Crack.

  The sword in Shaden’s hand vibrated from the blow; instantly, he stepped back to position himself for another block. It came swiftly from the side—he blocked it again, striking the incoming sword away with an upper cut. Finding an opening, he tensed and struck down in an L shape towards his opponent’s stomach.

  He hit nothing, causing his body to rotate from the momentum. It was enough for his opponent to step forward and bring the sword to his neck, placing the cool metal on his skin.

  “Checkmate,” Lan said. “You fell for the feint.”

  Shaden sighed, lowering his sword. Lan did as well.

  “You must always be wary of opportunities,” Lan admonished. “Always second, third guess. Like politics. Never take something at face value.”

  “Yes, yes,” Shaden replied, wiping the sweat off his brow. As tired and frustrated as he was, he had to keep his calm. Collecting himself, he raised his sword.

  “Another one?” he suggested.

  “Gladly.”

  Shaden raised his sword to fend off Lan’s blows again. It was hard to counterattack; Lan knew about his inexperience and didn’t hesitate to use every blunder against him. A few blows later, the sword was above his heart.

  “You looked away from my sword,” Lan remarked. “Always keep your eyes on the sword.”

  “Last time, you said to look at the feet and shoulders,” Shaden sighed.

  “Yes. You must look at everything. That is why positioning is important. Do not create blind spots.”

  “It’s hard when I’m swinging.”

  “That is why you do not go for a full blow unless you are very, very certain,” Lan said. “Even a soft strike is fatal when positioned correctly.”

  “Right.”

  “Remember to keep your elegance.”

  Shaden took Lan’s hand and got up from the grass. The lesson was over, so Rose quickly came to wipe his sweat as did Lan’s maid. Lan offered him a glass of drink. Shaden gladly took it and emptied the contents in one gulp. Another servant came and took the glass away from him.

  He’d thought that his swordmanship was decent, recalling his time with Mistilia, but he’d been humbled after his first fight with Lan. Compared to the wild, instinctive strikes he threw without thinking ahead, Lan’s sword was a calculated, cunning weapon that felt miserable to fight against. It was beautiful from a distance, but going against it almost made him throw his sword down in frustration.

  He weakly laughed at himself. Honestly, swordsmanship training felt more emotional than technical. Well, that was the point of this. Politics was like swordfighting—dangerous, deceptive, and exploitative. No mercy strikes, no holding back.

  Technically, he was holding back. After all, they were training without circulating. It was purely a physical thing, and according to Lan, helped him remember his true self. He could see why with all the emotional manipulation they were doing to themselves. There was raw emotion in physical activities.

  Shaden glanced at Lan. He was muscular but lean like a model; he was a handsome guy who, aside from his sharp personality, had nothing lacking when it came to marriage. He was the second son of one of the Great Houses of the Empire, a Master of Blades, clever, rich (probably), and tall.

  “I was wondering—are you engaged?” Shaden asked.

  Lan looked up from his towel. “Yes.”

  “Really?”

  “It would be stranger not to be.”

  “So…when are you getting married?”

  “Married? Hah.”

  Lan gave out a short laugh. “Who knows? There is no set date yet.”

  “But you will get married later.”

  “As long as things do not change.”

  Shaden thought for a moment.

  “Does everyone else have fiancés?” he finally asked.

  Lan’s eyes gave off a vexatious glow. “Ah…you are asking about Eilae. Or perhaps…Nerr? Maybe even Eyla?”

  Before Shaden could respond, Lan spoke again. “An engagement happens after one has completed their coming-of-age celebration—that is, their 15th birthday. Nerr is engaged, the other two are not.”

  “I see…”

  Lan smirked. “Perhaps you heard of the letters?”

  “Uh—letters?”

  “Eilae is a wonderful girl. Many lords would gladly take her hand. So, many letters come.”

  So it wasn’t just one. Shaden didn’t know whether to be relieved or worried.

  “I-I see. So…how is the engagement decided?”

  “The Lord and Lady make the decision,” Lan smiled. “But as important as it is, Eilae will be allowed to meet candidates beforehand. Father and Mother are not so one-sided.”

  Shaden nodded. “Has she met anyone yet?”

  “Sadly, she has been preoccupied with her studies. Or should I say…fortunately?”

  Shaden felt the heat rush to his cheeks. He would have circulated, but here, on the sacred grounds of swordsmanship, emotions were not to be restrained. They wouldn’t be observed, either. Still…the Veurbois knew how to read emotions in the absence of mana.

