Part 1
I roll out of bed and land on the floor with a firm thud. I let out a loud sigh as I call out to Elxie.
"Hey Elxie do you mind-"
Then I remember where I was and looked around the room. It was a room just large enough for my bed, desk, and dresser for my clothes. Though the room was small it did have a door that led out to a balcony that gave me a decent view over the courtyard at the dorms. The dorms lied behind the main school just far enough to be a ways away yet always in eyes view. As I gazed outside from my balcony I was finally able to get a better look at the area now that the sun was up. The dorms were set up in a blocky "U" shaped building. Though it was only two stories high throughout the majority of the building, the center part extended a few more floors tall and a couple of rooms thick. The peak of its summit being eight floors high in total with my room being on the sixth.
(Not a bad view.) I look around at the students now leaving and heading to the main school building.
(I guess I should get dressed and head out so im not late) I open my closet to see multiple pairs of the same uniform lined neatly from one end to the other. I cringe at the idea of wearing it.
(There is zero chance im wearing this) I close the closet door and decide to wear whatever clothes were in my bag. Once I opened the bag I saw a noted on top of a new and unfamiliar set of leather armor.
"Dear Samu,
I packed some clothes from home for you to wear after school so you aren't stuck wearing the uniform all day and night like I had to. The leather armor is a gift from your father that he use to wear when he went to a different academy. Do not write us back. Focus on learning everything you can and growing into the great man we know you can be. Your father and I love you with all our hearts.
Ps. Try not to have too much fun." I smile and begin to dig through my bag eagerly, excited to see everything they packed. From what I could find it was just clothes I wore in the village with fathers old armor packed on top.
I put on the clothes I always wore before dawning the armor that father passed down to me over them. The full set contained lightly studded leather chest piece, grieves, and shin guards. Looking myself over in the mirror I grimaced a bit at the look of the shin guards so I decided to wear them under my pants instead. Once I was satisfied with the outfit I nodded and turned to leave and make my way through the dorm for the first time during active hours.
My floor was fairly open with just my room and one other being on the floor. I looked over to my neighbors door and saw a "STAY AWAY" sign etched into wood and nailed into the door.
(Good. I didn't want to introduce myself to my neighbors anyways) I sigh with relief as I walk past the room to the stairs as I began to make my way down to the second floor. Though the part of the dorm my room was on is fairly empty of students the same couldn't be said about the rest of the dorm. Many students walked about to and from either dressed in uniform or still in their nightware. I continue walking through the hallways to the stairs at the end of the hall making slight glances around at the different students.
(I guess word hasn't spread yet about what happened last night huh. I figured people would be gossiping or whispering about me as I walked out of this place but I guess not)
I made my way through the floors until I made my way outside, the sun blinding me for a moment once I opened the door taking my first steps outside. As I made my way through the relatively strait path to the academy I overheard a few students talking about a human who seemed to be a problem child.
"I heard she just got back to school from her last suspension."
"Wait does that mean she's somewhere walking around the campus right now?!"
I wanted to continue to listen in on what they were saying but decided to just keep walking. As I made my way I continue to hear more and more about the beast woman. Some saying she has fangs, others that she has the power of a wild beast, some also telling of how ruthless and relentless she is once angered.
(So she's a bully then? I guess she cant be that strong though if she's not even on the council)
I continuing exploring the main building aimlessly having no idea where to go or when my first class would even be until the Beastfolk girl I fought the night before walked up to me, aggressively slapping her hand onto my shoulder.
"Yo whats up new kid!" She shouts as she leans her weight on me.
"Do you mind NOT hitting me first thing in the morning?" I say in feign annoyance.
"Are you lost? Our class started almost an hour ago you know." I give her a suspicious look.
"Then why aren't you in class? You skipping?" She lets out a frustrated sigh as she finally lets go of me and shrugs.
"I was super bored so I came to sniff you out." I let out a chuckle from how familiar this felt.
(I remember skipping class all the time in my past life. As tempting as it would be I need to set a good example for my family name)
"Do you mind showing me to class then?" She gave me a confused scowl that screamed 'Huh?!'
