Words I've Heard Somewhere

I've heard these words somewhere before. They say that giving your all to the trials before you and clashing with your full power isn't limited to any one grade.

In other words, it's the same for first-years. Just as all seven stars of the Big Dipper must shine from their proper places to truly be the Seven Stars, it means nothing if even one doesn't shine at the same time as the rest.

Since the seniors will all shine brightly, those following behind must shine too.

In the first-year magic department classroom at Salenium Academy, a girl sat in her seat, watching everything with a resolute determination burning in her heart.

A duel was raging right in front of her.

"Take this! Low Tier Fire Elemental Magic: Fireball!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"In your dreams! Low Tier Water Elemental Magic: Water Create!"

The fireball surging up in an instant was engulfed by a globe of water.

The student on the platform gritted their teeth and counterattacked.

"Low Tier Lightning Elemental Magic: Summon Lightning!"

"Ha! Low Tier Earth Elemental Magic: Ground Lock!"

A bolt of lightning shot down from above the water globe, only to be blocked by a rock rising from the ground.

The entire first-year magic department's attention was fixed on this fierce battle.

The two students standing on the straight platform exchanged smiles, praising each other's skills without losing composure.

"Not bad at all!"

"Ha, you're quite the match for me too! Let's keep going!"

Low-tier spells flew back and forth.

But even low-tier spells at Salenium were no joke. Even first-years here had skills that wouldn't be outdone anywhere else.

No student could be underestimated.

However.

"Nero."

Millije had no choice but to nod at the spirit's words, transmitted telepathically as it licked its paw with its tongue.

Magic was all about matchups.

Everyone knew fire was weak to water, lightning to earth—even kids.

Yet they were deliberately using spells that countered each other's elements, which ultimately led to...

"...Yeah."

Millije nodded, knowing the spirit understood mana and magic better than she did.

"Can't use the spirit in combat."

"But."

Nero looked at Millije, who stared at the platform with clenched fists.

"We can share your mana with mine. That's a spirit's specialty."

"I know it won't."

The cat turned its head away with a huff at her smile.

Over the past few days, Millije felt she'd grown close to this dark spirit.

It had started wary, but once it realized it could never beat her, it became obedient.

"Exactly. Besides, I don't play those games."

Yeah. That kind of play was the height of inefficiency.

Everything should mimic real combat.

She wondered what Adrian would say if he saw this.

The magic he'd shown in the West Forest was no game.

"We have a winner! Next, Millije Heilo. Please come forward!"

"Watch from there, Nero."

The beige-haired girl glared at the platform with unwavering eyes.

"I'll end it in one go and come back."

She strode forward confidently, drew a slip of paper, called her opponent, and faced them on the platform.

"That last fight gave me so much inspiration. Let's have a beautiful, fair duel!"

The nameless male student swung his staff ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and declared.

Millije stared at him blankly.

A beautiful duel? Who the hell are you? Don't block my way. I'm climbing up.

"Move."

And as the match began.

"Low Tier Fire Elemental Magic: Fireball, Low Tier Water Elemental Magic: Water Create, Low Tier Lightning Elemental Magic: Summon Lightning, Low Tier Earth Elemental Magic: Ground Lock, Low Tier Wind Elemental Magic: Wind Blade."

Five magic circles materialized behind her at once.

A normal person would suffer mana backlash and pass out immediately from channeling like this.

But linked to Nero, Millije's mana had surged exponentially.

So she stared down her foe with steady eyes, wielding multiple spells simultaneously.

"W-what is that?!"

Someone cried out in shock.

"I-is that even possible? Isn't it dangerous?!"

Someone worried.

"Eeeek!"

Someone screamed, foreseeing their fate.

Yet amid them all.

Senior.

The five elemental spells hurtled toward the male student.

I'll definitely climb up.

BOOM!

"Aaaaaagh!"

A massive explosion and scream echoed.

Millije's beige hair whipped in the aftermath.

So please wait for me.

The girl's advance continued...

"Hm? What's wrong, Adrian?"

"Nah, just got chills all over."

"Really? Weird things happen."

On the other side, I sighed deeply at Reina, who grinned with her staff in hand.

How did it come to this?

"Reina, even now..."

"I'm looking forward to it. What trump card have you prepared to beat me with, Adrian?"

Her eyes sparkled intensely.

Hmm. Can't just surrender after that.

Not that I planned to anyway.

Against her, I'll win thoroughly.