  Thankfully, it didn’t seem like anyone noticed. Perhaps he was already red from exercising.

  “I wish the best for her,” he said quietly.

  “Don’t we all?” Lan grinned. “I do think it would be for the best if someone we knew and loved took her hand.”

  Shaden’s cheeks warmed up again.

  “And I will only allow it if they best me in combat,” Lan added.

  “Now you’re making things impossible,” Shaden laughed. Lan laughed as well. The maids smiled in agreement. Then Lan’s laughter abruptly stopped. Feeling something amiss, Shaden looked to where Lan’s eyes were headed.

  Eilae was observing them with one eyebrow raised, arms crossed. She snorted audibly.

  “Better than you at swordfighting, Brother?” she repeated. “Perhaps you wish for me to die as a maiden, or to be wedded to a man who loves his blade more than his wife.”

  “I meant no such thing, dear Sister,” Lan said. “I merely spoke out of concern.”

  Eilae frowned.

  “Surely you know all the nobles who are masters of their blades,” she spat. “Shall I talk about Lord Berres, who always challenges those he is certain is weaker than him; or Lord Gunal, who uses his might to execute commoners for wrongs they have little control over; or Lord Smerly, divorced thrice; or Lord Druat, a drunkard and a brute; or Lady Maquela, who excels above them all—but is a woman?”

  Lan raised his hands. “Sister—I am sorry. I didn’t think that far.”

  “Hmph.”

  She turned to Shaden. Their eyes met. She seemed like she had something to say, but turned around and left instead.

  “I sometimes forget that she is the most ambitious of us all,” Lan whistled. “She will find a suitable partner for herself.”

  Shaden looked at his sword that was stuck in the ground. Better than Lan at swordfighting…

  “She will soon choose, no doubt,” Lan added. “I’m sure she has a list of possible candidates.”

  A list. If it did exist, he wondered if his name would be on it.

  “It was a good match today, my Lord. You’re improving by the day. A few more years, and you could best me in combat. I don’t quite approve at the moment.”

  Lan winked and left.

  Shaden snorted. He didn’t need Lan’s approval. If they could use mana, he was certain he could defeat Lan in an instant.

  ……why was he so irritated?

  He sighed, finally circulating. He could think rationally again.

  What did he think of Eilae?

  She was a good friend, perhaps the closest he had in Exarria. She was strong, but had a delicate heart. He enjoyed her company. But marriage?

  Marrying someone lasted a lifetime. He wasn’t quite old enough to think that far. Even if he did get married, what would that mean for Demund? Would his other self ever get married as well? Then would he have two wives?

  The thought made him scowl. What if he married someone—and it turned out that in another world, they had another husband, another family?

  Besides, some people knew that he dreamt of another world. There were likely powers that could detect it as well. If he married two people and it got uncovered—

  Okay. He was thinking a little too far.

  He sighed deeply.

  “Is everything alright?” Rose asked worryingly.

  “Yeah,” Shaden said. “Marriages are so complicated, aren’t they?”

  Rose nodded in agreement. “It is a lifelong agreement. But don’t worry! Even if Lady Eilae becomes engaged, whether it will lead to a marriage is a different matter.”

  “I—er, yeah.”

  Shaden sighed internally once more.

  No one could possibly understand his concerns.

  In the darkness of the room, the last strand of magic retreated into Shaden’s palm. Esel opened his eyes, and a subtle smile formed on his lips.

  “With this, the transfer is complete,” Esel concluded. “You have done well.”

  “I thank you for your time,” Shaden nodded back. “Is that the end, then?”

  “Surely not. The emotions of this world are vast and complex,” Esel said, “and you will do well to collect them. What we can teach, one remains…”

  The man trailed off. “...but that is a different matter. I suggest that you begin preparing for your journey. I suppose Eilae could go along.”

  “Thank you,” Shaden smiled.

  He exited the room and closed the door behind him. He was finished now. He’d done his best; it was time to enjoy the trip he’d been looking forward to.

  “You look happy.”

  Shaden flinched at the sudden voice. “Eilae! You surprised me.”

  The smiling girl tilted her head. “Could you not detect my presence?”

  “No. You’re the one who's been telling me to not use my mana so I can be more in touch with my emotional self.”

  Eilae giggled. “So I did.”