"I suppose I should so that you don't end up missing your classes. I suppose I'll follow you around today so that you learn what classes you'll have." She growls in frustration as she starts to walk off. As I watch her walk away I notice her uniform is slightly different from the other girls. Her dark blue skirt has a few rips along the bottom ends as well as her adding black stockings, though they had some tears in them. Despite the condition of those two things her white button up collared shirt was neat and well kept. Before I knew it she had already begun losing me in the crowd of students making me run to catch up to her.
Once I caught up I follow her making sure to keep pace with her as she walked, guiding me down various hallways. As we made our way through the school eventually the number of students walking about in the halls lowered until we only saw one every few minutes.
"Do not many students come this way?"
"Not at all. This area of the school is where the more advance students tend to go. This area is where you'll be spending most of your time here unfortunately." I looked up at her face to see a bored yet frustrated look.
"Its better this way. Less people I need to deal with." I say as we approach the door to our first class.
"Whatever dude." She says as she scoffs and opens the door to the classroom, giving me one last glance as she walks in.
I follow after her and see a nearly empty room with only 10 other students inside.
"Hey Naria! You decided to show up to class for once huh?" Said on the the students in the back.
"Hey its not like I want to be here! Im just making sure the new kid knows where his classes are." She doesnt even look back at me as she makes her way to her spot at the back of the class sitting on the last seat closest to the window.
(Dang so she already has the best seat in the class claimed)
I look over the room noticing everyone from the council is here as well as a few more students. Though everyone refused to acknowledge my existence it was painfully obvious everyone was glancing at me while whispering to one another. I walk over to the podium at the front of the class where I assume the teacher stands when they teach yelling out to the class.
"Do you guys have something youd like to say to me?" The volume of my voice silencing the room.
No one says a word in reply.
(I guess I have their attention at least)
"I don't like it when people whisper about me around or behind my back. So if you have something you'd like to know or ask do so now. Because if this happens again or I hear about it happening, ill be sure to teach the lesson to you by force."
Silence fell over the room but only for a moment before someone spoke out.
"What is your goal coming to this school? Clearly you are well beyond the skill of most of some if not every student here. Why is someone like you here? Do you just want to take over this place with force for fun?" Asked the Demon I fought the night before.
"I came here because its what my master recommended to me. She said it was a good idea for establishing connections and for building my reputation."
The class murmured to one another until the blonde kid spoke up.
"A peasant like you trying to inflate your ego by gaining the admiration of others is meaningless. Low class like you will never-"
"Give it a rest Galahand. You cant deny his strength no matter what you think or feel." The demon responds with a tone of authority.
"You should listen to your ring leader boy." I glare at the blonde.
"It'd be a shame if your parents had to bury their own son." The boy clicked his tongue and went back to reading. Silence fell over the classroom again only being broken by me speaking up.
"Any other questions? I'm willing to answer anything."
"Is it true you can cast spells without using an incantation?" I hold up my hand and create fire in its palm making everyone ooh and aah.
"who was your master? Are they the ones who taught you how to cast spells like that?" Asked another student.
"My masters name is Hikari Mildar and no, she can not cast spells like me."
"Then how did you manage it?" Asked the Demon.
"Its something I figured out around the age of five. Don't bother asking how I do it. I wont be teaching anyone else how to cast the same way I'm able to."
"Huuuuh?! Why be so selfish!?" Shouted one of the guys in the back.
"Its not about being selfish. Its the fact you are all too weak and stupid to learn it." While the rest of the class seemed to become furious murmuring to one another the Demon simply laughed and walked over to me holding out his hand.
"My name is Gilnis Legneer, I respect your honesty and power enough to accept you as my friend." At first im taken aback but laugh in response as I shook his hand.
"Strait forward and to the point. I respect the hell out of that. Names Samu, Its a pleasure to meet you and everyone else here." Soon our moment is cut short from another boy in the back yelling out to us.
"Is it true you absolutely crushed the student council on your own? I heard it was effortless!" The boy asked mockingly.