"Even if you're my fiancée, I won't hold back. Full power it is."

"Perfect. Come at me, Adrian."

"Now... take your positions and prepare..."

At Melwood's weary voice, Reina raised her staff.

I held my ever-present spirit wood branch in my left hand instead of right.

"First magic duel with you, Adrian! I'll go full throttle from the start!"

Reina's full power.

Her elemental affinities: lightning and fire.

Lightning boosts critical damage massively on hit.

Fire amps base damage further.

In short, her simple-looking spells pack insane damage from base + crit bonuses—a true monster weapon.

"One hit and you're gone."

That's the vice-top of the magic department.

But if there were no counters, I wouldn't be a veteran.

"Begin."

Who am I?

The future marquis, no less.

To leave the impression that "that wastrel Adrian was actually amazing," I'll use today's duel as a foundation.

So.

Time to try that here.

If you can't dodge, enjoy it.

"Here I go! Mid Tier Lightning Elemental Magic: Lightning Ar... Huh?"

"Something wrong, Reina von Wolfgang?"

"Magic won't activate? No, Mid Tier Lightning Elemental Magic: Lightning Ar... Huh? W-what?"

She stared at her staff in confusion.

I floated a "blue orb of wind" above my hand.

—What? What's happening?

Students murmured around us.

I ignored them and spoke.

"Low Tier Wind Elemental Magic: Wind Blade."

My hair and uniform fluttered.

Even a low-tier at max level isn't negligible.

"Seems your magic won't cast, Reina."

"..."

"Going to take it quietly? Or find another way?"

No time for answers.

I gripped the orb, burst it, and unleashed dozens of wind blades at her.

"A-Adrian?!"

Simple trick.

Magic activation has three steps: think of the spell, form the formula, inject mana.

Chanting combines formula and injection.

So, interfere in the chanting phase—between formula and injection—by forcing my mana in to twist it.

Obviously.

"Mid Tier Wind Magic: Wind's Gra... Huh? Wha...?"

"It becomes this."

In that instant, I snapped my fingers, redirecting the wind blades so they wouldn't hit her directly.

In summary: In "Lightning Arrow," "Lightning" forms the formula, "Arrow" injects mana.

When she chanted "Ar," I secretly fired a bit of mana from my left-hand spirit wood to disrupt.

In a fierce mana clash, she'd never suspect a mere handful from me.

Even weak attacks crit if they land properly.

Same for "Wind's Grace"—disrupted at "Gra."

How'd I distinguish? Original game knowledge.

Reina inhales once per formula before injecting mana.

This is Erhan's early-game "Magical Parrying" from the magic department.

"H-how did you do that? Why is this...?!"

"Trade secret."

Yeah. Mess it up, and your own mana explodes or backflows—boom, bad end.

But thousands of reps make it muscle memory.

Reina cast, I parried.

After a few exchanges, she spoke.

"Aha... using tricks like that. I get it now. Pretty clever. Won't work anymore."

"Think so?"

"Yes, trials are for overcoming. Let's continue!"

I blocked or countered her barrages.

Disrupted formulas exploded, mana scattered, screams filled the air, the warded classroom shook.

Even Professor Walnut looked up from his book.

Won't work anymore, huh.

Magical Parrying.

Once she grasped the principle, Reina randomized formula and injection gaps, giving no openings.

She adapted and improved instantly.

Undeniably a genius.

But.

Hiding it doesn't mean I can't.

Find the split-second gap in her formula-to-injection and interfere.

Difficulty skyrockets, of course.

Without mind-link, reading thoughts perfectly for openings is tough.

Fail, I collapse.

Low odds. Near-suicide gamble.

So.

"Reina."

"Yes, Adrian?"

"I like you."

"Wha?!"

Her magic faltered.

Now.

Cast while conversing.

"Not many can duel magic with me like this."

"Uh, th-that? Mid Tier Fire...."

Gap spotted.

Fired mana from left, synergized Fireball + Wind Blade from right—full power at Reina.

"Adrian, w-wait! Hold on!"

Sorry, but victory's mine.

BOOM!

A huge explosion rocked the now-silent classroom, filled only with murmurs.

I stood still, gazing into the smoke opposite.

"That's cheating! Too much! Saying that out of nowhere! No way I could win like that—fine, hang out with me for a day as compensation!"

A whiny voice emerged from the black smoke.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

Well. Of course I'd do that much.