Chương 13: Chapter 7:”Half a Year of Him and Her (Female Side)”

The entrance ceremony ended, and classes began. I was happy to be in the same class as Alice. By the way, Milia, whom I became friends with after that day, is also in the same class. Our homeroom teacher is a young man named Eric Barton. In Sacris, two self-defense forces, the Magic Corps and the Sword Corps, are responsible for defense and maintaining order. He is apparently a special appointment teacher who also belongs to the Magic Corps, one of those wings. Moreover, he seems to be an elite called a young hope.

There are various subjects such as Magicology, Magic History, and Magic Pharmacology. Specialized teachers give lectures for each subject. Attendance is up to the students, but since there are exams at the end of the term, I heard everyone takes them seriously and the attendance rate is high. Of course, I intend to attend properly as much as I can. In the first Magicology class, we learned about the classification of magic.

Well, even though they call it classification, since you can do really various things if you use magic, the boundaries of attributes are ambiguous, and strict division seems difficult. It gave the impression that names were given quite arbitrarily, like Fire Magic if you create fire, or Water Magic if you manipulate water. At the end of the class, Lost Magic was also briefly touched upon. Apparently, in the past, there were magic systems that are almost lost now, such as Space-Time Magic and Light Magic.

These two types of magic are called the two major systems of Lost Magic. Two of the spells actually restored through research were introduced. One is the Storage Magic 《Sack》, which the Guief Lab recently announced. It's a convenient magic that can create storage space in a different dimension. Apparently, there are still problems with stability and size, so research toward practical use is underway. The other is the Light Source Magic 《Mirual》 by the Oguma Lab.

As the name suggests, it's a magic that substitutes for lights. This one has already been in practical use for a long time. The magic lamps that brightly illuminate the night of this town are apparently made by applying this magic. Everything is expensive when first put to practical use. So at first, they were installed only in the Noble District, but the manufacturing price gradually went down, and they exploded in popularity about twenty years ago. Listening to the story, I thought it was a bit strange.

Setting aside Space-Time Magic, which seems difficult just from the image, it was unexpected that Light Magic, which doesn't seem particularly difficult compared to fire or water, is a type of Lost Magic. Curious, I asked the teacher after class, but it seemed even the teacher didn't know why Light Magic is so difficult. I was further taught the fact that it is as complex as Space-Time Magic, or depending on the spell, even more complex and difficult to restore. Hmm.

Anyway, I understood well that it seems difficult, but I wonder why. If I have a chance to touch upon it someday, I might want to investigate. The last period of the first day was Magic Practice. The teacher in charge is Bella Moll. A playful female teacher in her thirties who declared during her self-introduction that her worry is she can't find a good partner and get married. The first session was to start by performing simple practical magic skills at the outdoor training ground.

"Let's start with a review of the basics. I will have you perform the beginner Fire Magic, Volk. I assume everyone can already do it, but I will demonstrate just in case." Moll-sensei spread her right hand and thrust it out.

"Oh Fire. 《Volk》." Then, a small flame popped into existence about a meter in front of her, where there was nothing. The fist-sized red flame flickered on the spot without disappearing. It was a truly surreal sight. When Moll-sensei closed her right hand, the fire vanished with a puff. Perhaps everyone is used to seeing this level, as no particular voices of surprise rose at the sequence of events. But I was completely captivated by the sight that perfectly fit the name "magic." Heh. So this is magic!

It might be natural for people of this world, but fire coming out of nowhere is truly mysterious. I was moved. Unaware of my emotion, Moll-sensei turned to us nonchalantly and began explaining briskly.

"Since this was a demonstration, I chanted so it would be easy for everyone to understand." She did chant.

"Oh Fire, Volk." Nice. It's exciting.

"However," Moll-sensei continued.

"If you join the Magic Corps and fight in the future, or in practice matches between students, there will be times you use magic in actual combat. At such times, it is normal not to chant openly like this." Is that so. Normally you don't chant. Hmm hmm.

