———Karra———
“In the end, it was all smooth sailing, right?” I said after finishing the soup.
“I supposed, but you how it goes. Things barely ever go the way you wanted it to.” She said, being weirdly pessimistic despite the ordeal already being over.
“Anyway. I think it’s quite nice that everyone more or less imdiately agrees. I know you dangle a golden carrot in front of them, but still.” At the very bare minimum it should an there isn’t any real animosity between us. Otherwise there would’ve been quite the vocal objections. “...Say. Was it really all your idea or not? In the end.”
“Probably about half-and-half. I guess.” She answered, not being too certain. “From how the school’s owner saw it, all those extra equipnt for learning combat would’ve gone to waste without those with the talent to use them. Without the right kind of people to test it all out, who really knows what might happen.”
“...How would they even know we’re ‘talented’ or whatever.” That’s still sothing I’m still confused by.
“There are several ways to do it, but I don’t know all thods, nor which was used.” She said, not knowing all the details either. “At least I want us to have so fun when school starts again. There’s a lot planned so it’s not all boring.”
“Would’ve thought so. Can’t see why they take up so much space otherwise.” I remarked. I think one could reasonably take a few weeks to explore the entire place. “...Say, do you know about what kind of ‘potential’ I have?”
“I do, but why would you want to know?” She asked, looking rather perplexed. “People should be able to find out what kind of power suits them, just from feeling alone.”
“It’s still rather nebulous isn’t it? I felt like I have been using many kinds of spell and it doesn’t really feel like many are hard to do.” I said, just now realizing how much it sounds like I’m boasting.
“That’s because you’re proficient with most types of spells.” She suddenly revealed… What.
“What do you an by most?” I asked, just how much is that exactly? I am pretty damn confident that I’m quite smart when it cos to learning magic, but if ‘most’ is what I think it ans, I might actually be underselling myself.
“To give an example. In gas you usually have a basic list of elents and then more exotic ones that have their own special quirks and interactions. In your case you basically have extra proficiency in all of those basic elents. Think fire, water, earth, wind, all that stuff.” She explained. Yeah. That’s plenty nuts.
“So how many types of spell do people usually have…” I don’t really know how anyone categorizes them, but I might as well ask.
“Hmm… If we were to separate them into arbitrary elents, then one or two. You are listed at six.” Yeesh. Is this for real? She’s not saying all this to gas up, right?
“Is there a way to prove this or…” Like a power reader, sothing along that line.
“I don’t have any thod that can let you see it for yourself, if that’s what you an.” She answered. Guess it can’t be that convenient. “I think the best way is to see it for yourself in combat, but then again…”
“Again what?” I asked, wondering where she’s getting at.
“You have a lot more opportunities to grow in strength and skill than most, so obviously the matchup against others will be skewed in your favor. Think of it like a level 50 red mage obviously being stronger than a level 20 fire mage. Regardless of how talented or specialized you are, when you’re much stronger, everything you do will be more effective regardless.” She brings up another comparison using gas again. “Of course, you are more like a sage than a red mage, higher tier class and all that.”
I know she’s not exactly one to lie, but even if she’s entirely truthful about this whole topic, it still feels like she’s gassing up like crazy.
“...So what about the others?” I asked, since she might talk about them a bit more objectively.
“They all have four elents they’re proficient in.” She quickly answered. So less than ? That’s kind of a surprise.
“All at four?” I asked just to be certain that’s what she ant.
“Yep. Rember that most only have one or two. At three or more is when you’re quite intuned with magic.” She said to emphasize how talented we are… Hmm…
“Doesn’t that kinda make our classroom all the more fishy?” I asked before taking a large sip of water, pointing out the odd, if not downright suspicious set of circumstances.
If what she’s saying is accurate, then soone managed to assign eighteen students who are not only consistently get high grades, get along well despite differing backgrounds, all physically fit and always swept the leaderboard when a sports day ca up, to the point of gaining a reputation as a class of elites, but also so talented in terms of learning supernatural powers that most don’t even know about until a few months back. How is that not absurd. This is before that new school even exists. Whoever assigns all of us to that one classroom is hella suspicious.
…Actually, in hindsight, there are a few suspicious things about our old school in the first place, weren't there?
“It really does beco obvious when the facts are in front of you, isn’t it.” She gave a rhetorical question as an answer. “There seems to be so sort of intention, but if it’s ant for so sort of grander plan we aren’t aware of… it seems rather nebulous if outright not the case.”
“Is that how you see it?” Who would afford to do all that for it to amount to nothing? Or were they just expecting sothing beneficial to happen as if that’s the natural turn of events.
“It’s the impression I get.” She said, probably having confronted this mastermind about the topic already. She has been tight-lipped about who it is to this very day, but I understand as to why.
There’s a lot of stuff she can’t say, and I can’t really bla her for keeping us in the dark.
“By the way, do you know anything about the… activities involving those training rooms? I doubt those are just for break ti, right?” I doubt most would even have the ti to navigate and use them during lunch break.
“I don’t know the full details yet, or what I can even say, but there will be periods involving them. I think that’s an easy guess.” She answered. Have to wonder if there will be teachers for those. I don’t even know who would be qualified. Most people would’ve been on the similar level of experience I would’ve imagined.
*Knock* *Knock*
“Wait a mont.” Wiina said before walking towards the door, opening it and facing her mother.
“Wiina deary, you have another visitor.” Huh? That’s odd.
“Really? Know who it is?” Wiina asked, clearly as perplexed as I am.
———Jeff———
“Sorry to keep you waiting, please co in.” She said before letting in.