  She brushed one side of her hair behind her ear, exposing that side to him. Her eyes cautiously met his.

  “So…what did father say?” she asked.

  “I—uh, we can go on a trip,” Shaden coughed. “Lord Esel told me to plan the trip with you.”

  “Truly? Only the two of us?”

  “I believe so.”

  Shaden thought he saw Eilae’s pale cheeks bloom with color, but she turned around before he could say anything.

  “We should begin preparing then,” she announced. She spun her head towards him. “Or, if you allow it…might I plan the trip alone?”

  “Alone?”

  “I want to surprise you.”

  “You know the Empire better than me.” Shaden raised a finger. “As long as you include the Academium.”

  Eilae smiled.

  “We won’t have to take the guards, will we?” she asked. “I was thinking of a discreet yet exciting journey.”

  “I can manage,” Shaden agreed.

  “You’ve learned how to control animals to pull carriages.”

  “That much is easy.”

  “With the trick you showed me, our belongings can be taken without a need for a servant.”

  “Yep. I’ve got a lot of dimensional storage.”

  “Could I count on you to do my hair like before?”

  “That won’t be a problem.”

  Eilae nodded. “We can leave tomorrow.”

  “Yes—wait, already?”

  “The Empire is a large place. The earlier we leave, the better.”

  “I mean…if you’re okay with it.”

  Eilae beamed. “Go rest. I will see you in the morning.”

  Without further explaining, she waved and trotted away, holding up her dress as to not trip on it. She seemed more excited about it than he did.

  Still, her questions…

  Shaden furrowed his eyebrows. Was Eilae trying to take as few servants as possible? Surely she’d need at least one servant to prepare her dresses.

  It would be ridiculous for two underage children to travel the Empire together without an adult. After all, the Empire was a treacherous place; even the greatest of nobles would seldom dare to walk the streets alone in the dead of the night.

  Surely not.

  Shaden looked to the side. Then to the other. His eyes met Eilae’s. She appeared to be very happy.

  “The carriage looks great,” Shaden complimented.

  Indeed, it was a superb carriage. Painted all over with black, it was simple in design yet beautiful to look at. Its clean doors and glossy walls radiated an aura of authority, and its perfectly symmetrical wheels promised a smooth and enjoyable ride. Inside, the soft, cushioned seats and spacious area beckoned comfortingly.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  The two horses were black as well, mighty stallions whose coats bulged with muscle. He could sense that these were prideful, dutiful animals who wouldn’t run in the face of monsters. No, they would trample their enemies.

  “These are wonderful horses,” Shaden whistled. “I just want to ask one thing.”

  Eilae blinked. “Yes?”

  Wind blew through the empty courtyard. The sun hadn’t fully risen, and the light morning haze vaguely obscured the area, isolating them even more. It was early—too early. Early enough for the servants to still be sleeping.

  “It’s just the two of us?”

  “Yes!” Eilae said with excitement. “It’s a pity Lytha isn’t here, but it will be just like the old times.”

  “The old times.”

  Eilae opened the door of the carriage. “Besides, it’s bothersome to officially go anywhere. I missed traveling leisurely.”

  She got in and looked at him. “Well? Are you coming?”

  Shrugging, Shaden entered the carriage and shut the door behind him. When he sat down opposite Eilae, she got up to come sit next to him. There was a map in her hand as well as a thick book.

  “As promised, our next stop is the Academium,” Eilae explained. “Fortunately, it isn’t far from here.” She moved her hand across the map. “Right here.”

  “North. Pailar. It’s where House Pailas rules,” Shaden noticed.

  But…wasn’t the Academium in the capital? He raised a hand. “This is the biggest one, right?”

  Eilae nodded. “There is one problem, however,” she muttered. “The Academium won’t let strangers inside. We’d also bring too much attention to ourselves if we officially make a request.”

  “I think I’ve got that covered,” Shaden said, taking out a card from his shadow storage.

  Eilae gasped after seeing the golden plate with silver markings. “I remember that. It’s from the Great Library.”

  “Since the Academium is part of the Saiton Consortium, I think this should work,” Shaden guessed. “Who knows. We don’t have to get in.”

  Since he could sneak in just as easily.

  After discussing which paths to take, Shaden gave orders to the horses. The sound of hooves trotting on the stone path soon filled the air.

  It was surprising when the guards swung the gates open for them without a word. It seemed like Lord Esel had approved of this trip with just the two of them. Shaden had half-expected to be stopped, but seeing the manor fade away in the distance let him know that the journey had begun.

