Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Chapter 21. Worlds Apart

“Gale Wave!”

Tesca Academy’s graduation ceremony.

The main event, the ‘Graduate Challenge,’ had begun.

Whoooosh!

A current student dressed in a black uniform.

A massive blast of wind shot from the hands of Rolonoa, who had just entered his third year.

The gale was so fierce it almost seemed to distort the surrounding air.

“Ooh!”

Exclamations erupted from the audience.

Even someone ignorant of magic could tell how ferocious it was.

Though still a student, Rolonoa was already a third-year.

Far more of his classmates had dropped out than remained.

He wanted this one spell to leave an impression on the graduate who was departing.

Senior Zephyr, whom he admired and who wielded the same wind magic as him.

Grin.

A savage wind that would tear his entire body apart if he simply stood still.

Yet Zephyr welcomed it instead.

Unlike the students’ dark uniforms, he wore formal white attire decorated with golden embroidery.

Perhaps that was why.

Even the way Zephyr constructed his magic circle looked exceptionally elegant and refined.

“Gale Wave.”

Zephyr cast the exact same spell as Rolonoa.

Even the same spell could differ enormously in power depending on the caster’s mana and magical output.

Was Zephyr trying to show his junior that difference?

BANG!

An invisible shockwave exploded between the two mages.

Its aftermath rushed toward the spectators, but a square transparent barrier absorbed the entire magical impact.

Thanks to that, the audience only had to sit back and enjoy the spectacle.

Including the sight of Rolonoa, hair whipping wildly, slamming into the transparent barrier.

BOOM!

Despite having attacked first, Rolonoa crashed into the barrier and collapsed forward.

There were several safety measures in place, but the impact could hardly have been light.

Even so, he barely managed to stay conscious and push himself up.

Then he stared at Zephyr with burning eyes.

That last exchange had left Rolonoa full of questions.

If he lost consciousness without hearing the answer, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

“Yes. That’s right.”

His blue hair swaying gently, Zephyr slowly approached.

“That Gale Wave I used just now had roughly the same power as yours.”

“Th-then how...!”

“Even wind with the same force changes in power depending on its temperature.”

“T-temperature? I’ve never...”

thought about that.

Wasn’t wind magic simply using the surrounding air?

“Cold air is denser. Denser wind naturally carries greater destructive force. That’s why I overwhelmed you despite using the same spell.”

“Ah...!”

“An elemental mage must see beyond the simple phenomenon itself. Understand the roots of your element, and you’ll be able to use your magic more effectively and powerfully.”

Zephyr helped Rolonoa stand, then flashed a brilliant smile.

“Just like I did.”

“Senior...!”

Rolonoa staggered but bowed deeply as he shouted his thanks.

[Challenge concluded.]

[Challenge Winner: Zephyr]

[A Tesca Brooch will be awarded as the prize.]

In a Graduation Challenge, there was no simple winner or loser.

Only warm advice for the junior and encouragement for one another.

Zephyr grabbed Rolonoa’s hand and raised it high.

“Waaaaaah!”

“Damn! What a glorious scene!”

“It’s overflowing with romance!”

“So this is why Tesca’s graduation ceremony is famous!”

Even those who had only wandered over with nothing better to do felt something hot ignite in their chests.

If mere spectators felt like that, it was easy to imagine what the Academy students were feeling.

‘Amazing...!’

‘Fuck. That’s so damn cool.’

‘I’m definitely going to graduate like that too.’

‘I’ll survive here and earn that brooch no matter what.’

Amid the soaring atmosphere, the girl in the cat mask asked the boy in the black mask beside her,

“Walther. Do you know about that brooch?”

“Ah. It’s basically a medal. A gift given to students who graduate from Tesca Academy. Officially, it’s a reward for the winner of the ‘Graduate Challenge,’ but...”

“So it’s just ceremonial.”

“Exactly. Nobody imagines a current student actually beating a graduate in a Graduation Challenge. It’s basically a rite of passage. Guess the higher-ups at Tesca love drama. Haha.”