"We completely lost to him. If it wasnt for the guardians stepping in to block his attack we for sure would be dead right now." Replied Gilnis in a serious tone.
The room erupted in doubt with words like "No way!" or "Why would he lie?" and "Maybe they're hiding something?" being said to one another.
"Its true. This bastard is no joke. I have no doubt he could easily kill everyone in here before any of us could get a spell out." The wolf girl said as she shrugged.
"Ill have you know im not a bastard. My mother and father were married before having me." She raised an eyebrow before scoffing and looking back outside.
"Whatever dude." She says before disassociating herself with the rest of the students.
"Don't mind her man, shes just like that. She means well, just a little brash most of the time." Gilnis walks over to his seat inviting me over to sit with him.
I brush away the offer waving my hand away dismissively as I made my way to a vacant seat in the middle of the class sitting in its chair. After I took my seat a few people in the class murmured once again though I decided to let it go this time. I sat there for what felt like hours zoning in and out as I tried to pass the time until the teacher showed, at least, until I got bored.
"Where the hell is the teacher?!" I yell out in frustration.
"He was called into the capital for some mission from the guild" Gilnis said in response as he stood up and walked over to me. I give him a disapproved look as he sits on my desk.
"Apparently theres been a lot of activity from the monsters near by. He and a few adventurers set off a few weeks ago to investigate."
"Oh?" I give him a sarcastic response still frustrated that hes on my desk.
"Mind getting off of my desk? I dont want your ass sweat on it." He laughs and slides off now leaning against it.
"That's not actually your desk. That desk there belongs to who we dubbed 'Rabid Wolf'. She's been expelled for half of the year already. Got the boot for beating one of the student council members almost to death for bumping into her." He leans back looking up at the ceiling as if he's remembering something fond to him.
"She's mean, aggressive, dumb as dirt, lacks any ladylike charms, has zero patience, zero magical capabilities, and above all else easy to offend." He trails off again lost in the thought of her memory.
(The way hes describing her makes her sound a lot like me in many ways when I was growing up in another life...) I unknowingly allowed a smile to fall onto my face as I remembered those days.
"That's an interesting smile to have over someone that sounds so horrible." I say as I compose myself.
"That's because she's a beautiful strong willed girl who never backs down, wealthy, and royalty. She'd make a fine bride after she's been tamed." I heard a growl coming from the back of the class.
"Hey asshole what did I say about saying shit like that?!" Said Neria through her teeth.
I let out a sigh and stand up to leave.
"When does this class end?"
"This is the only class that we have where we are in a legitimate classroom. Because of that it'll last for half of the day." I ignore Gilnis as I walked past him on my way to the door.
"Rules for thee but not for me." I say as I leave the room.
I make my way through the hallways for a bit before I hear faint footsteps quickly approaching me from behind just before I feel a familiar weight slamming into me followed by another familiar sound.
"You just going to wander the hallways?" Asked Neria with her arm now around my shoulder again.
"I'm not wondering. I'm headed to the training area that I fought you guys in before." She let out a laugh that echoed throughout the silent and empty halls.
"This is the wrong way idiot." She pulled her arm away from me and began walking in the opposite direction.
"Follow me I'll take you there."
I follow her as she takes long strides in her walk as she hums to herself, her steps so wide she almost has to catch herself with each step.
"Why are you being so kind to me? You seem to be cold towards everyone you interact with."
"I'm just making sure you're not getting lost. This is a big school after all."
(I don't think shes the kind of person to care about things like that from what Ive seen. I wonder what her motives could be. Whats her goal? What is she trying to gain? Is this a trap?)
"Do you normally just leave class like that? You know you should be sure to attend every class diligently if you can."
"Huuuuuuh?!" She stops for a moment to scowl at me before continuing on.
"Thats a load of crap coming from you!"
"There's nothing here that the teachers could ever teach me. Hell they aren't even close enough to my level to even comprehend my own understanding of magic." I close my eyes and sigh as I realize how big of a waste of time attending classes will be when suddenly I walk into Neria. I open my eyes to see her looking intently into my eyes as if to study whats on my mind.