  “At least we aren’t starting with a run,” Eilae yawned. “Lytha was too hard on us.”

  “I had to carry that heavy suitcase of yours,” Shaden recalled. “And you were really sick.”

  “To tell you the truth, I was afraid that I’d messed up the trip,” Eilae smiled. “But you were too kind to care.”

  She was a little too close to him. Shaden forced a blank smile.

  “It was common sense.”

  “Hmm.”

  She got up and went to the other side, fully lying down on her back. She let out a soft sigh.

  “I didn’t get much sleep to prepare for the trip,” she confessed, glancing at him. “If you don’t mind…”

  Shaden did a funny bow with his hands. “Slumber away, my lady.”

  “You’re too kind,” Eilae smiled. She closed her eyes.

  Shaden scratched his cheek. Back then, and even now, the young lady looked like a delicate doll. She would turn fifteen in less than half a year. Someone would take her hand, and she would become his.

  The thought irked him.

  ……maybe marrying her wasn’t such a bad idea.

  What about Enariss, then?

  She shook his thoughts away. He’d try to enjoy the trip for now.

  “And it would be best if we arrived quickly,” he muttered.

  The carriage picked up the pace after Shaden’s mana took control of the stallions. Rejuvenated by magic, the beasts wouldn’t stop until the destination had been reached. To avoid unwanted eyes, he shrouded the carriage and the horses.

  “You guys will do fine, right?” he whispered. The horses grunted with pride. These were animals who would kill themselves to keep running. Obviously, Shaden wouldn’t let them die.

  Time went by quickly when he counted the trees and people they rushed by. It was fun reading all of the emotions that surrounded them.

  “..................”

  Darn, it was slow. Coming from a world with cars, carriages were only fun for short distances. Honestly, flying the carriage himself would be much faster.

  But Eilae had taken her time to prepare the trip. He’d follow her schedule. Perhaps she would agree to flying.

  He glanced at her. She was completely asleep now, breathing rhythmically as her chest heaved up and down.

  “..................”

  Just one more time.

  He gently sent his mana to her, enveloping her body. He made a small grin after sensing Eilae’s heart.

  She was immensely relieved. There was some joy and excitement present as well with a tinge of expectation. Then again, the amount of studying Eilae was doing was enough to make anyone stressed. He guessed that she was glad to leave the manor and get a break.

  Just as he was about to take back his mana, he noticed an irregular pattern among the clouds of emotion. There was a flow of mana that seemingly vanished into nowhere. The steadiness of it was what made it stand out.

  Carefully, he followed it. Yet…it led to nowhere. Like water from a ruptured pipe, the mana dissipated at a certain point. It was as if something that should have been there to receive the mana had been ripped away.

  Eilae shifted in her sleep, causing him to withdraw his mana.

  “...oh well.”

  It was rude to observe further. They had plenty of time to talk; he would be patient.

  He cared for Eilae. He really did.

  He wished for her to be happy. He wished that she’d meet someone who would love her and only her, giving their all for her.

  It could be him.

  Then what about Enariss?

  Shaden closed his eyes.

  Love was a complicated thing.

  “Hmm.”

  The guard glanced at Shaden and Eilae once more. It was clear that the two children likely weren’t nobodies considering their impressive appearance, but the expensive-looking card that the boy had handed him meant nothing in his mind. He handed the metal plate back to the boy.

  “You will need an official invitation or permit,” the guard told them. “Now, don’t try to bribe me, or I might have to arrest you.”

  “Ah, that sucks,” Shaden sighed. “Oh well. Thank you, and have a nice day.”

  The guard made a funny face, but the two had already left before he could reply. It wasn’t uncommon for passionate youngsters to try and enter the Academium, but it was the first time someone so nicely dressed had thanked him. They’d usually try to push their family names on him, in which case he’d have to call for his superior. But that silver hair…

  It reminded him of something, but the memory failed him when another person came to enter. This time, someone wearing the uniform of the Academium.

  Shaden thoughtfully eyed the student who successfully passed through the entrance. An idea was forming in his mind.

  “Please don’t try to steal a uniform and infiltrate the place,” Eilae sighed. “Even the Great Families can’t do as they please in the Academium.”

  “Darn it,” Shaden muttered. “I promise I won’t get caught.”

  “............”

