Chương 3: [LD-1] 2. Scouting

II Scouting Following memories that weren't mine, I reached the train station at around half past one. Mana cores hummed as my train braked to a halt, and men and women in work uniforms hurriedly got on. I stared after them, frozen in the moment.

'I can see it.' The death clinging onto their hunched shoulders. The layer of dark hovering around them like a second skin. This was a first. Normally, I could only feel the energy during a séance, when I was touching the client and my mind was calm. Hissing doors and a mechanical voice issuing a warning drew me out of my daze. I boarded my ride right as the doors closed. It was packed. Not to the brim, but finding a spot in this traffic would mean shouldering through a bunch of people…

I caught a young man side-eyeing me. My first instinct was to raise my chin and brow, but then I noticed others staring at me as well. They were shivering. And was that strange?

'My powers are stronger.' This was a world of magic and mana. Of course, the effect I had on people would grow with my power. Biting my lower lip, I found my way towards the back of the train. An easy endeavour despite the traffic—people parted for me without a word. The back of the tram was more deserted than the other sections. I plopped down on a window seat and watched how concrete and bitumen streets rushed past. The tram crossed a bridge, giving me a view of a river coursing through the city.

Ferries and private boats sailed, the dense air of mana on their trail. Flying cars and buses soared next to us like co-pilots. I shielded my eyes against the sunlight and peered. The air shimmered unnaturally in places.

'That's the Shield Barrier,' my memories provided. It protected Guardia from outside threats. My head fell back against my seat.

'I really am in a fantasy world.' A world where humans live in domed cities. Where the threat of an incursion from another realm was ever-present. … And where I was about to take a test that could determine the rest of my life. While the 'reassurance' of the news reporters was a nice try, the results of the Initiation Ceremony separated magic users from those without the talent to learn spells.

Non-magic Users, otherwise known as Nomu, largely worked as administrators and labourers, or did some other menial jobs mages couldn't be bothered to. They did not worry me. I was certain I would awaken. The question was: to what? My breath fogged up the window. I placed a hand on the glass to wipe away the condense, and found my fingers trembling. Was I afraid? There was a difference between the world thinking I was a demon because of superstition, and the universe confirming that everyone was right. …

What if I turned out to be the monster Father always made me out to be? Teetering nails tapped the window. Cold air slipped through the gaps in my blouse and caressed my neck. I gripped my thigh—"That's a frightening aura you're exuding there." —and whipped around. A blonde woman held on to the metal grab pole attached to the seat beside me. The blouse of her black business suit almost burst at the seams because of her bust. She pushed up her sunglasses.

"It's common courtesy to regulate your mana in public. Especially in the presence of Nomu." I swivelled. People were pressed up against their seats, trying their best to keep distance from me. My cheeks heated up, and I hurriedly stared at the ground.

"Sorry. I can't control my mana yet." This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"You're unawakened?" The woman dipped her head so she could stare at me from over her glasses.

"You do look a little young…" The rest of the audience took a better look as well, and their faces relaxed. A little. I had turned from 'powerful mage with a bad personality' into 'pitiful child that can't control herself yet.' A beaming smile bloomed on the woman's face.

"Mind if I take a seat?"

"Um…sure?" No one ever chose to sit next to me of their own volition, but her smile couldn't have been wider.

"I'll form a barrier around us. It'll stop your mana from disturbing the others." I nodded despite being lost due to the whole interaction. Was she going to cast magic? She held up a finger. Air…and something else collected over her digit, then spread over us like a birdcage.

"That should be better," she said. Indeed, the tense shoulders of the poor Nomu in the train loosened immediately.

"Thank you," I said.

"it wasn't my intention to make them uncomfortable." Inside, I couldn't reign in the heat rising to my head. Magic! That was real magic!

"I bet," she said.

"Your're not to blame since you're not awakened yet, but you should be more careful with your emotions."

"My emotions?" She tapped her chest.

"I don't know what you were thinking of, but you looked anxious. Strong feelings can cause your energy to flare." I tilted my head.

