Thankfully, this class had a teaching assistant, who saw Wesley’s confusion, and walked up to him.
“You new?”
“Yeah.”
“Nice to meet you, my name’s Doug. This is basically how Mrs. Quent “teaches”. It’s basically a free period where you get to do whatever you want. Of course, if you want, I can show you what he means by ‘the usual’.”
“Name’s Wesley. Please.”
“Well, how much have you learned about mana control in the past?”
“Nothing.”
“Ah…Okay, well. Let’s start here. Really, the only way to improve your mana capacity, other than its natural progression, is to continuously drain your mana pool to about the halfway point. If your mana pool is full all the time, your body will assume that your mana pool’s size is adequate. If it is always at least partially empty, your body will assume that your mana pool is too small, and needs to be bigger.
“Thankfully, this will also help your mana channels - the more mana is continuously travelling through them, the more they are nourished by said mana, just like eating the meat of magical creatures.
“So, the best way to train both your mana capacity and control, is to spend some time each day to continuously cast a spell that is manipulated by mana, such as the mana barrier spell. Practice controlling the size and shape of the barrier until your mana pool is half empty, wait for your mana pool to fill up with more mana, then resume.
“The more you can determine the exact amount of mana needed to get your desired result from a spell, and use only that amount, the more spells you will be able to cast with your existing mana.”
“Hm...Okay.”
Wesley quickly drew a mana barrier seal, then concentrated. He kept his mana barrier very small, then slowly raised and lowered in mana input to get a feel for controlling his mana.
To start, the size of his mana barrier fluctuated violently, but as he continued to practice, his mana barrier’s size began to change more fluidly.
Looking on, Doug nodded. “You’re a natural.”
“Thanks.”
Despite Doug’s words, Wesley wasn’t satisfied. An hour of practice is not enough to create a master.
But, with the methodology to practice now, he would add this training to his daily routine.
A while later, class ended. Before Wesley left, though, Doug walked up to him.
“Hey, it’s good to see someone who’s willing to put the time into repetitive practice - most of the others get bored. If you ever have any questions, just find me.”
“Thanks, will do!”
Help was always appreciated.
“Actually, I have a question already.”
“Shoot.”
“I was watching the competition for the school’s representative team earlier, and I saw a mage using space magic. Space magic seemed to be incredibly useful, so why aren’t there more practitioners?”
“Ah, you must be talking about Ken… Well, the answer to that is fairly simple. Not much is known about space magic, and those who are knowledgeable about it guard their secrets closely. Furthermore, it takes far more mana to manipulate space than to create fire, or move objects, and the like. However, once a space mage has enough mana at their disposal, they can be a terrifying force indeed… able to send entire legions to the void with a wave of a hand.”
“I see…”
After talking for a bit longer, Wesley and Dave left the classroom, leaving Doug behind to assist Mrs. Quent on her way to her next period class.
Wesley asked Dave, “What’s my next class now?”
“Physical Education.”
“...It’s my last class of the day, right?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go home.”
“...Physical Education is a required class.”
“Wasn’t it said that all of the classes were optional?”
“Physical education is the one outlier.”
“...”
Later that day, Wesley arrived back at the Lumient family estate, sweaty and smokey.
Chapter 10
The next morning, Wesley and Kate walked to the competition fields together with Dave, something that did not go unnoticed by the others there.
After all, as a child of the second most powerful family of the Kingdom, everyone knew who Kate was - but only a few, who had watched the first day of the competitions, knew who Wesley was. Even then, they knew only what he looked like, and that he had shamelessly wormed his way into a spot on the school’s representative team.
Hence, all eyes were on Wesley as the two made their way towards the field.
“Good luck.”
“Mm. Thanks.”
Kate was rather tight-lipped as she approached the center of the field, her face uncharacteristically serious.
“Don’t worry sis, you’ll do just fine!”
“...” Kate didn’t turn around, but a small smiled showed on her face.
That’s right. She finally had a little brother to care for, as she’d always wanted. How could she let him down?
With her head held up high, and determination brimming in her eyes, she continued forward with purpose.
At the same time, many of those in the area heard Wesley and Kate’s interaction.
Sis?
…
The two were siblings????
Everyone in the area quickly turned to each other and began discussing this news - the limelight of those in the field had been temporarily stolen away by a few simple words.
