In the dormitory, after saying goodbye to Lavin, Dark entered his room and started organizing his things.

  – “Finally, I can take a nap…”

  Dark threw himself onto the bed and stared at the ceiling, thinking about how fast everything had happened — yet, somehow, it had all worked out.

  The next day, Dark left the dorm eating a piece of toast. He walked through the academy and spotted Ingrid talking with a blonde girl who looked like a saint. Dark glanced at them, and Ingrid quickly noticed his gaze. She stared back at him with visible irritation, clearly not wanting to be watched. Dark awkwardly looked away and kept walking, nervous — he knew just how strong Ingrid was.

  Once in class, Dark scanned the room and spotted Lavin. He approached and sat beside him.

  – “Hey, Lavin. How are you?”

  Lavin looked at him before answering.

  – “…I’m fine. Very fine. Since when did we get this close?”

  – “I thought we were friends!”

  – “Friends, huh?” Lavin replied dryly. “Friends are people you trust. And trust is a luxury one shouldn’t give too easily.”

  – “That may be true… but I just feel like I can rely on you. Like we were destined to be friends!”

  – “I don’t believe in destiny. I only believe in the choices we make.”

  The teacher entered the classroom and introduced herself.

  – “Nice to meet you all. I’m Minori Tsukihana, and I’ll be your magic instructor.”

  – “Today’s lesson will be about magic chants. Magic can be cast without chants — however, that results in a weaker spell. When a chant is added, the power increases. For example…”

  She raised her hand and conjured a small, glowing fireball without any chant.

  – “This is a spell without a chant. Now, I’ll cast the same spell again — but with the same amount of mana and a chant. But before that… can anyone tell me what a chant truly is?”

  Lavin spoke up loudly, his eyes first fixed on the window before turning to the teacher.

  – “A magic chant is born from the desire to cast, not from the words themselves. All that’s needed is to say the spell’s name and truly want it to happen.”

  – “Correct, Mr. Rouge. However, next time, please raise your hand before speaking.”

  – “Now, as he said, that’s indeed true, though it’s still debated by mana alchemists — despite having strong proof to back it up. Now, watch carefully.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  – “Fireball!”

  A much larger, hotter, and brighter fireball appeared in her hand.

  – “This is the maximum potential of a fireball with that same mana amount. The more mana you put in, the stronger it becomes.”

  Dark raised his hand.

  – “Yes, Dark?”

  – “If I use a lot of mana but don’t want the fireball to get bigger… what should I do?”

  – “Excellent question, Mr. Fiore. When dealing with large amounts of mana, spells like fireballs tend to grow in size. However, you can compress your mana — creating a smaller but far more powerful fireball.”

  She demonstrated, forming a tiny fireball at the tip of her finger.

  – “This small fireball could easily destroy this whole room, despite its size. But be careful — compressing mana is dangerous and shouldn’t be attempted without supervision. It can kill you. Now, let’s continue with mana theory.”

  After class, it was time to choose their clubs. Lavin had finally given in and considered Dark a friend after being followed through three classes in a row.

  He looked at the pile of invitations in his hands.

  – “Seriously? This many, and I can only choose a few? I have no idea which one to join… Magic? Exploration sounds fun too… but there’s also the Hunting Club… I don’t know!”

  Dark glanced at his own stack of invitations.

  – “Oh, wow! I got some too… Let’s see… The Resting Club, the Book Club, the Cooking Club… and, uh, the Bodybuilding Club? And I don’t even have muscles…”

  – “Well… tough luck. But why weren’t you invited to the Beginner Magic Club, or the Hunting or Exploration Clubs?” Lavin asked, sipping lemon juice from a can.

  – “Because… I don’t have mana…” Dark muttered quietly.

  Lavin nearly spit out his drink.

  – “What!?”

  – “I don’t have mana!” Dark said louder, with no pride in his tone.

  – “That explains why I couldn’t sense any mana from you… I thought you were just hiding it. You scored a nine on the written exam, so I assumed you were just some prodigy pretending to be weak.”

  Lavin frowned, thinking aloud.

  – “Why don’t you have mana? Your core’s not broken — if it was, you’d be dead… or dying. You’re not dying, right?”

  – “No. Not that I know of. But the examiners said it’s like a curse… or a seal.”

  – “What do you think it is?” Lavin asked, now paying full attention.

  – “I don’t know. But it’s awful being different.” Dark lowered his gaze, sadness showing in his voice.

  – “Hey… sorry, man. Didn’t mean to make you feel bad.” Lavin awkwardly patted Dark’s back.

  – “Stop, that’s weird.” Dark grabbed his hand, and they both continued walking.

  – “Alright then… what’s your ability?”

  – “Not telling.” Lavin smirked arrogantly.

  – “What? Why not?”

  – “Because telling others your ability is dangerous. Someone could use it against you.”

  – “But I just told you I don’t have one…”

  – “Exactly. So don’t tell anyone else. Without mana, you’d be an easy target. Anyway, which club are you joining?”

  he tossed the can in a bin and put an arm around Dark’s shoulder.

  – “Right… clubs. I’ll join the Curse Research Club. Maybe I can learn something about this mana problem. What’s the next class?”

  – “Botany. But we can skip it — it’s mostly for alchemists and plant mages.”

  – “I think I’ll go home today…”

  Lavin turned quickly.

  – “Really? I’d love to meet your parents and have dinner with them.”

  – “Yeah… I’d like that too.”

  Lavin immediately realized.

  – “Oh… sorry. I didn’t know. Are they…?”

  – “I don’t know if they died or abandoned me. I’ve only ever had my master… but she’s gone too.” Dark’s tone darkened. “You know… I’d appreciate someone coming with me. There are things in that house I can’t face alone.”

  – “Alright, I’ll come. When?”

  – “When the sun sets.”

  – “Got it. I’ll sign up for a club and get ready. See you later, Dark.”

  Lavin waved and walked off toward the club rooms, while Dark headed back to his dorm.

  In the dormitory bathroom, Dark sat in the bath, lost in his thoughts.

  His mind drifted to a haunting memory — his master pushing him into a closet.

  – “Don’t come out until I say so, or I’ll be very angry,” she whispered.

  – “I-I understand, Master… I promise.”

  Moments later, strangers broke into the house. His master tried to fight but was overwhelmed. Three pinned her to the ground as their leader approached.

  – “Where are the artifact and the book?” his deep, cold voice demanded.

  – “I’ll never tell you!” she shouted.

  The man sighed.

  – “Search the house. Check the second floor — secret passages too.”

  After a while, one of the men returned with a book.

  – “Sir, we couldn’t find the artifact, but we located the book.”

  – “Fine-”

  – “You’ll never find the artifact!” she interrupted defiantly.

  – “Silence her.”

  A Sword pierced her back. She coughed blood and gasped:

  – “You’ll… be defeated… maybe not today… but one day…”

  She died before finishing. The man tore a page from the book, dropped it, and left.

  Later that night, a trembling, traumatized Dark was found by Masaki — his master’s friend. Masaki helped him survive, teaching him things, feeding him… though he was often gone for reasons Dark never learned.

  – “Why did she have to die…?” Dark whispered now, staring blankly at the bathroom ceiling.

  –He got out of the bath, got dressed, and sat on the couch. A message popped up on his phone:

  – “I’m ready. Meet me at the main gate.”

  Hours had passed since Dark had gone into the bathroom. He grabbed his jacket and hurried outside, where Lavin was already waiting for him.