Once Shu and his grandfather teleported to Shu's house, they entered the back door of their house in order to reach Kaede's room. Kaede was, of course, still sick due to being hit by the Neutralizing Serum during her and Shu's most recent mission.
"It's been a while since I've been here. Have you two been fine living here?" Shu's grandfather asked him while walking into the house.
"Yeah, I'd say its been going pretty well. It has pretty fun living in this area", Shu responded.
As they entered the house, they proceeded to go towards Kaede's room, and slowly opened the door. Kaede was facing the door's opposite side, so she was sleeping facing the right side of the room.
While Shu's grandfather stayed near the door, Shu slowly walked up to Kaede's sleeping body.
He, very slowly and gently, shaked her body to wake her up. "Heey…Kaede…"
Kaede slowly opened her eyes and slowly turned around. "H-huh…? Brother…is…something wrong…?"
She slowly sat up in her bed and stretched her arms. A few seconds later, she slowly started coughing.
*cough* *cough* *cough*
"I guess you're still sick even after a few days".
It had been 2 days ever since the time that she was hit with Serum. She was still feeling considerably sick, but most of her magic had been almost fully recovered.
"Sorry…I'm still not feeling very well…" Kaede said with a weak voice.
"It's fine, Kaede. Don't worry about it". Shu put his hand on Kaede's head and slowly pet her. This made Kaede smile a little.
After all this, Kaede finally noticed their grandfather standing near the door. "Wait…grandfather? What are you doing here?"
"I've come here to tell you something very important. Shu, take the letter out".
"Alright".
Shu took out the letter he received this morning from one of his pockets.
"Letter…? What are you talking about?" responded his sister.
"This is an invitation letter to enroll into one of the 7 Magic Academies. Getting a letter from them is very rare, and I think Shu doesn't want to pass up this opportunity".
"Seven Magic…what?" Kaede said. She also didn't know about the 7 Academies, since she, like Shu, didn't even know about the Magic Side of the World.
"Don't tell me that you don't know either. Alright, let me make this quick".
Shu's grandfather told Kaede about everything that he had told Shu. About the Academies, about the different sides of the world, and many other things, using his magic as evidence.
After a few minutes (around 10 or so), Kaede understood everything.
"Th-That crazy! How did our father never te-" *cough* *cough* due to her almost shouting voice, she started to cough.
"I don't know, Kaede. What I do know is that I have been invited to these schools for whatever reason. But I should probably finally open this letter to read what's inside. Maybe I can get a better idea as to why I was invited." Shu said.
"Good idea. Go ahead. Open it" their grandfather said.
Shu finally broke the red seal with the 7 symbols and took out a piece of paper with a hand written message.
"Wow, its handwritten. I guess this IS an important letter to receive. Anyway, lets read this"
And the letter was finally revealed to them. Shu started it out loud. It reads as follows:
Dear growing mage:
Congratulations! If you have received this letter, that means that you have been invited to enroll into one of the 7 Magic Academies. Getting a letter like this is a very prestigious honor, due to the fact that making these is very rare since most of them are handwritten and most mages aren't worthy enough to receive one. Sending a letter to a mage might sound very inconvenient, but I know I am not making a single mistake as to who I sent this to. This letter has been sent to Shu and Kaede Makahoushi. Yes, this letter has been sent to not one, but the both of you! I hope you take into consideration enrolling into one of the Academies for the greatest magic knowledge in the entire magic world. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you in the Magic Academy Opening Ceremony.
See you soon,
-?????
"How the hell…how do they know our names?" Shu said out loud while Kaede thought the same thing in her head.
"Normally, these invitation letters know the name of the person it's sent to, but this is an exception to most letters." Their grandfather said.
"And how so?" both siblings said at the same time.
"Most letters are only sent for 1 person, but this one has, for some reason, been sent to the both of you. It's not the most interesting sounding exception, but it is very strange."
There was silence for a few seconds.
"Well then, what are you both gonna do?" Their grandfather broke the silence.
"Huh?" they both said at the same time.
"Well, this letter has been sent to the both of you, and I personally think that you shouldn't waste a chance like this"
"Yeah, but…" Shu started talking. "First of all, Kaede is still sick. And second of all, what about the SR? Won't you need us?"
"Don't worry about me, brother." Kaede said. "I might be sick, but I am not gonna waste my chance to go-" *cough* *cough* "To go" she said right after coughing.