Soon enough, everyone in the area had heard that Kate Lumient, apparently, had a little brother, the coward who had squeezed his way into a spot on the school’s representative team.
“Tch.” One of the competitors stared at Kate, a sardonic smirk on his face. “So, the Lumient has fallen so far, needing to hide themselves from others in order to survive.”
These words were not said quietly, and were heard by most in the vicinity, including Kate.
As Kate was usually a hothead, most people expected her to immediately start a fight with the other girl, but to their surprise, she didn’t.
Instead, she simply stood there, a smile on her face.
After all of the competitors arrived, Headmaster Farhir stood at the head of the field and called for the beginning of the competition to begin.
As soon as it began, Kate made a beeline for the girl who had insulted Wesley, drawing a seal with each hand.
Although Kate had long ago achieved the level of mana control and multitasking skill needed to draw seals with both hands, she’d never been able to draw seals that were different from each other.
Actually, she’d never even thought of doing so - it was only after sparring against Wesley last night, that he had proposed the idea.
Although she failed the first few times, after a while, she had succeeded.
On the side of the field, Headmaster Farhir kept his eyes on Kate. As Patriarch Lumient was his friend, he had paid attention to Kate as she’d grown up.
She had never been “special” in any way, but had been exceedingly solid at all aspects of magic. Her only specialty had been her ability to draw seals with both hands, but many of those who were ambidextrous or were better at multitasking were able to do so - while rare, it wasn’t unheard of.
But now… Headmaster Farhir looked on in amazement.
With her left hand, Kate finished drawing a seal. Casting it, a light barrier descended upon her opponent.
Although her opponent had wanted to cast a spell, with the light barrier, she was now separated from the rest of the world.
Still, she cast her spell in an effort the break the barrier - a stream of dark energy clashed against the light barrier for a few seconds before the barrier broke, but as soon as it did, several bursts of light had hit her from the side.
Finished with her first opponent, Kate quickly drew two more seals and proceeded to her next victim.
In this methodical manner, Kate
quickly finished off another ten competitors. By denying them the ability to do anything other than break through the barrier, then taking advantage of this to defeat them with a single blow once they’d broken through,
In short, she was taking advantage of her ability to concentrate and think about multiple things at once, and the others’ inability to do the same.
At the end of it all, she and two other Rank 10 Elementary Mages outlasted the others, and were chosen for the school’s representative team.
With all nine members chosen, Headmaster Farhir told those present. “Representatives will report to my office after 4th period class. Thank you.”
…
That evening, Wesley, Kate, and the seven others sat in the reception area outside Headmaster Farhir’s office, but none of those present talked to each other.
Tali, the receptionist, stared at them until she finally couldn’t take it anymore.
“Come on! You’re all supposed to be a team! Talk! Communicate! Something! You guys are raising my dang anxiety levels.”
Everyone turned toward her, then resettled themselves, still not paying attention to each other.
Wesley leaned over to Kate and said in a loud whisper. “This is very uncomfortable.”
“I know.”
After a while, Headmaster Farhir finally walked into the building, looking a little worse for wear.
“Everyone, come into my office.”
The group stood up and followed Headmaster Farhir back into his office.
“Alright. The nine of you will be spending the next few weeks together being trained by me, personally. You will experience hell. Last year was the first time in a decade that our school failed to win the Reiniad Elementary Inter-school competition, and I will not allow the school’s name to be sullied twice in a row under my leadership.”
“The road will be difficult, but upon winning the inter-school competition, I will reward you all for your efforts, and you will be on your way to being the leaders of the new generation.
“Report here at sunrise, tomorrow morning. We will bring you to your training grounds then - say your farewells to your families tonight.”
With that, he picked up some documents on his desk and began reading then, a clear sign to the students that it was time for them to leave.
When Kate and Wesley arrived at the Lumient family estate that night, the Patriarch, their grandpa, treated the two, allowing the two to eat to their heart’s content with some of the most expensive delicacies money could buy.
That night, he slept happy, roaring with laughter in his dreams.
“My Lumient family will be the face of the new era!”
Chapter 11
The next morning, by the time Wesley and Kate arrived at Headmaster Farhir’s office, the rest of the team had arrived already, alongside Headmaster Farhir.