"You're a strange kid you know that? For some reason when I talk to you its as if I'm talking to my father."
(Yea I mean technically I am mentally 26 right now)
"Your father must be a good man then." I say as I walk past her in the direction we were previously going in.
After a short moment she caught up with me and continued to guide me through the halls silently until we reached the familiar large double doors that reached to the top of the ceiling, towering over me as they opened with my approach. I step into the training room and begin making my way to the center of the room, sitting down and closing my eyes to focus; finally getting the chance to work on my new spell.
My mana surges eagerly as if it was waiting expectantly for me to continue my training as it enthusiastically surges throughout my body. As always my mana fills my body at speeds that don't seem to be at a much faster rate than normal.
(What is taking me so long to increase the speed? Is this the best I can do? Everything else I've taken up has been effortless to achieve. Is it a lack of understanding? Is there something I'm missing?)
Once I pull my mana out of my muscles and limbs I decide to try something different. I store up my mana and make it swell within myself while preventing it from releasing, letting the pressure build. Once it had enough pressure built up I released it all at once using the build up tension in my mana to force it to explode throughout my body. The speed was immense, much faster than it normally was. At least 10 times faster. Though it was faster I had a lot less control over it. My mana surged throughout my body uncontrollably. Swelling up within me making every fiber in my body feel as though it'll explode. I quickly try condensing my mana though it seemed impossible with it now leaking out of me freely.
(If I cant completely suppress it then I might as well just control what I can so my body doesn't explode while letting what needs to leak flow freely for now)
Soon my body stabilizes as I control my power, a steady flow of mana expelling from me. I maintain this output and stand, opening and closing my hands as I feel this new form of power thats clearly at the next stage of its development. Before I could test my new speed and power I remember that my classmate is still around, releasing the spell completely. I turn around to see Neria standing close behind me with a frightened look on her face.
"Don't look so afraid. I was just practicing a new way to build mana to-" I was reaching out to her but she pulled away in fear causing me to stop mid explanation, images and scenes from my past flashing in my mind.
("Stay away you monster!"
"You're a heartless psychopath!"
"You should be locked up!")
"How much were you holding back before?" She asked as she takes another step back.
"When we first fought?" I thought for a moment trying to remember what even happened as my mind swirls and battles itself to maintain focus with my memories resisting my attempt to regain control.
"Id say that was maybe...five percent of what I could have done. Those were only beginner spells after all."
"Monster.." She lets out with a faint whisper, shattering my mental state as I am forced to relive the memories of my past. The various voices of those I've hurt coming back to torment me.
("Please no more! I'm sorry!" "Please stop hurting my mother!" "Let him go you're killing him!" "Y-you monster! You killed them all!" "Why?! he was just a boy! Oh God no! My son! That's my booooy!") Their cries and screams were so loud in my mind it was almost deafening. I struggle to compose myself. Unable to find the words to remedy the situation or provide her some sort solace that I'm not a threat to her.
"Thats awfully rude! I'll have you know I held back a lot considering how rude and disrespectful you guys were to me. Especially considering the difference in not only skill and power but most importantly, your pathetic lack of understanding of how mana and spells work. If I was truly a monster... You wouldn't be around to call me one." She stiffens up and holds her breath as if I could only see her through movement. My poor choice of words dawn on me as I struggle to fix the situation.
"Relax I would never do something like that. I do my best to be as honorable as possible for the sake of my family name and everything thats good and just. So please don't start becoming afraid of me or start acting any differently. I'm not some crazy power hungry psycho who's just going to off anyone who inconveniences him." She seems to lower her guard a bit before shaking her head and turning and running away leaving me alone in the empty training facility.
"Guess not huh?" The thoughts of my past continue tormenting me in the silence of the room. My hands begin to shake and my breathing quickens as I struggle to try and return to the small amount of "normal" I was holding onto. Suddenly something in my mind breaks making it easier to push away the thoughts as I go numb again.
"Well... That's that I guess." I say to myself as I sit back down and continue my training.
Spell Galvanize: Power efficiency - 9%
Power up speed - 25%
??? - 0%
Spell mastery - 5%