"You form the entire image of the magic in your head and vocalize only within your heart—in other words, perform it chantlessly. This is a natural measure to prevent the opponent from realizing what kind of magic you are using before activation." I see. It makes a lot of sense that chantless is the basic. In manga and anime, they often shout the names of special moves, but that's strictly for dramatic effect and not rational at all in reality.

"Of course, when using it for daily tasks and such, there are many situations where you should chant to inform those around you. Please use them properly according to the time and place." I see, I see. I learned one more thing. I should take notes before I forget. As I was taking notes enthusiastically, Alice next to me poked me and whispered.

"You're diligent, aren't you?" Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

"You think?"

"No one but you is taking notes on a first-day talk like this." Now that she mentions it, I was indeed the only one around taking notes. Milia nearby is also just nodding silently.

"But I don't know anything, you know." When I laughed and replied, Alice also gave me a smile as if looking at something heartwarming, saying, "Really. It's nice that you seem to be having fun."

"Now. Let's have everyone try it immediately. Please start in order from the basic task 'First Step of Fire Magic: Volk' in the exercise book. Those who finish all basic tasks, please also try the applied task 'Output Control of Volk' and the advanced task 'Volk Five-Rapid-Fire'." Everyone enters practice. As expected of Magic Academy students, most people succeeded in one go without difficulty. Fast people finished the basic tasks immediately and are already moving to the applied ones.

As for me, since I have absolutely no familiarity with magic, I had no clue how to do it no matter how much I read the exercise book. Let alone Fire Magic, I don't even really understand the principle of how magic itself is used. The "sensation of using magic" might be too obvious for people of this world; it seems not to be written at all as a pre-textbook part. Having no choice, I watch closely what others are doing and try to imitate just the form. Volk, Volk... No good. It's not going well at all.

I should honestly give up here and rely on my friend who is already doing advanced tasks next to me.

"Alice. Can you teach me how to do it? I don't know what to do." Alice didn't act annoyed but taught me kindly with a smile.

"Right. You've never used magic before, Yu. You can't use magic unless you take Magic Element into your body and then knead a clear image. I'll do it slowly, so watch closely." Alice took a deep breath. Straining my eyes, strangely, I could "sense" something faintly being taken into her whole body. I wonder if that is taking in Magic Element. Then she extended her right hand smoothly and chanted magic with a resolute voice.

"Oh small fire. 《Volk》." The next moment, a beautiful crimson flame was born in front of her. It is absolutely comparable to what Moll-sensei showed in the demonstration. I saw various other classmates doing it, but compared to them, the workmanship is clearly one rank higher.

"Amazing..." Seeing me leak a sigh of admiration, Alice scratched the back of her head a little proudly.

"Ehehe. I've been good at Fire Magic since long ago." Then she gave me some additional advice, or rather, tips.

"Then I'll go back to my tasks, but feel free to ask anything again if you don't understand."

"Yeah. Thanks." The way to release magic that Alice showed me carefully several times. I ruminate on it well in my head and imagine it. Alright. Let's try one more time. To take in Magic Element, I apparently have to open my consciousness outward. Concentrating with that in mind, there certainly was a unique sensation like something entering my body. A strange sensation I never felt on Earth, like warm energy filling my whole body. Magic Element fills the inside softly.... Is this about right?

I feel like it's accumulated gradually. Shall I move to shooting it soon? Knead the Magic Element filled inside the body, and firmly image the form of activation. If the image wavers even a little, you cannot shoot correct magic. This is the crucial part. I tried imagining shooting out a strong flame as much as possible. Yeah. I feel like I can do it this time. Thrusting out my left hand, I declare with a clear voice.

"《Volk》" Then, this time, a flame properly appeared in front of my eyes. I did it! It came out! I did it surprisingly smoothly! I can do it if I try! I didn't think the day would come when I could really use magic, so I'm moved. Hm? But—wait? I realize something is wrong. Like, isn't the fire getting bigger and bigger since a while ago? And the shape— Everyone else produced flames like those that come out when burning things normally. In contrast, the flame I produced is gradually forming a large fireball.