  “Fine, I get it.”

  “There are always mages for hire if you require it,” Eilae suggested. “It is a big city, after all.”

  Eilae was right. It was just that…most of the city was within the Academium. The official name of the old city was Icatem, but apparently, everyone referred to the place as the Academium. Icatem was now just the outskirts of the city where mages who’d quit learning or needed money offered their services to outsiders.

  In other words—dropouts. And among them were illegal practitioners, users of forbidden magic, human experimenters…

  Well, they’d avoid those areas. There were still plenty of places in the city where good services would be provided.

  Shaden looked back at the entrance.

  “But—but academy life!” Shaden pleaded. His eyes widened as he recalled something. “I thought children of the Great Families received a free pass.”

  “Yes, for the Academium Steralis, located in the capital,” Eilae agreed. “Not for the Academium, which requires you to pass an exam.”

  “Huh? There’s another one?”

  “You didn’t know?”

  Shaden furrowed his eyebrows. “Wait…then which one is the Central Academium?”

  “Ah. I understand your confusion,” Eilae nodded understandingly. “This place is unofficially known as the Central Academium. But when the Academium of Steralis was built, many referred to it as the Central Academium as it was located in the capital. In the end, it was decided to refer to this place as the Academium. All others were named based on their respective locations. Though, some outdated books may say otherwise.”

  “Oh—I see,” Shaden nodded. That brought up another question. “Which one is better?”

  “Who knows?” Eilae shrugged. “They’re frequently having tournaments because of it.”

  Darn it. Now he wanted to enroll even more.

  “In my humble opinion, this place is the true Academium,” Eilae continued. “It’s where all of its traditions and beginnings lie. But the problem was that the Academium had to send its knowledge to the Saiton Consortium.”

  “So the Academium Steralis was built to contain knowledge,” Shaden hypothesized. “That way, some things wouldn’t have to be shared.”

  “Yes,” Eilae agreed. “I suppose the Empire also abhorred being seen as subordinate to the Consortium. The Academium Steralis is its pride, in a way.”

  “Would you enroll someday?”

  “Hmm. Magic is not my strong forte. But I suppose I will excel.”

  “You were a great student,” Shaden smiled, patting Eilae’s head. Her eyes widened.

  “I’m older than you, you know,” she complained, softly touching where he’d pat her.

  “But shorter.”

  “I wonder.”

  She leaned into his side, putting her hand between them to measure the difference. He caught the sweet scent of flowers when her hair brushed against his face.

  “When did you grow so much?” she protested. “I was a fist taller than you when you arrived.”

  Shaden shrugged. “I must be hitting my growth spurt.”

  Eilae pursed her lips. “You were cuter when you were shorter.”

  “So…you think I’m cute?”

  Eilae furrowed her eyebrows, lightly punching him on the shoulder after a brief delay. She didn’t answer and instead walked ahead of him. He followed her, and they walked through the street wordlessly.

  He’d never really thought about Eilae falling in love with him. She was older, and when they’d traveled before, hadn’t shown signs of being attracted to him romantically. He’d thought it would be the same when he’d first arrived.

  But he’d seen her blush, and she’d kissed him on the cheek as a birthday present. He hadn’t looked into her emotions then. He wasn’t that rude.

  One side effect of circulating, he’d discovered, was that in being too adept at controlling himself, he’d lost the heart-fluttering and blissful nervousness that manifested when talking to people—girls, more specifically. In trying to perfect himself, he’d forgotten the naivety that made him, him.

  At least, until now. The Veurbois had emphasized the importance of raw emotions.

  Was she…actually in love with him?

  He’d only thought about Enariss as a love interest so far. But time passed quickly in Exarria, and Eilae was fourteen, soon turning fifteen. Here, she would be an adult.

  Oblivious to his thoughts, Eilae tugged on his sleeve.

  “There’s a teahouse nearby that I wanted to visit,” she suggested. “Shall we discuss what to do there?”

  He, of course, wholeheartedly agreed. Soon, they were seated in a quiet room, each holding a cup of tea with a small assortment of sweets brought before them. Shaden levitated a piece of candy, eyeing it with a frown.

  “This one piece is more expensive than a meal,” he inspected before popping it into his mouth.

  “I thought we fed you adequately,” Eilae said.

  “I meant meals for normal people. Commoners,” he explained. “Believe it or not, there was a time when I had to work for money.”

