As a university student, pulling an all-nighter is perfectly normal.
As a prospective Mage, pulling an all-nighter is perfectly normal.
On Blue Star, at some university, Rorschach, a poor schmuck in the engineering department, was pulling an all-nighter. His heart was pounding, but with final exams the next day, he had no intention of sleeping.
In the Otherworld, at a certain Royal Magic Academy, Rorschach was also pulling an all-nighter. He felt dizzy and disoriented, but with the Mage certification exam tomorrow, he didn't dare go to bed just yet.
His vision went black. Rorschach thought he could hear a booming heartbeat as a wave of nausea washed over him, twice as strong as before. When he finally managed to steady himself, he found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
'Fireball Skill? Mage certification exam? I've been transported to another world.' Searching through the original owner's memories, the former university student, Rorschach, quickly accepted the reality of his transmigration to an Otherworld.
In the local language, his name was also pronounced Rorschach. Same name, same all-nighter for an exam, and even their educational stages in their respective worlds were comparable. Rorschach felt a sense of camaraderie with the soul of this hardcore grinder he'd never met.
'I wonder if this body's original owner transmigrated to my world? I hope he doesn't screw up my major's final exams...'
As the dizziness gradually faded, an irrepressible wave of excitement washed over him—Magic!
He had actually transmigrated into a world with Magic!
Magic was way better than his dead-end major from before! The heavens had eyes! His failure to switch to a computer science major had somehow led him to switch worlds instead...
But then Rorschach's mood soured slightly. This world didn't seem to fall into the "game-like isekai" category. Mastering a single spell was incredibly difficult; it wasn't like a game where you just click a button to instantly cast it once the cooldown was over. He discovered that the original Rorschach, the prospective Mage, had only barely managed to master three spells: Fireball Skill, Water Creation Skill, and Low Level Decomposition Skill. And even then, he couldn't guarantee a 100% success rate when Casting!
Even so, this Rorschach was considered one of the more outstanding Magic Apprentices. He had scored nearly full marks on his Magic theory exam. As long as he successfully cast all three spells in tomorrow's assessment, he would become a Tier One Mage certified by the Empire Royal Magic Academy. Although it was only the entry-level among Tiers One to Nine, he would still be a Caster—perhaps swaggering down the street would be too arrogant, but others would only respectfully comment on the Mage's fine mood.
Rorschach continued to search his memories. 'Fireball Skill, proficient. A definite success.'
It seemed he had also inherited the original's muscle memory. He channeled his Magic Power and expertly formed the casting gestures, smoothly conjuring a flicker of flame. This small flame was very stable. Although it was a far cry from a massive Fireball, the fact that it could burn steadily and controllably at his fingertip proved the prospective Mage's considerable skill with the Fireball Skill.
'Water Creation Skill... unstable. Only a thirty percent chance.'
The second spell didn't go as smoothly. A small orb of water appeared out of thin air in his hand, but it quickly lost its shape and splashed apart. Rorschach felt a greater drain on his Spirit, and the amount of water he had created wasn't even enough to wet his throat. He tried again. This time there was a bit more water than the first, but it still didn't meet the one pint required for the exam. This spell had been the original Rorschach's weak point as well.
'Low Level Decomposition Skill. I need to find something to test it on.'
His memories told Rorschach that the so-called Low Level Decomposition Skill had a very limited range and effect. Its most important characteristic was that it could only affect Inorganic Material—which, in this world, was defined as matter that was not alive and did not contain any Magic Energy.
To find a suitable test subject, Rorschach began to carefully survey his surroundings. He already knew he was in an Apprentice Dormitory, and in a rare single room at that. The dorm was about the size of a soft-sleeper train compartment. A simple linen bed, a desk, and a cabinet took up most of the space. A bucket and some clothes were by the bay window, the most conspicuous item being a beige Apprentice Robe. 'Looks a lot like a lab coat.'
There ought to be some small odds and ends on the desk suitable for practice. Rorschach's gaze fell upon the desktop, only to see a Scroll spread out there.
Scrolls were a crucial component among the many Magic Tools of this world.
Low Tier magic could be completed relying solely on a Caster's own Magic Power, guided and accelerated by hand gestures. Middle Tier Magic, however, required a casting medium. High Tier Magic was extremely complex, requiring not only an input of Magic Power and a casting medium but also a ritual to complete. As for the legendary Super Tier Magic...
A Scroll was created by drawing a correct Magic Array on paper, leather, or cloth with ink mixed with Spiritual Material.
A Scroll could be activated by infusing Magic Power into a recorded Magic Circuit. There were also Instantaneous Scrolls, which had an Energy Storage Circuit drawn on them and didn't require a Caster's activation. But the most precious of all were Learning Scrolls.
Rorschach picked it up and examined it carefully under the oil lamp. The parchment in his hands was aged and brittle, but fortunately, the complex patterns were still clearly visible. Unfortunately, however, no matter whether it was the original Rorschach before the transmigration or the current Rorschach, there was no reaction when they tried to infuse Magic Power into it.
"This is a Learning Scroll for Water Creation Skill, guaranteed to work! I'm about to graduate, so I don't need it anymore. I'll give it to you for a steal—just sixteen Silver Coins!" The face of the enthusiastic senior from the academy's market was still fresh in his mind. However, the only true part of that swindler's pitch was that he was "about to graduate."
It was completely useless! For the next three months, the original Rorschach had subsisted on black rye bread, swallowing his tears. Even now, at the last minute, he had refused to give up and studied it again, but still came up empty-handed.
The old Pocket Watch showed that it was already past midnight. "Sigh, in this state, tomorrow's exam... no, today's exam will be hard to pass!" Rorschach found a cork that didn't seem to match any bottle and blasted it into splinters with a cast of the Decomposition Skill.
The Fireball Skill and Decomposition Skill were fine. It was just the Water Creation Skill. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't squeeze out enough water. The more he forced it, the more exhausted he became. Rorschach could feel his Magic Power teetering on the brink of depletion.
Faced with this predicament, a Transmigrator had to know how to look inward and find his golden finger!
'System? System?' he called out in his mind, but there was no response. Cringing with embarrassment, Rorschach then called out loud a couple of times.
No response...
"Gramps? Granny?" Still no response.
'Forget it. I'll sleep first.'
With his last bit of Magic Power, Rorschach recalled what he had learned in class and the sensation of the original owner Casting, took a deep breath, and attempted the Water Creation Skill one more time.
Using his hand gestures to guide his thoughts, he constructed the Water Creation Skill's circuit in his mind. His body's Magic Power radiated outward, seeming to pass through some kind of barrier and begin to drift in an unreal world.
SNAP! Just as his Magic Power and Spirit faintly perceived a vast expanse of azure, the Casting was interrupted. That wisp of Magic Power lost its connection, like a kite with a snapped string.
An undeniable failure.
Time in the Otherworld was the same as in his previous life. The academy's bell would ring at 6 a.m., and the exam would begin at 9 a.m. He had three hours left.
Rorschach didn't try again. He decided getting some proper rest was more important. Maybe if he was well-rested, he'd be in better shape, and if he was in better shape, the Water Creation Skill would come out smoothly.
"Gotta rest and recharge my spirit! And recharge my water!"
After extinguishing the oil lamp before bed, Rorschach noticed in the darkness that the unfurled Scroll was actually emitting a faint glow.
'Heh, so this world has fluorescent ink...' Just as he was thinking this, the light grew brighter and brighter, and his Magic Power began to drain away at an alarming rate!
'Holy crap, did this trigger some Magic? It's... not... gonna... blow up... the... dorm... is it?'
That was Rorschach's last thought before he lost consciousness.