Volume 03, Chapter 34

  Back To School

  Standing outside my house, I take a deep breath of the crisp morning air, letting it fill my lungs as I mentally prepare for the day ahead. The plan is straightforward: after school, I’ll head to Aurelior to meet a key figure from A Magician’s Path, capable of purifying monster orbs.

  My gaze shifts to the Demon Orb, securely encased in a rune-inscribed glass box that hums faintly with containment magic. Its dark, swirling core seems to pulse as if aware of its captivity. I carefully slide it into my bag, its weight a tangible reminder of my responsibility.

  "Dominic, where are you going?" Clark's voice breaks my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.

  I turn to see him standing in the doorway, his small frame framed by the morning light. His eyes, clouded with unease, tug at something deep within me. He’s still adjusting to everything, and seeing him like this makes it harder to leave.

  I kneel to meet his gaze, my tone gentle yet firm. "Just to school, Clark. Nothing to worry about."

  His brow furrows. "Really?"

  "Really," I smile, ruffling his hair to ease his worry. "And besides, Mum will be here to look after you."

  "He's right, Clark," Celine’s voice chimes in as she approaches us. Her warm and reassuring presence adds weight to my words. "I'll keep you safe, no matter what."

  Clark hesitates momentarily before nodding, the tension in his expression easing slightly. "Okay, if you say so."

  I rise to my feet, feeling a small pang of guilt but reassured, knowing he’s in good hands. "Take care of each other, alright? Bye, Clark. Bye, Mum."

  "Bye, Dominic!" Clark calls out, his voice a little brighter now.

  "Be safe," Celine adds, her eyes following me with quiet concern.

  With one last glance and a wave, I step onto the road, the cool air sharpening my focus. The day ahead feels daunting, but knowing Clark is with Mum gives me the peace of mind to face it.

  ════ ?★? ════

  As I walk toward the town center, the familiar faces of the townspeople greet me with warm smiles and applause.

  "Congratulations on winning your duel!"

  "You were awesome!"

  "You rock!"

  Their cheers make me smile, and I wave back, "Thank you."

  It's a surprising turn of events. Despite being Manaless, the townspeople genuinely support me. It makes me wonder about Dominic, who lived here before my migration. What had he done to earn such respect and admiration?

  In the web novel, Manaless individuals often face ostracism and bullying in Sylvestria. Yet, here I am, receiving a hero's welcome. Could it be because of André and Celine's influence?

  I've been in this world for six days, and from what I understand about André, he's a respected Stargate Raider. His rank could be anywhere from [A] to [S], given his prowess at raiding a [A] ranked Stargate at the Emerald Coastline. He can't be a [SS] ranked magician. Magicians of that level are mighty, capable of feats like destroying entire planets. André also possesses a rare 'Dark' magic attribute, adding to his distinguished community status.

  As for my mother, Celine, my knowledge is limited. As far as I know, she's a housewife, but in Sylvestria, appearances can be deceiving, and she might play a more significant role than I'm aware.

  "Haa!" I sigh as I continue my walk.

  Whatever the reasons for the warm treatment I receive in this town, I decided to be grateful for it. Accepting this positive attention makes my integration into this new life smoother and less complicated than it could have been. I'm just happy not to face the ostracism typical for Manaless in this world, making every day a little easier to navigate.

  ════ ?★? ════

  I stride through the gates of my middle school, instantly aware of the murmurs and whispers that follow my path.

  "Hey, it's him, the Manaless who won against an Everheart."

  "He got lucky."

  "Not just lucky, he also cheated!"

  I roll my eyes at their baseless accusations; they have no proof that I cheated, merely discontent and disbelief. I continue walking, determined to ignore the whispering.

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  "Well, well, if it isn't the cheater."

  You've got to be kidding me. Turning around, I see Renard smirking, flanked by two goons. I sigh, feeling the weight of unnecessary drama.

  "What do you want, Renard?"

  He smirks wider. "I just want to tell you that your victory against Lumi was pure luck, and I will prove it!"

  His declaration causes a stir among the nearby students, fueling a wave of murmurs and whispers around us.

  "You have no proof that I cheated, Renard. If you have proof, then show it now," I challenge, growing tired of his groundless accusations.

  "Well, I'm going to challenge you to a due—"

  "Activate."

  -Tick-tock!

  I trigger my 'Chrono Pendant,' and everything around me slows dramatically. I do not want to drag out a pointless confrontation with Renard.

  Moving through the slowed time, I walk up to Renard and deliver a swift punch to his liver, deciding that a quick reminder of reality is necessary. After striking, I turn and start walking away, leaving the scene behind me.

  "Deactivate."

  -Chime!

  "OOF!"

  Renard's pained grunt reaches my ears from behind, but I don't look back. Instead, I continue walking toward the school building, ready to focus on my day and leave behind the petty schoolyard challenges.

  I don't want to make using the Chrono Pendant a habit, but sometimes, it's necessary to cut through the noise and keep moving forward.

  ════ ?★? ════

  As I approach the entrance to my classroom, a familiar voice calls out, brimming with energy.

  "Doms!"

  It’s Arthur. He strides over, closing the distance in no time, and slings an arm casually around my shoulder.

  I greet him with a smile. "Oh, hey, Arthur."

  "How's Clark doing?"

  "He's doing great. We're giving him temporary shelter until we can locate his parents," I reply.