"Like adding fuel to a fire?"

"Exactly!" she snapped her finger.

"Though that comparison is a bit old world." My mouth snapped shut. Damn. I'd need to be careful of that. Didn't want people thinking I was some sort of demon in a girl's body in addition to being a witch. Me shutting up threatened an awkward silence between us, but the woman held out her hand.

"Bethany Heartsteel. Beth for short." I took her hand.

"Joy. Joy Grimm."

"Eh? That's a pretty thematic name."

"It is…" I'd never been a fan of my name. My last did nothing to dissuade the rumours about me, and my first was nothing but an irony. Beth hummed, then quickly resumed speaking.

"You go to a school nearby? No, wait! Let me guess." her gaze narrowed on my uniform, sight falling on the star medal strapped to my chest.

"Morningstar?"

"In one," I said. Her lips stretched wide.

"Been a while since I been here, but I still got it."

"You're not from around here?"

"Not at all. I'm here on a business trip from Neverset." Neverset…that was a Tier 1 city. Guardia, the city I was in now, was Tier 3. Compared to Neverset, it was a hovel. What was a person from such a prestigious place doing here? She dug into her breast pocket and produced a card. It read: Starlecta. Mage Scouting Agency.

"Scouting agency?" I asked. She nodded.

"We recruit promising students and bring them over. Housing, training resources, and other basic necessities are all taken care of by us."

"Sounds too good to be true," I said, turning the card over. Their emblem was a bird on fire. Looked like a phoenix? A chuckle as I looked back up.

"You're right to be sceptical. While our recruits don't lack anything material, they're expected to enter Shadow Realms in our name. Most of the magic crystals and items they recover go directly to the company vault." That did sound quite harsh. Recovering strong items was half the reason anyone entered Shadow Realms in the first place. Briefly, I dug through my memories for the term 'Shadow Realms.' They were realms outside of our own world that we entered through gates…

I wasn't really clear on the details, but they were filled with monsters and other-worldly threats.

"Thanks." I put the card away.

"I'll be sure to keep it in mind." Beth blinked, then burst into belly-holding laughter. I spied around us, but the other passengers didn't even turn towards her.

"The barrier…" she gasped for breath.

"The barrier blocks the sound." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Starlecta only accepts proven talents, little girl. Unless you win the Interhigh or Nationals, you won't show up on my radar." Those were mage tournaments between high schools. I coughed in my palms.

"Ah, of course. Sorry." I shouldn't have expected any less of a scout from a Tier 1 city.

"That said," Beth continued, regaining the last of her breath.

"For you to be exuding that kind of aura even before your awakening…" she removed her glasses, which revealed a set of beaming, turquoise pupils.

"Feel free to give me a call after today, should you awaken to something interesting. While Starlecta won't be recruiting you no matter what you develop, I can introduce you to an agency in the city we have tight connections with." Mana cores hummed and the train came to a halt.

'Rainbow Plaza!' an announcer said.

'The current stop is Rainbow Plaza!

"That's my cue," Beth jumped to her feet and whirred around.

"Remember what I said: be mindful of your emotions! Try meditating if nothing works!" I inclined my head.

"I'll be sure to heed your advice." She smirked, waved, then exited the car. With her exit, the barrier she'd woven around us vanished, too. Shoulders tensed. Gazes turned sideways. I sighed and glanced at the display screen on the ceiling. The time showed: '02: 20.' My stop was coming soon. Beth watched the train shoot across the network of mana conduits into the distance. She rubbed her chest.

'Frightening.' It truly was the right term. When was the last time an unawakened mage had made her feel uneasy? Ironically, it must've been Julius. Knowing him, he'd be thrilled to have another troublemaker in his midst. And there was no doubt in Beth's mind that the girl would give her a call. She pulled out her beamer and turned the dial. The person on the other side picked up on the first ring.

"Ah, Ruby? It's me, Beth. I'll be sending someone interesting your way soon…"