As All Things Are
Outside, darkness had fallen after the sunset hastily retreated. “Let’s check that way first!”
Blissfully unaware of his friend’s inner turmoil, Boltman took the lead with excitement. Maness could only inwardly sigh in resignation.
He couldn’t just ignore it. A sidelong glance at the senior revealed an aura of cold air. Of course, she was probably just standing there as usual, but others wouldn’t perceive it that way.
Her sharp facial lines emerged from beneath black hair tied back once. Her eyes, unlike Iris’s, held a chill in their red depths, harmonizing perfectly with her features. Approaching her seemed nearly impossible.
“Shall we follow?”
At Maness’s suggestion to the one leading ahead, she slowly nodded. After that, only silence filled their steps.
Maness scratched his cheek, shooting a resentful glance at his friend browsing a snack stall. “Uh, we haven’t even introduced ourselves.”
At his probing question, her red eyes dropped to the ground. “Lavender.”
“Nice name. You can call me Maness.”
“I know.”
Her gaze, which had been sweeping the innocent ground, turned toward Snowrobe’s infamous troublemaker. “You’re famous.”
“...Yeah.”
He had no desire to respond. It was the truth, after all. If anything, he was grateful she showed no hostility despite knowing his reputation.
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
“What?”
“You know, hanging out with a notorious guy like me.”
It felt odd hearing himself described that way, but Maness was used to it by now. “Well...”
Lavender stared at her junior savoring free sample cookies. “It’s just rumors.”
Maness was touched. He’d been the one judging by appearances. To think she had such a warm heart.
As he wiped away imaginary tears inside, an unexpected remark flew into his ears. “I’m kinda the same.”
“Pardon?”
Turning, he saw her gaze fixed on Boltman, already chatting animatedly with the shopkeeper. “Everyone’s intimidated by me. Probably my personality.”
“Ah...”
“So when I heard the knock, I was startled.”
Lavender was forging a bond of empathy—with her junior in the exact same boat. Once an impression took root, shaking it off was no easy feat.
“Yeah, it’s kinda unfair.”
It was an odd exchange. Two people with hair and eye colors at opposite extremes sharing the same plight. And for polar opposite reasons, no less.
“Look at this! I got all sorts of stuff!”
The subtle atmosphere shattered as Boltman returned laden with snacks. “Did you pay for them?”
“Nah? They gave me discounts since I’m a Snowrobe student—said it was cute.”
He handed treats to his friend and, without exception, to his heavenly senior. “Here, senior. For you too.”
“Ah.”
Whether from unease or unfamiliarity, Lavender hesitated briefly before accepting the gesture. “Thanks.”
“No big deal. Compared to the Gail family’s prestige, this is nothing!”
It would’ve been a fine picture if not for his foot-in-mouth tendencies.
“The shopkeeper said there’s fun stuff for us that way.”
Munching away, Boltman pointed southwest from the Magic Tower. Racking his brain, Maness deduced the spot.
The wizards’ playground. A rest area brimming with mana-powered amusements, no doubt.
Not bad. Touring the Magic Tower grounds was better by day than night. Even with bright streets, narrowed vision was inevitable.
For now, seeking new culture the three could enjoy together was wise.
En route, mages’ attention zeroed in on the students. Most were Magic Tower graduates. Naturally, eyes were drawn to juniors retaining their fresh-faced youth.
—Oh, here for a field trip?
—How far along are you in your studies these days? Back in my day...
—Mind if I ask your main magic focus? Not for anything else—just reserving you for our department later.
Handling this fell to Maness. Entrusting it to Boltman felt risky, and the senior seemed burdened by the attention.
Witnessing it all, Lavender felt pity. How did it come to this...?
Just from how he dealt with people, her junior didn’t seem hate-worthy. If anything, he had a sociable nature fitting a trading company heir. It was heartbreaking he bore the “troublemaker” label.
Of course, rumors might hold truth, but the junior before her seemed far from villainous.
—Heard she’s a fallen noble’s daughter.
—No, I heard she’s a discarded royal bastard.
—What, a commoner? Makes sense—I’ve never seen her around.
Unwanted gossip. Painful memories painted Maness in a favorable light for her.
“...Finally made it.”
Maness, battered by endless queries, caught his breath. They’d arrived at a vibrant hub after navigating the gauntlet.
Tables with heated board game standoffs. Dolls battling for their owners via mana links. Targets scoring based on incoming spell impacts. A haven of wizard-only delights welcomed the young mages.
“...Crowded, huh.”
“Yeah.”