“No need for that.” I remarked before walking in. Is it just or does this place look more cleaned up than the last ti I have visited? Granted, it has been a long while since I’ve stepped foot in here.
“Hey, Jeff. Been a while.” Jass said as he walked over. “Is there sothing important you’re here to talk to about or…”
“Oh! It’s nothing that pressing, dude.” I said, now realizing why he seems a bit tense. “It’s just that I really want to try fighting you.”
“Excuse ?” He said while squinting his eyes.
“I’ve been sparring with a few from our class, but not with you… Actually, you never really talk about what you can do.” I pointed out.
“Because there wasn’t a need?” He said, sounding rather confused. “Ever since the dungeons were considered a no-entry kinda thing, there wasn’t really a reason to fight or use magic. So I never bring it up.”
“So you were slacking?” I asked, probably coming off as a bit judgental there.
“Of course not, but I doubt it’s as intense as whatever you were doing with others.” He replied.
“Couldn’t be more intense than whatever Karra is doing in that place. Getting early access to it and all the neat items.” I ntioned. Of course I’m not really sure how big of a gap that created, especially since right now we are all more attuned to mana than ever, so it’s not like she’s the only one who knows what mana-cladding is. At least that one hurdle is gone. “But I bet I could give her a good fight… Though she hasn’t entertained it yet.”
“Hmm… Can’t say I know how well that’ll go.” He said after a bit of pondering. “So are you seriously trying to pick a fight? Now of all ti?”
“Isn’t this the best ti? We have about… two months before this institution or whatever opens up, right? I bet there’s gonna be so ceremonial fighting or sothing, just to show off.” I explained myself. “Weren’t you the one pointing out how it might operate like an academy from those fantasy novels?”
“I wasn’t being serious about that, you know?” He exasperatedly replied. “More importantly, shouldn’t you go to Useph’s place? His ho has plenty of space to fight. This place doesn’t have a backyard that big… No, more importantly, if you want to propose this fight to , can’t you plan it out before walking up to my doorstep like a jackass?”
“...So is that a no?” I asked, wondering if he really won’t entertain this fight I want.
“Of course not! Please tell you actually have sothing else to talk about.” He said, clearly not buying that I’m just here for a fight.
“Well aside from all that I just want to talk with you about this whole ordeal one-on-one. Saw you’ve been pretty quiet about the whole shebang.” I’m also here to chat and make sure he is doing fine. Jass isn’t a wimp or anything, but he is a quiet and introverted guy, not exactly soone who has a lot of people to open up to.
“Was I?” He said while scratching his cheek. Guess he didn’t even realize it.
“So what do you think is gonna happen? Haven’t really heard your opinions on it.” I asked. He is the reserved type, but if I got him comfortable he might go into a lot of details.
“...How about we sit down first?” He offered.
“Sure.” I replied, not seeing why not. Guess standing around was a bit awkward for him. “So what do you think? I think we’re probably seeing a lot of… magical adventures? I guess you’d call it that?”
“You could, but all these assumptions seem quite nebulous to .” He said, sounding quite disinterested. That can’t be it, right? I would’ve imagined him being all over the moon getting to be in what is the closest to a fantasy academy setting.
Maybe I just need to prod him a little more? He’s been less talkative than usual but considering a bunch of stuff that happened over the past few months he just needs a bit more kick to the head or sothing.
“So is there anything about this place you were worried about? Maybe Wiina’s tone of voice? How it seems like they’re targeting us? Anything?” Not one for conspiracy but maybe he’ll react to the more fiery topics.
“Haaah…” Instead of responding, he sighs. Guess that wasn’t it? “I find trying to worry about whatever plot is happening to just be a waste of ti at this point. Too much to think about with too little to argue…”
———Karra———
…It’s pretty damn anxious just waiting in her room like this.
“I’m back.” Wiina said, already shifting back to her white hair look.
“So what was Jeff here for?” I asked.
“Two things. One is trying to pick a fight, and second is trying to get opinions on the new school. Seems like he thinks I want to vent so thoughts to another person and co in to check. Sweet thoughts, but really pointless.” She sumd it up in a few sentences.
“Doesn’t look like he read the room if it takes that long.” I can’t help but remark.
“He was never the brightest.” She boldly said, and I can’t see him disagreeing. The guy isn’t shy about not thinking things through sotis.
…Makes it all the weirder that he still gets good grades, which I think a lot of us have thought about to the point of ‘let’s stop thinking about it’. He’s not book dumb, at least. I think that’s fair.
“So… Now what?” I’ve been waiting in here just so he doesn’t catch a sight of . It delays any plans we have, this unexpected visit of his.
“Not a lot.” She confidently said. Guess we just… find sothing to talk about as well? We were talking about the school as well before Jeff ca in to say hi.
“...So you know anything else about the school you can share?” I guess let’s try asking that and see how the conversation flows from there.
“Nothing substantial.” She replied, being evasive on the topic. “Though by now the other schoolmates should co to realize what offers are being given. That wasn’t exactly a big bombastic announcent like what I gave two days back.”
…Oh!
———Lynda———
“What the…” My eyes are definitely not playing tricks on , right? What am I seeing on this webpage right now? The domain used to be for the Weldseni School which is buried six feet under.
A special discount for the old school students? Just what the hell is this news? I guess it would be good news, but how in the world am I supposed to react to this?
…Should I just apply with no questions asked? I an why not? It should be a guarantee since I was a student of the old school… Actually, how do they even know all that?
…Yeah. Let’s ignore all that and go all in.
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