“Bout time you showed up. Now, form three lines.”
Everyone quickly divided into three lines of three.
“Follow me!”
With that, Headmaster Farhir began running into the distance, while everyone followed.
After a few minutes, some of the mages in the group started showing signs of fatigue, but their end was nowhere in sight.
One of the members spoke up. “How far is our destination?”
“Thirty miles away.”
“...Are we running the entire way?”
“Yes.”
Hearing this, not only did the questioner almost collapse mentally, but everyone else seemed to lose their footing for a split second.
Thirty miles!
“We haven’t even arrived at the training grounds yet, and you’re already so dispirited?” Headmaster stopped, and turned around.
“If the level of your resolve is so low, we might as well give up now.”
However, none of the students moved.
“Well, then let’s get running!”
This time, everyone followed Headmaster Farhir without complaint.
They ran, and ran, and ran, only stopping for a brief lunch and bathroom break, until they finally reached a wooden mansion hidden in the woods. By this time, everyone had been caked in sweat, with blisters on their feet.
Then, came the words everyone had been wishing for.
“Head in, pick a room, and wash up. We’ll start tomorrow.”
The mansion had a total of ten rooms, perfect for the team along with the headmaster.
Wesley picked a room adjacent to Kate, then walked in and rummaged around the room before heading to the bath.
Each room, although simple, provided exactly what the students would need for their weeks of training.
The beds were soft, the closets were filled with specially created training suits, and the baths…
Well, the water for the bath was actually a “soup” made from various magical herbs, parts of magical beasts, and the like - perfect for the students to soak in after a day of exertion.
After taking a bath in the soup, the students would need to shower again in order to clean themselves properly, but this would be the only way the students would be able to handle the upcoming weeks.
After last year’s loss, training this year would be especially hellish.
After everyone bathed and showered, they congregated back on the main floor, in the dining room.
Of course, it was dinner time.
Several waiters and waitresses appeared out of nowhere, holding heaping dishes of delicious food.
Before they were allowed to eat, however, Headmaster Farhir had one request.
“Introduce yourselves to each other.”
Truthfully, he’d been hoping that the various students would mingle on their to the training grounds, that hadn’t really happened. The Rank 9 Elementary Mages spoke to each other, Kate and Wesley spoke to each other, Alex and May spoke to each other, and the other two Rank 10 Elementary mages spoke to each other and Kate, but that was about it.
Several groups had been formed in the team.
Unacceptable.
One of the Rank 10 Elementary Mages stood up from his seat at the table.
“I’ll start. My name is Jacob, and I am a close-combat mage. Nice to meet you all.” After giving his introduction, he sat back down.
With that, everyone’s gaze moved to the girl to the right of him. Seeing everyone’s gazes on her, she stood up as well.
“Hello everyone. I’m Cassandra, and I practice ice magic. Pleased to meet you all.”
One by one, everyone introduced themselves.
“My name is Kate, and I’m a light and support mage.”
“My name is Luke, and I am a space mage.”
“My name is Ryu, and I am defensive support mage.” He punched his fists together. “You can rely on me to protect you.”
“Hey everyone, I’m Tony. I’m an earth mage…”
Then, it came time for the Rank 8 Elementary Mages to introduce themselves.
“I’m Alex. Lightning Mage. This here is my girlfriend, May. She is a Fire Mage.”
The girl beside him nodded.
With that, everyone turned to Wesley.
“Hi, I’m Wesley. I’m an ice mage.”
“Well then, now that everybody knows everybody else’s names, try to get along, will you? Well, I won’t keep you waiting any longer, or the food will be cold. Dig in!”
Despite their hunger, everyone ate the food with class. Fork in the left hand, knife in the right. Small bites.
Everyone, that is, except Wesley.
He stabbed into his food with a voracity that almost resembled a monster, until he noticed that everyone was staring at him.
“...”
He changed to smaller bites, but in his head he was complaining.
How was he supposed to eat his fill like this? This was tiring!
After a bit into the meal, Headmaster had eaten his fill, and lowered his utensils.
“As of yesterday, I have officially sent in the roster for our school’s represen
tative team. Each of you have been validated by the Mage Association that you have updated your ranking with them in the past month, so our roster has been accepted.
Memory Seal- Volume 2 Page 5