Moreover, while everyone's flames disappear immediately at their will, mine shows no sign of disappearing no matter how much I will it. Bad. What should I do?

"Hey. How do you think I should put this out?" Alice, who turned around, rounded her eyes and was startled.

"Ehh, what is that!? How did it become like that!?"

"It looks like a completely different magic." Milia, who noticed this situation, also retorted while being greatly exasperated next to me.

"No. Umm... Actually, I have no idea why it became like this." Was the way I imaged shooting out flames bad? Maybe I unconsciously imagined something like a fireball. Maybe it would have been better if I made it feel more like erupting.

"Wait Yu, don't look away! Control!"

"Ah!" By the time I noticed it after being told by Alice, it was too late. The fireball, having completely lost control, flew with tremendous momentum to the edge of the training ground, and then—. It smashed magnificently through the safety magic barrier—a powerful guard that shouldn't budge against average magic—and roared with an explosion sound audible throughout the school. Wow. Wow... That's all that came out. The surroundings were in an uproar, and the air froze in an instant.

I, the one who messed up, was just standing there with my mouth gaping open at the sheer power of magic. Did I really do that...? It was so extreme that it even started to feel like someone else's problem. I don't want this anymore. I want to go back to Earth.

"Oh boy. You did it now." Alice is looking exasperated with a face saying "not my problem." Milia is narrowing her eyes and giggling as if she saw something fun. Ah... It is me, isn't it? The one who did that." Hoshimi-san! What are you doing!" Moll-sensei's angry voice echoed in the training ground. I came to my senses with a start. I hurriedly bowed my head with all my might.

"I-I'm sorry!" After that, I was made to write a reflection paper thoroughly. No good. This is bad. Feeling intense impatience, I had Alice and Milia accompany me and practiced repeatedly after school until late. I have to learn to master magic with such dangerous power as soon as possible. By the time I finally mastered the normal Volk, the sun had completely set. It was tough failing many times, but thanks to that, I was able to grasp the knack of handling Magic Power quite a bit.

Even like this, I have a constitution where once I grasp the knack, I don't forget it. Thanks to that, from the next day, I didn't make such weird blunders anymore. I learned earnestly as much as time allowed to become strong. I took notes with all my might in the front row of every lecture. In practice, I willingly took on advanced tasks.

After school, I unraveled magic books in the library, or tried arranging existing magic by utilizing the abundant images cultivated from Earth's manga and anime, which don't exist in this world. Trying to gain power quickly, I might have pushed myself quite a bit. Sometimes I threw myself into magic so much I collapsed from fatigue. Alice and Milia worried about me often. But still, I couldn't bring myself to slow down the pace. I always felt something like impatience somewhere in my heart. If I stay weak.

Like this, someday again... Driven by obsession, I just learned magic greedily. Fear was probably the driving force. Although I struggled at first, eventually my grades became excellent, not shaming my Magic Power value. And before I knew it, I came to be called the genius girl second only to the genius since the founding of the school, Argus Ozbein. I was surprised myself, but I guess I was just that desperate.

However, thanks to the incident on the first day, becoming famous as the "Explosion Girl who destroyed the barrier with Volk" wasn't very laughable, though. Ugh. Even remembering it now is embarrassing... Alice, who acted like a senior at first, also began to burn with rivalry against me who gradually distinguished myself. She started competing in magic training not to lose to me, and further stretched her ability, which was originally high, rapidly.

Milia, who always accompanied us by our side, was also influenced and raised her grades significantly. And before I knew it, half a year had passed. Sacris is starting to move steadily towards a certain annual big event. Everyone in the school starts preparing for that event. It's that kind of season. Well, I'll talk about the process leading up to this a little later. For this half-year, while living school life as a woman, I was also immersed in Qi Sword Arts training with Inea-sensei as a man.

That was truly tough, and I ended up feeling like I was going to die many times. Or rather, I actually almost died many times. I think I'll talk about that first.