni’s form. I couldn't do the same, Agni and I didn't have the connection or the relevant skills, but we could try something similar.

"Okay, let's give it a try." I replied.

The moment the words left my mouth Agni disappeared, replaced by a bundle of flames. With a flap of her flames, she hopped up onto my head. Then she collapsed, and the flames spread across my head.

They weren't hot, or dangerous. They simply existed.

"Is that how it looks when Agni sits in my hair?” Amanda smiled.

She held the mirror up to my face and I blinked in surprise.

Every strand of hair on my head was covered in flames. From their tips to their roots, it looked like I was soaked in fire. Not a single hint of my original colour remained, and even the length varied as flames grew and shrank based on Agni’s whims. Even her beak and feathers were gone, replaced by pure flame.

“It looks more like when you get really embarrassed.” I said. “Or angry.”

I didn't comment as I saw her hair transforming into flames at my words.

That would just be rude,

"This is perfect.” A smile spread across my face. “Agni, you're a genius.”

A single joyful chirp reverberated from my hair. She would let me know if the transformation became too much for her to handle. Agni continued sitting on my head as I stood up. My opponent wouldn't be happy if I was late.

"Okay.” I nodded. “Now I've really got to get to the Dome, or I'll miss my fight.”

Amanda stepped back, and Gold chirped. He thought I looked good. And not at all like myself.

I laughed as I saw Amanda feeding him a treat.

“Kick their butt.” Amanda cheered me on. “Make sure you don't lose. Or it'll make me look bad as your training partner.”

Gold raised a wing to salute me, and I gave them both a look. They were exaggerating on purpose to embarrass me. And it was working.

A minute later the last of the trees disappeared and I could see the entrance of the Dome.

Gold swam through the air chirping happily, and Amanda found a spot to meditate in the garden nearby. Both of them were close enough for me to see them, but far away enough that nobody would place them as being my companions.

In front of me was the Koshima Dome.

The round building held several arenas inside of it, and a crowd of students occupied it at all times. The main arena was packed to the brim with spectators. But I wasn't going there today.

A few of the side rooms had been booked in advance by individuals that were waiting for challengers. Confident in their abilities and skills, they waited for someone to bring the fight to them.

These were the people that William had marked out to become my first targets.

As I approached the front desk a few people looked my way with curious expressions.

"I don't think I could've attracted any more attention if I tried.” I whispered to Agni.

The flames on my hair fluttered in amusement, and the stares of the students intensified. Having a body part produce flames wasn't uncommon. But mixed with the mask it was a beacon for attention.

I approached the front desk and the staff member manning it put a smile on their face.

“I’ve scheduled a battle with Hassin Fre.” I said.

My words were distorted as they left my lips. Part of it was the regent’s abilities. The other was the intricate carvings inside that bounced the sounds of my voice around the moment I spoke. Even with only part of my lips covered it made a difference. Everything I said was understandable, but it was hard to tell it was me speaking.

“Name?” The staff member looked at my mask.

His words brought a smile to my face. A persona needed to have a name registered to it. The faculty would still know who I was, but the students wouldn't unless I revealed it to them.

William had told me I could come up with any pseudonym that I wanted to use for my persona. Nothing was off the table. However, I still only had a month to try and raise my rank. Even if it didn't seem like it, every aspect of my identity was a weapon to be used. Even my name.

That meant a simple question had to be asked.

What name would make people want to fight me the most?

“My name is Crijik.”