  “You did tell me that before the Elder took you in, you weren’t wealthy,” Eilae nodded, “but I didn’t realize that your family made you work.”

  “They didn’t,” Shaden assured. “I did it secretly since I wanted to buy a present.”

  He thought back to his second birthday. In the end, the present—two black dice—had been passed over to his sister.

  “What kind of work did you do?”

  “I juggled.”

  Eilae raised an eyebrow. “At a circus?”

  “It was a street performance,” Shaden grinned.

  “And people paid you?”

  “A decent amount.”

  “I see,” Eilae snorted, bringing her cup to her lips. “You must have been a good juggler.”

  It didn’t sound like a compliment. More like a ‘You did that? Wow…that’s great,’ kind of feeling. Shaden sipped on his cup of tea as well.

  “Anyways. Are you aware of any places where I could hire a mage?” he asked. “Or get a book related to mana circles.”

  Eilae smiled. With an elegant raise of her hands, she clapped twice.

  The sound of a door opening and distance footsteps immediately followed. Someone began to make their way towards them.

  Shaden glanced at Eilae. She gave him a smug look and placed her hands gracefully before herself again.

  “It would be good to be polite,” she whispered. “These people live and die with pride.”

  A second after she’d uttered the words, a man in a light cloak stepped out before them. He had a staff in one hand, and a large, thick book in the other; his face was shadowed underneath his cowl. When he let go of his book to remove the cowl to reveal his face, the book floated in place until he placed his hands on it again. The man’s eyes radiated with a deep kind of…obsessive energy.

  “Greetings, my lady, my lord,” he bowed slightly, addressing each of them. “I heard you required my talents, though they are not many.”

  Shaden’s eyes widened in admiration. Here was a man who was undoubtedly a mage, complete with a plentiful beard and thick hair. The man sounded like a mage—old and knowledgeable.

  “I thank you for coming,” Eilae told him. “Shaden, this is Magister Neregal, a 5th Circle mage. He will answer whatever questions you have. Additionally, you will be permitted to enter the Academium as a visitor with him by your side.”

  Shaden’s jaw dropped. “Eilae! When did you arrange this?”

  “Well, I’m talented, after all.”

  Before she could react, he got up and hugged her. She gasped at the sudden gesture and stared at him when he let go.

  “You’re the best, Eilae,” Shaden thanked cheerfully. Eilae simply waved him off, taking another sip from her cup.

  “Find me before dinner,” she muttered.

  “You won’t come with us?”

  “I have things to arrange.” She glanced at him. “You would want to spend the night here, correct?”

  Shaden nodded. “I’m fine with anything now, honestly.”

  “Then get going. The Academium is extensive.” She turned to the mage. “Magister Neregal, please guide him well.”

  “As you wish, my lady,” the man nodded once. “My lord? This way.”

  When they exited the building, the mage whispered something; a glowing circle appeared below their feet, and Shaden watched in awe as their bodies began to levitate.

  Real magic. He’d flown before, and he’d practiced magic with Boren, but not like this. He and the prince cast magic without the need for circles, incantations, and whatnot.

  It had sucked the magic out of…well, magic.

  The mage whispered something again, and another circle propelled them forward in the direction of the Academium.

  “Do let me know if you feel dizzy,” the mage said.

  Shaden felt excitement bubble out of him. Real mages. He still remembered the mages who’d flown away on their staffs when they’d visited the Great Library. How he’d longed to follow them. The Great Library, as great as it had been, was where scholars gathered. In other words—it was quiet enough to be boring.

  But the Academium—here was where the romance of magic thrived.

  “Ah, you again,” the guard said, recognizing him. “And Magister Neregal!”

  “Greetings,” the mage nodded. “This boy will be my guest today.”

  “A lucky one, aren’t you?” the guard winked at Shaden. “I will need your marks.”

  He brought out a piece of paper. A floating pen automatically filled in the blanks. The mage pressed his finger into the bottom of the paper.

  “Place your mana here,” the mage told him, handing the paper to him. Shaden did as he was told.

  “Thank you,” the guard muttered as he inspected the paper. “Hmm?”

  He frowned. “Could you place your mana one more time?”

  Shaden did as he was told. The guard’s confusion was apparent.

  “It shows that mana was passed through,” the guard inspected, “but the mark hasn’t appeared.”

  The mage put a hand out. “May I?”

  After taking the paper, a frown formed on his face. He whispered some things, and a series of small flickering circles appeared around the paper.