“Is that brooch just decoration? Or does it do something special?”

“Something special...”

Walther Franken scratched the bridge of his nose.

Soon, his mask shifted slightly.

“It does. Something very special.”

“What?”

“Frasel. This is an Academy obsessed with fighting, remember? A gathering of battle maniacs who even hold Challenges at the very moment they graduate.”

“Th-that’s true?”

“That brooch supposedly has explosive magic built into it. Hahahaha!”

Isn’t that just like Tesca Academy?

That was the meaning behind Walther’s laughter.

“They say the explosion is at least Third-Circle in power. They basically hand graduates destructive power stronger than their own magic.”

“Is it really okay to give them something like that? What if a graduate has bad intentions...”

“Well, I guess Tesca is confident its graduates would never do that. If something happened because of it, the Academy would have to take responsibility too.”

“I see.”

Frasel ran her tongue over her dry lips.

An Academy that forced students to beat each other bloody for three years, then gave them a bomb as a graduation present.

“They’re completely insane.”

“Agreed.”

Their lingering thoughts about the Academy did not last long.

A familiar name appeared on the list for the next Challenge.

“Cedric Guardner and Kawin Anper, report to the arena!”

A small murmur began spreading through the already heated audience.

A noticeably youthful-looking young man was walking toward the arena.

“What? He looks way too young.”

“That kid’s a third-year? He barely looks old enough to enroll.”

“He looks at least five years younger than Cedric.”

A student’s year at Tesca Academy had nothing to do with age.

It was hardly unusual for someone to enroll after turning twenty.

Since completing a Circle was the requirement for admission, even freshmen could vary in age.

“Come to think of it, I never even asked his age. Kawin and I are seventeen. What about you, Frasel?”

“I’m sixteen.”

“Huh? You’re younger than us?”

“...Why?”

The cat mask stared directly at Walther.

‘Oops.’

Walther realized his mistake too late.

Bringing up social standing would only backfire on him.

Before imperial royalty, whether someone was one year older or a bent-backed old grandfather made no difference.

“What an unfair world.”

Walther muttered quietly before turning toward the arena.

The two mages were already facing each other.

“You said he could win, right?”

“Mm. He said more than that. He said he wouldn’t get hit even once.”

Walther swallowed dryly.

One month since the entrance ceremony.

During that time, Kawin had occasionally done things that made no sense whatsoever.

But a Graduation Challenge was different.

Graduates were already ‘active-duty’ mages qualified to participate in war.

“Kawin.”

The black mask bit his lip,

“Kawin.”

while the cat mask clasped both hands tightly together.

* * *

‘He’s practically old enough to be my uncle.’

Cedric Guardner looked to be in his mid-twenties at the youngest.

It was easy to understand the audience’s reaction.

That uncle(?) rolled his neck once and spoke.

“I’m impressed you actually showed up. I thought you might tuck your tail and run.”

Kawin, meanwhile, wasn’t even looking at Cedric.

As though he had found some grand spectacle, he kept scanning the audience instead.

“People only run when there’s something they’re afraid of.”

“...Are you saying you’re not afraid of me?”

“Surely you wouldn’t seriously injure someone during a Graduation Challenge. It’s practically a ceremony.”

“Oh? So that’s what you were counting on.”

Cedric bared a canine beneath his dazzling blond hair.

“Too bad. A Graduation Challenge is still a Challenge. Nobody’s ever beaten someone into paste during one, but no one is held responsible for injuries here. If I wanted, I could leave you half-dead and it would still be allowed.”

“Ah.”

Kawin heard that and asked,

“So knocking someone unconscious or beating them half to death is fine?”

“Heh. Why? Your heart suddenly shrinking?”

Hummm!

White circles appeared on the backs of Cedric’s hands.

Hands and feet.

Any part of the body.

A Circle manifested over whatever part a Martial Mage was reinforcing.

That was the defining characteristic of Martial Mages.

‘Andne Prau had his on his right foot, I think?’

Andne, who had donated(?) his admission application to Kawin.

