Chapter 24: Asura’s talent

Argus von Hohenturm was for once actually looking forward fulfilling his duties as principal. To think that this young man he heard about was this outstanding! He could hardly believe it that finally a rank ten control mage had emerged. Something he had been striving for his entire life! One could say that this was one of the highest accomplishments a mage could achieve.

While thinking about that there was a slight knock on his door. “Come in.” And into his room came Larius Sensei and a young man who by now was wearing the school uniform that was held in brown. Beginner students wore brown. After completing at least the fourth rank of control one was allowed to wear grey and finally after reaching the sixth rank was a student allowed to wear white. The white students were the elite of the elite. The best students the academy had.

The teachers wore black and he himself wore red as the principal. The light students were an exception as the future clergy the were clad in silver. When they earned the right to join the clergy they would be allowed to wear the sacred gold. But all wore the school emblem on their robes: The signs for the five ‘lesser’ elements aligned around the symbol for light. The young man in front of him still wore brown but one could feel that the air surrounding him was different.

He held himself with complete confidence and that alone gave Argus a pleasant surprise. Arrogance is no good but on the other hand a mage who was not confident was a failure as well. Mages should always walk that thin line between confidence and arrogance. Hardly ever before had Argus seen such composure on such a young man. He would call him a boy if it weren’t for those eyes.

These dark almost black eyes were the eyes of someone who had encountered many obstacles and had overcome them. Argus smiled: “Ah welcome young genius Asura. Or should i call you the prodigy of the wind?”

The young man in front of him bowed and answered calmly: “This junior greets the principal. And to be honest I did not give me that name nor do i go by that name. The esteemed principal can of course call me whatever he likes but i am me: Asura. Nothing more but certainly nothing less.”

What composure! Very impressive. “Ah i apologize, that was rather mean. So student Asura, i hear that you can freely use your wind magic without using any kind of invocation?” The young man showed no reaction only answering calmly again:

“Yes, Sir. I have been for quiet a while and to be honest, I did not think it was such a big deal. You see I have not been living long within the empire.” Argus had heard the gist of the story from Larius. “As far as I have heard your parents were killed near the border to the beast country?”

Again no reaction. This mage must have seen more than one could imagine. Otherwise how could he not react to his parent’s death in any way?

“That is correct Sir. It was when i was still very young so i hardly remember it. I was captured by them for whatever reason but one of my fathers loyal guards managed to free me. Unfortunately he succumbed to his wounds and i was left alone in the woods of Shura. Hence i had to survive on my own and all i had to do that was my magic. I really do not like to remember that time to be honest. The time i spent in Shura… was a nightmare.”

Now his unchanged face till now actually changed. And one could clearly see the deep emotional scars. So that’s how it is. Certainly surviving as a child in Shura… Anyone would have to either completely rely on oneself or die.

“A year ago i finally reached the empire again. But i hardly could remember the language and i had nothing. So i stole and learned. When i heard that there is a place where talent was more important than background, this lowly thief decided to change his fate.”

Very impressive indeed. Something was off but Argus could not pinpoint it. Most likely Asura left things out that he did not wish to talk about. Quiet understandable. “Do not worry. What you have gone through, no one will judge you. But i understand why you do not want to talk about your background. I will see to it that it will not become general knowledge.” Asura gave another bow and answered:

“Thank you very much esteemed principal.” Still, what a polite fellow. “So i know this might be a bit sudden but would you..?” Before he could finished Asura raised his hand. “Sure.” With just that wind started to gather all around him. What dazzling magic! Argus could clearly feel the flow of mana and elemental energy. But there was no spirit intervention! The wind around that immeasurable talent was moving as if it had its own will and Argus could not feel a single breeze!

Perfectly contained around his own body this was definitely the pinnacle of magic control. Without a sound the wind vanished as if it was never there in the first place. “Is that enough?” The principal was blinking as if waking from a daze. “Yes, yes of course. Truely splendid.”

With shining eyes he continued: “In all my years have i never seen such a beautiful manipulation of magic. Which leads us to the topic that i have called you for. Larius Sensei suggested this and i quiet agree: Would you test the students in this month’s ranking competition?”