  “I find this incredible, but it seems that…my lord has the same mana pattern as that found in nature,” the mage concluded.

  “But…truly?” the guard muttered.

  “I find no other answer,” the mage said.

  “So…can I not enter?” Shaden asked.

  “No, please! Please enter,” the guard exclaimed, stamping the paper. “I apologize for the wait. The gate will close at nine. Please exit by the same gate you entered, or you will be paralyzed. May you find your heart’s desire.”

  “Shall we, then?” the mage offered.

  Following the man, Shaden stepped forward into the Academium. It was like stepping through a layer of water; unknown magic enveloped his body and scanned every nook and cranny of him. Before he knew it, he was on the other side.

  Shaden’s eyes widened. The mage smiled after seeing his reaction.

  “Welcome to the Academium.”

  The sky itself was different inside. It was still the same sky-blue as the outside, but the clouds—the clouds were not in the shape of clouds. There were clouds in the shape of sculptures, clouds that looked like great beasts, others in elaborate patterns; he thought he spotted a cloud in the shape of a butt, but it vanished like smoke.

  “Cloud control is essential for weather magic,” the mage explained. “Look closely, and you will see students flying around.”

  He was right. They were mere specks in the sky, but people were floating around with the clouds. When he looked around, students were walking around with books in their hands, chatting and giggling. In a distance, he thought he saw a magic lesson taking place on the grass. Numerous magnificent buildings stood around them, each bustling with unseeable energy. Even without trying, he could feel the flow of mana swirling around them.

  Yes, this was magic! Not just reading sentences and seeing the results—but actual practice and learning!

  But he was a visitor, and he had a more urgent matter in mind.

  “As much as I’d like to look at everything, there’s something I must know,” Shaden sighed. “What are magic circles and how do I get them?”

  The mage frowned. “Magic circles?”

  “You are a 5th Circle mage if I remember correctly.”

  “Ah. You are referring to mana circles, or mana heart circles. Shall we find a place to talk?”

  Soon, they were seated on a bench next to a street. The mage set his book down beside him.

  “The elves are naturally loved by mana. Their goddess, Naera, gifted them with the first magic—the Language of Will. The dwarves are favored by mana as well; with it, they become masters of their crafts. The beastman are instinctively compelled to utilize theirs during their transformations and upbringing. It is like so with all of the other sentient races.”

  “Yet, what did humans have?” the mage continued. “Nothing but the keen eye of envy and the spirit of learning. We took what the other races had and made it ours. But a mere imitation of power never truly surpassed true power.”

  “Er…so what’s the conclusion?” Shaden asked.

  The mage looked annoyed, but it didn’t last. “People created new systems. From the beastmen, people learned aura; from the dwarves, circulation; from the elves, Spellcraft.”

  “The magic system that Saiton the Sage created,” Shaden remembered.

  “Indeed. But there is a debate on whether circulation truly came from the dwarves or aura from the beastmen. The two are quite intertwined, as they should be within the body. Aura has its similarities with magic; while the two are both projected outside of the body, aura remains on the user while magic leaves the caster; however, to consider them completely separate would be foolish. In a well-known study conducted by—”

  “I’m very sorry, but weren’t we talking about magic circles?” Shaden interrupted.

  “I was getting to it,” the mage grumbled. “Where is your thirst for learning? You are within the domain of the Academium.”

  “I, er…”

  Shaden felt a bead of sweat run down his back. The mage looked disappointed. So, terribly disappointed.

  “......please go on,” Shaden surrendered.

  The mage began talking, and Shaden tried his best not to appear impatient. It would end soon enough, right? Besides, this place was for learning. It wouldn’t hurt to listen a little. Glancing around, they weren’t the only ones lost in a conversation.

  In fact...there were quite a lot.

  He noticed that people weren’t smiling as much as he thought they were. He noticed dark circles underneath many eyes.

  The mage also had dark circles underneath his eyes. But his eyes were alive with a fervent glow. Shaden, being a little uneasy, peeked into the man’s heart.

  “...............”

  If he could summarize the mage’s emotions, it would be something like:

  I’m going to make sure this boy understands everything he asked for, or else it would be a terrible disgrace to me. He must learn. He must learn! HE MUST LEARN!!!

  Shaden felt more beads of sweat run down his back.

  It took over two hours to finally get to the point he wanted.

  Let me play the villain.