Through Electro-Perception, Kawin had seen that his Circle was located near his leg.

That was probably why his combat movement had been fairly decent.

‘And this one...’

Two Circles shone clearly, almost as if displayed for everyone to see.

Proof that Cedric had already become a Second-Circle mage.

Hummm!

Cedric released his magical power while waiting only for the starting signal.

Instead of activating his Orbis, Kawin asked him a question.

“Why do you care this much about the honor of the imperial family?”

“Haha. You know it’s too late for that now, right? A Graduation Challenge can’t be canceled.”

“I’m just curious. You’re not royalty yourself.”

“It is the destiny of the Royal Guard.”

Cedric snorted while looking down at Kawin.

Then raised his voice.

“Princess Frasel will soon return to the imperial palace! Protecting not only the safety of the imperial family but also their dignity and honor is the duty of the Royal Guard!”

Cedric loudly proclaimed the mission of the Royal Guard.

Apparently moved by his heroic appearance, some spectators applauded.

‘So this isn’t only about Frasel.’

He apparently wanted to build an impressive reputation before joining the Royal Guard.

A graduating future Royal Guard standing up for a freshman princess.

It certainly painted a pretty picture.

However,

“Did you ask her?”

“Hm?”

At Kawin’s sudden question, Cedric’s bronze temple twitched.

“I asked if you asked the person involved.”

“The person involved... Frasel?”

“Did you ask what she thinks about Challenging me? How she feels when she gets beaten? That’s what I’m asking.”

“...What a stupid question.”

Cedric twisted his lips as though the answer were obvious.

“Frasel is the daughter of our great emperor. How painful do you think it must be for someone so noble to fight Challenges day after day?”

“So you just assumed.”

Exactly as expected.

With that thought, Kawin activated his Orbis.

Crackle!

The enormous Circle inside his chest began moving powerfully.

Second Step.

How strong had the ‘Stormlord’ become after stepping into his second stage?

There was also one more thing he wanted to confirm.

‘Bain. He was definitely younger than this guy.’

The Astallon spy Kawin had fought to the death.

Comparing Bain and Cedric would be worthwhile.

One was a graduate of Tesca Academy.

The other, an unfinished prodigy who had yet to become a Swordmaster.

It was an opportunity to indirectly compare the strength of the empires’ next generations.

[Cedric Guardner and Kawin Anper!]

[Begin the Challenge!]

Countless gazes converged on one place.

What splendid and heartwarming scene would unfold this time?

But the instant the start signal sounded, many spectators’ eyebrows twitched.

Hummm!

Because Cedric charged like an enraged bull, vicious power coating both sides of his body.

“Ah...!”

Even someone completely ignorant of Challenges or magic could tell immediately.

He was attacking with everything he had.

His expression twisted savagely, veins bulging all across his body.

‘He won’t die. But...’

The arena barrier and the protection magic within the uniform.

Even accounting for those, Cedric intended to beat him badly enough to spend half a year hospitalized.

The moment Cedric reached Kawin,

“Storm Burst.”

A lightly spoken phrase.

At that faint voice, barely resembling an incantation, white lightning erupted from Kawin’s body.

CRACKLE!

BOOM!

What would happen if someone punched a steel griddle struck by lightning?

The answer was revealed to everyone.

Zzt. Zzzzt.

The sleeves of Cedric’s splendid white uniform were scorched black.

And the sleeves weren’t the only things burned.

Both fists he had thrown so confidently looked as though they had been cooked on a griddle.

No, more accurately, they had been ‘burned.’

“Urgh...?”

Cedric staggered back two steps with a strangled noise.

Judging by his expression, he didn’t even seem to register the pain of his flesh burning.

‘Impossible...!’

He was denying reality.

A Martial Mage reinforced and protected their entire body with mana.

If the fists he swung had been burned by his opponent’s magic,

“Looks like you’ve figured it out.”

Zzt. Zzzzt.

Still wrapped in the lingering electricity, Kawin stepped forward.

“The difference in our magical power is heaven and earth.”