"Are you sure? But what if-"
"Brother, please. I want to see what it's like. What it's like to go to a magic school."
"Alright, I understand. Bu what about the SR? You'd still need us right?"
"That honestly isn't that big of a problem. The 2 of you might be the highest ranked soldiers in the SR, but I can let you both go to these schools. Here's what I'll do: I'll let you go to these Academies, and I'll let you go like normal students. I'll let my other soldiers handle my missions. But. IF there is a mission that no one can accomplish except you 2, then I will summon you immediately. Remember that I rarely summon the both of you unless its necessary."
"Yes I understand that, but how will you do that? Isn't it impossible to teleport someone towards you?" Shu questioned his grandfather's logic.
"I'll tell the both of you later. You should first read what's in the back of the letter."
"Wait what?" Shu turned over the letter. "Wait there's more? Well, lets read it, then".
Other information:
1. If you want this letter to be valid for admission, you must NOT throw it away. You must bring it to any of the schools in person the day of the Mana Test.
2. In order to enroll to a school, you must go to the school mentioned at the end of the letter and take a Mana Test. This will rank your mana level/rank. Depending on the number the test gives you (its instant), that will the school that you enroll to.
3. The Mana Test will take place in the 9th of August, 2024.
4. If you are on the Normal Side of the world, you must take a cruise ship to the Magic Side. The cruise ship will leave in the 8th of August.
Important days for admission:
August 9: (as already mentioned) The Mana Test
August 10: Admission Test
August 11: (If you pass the Admission Test), Selection of dorm room and magic classes.
August 12: Beginning of classes.
Selected school to take Mana Test: Luminous Bluebell Magic Academy.
"That's a pretty good amount of information" Shu said.
Kaede looked at him with a surprised face.
"Wait. There's one more thing."
Shu noticed the letter's envelope had 2 small papers. They weren't just any papers. They were tickets. Tickets for the aforementioned cruise ship.
"Oh, how convenient. Tickets for us, brother"
"Yeah I know. They really did plan everything."
"Wait" their grandfather interrupted. "When did it say that the cruise was leaving?"
Shu checked the letter again. "Oh. It leaves in 3 days."
"3 days?? Will I feel better by that time?" Kaede said.
"I'm not sure, but let's hope so" her brother responded.
"Well, I think you should start getting ready." The grandfather said. "I'm going to go back to my house. Call me if you need anything"
"Alright then. Oh also"
"Hm?"
"Thank you, grandfather. For giving us an opportunity to go to these schools" the brother told his grandfather.
"Of course! Don't mention it".
Their grandfather left the house and teleported back to his house.
"So, are we really doing this, brother?"
"I guess so, sister." Shu said. "Not gonna lie, I'm actually very excited for this. Who knows what we'll encounter?"
"Yeah! I hope we get to see things we've never seen before."
"But, Kaede. Please rest more. I want you to be almost perfectly healed before we go, alright?"
"Alright, then."
The siblings were both very excited for what's to come. They wondered many things about the other side, and about these 7 magic schools.
2 days later...
It was so hard to believe that 2 days had already passed.
Even though many years had passed since Shu got his fire magic, he was never able to stop thinking about that orange diamond shaped symbol that appeared on the back of his right hand every time he used his magic. It always made him subconsciously question many things like "why was it there?" or "does it server any purpose?". Whatever the reason, it was still an interesting symbol.
"Tomorrow, we will finally go to the Magic Side. I'm really excited!" Shu thought while practicing.
He casted many different spells while practicing. Many and he had already used before, and many newly created ones. Even though he had magic, he couldn't get over the fact that he didn't inherit his family's very rare Crimson Magic. Magic that used the mage's blood, nicknamed "Ceremonial Blood", to cast many different spells. Whilst Crimson Magic was very powerful, it was very dangerous to use for way too long due to the fact that using your blood was required for it. And using up your blood could be very dangerous due to it being able to lead to your body being damaged or potential death.
The time was 11:30 pm. Shu stayed up training for way too long without even realizing it. It did make sense, though, since the training room didn't have any windows.
Shu went up to his bed, very excited about tomorrow. The day they would finally go to the schools to enroll. They were both already ready. They had everything packed, and the clothes they were gonna wear were already placed near their bed. This would be the last night for a while in which they would be staying at their house. A house given to them by their father so they could live a "normal life without any magic", but, as we already know, that didn't happen.
Both Shu and Kaede thought the same thing before falling asleep: "I'm so excited for tomorrow!"