BOOM!
An explosion rings out in the large room, a wave of hot steam hitting Alto's body, nearly knocking her off balance. She shields her eyes for a moment, waiting for the pressure to subside, then glances around curiously. She's inside a massive amphitheater, now covered in an artificial fog so thick that she can barely see in front of her.
She frowns, muttering to herself in annoyance.
"Hmmm...that combination still needs some work. The water spell needs to be dialed back, or the fire spell needs to be strengthened – there's too much water lingering in the air. I also need to tweak the wind spell a bit more, so the steam only explodes outward...I don't like being collateral in my own spells." (Alto)
With a deep sigh, she quietly recites the incantation for a master-tier wind spell, clearing the entire room of steam in mere seconds. She's treated to the sight of dozens of people in blue robes scattered around the massive raised platform she's on. Some are unconscious, many are groaning, but they're all lying on the ground limply.
At the edges of the room, hundreds of others in blue robes occupy the amphitheater seating, gawking at her in unrestrained awe, while a few older-looking elves in black robes study her with annoyed expressions. She shrugs, and begins walking off the stage towards the room's exit without a word, her gold-colored robes flapping quietly behind her.
As she arrives in the Academy hallway outside, she notices a tall elven woman in black robes, younger than the others. The woman has raven black hair, bright green eyes, and she's leaning against the wall, watching Alto with a maniacal grin.
Alto pointedly ignores the woman's gaze, opting to walk past her without saying a word. However, the woman just pushes herself off the wall and falls in step beside Alto, continuing to stare at her expectantly. Alto lets out a resigned sigh.
"Professor Sylfie, I'm not going to change my mind, no matter how much you pester me. I passed their farce of a graduation requirement, and as soon as the dean approves, I will be leaving." (Alto)
It's been twenty years since that fateful day Alto arrived at the Academy, and...well, actually, not much has changed, with the exception of her magic.
Back then, she came to the Academy because she wanted to progress her magic, but in theory, she could have done that on her own. The reasons she didn't were twofold. First, comprehensive magic textbooks for master-tier elemental spells are difficult to get access to, and...insanely expensive, even by Alto's privileged standards. However, there was another reason...friends.
For a while now, ever since she met Belle, she's wanted to find other people she connects with on the same level, now that her life is her own to live. Even just one such person would make her happy. However, she never made any real friends during her time in the farming villages. Mostly because she was too focused on lying low and finally learning magic in earnest, but also because she couldn't relate to anyone.
She thought that at the Academy, where magic and learning are deeply rooted in the culture, she'd find other people like her. Kind people, with passions for magic or something otherwise interesting, who she could connect with like she once did Belle. Yet after all this time, the closest thing she has to a friend is actually the chaotic woman walking beside her now, Professor Sylfie. She's the one that ultimately sponsored Alto for a scholarship the day she arrived at the Academy.
As it happens, when she demanded all the current female professors that day, there were only three...and the other two weren't even around at the time. Fortunately, Sylfie happens to be an elemental mage as well, with dual affinities to boot, and was happy to endorse Alto once she saw her talent. That is, on the condition that Alto became a teaching assistant and handled most of Sylfie's class load for her. Turns out, Sylfie is a bit lazy...and antisocial.
Regardless, that's part of the reason why she wants to leave now. The Academy, or rather the Academy's students, aren't what she thought they'd be. Instead of earnest young people, attending out of their love for magic or some other subject the Academy offers, she found mostly privileged youth pushed here by pride, parental expectations, or both.
Then again, there are other reasons for her departure. For one, she's already conquered master-tier elemental spells to the same level of completeness and mastery that she once did with advanced-tier spells. She's even able to integrate up to three such spells at once into a custom spell...the one she used just earlier. Naturally, she inquired to Sylfie about the final tier – calamity spells.
However, they are highly regulated, to the point that even the Academy doesn't have all of them. The books on elemental calamity spells that they do have are only available to professors, with no exceptions. Alto then asked about the qualifications to become a professor herself.
She was told that, for elemental mages, a professor needs to master all known basic- to master-tier spells in a sub-class. Of course, she was thrilled to hear this...up until a month ago, when she actually reached that benchmark and spoke to the dean about becoming a professor. At that point, she learned there's another necessary qualification – be at least a hundred years old.
Suffice it to say, she found the restriction absurd, but the dean absolutely would not budge. Alto even wrote a letter to Tessa Uril, the Academy's current overseer and daughter of its founder, appealing the dean's decision. Fortunately, they never met face-to-face when she was a child.