That seemed to actually surprise him. Argus chuckled. “It is tradition that the mage with the best control tests the students and with that display you have proven to me: No one can beat you when it comes to controlling wind magic.” Asura seemed to fall into deep thought.

“Of course, i would not ask something this unreasonable for free. Larius Sensei has told me about your research. I would grant you special permission to use my personal library. You will find that it is much more detailed than the books you can find within the tower of wind.” Hearing that the young man gave his answer without hesitation: “Very well. I shall see for myself what level your students have reached.”

Suddenly heavy knocking could be heard from the door. Before Argus could even say anything the door burst open and in came a man who seemed to be at the age of around sixty. “Principal, what is this joke?” He immediately shouted while entering the room.

“I have been testing the wind students for twenty years and now some youngster who still needs his mother’s milk is supposed to replace me? Don’t make me laugh!”

Enraged the man who had a grey short beard and no more hair glared at Asura. “Are you the one who tricked everyone into thinking you were special?” Before Argus could say anything Asura gave a slight bow and answered:

“This junior greets Sensei. I don’t know what you are talking about but if you want to know if the principal has asked me to take over the monthly ranking competition the answer would be yes. I have just accepted his proposal.”

“Outrageous! There is no way that I Brutus from the exalted von Niederschloß family would loose out to some brat from… What family are you from anyway?” While glaring at Asura who answered without even flinching: “I am from common background Sensei.”

“WHAAAT? Argus how could you replace me with a commoner?” It was unthinkable that someone would talk to the principal like that. But the von Nierderschloß family was main branch of Argus’s von Hohenturm family. So if family is concerned Brutus had a higher status than Argus. But who was Argus von Hohenturm?

The most powerful human mage and the principal of the royal academy. And now he was actually angry. When he was about to put Brutus into his place suddenly Asura said: “Very well, than how about you show us how much more powerful you are? Use anything you like. If you can move me from this spot, I will resign from the position of examiner.”

The already enraged Brutus got even more angry. How arrogant can a commoner be? “Very well! I will show you not to underestimate your seniors! Spirit of the wind lend me your strength. Become the blade that grinds everything to nothing. WIND DESTRUCTION.”

The strongest wind attack magic known. Argus was shocked and wanted to intervene but… nothing happened. Everyone was dumbfounded. What happened? Argus clearly felt the elemental power gathering and Brutus absolutely would not mess up infusing mana. Asura was the only one who’s expression didn’t change.

“Is that all?” he asked and actually put on a bored face now. The old teacher actually became red and shouted: “WHO ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF BOY!” With that he suddenly fired a bullet of compressed air towards the young man. Preinvoked spell Wind Bullet. He thought that that would teach him but….

the Wind Bullet disappeared before even reaching Asura. Now Brutus was really flabbergasted. He could not comprehend what happened. Suddenly Argus started laughing:

“Give it up old friend. He canceled your spells out. He just dispersed all the elemental energy you had gathered.” “Im.. Impossible. That’s impossible, it can’t be done. Not without studying and analyzing and even then. No one has enough comprehension speed to cancel a preinvoked spell.”

Asura sighed and answered: “I don’t have to. I can just make your elemental energy mine by manipulating it. When it’s mine i can just cancel it with a thought.” Brutus couldn’t help himself. He muttered: “Rank ten.” Argus smiled and said: “Give it up Brutus. You are no match for him.” Without a word the old teacher turned around and left the room. But before he went through the door he said:

“You will regret that boy.” Asura only shook his head: “I doubt it. Sorry principal, is there anything else? Otherwise i would like to get back to work.” Argus came back to his senses and said: “No, no everything needed to be said, was said. But let me apologize for the rude behavior of my colleague.”

Asura only shrugged his shoulders: “Don’t worry about it.” With that he left. While leaving he almost ran into a young girl that was listening in on everything that happened. With a shriek she fell backwards onto her bum. He only said: “Sorry.” waved his hand and left without even giving her a second glance.

Theresa was picked up by a smooth wind and could only look after him. Completely shocked. Before the principal or Larius Sensei could see her, she left, thinking to herself, ‘Just what in the world is he?’ With a complicated expression on her face she muttered: “Asura.” while walking back to her dorm.