  "Whoa! That’s good to hear," he says with genuine relief.

  "Yeah," I nod, and we continue walking together.

  As we step into the classroom, an immediate wave of stares and murmured whispers greets us. Curious, envious, and speculative gazes follow our every move as we head toward our seats. I force myself to ignore the buzz of gossip, focusing instead on settling in for the day.

  Arthur seems unfazed by the attention, but as soon as we sit, he lets out an exaggerated sigh. "Geez, they seriously can’t handle that you won yesterday, huh?" His voice carries a mix of amusement and exasperation.

  I lean back in my chair, shaking my head. "Yeah, they’re as blind as rhinos."

  Arthur chuckles, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "Blind rhinos? That’s a new one."

  He pulls out his Commlink and starts scrolling through it, his fingers flying over the screen. Suddenly, he leans over, thrusting the device toward me. "Doms, look at this!"

  I glance at the colorful graphic displayed on the screen. The date "April 22, 2121" is prominently featured in bold, eye-catching font.

  I blink, confused. "All I see is a date. What about it?"

  Arthur grins as if he’s been waiting for this question. "It’s the date of the entrance exam for Verdant Arcanum," he announces.

  The words catch me off guard, and I raise an eyebrow in surprise. In the web novel, the entrance exam for Verdant Arcanum wasn’t given much detail. It simply opened with Célestin passing the exam in the first chapter.

  "Oh, is that so?" I ask, masking my surprise.

  "Yeah," Arthur confirms, his grin widening.

  As I process this new information, my mind races. This detail, missing from the web novel, suddenly feels significant. The entrance exam is coming up, and it means I’ll soon face one of the pivotal moments in this world’s story. The stakes are higher than ever, and I can’t afford to let my guard down.

  Just then, a cold voice cuts through the air. "Greetings, Dominic."

  I glance up to see Lumi approaching, her expression as unreadable as ever. With her persistence and the events of recent days, brushing her off is no longer an option. I decide to engage, knowing that ignoring Lumi once she sets her sights on something is futile. Right now, her intent to rechallenge me is almost palpable.

  "Oh, hello," I reply casually.

  Arthur, however, looks less than pleased. "Hey, I’m also here, you know?!" he interjects, waving his arms dramatically for attention.

  Lumi spares him a glance, her tone flat. "Oh, my bad. I didn’t see you there."

  Arthur grumbles, "Why you!"

  Ignoring his irritation, Lumi turns back to me. Her sharp gaze briefly sweeps the room before settling on the empty seat beside mine.

  "Can I sit here?" she asks directly.

  Caught off guard, I stammer, "Oh-uh, sure."

  "Thank you," she replies, taking the seat smoothly.

  The tension in the air thickens instantly. With Lumi seated on one side and Arthur glaring daggers at her from the other, I feel like the awkward centerpiece of an impending drama. Lumi, seemingly unfazed, focuses her attention on the blackboard, her demeanor indifferent to the subtle hostility radiating from Arthur.

  I can’t help but wonder: does Lumi genuinely want to befriend me—or is there another reason for her sudden interest? In the web novel, Lumi rarely pursued relationships at this stage, preferring to keep others at arm’s length. This feels out of character, and it sets my thoughts spinning.

  Around us, whispers ripple through the classroom.

  "She’s sitting with him!"

  "Man, I’m so jealous!"

  "Quick, search the Aethernet: How to be Dominic."

  "If she’s sitting there, does that mean the cheating rumors aren’t true?"

  "Guess not!"

  I sigh internally, resisting the urge to bury my face in my hands. The conclusions people jump to around here never cease to amaze me.

  -POOF!

  A sudden puff of white smoke explodes at the front of the classroom, instantly silencing the chatter. As it clears, Maurice appears, stepping out with his signature flair, ready to begin the day.

  "All right, class, let’s get started, shall we?" he says with a confident smile, his voice cutting through the last remnants of murmured gossip.

  Maurice scans the room with his sharp eyes, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before shifting to Lumi. A knowing smirk tugs at his lips, making my stomach flip uneasily.

  What’s that smirk about? The subtle expression leaves me feeling off-kilter, as though Maurice knows something I don’t.

  Maurice redirects his attention to the rest of the class with an almost imperceptible shake of his head. "I know yesterday’s duel is still fresh in everyone’s minds, but it’s time to move on," he begins, his tone shifting to a more serious note. "It’s important to understand when to reflect on the past and when to let go. Victories and defeats are lessons, not anchors. Learn from them, grow, and then set them aside. Life is about moving forward."

  His words resonate through the room, their unexpected wisdom silencing even the most restless students. I find myself nodding internally, struck by how similar Maurice can be to André in moments like these. Both dispense poignant truths out of nowhere, like sage mentors hiding behind casual exteriors.

  And yet, despite their wisdom, Maurice and André’s interactions are far from their usual profound demeanor. Whenever they meet, their conversations devolve into bickering that borders on absurd, each trading playful jabs and comical insults like old rivals who’ve known each other for far too long. The contrast is so stark it never fails to amuse me.

  As Maurice continues with homeroom, I can’t help but reflect on how this moment feels like the calm before the storm. Lumi’s presence, Arthur’s tension, and Maurice’s enigmatic smirk all weave together into a web of unease, hinting that today might not be as ordinary as it seems.