Tessa came to meet her a few years after she first arrived, once news of a talented new scholarship student reached her. Though Tessa had seemed disappointed by Alto introducing herself as "Altera, a commoner from Oppidum", she still thought she'd left enough of an impression to gain some favor. Alas, Alto's request for professorship was just as adamantly denied by Tessa, leaving a bitter resentment in her mouth.
Nevertheless, realizing there's nothing more for this place to teach her about traditional magic, at least until she turns a hundred, she decided to leave. Unfortunately, since the Academy had 'paid' for her tuition, she couldn't just leave, unless she wanted to pay her tuition retroactively. Instead, she had to 'graduate', which meant passing a kind of exit exam. For normal magic students, that's as simple as demonstrating mastery over a minimum number of certain tier spells, depending on their desired graduation 'level'.
Sadly, scholarship students' exams are at the discretion of a panel of professors. While this normally doesn't change things much, she somehow managed to earn the ire of most of the professors at the Academy. Something about her arrogant attitude, or something else she finds ridiculous.
She seemed to have offended Professor Langmur especially – the professor who she met at thirteen – due to her overt avoidance of him that, from his perspective, must have seemed unwarranted. Thankfully, between the hair dye, the different name, her matured appearance, and their limited history, he never put together who she really is.
Nevertheless, she became quite unpopular with the Academy professors, to the point that they seemingly meddled in her exit exam, perhaps in an effort to embarrass or even fail her. Instead of the normal magic competency exit exam, hers was to survive to at least the top five in a magical battle royale with other students. One where every other student seemed inexplicably focused on her.
Alas, the professors clearly still underestimated her. She layered three master-tier spells into a custom, area of effect offensive spell, blasting every other student away in one shot. So, she's unofficially graduated now, just waiting on the dean to sign off on it so she can leave.
Of course, that means that her time as Sylfie's teaching assistant will end, and Sylfie will have to start teaching her own classes again. Hence, the ornery professor following her now, and Alto's preemptive comment about how she won't change her mind.
Sylfie gives Alto a pouting face that's as genuine as a coin from Mizuki.
"Now Altera, don't be hasty. You're poor, aren't you? Just think of how much of a hassle it will be to make a living in the real world. Bah! Might as well stay here as my TA, with nice lodging and food, and practice your custom spells in peace." (Sylfie)
Alto's lip twitches. Truly, only Sylfie would think that was a solid pitch for her to stay a student indefinitely. She shrugs at the lazy professor.
"If you get me access to the Academy's elemental calamity spells, then I'll be happy to keep TA'ing for you." (Alto)
Sylfie's face contorts into a genuinely aggrieved expression.
"At least ask for something reasonable..." (Sylfie)
Alto shakes her head in amusement.
"That's the only thing this place has left that I want." (Alto)
Sylfie groans, stretching her arms over her head with a yawn.
"It's always magic, magic, magic with you...try something else for once. Maybe a boyfriend. Someone as rigid as you could stand to get laid." (Sylfie)
Alto blinks repeatedly, her steps halting. She gives Sylfie an incredulous look.
"That is...a strange and specific suggestion. I fail to see how sex is going to change my personality, nor why I'd want it to." (Alto)
Sylfie rolls her eyes.
"Never mind. Anyway, what's next for you, traitor?" (Sylfie)
Alto purses her lips thoughtfully, ignoring the childish insult.
Truthfully, she's had a difficult time answering that question herself. She loves magic, and learning more about it has been almost her sole focus for three decades now, like a sponge once forced to rot in the sun, abruptly thrust into the ocean. But now, those waters seem less vast and mysterious than they once did, and the few exotic trenches remaining are closed to her.
She's not sure what her next steps are...what will drive her, if not magic. That said, she knows one thing – she's tired of being alone.
She wants to meet people, to connect with them. It doesn't have to be many, but she wants to experience what it's like to have someone who really knows her. Supports her because they appreciate who she is, not because they get something from her in return. She wants...to make up for the family she's never really had.
So, it's her intention to start putting herself in social situations more, meeting as many people as it takes. Even if it takes a thousand tries to find one person she connects with, she'll consider it worth it.
Suddenly, her eyes widen in realization...
"Helloooo?" (Sylfie)
She blinks, turning a bewildered gaze towards Sylfie.
"What?" (Alto)
Sylfie frowns.
"I asked you what's next for you...you know, after you heartlessly abandon me?" (Sylfie)
Reminded of the reason for her earlier thoughts, she nods in acknowledgement.
"Ah...right. Well, I think..." (Alto)
She pauses, deciding what exactly she should share about her movements after leaving here. Then, her eyes meet Sylfie's expectant gaze, and she gives a rare smile.
"...I think I'll visit an old friend." (Alto)