Even in the deepening night, the playground bustled. Maness, aware of tower mages’ grueling lives, figured they were here to mend frayed minds.
“Whoa, Snowrobe’s rising stars?”
Interest persisted here too. Fortunately, most were engrossed in games, so only a man spectating a tabletop bloodbath approached.
“Hello.”
“Full of energy, eh? Makes me jealous.”
Patting Maness’s shoulder amiably, the mage eyed the students. “Just the two of you?”
“No, well...”
Glancing around, Maness deflated. Boltman had vanished into the crowd unnoticed.
He swallowed a mental curse—plenty of people around, so he’d be fine—and decided to let it go.
“Yeah, looks like it.”
“What do you mean ‘looks like’? I thought you two were a couple.”
“We’re not.”
Maness swiftly deflected the jest. Better to nip misunderstandings early. Even with Lavender’s goodwill, it could irk her. Reading her stoic reactions fully was impossible.
“Here to unwind from the daily grind, right?”
“The snack shop suggested this way.”
“Hm, then you might not know what’s here.”
He knew the basics—from the original story’s Magic Tower visit. But not enough to confidently pitch to his senior.
“Wanna try one with me?”
The offer was welcome. “You sure?”
Before accepting, Maness checked with her. The talk had been just between him and the man. Moving together was her call.
“Doesn’t matter.”
With her calm assent, the man thumbed behind him. “Won’t disappoint. Stuff you can’t get in stuffy schools.”
Like a guardian, he shoved aside blocking mages, leading to a multi-table area. “Nothing beats board games for newbies. Got any magic you’re confident in?”
This question was for Lavender. Snowrobe ties meant tie colors signaled year—Maness, a first-year early in the term, was deemed unsuitable.
As she pondered impassively, Maness stepped up. “Can I give it a shot?”
“...You sure you can handle it?”
From brief observation, she seemed unaccustomed to such crowds and scrutiny. Pushing her wasn’t proper junior etiquette.
“Mana detection’s no problem for me.”
“Ho...”
The man’s eyes sharpened briefly—as if You, cocky before a tower mage? Maness didn’t flinch. Facts were facts.
“This way, then.”
Weaving tables, he approached others.
—Mind giving up the spot?
—What, Paul? We’re nowhere near done.
—Behind me are Snowrobe...
“Ahem.”
A soft cough drew Maness’s attention amid their chatter. “You okay with this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Seems like it involves magic.”
Her worry was natural. Even top first-year Iris, officially Snowrobe’s best, barely managed mana bullets. A first-year gaming with tower mages? Impossible.
But the world didn’t run on “supposed to.”
“Eh, why not? It’s an experience.”
“That mage seemed annoyed just now.”
“That’s on him.”
Others’ opinions didn’t faze him. Maness’s survival creed at Snowrobe.
“I’ll just do my part.”
Unaware his simple words could inspire, the troublemaker pressed on.
“...I see.”
“Hey, over here.”
Talks done, Paul—named—beckoned Maness. Occupants lingered to watch.
—Real first-year?
—Don’t field trips start second year? Timing’s off too.
—School full of crazies—rules change on whims.
Opinions varied, but curiosity united them.
—How’s a first-year even playing?
Expected reaction. “Read this pamphlet first. I’ll explain simply.”
The booklet outlined the game rules.
“Easy. Thirty cards total, five special with wizard illustrations.”
Shuffle—
Cards spread from a corner stack. “Magic cards. Unlike normals, they take mana infusion.”
Paul flipped back-facing cards, revealing ornate wizard art amid numbers and symbols.
“Place five face-down, find the infused ones. Game artifact prevents cheating during infusion.”
He tapped a card-sized box. Explanation over.
“Simple, right?”
Detect infused mana, draw. Straightforward rules.
“Not your typical card game.”
“Obviously. Wizards’ fun—if ordinary, what’s the point?”
“Simplicity’s a plus.”
Paul chuckled dryly at the troublemaker’s bold claim, mana experience or not. Such arrogance.
“You know mana detection? Schools advancing fast?”
Repacking cards and opening the artifact, Paul probed. Expected refusal, but this confidence piqued interest.
“Didn’t learn formally—practiced what I heard secondhand.”
“‘Practiced a bit.’”
Paul’s face hardened, head tilting. “Tough nut.”
“Got that rep at school.”
“Then you’ll manage.”
Ding—
Alarm chimed; cards emerged from the box. “Tower mages need their pride bruised now and then.”
The Magic Tower mage grinned at Snowrobe’s first-year prodigy.