I entered a dark lab to meet someone named Frieda. She was the Anti-Magic professor. Basically, their main goal was to search on methods to defend against other users of magic.
The lab wasn't at all clean but I can't expect that from a scientist anyways. A woman called out to me from other corner of the room. Her clothes were not formal whatsoever and even her shirt wasn't completely buttoned up. Her purple hair were all messy too. Only thing clean was her glasses. If it was a usual teenager, they would definitely be glancing at her but to me, I was just not feeling it.
"You are... Kara? I got a letter from the palace that you would be coming. They don't have high enough magic gauge so maybe you have too much magic and they just couldn't measure it. I have a gauge that can measure even the members of the grand order." She pulled out an orb and I placed my hand on it and no reaction.
"Guess you really don't have any magic in you. Like... nothing at all. I heard you managed to improve an A-class magic by 70% or so. A bit more improvement and it could classify as S-class. So, a secret you could let me in with?" She asked.
"I have a hunch that my perception of magic is fundamentally different from others. Can you create a magic circle?" I asked and she created a magic circle which would result in a fire magic. How do I know? I have no idea. I just instinctively know.
Best way to describe it is like how if you can speak multiple languages, you don't translate everything to your first language. You just understand those words without needing to know the word in your main language. Similarly, I don't need to translate them. I just know the meaning.
"Can you tell me properties of this magic circle?" She asked.
"Fire magic... grade-F and it will shoot fireball every ten seconds." I responded.
"This is interesting. Even the grand order can't tell magic circles apart since they have incredibly intricate design. Some of the higher grades, especially S and SS class take a while to activate. If we already know what the magic is going to do, we might be able to ready some countermeasures. You would definitely become a great part of military. What do you say?"
"I don't know. I'm not too sure about that. See... I'm still a kid. Military personnel wouldn't like a child doing more important tasks than them. Not only that but military environment is not for me. It is too... crude. I know it is necessary considering how important their job is but I know I won't last a day in there."
"Did you somehow conveniently lose memories regarding your past? You seem to remember everything except your past. Knowing about military, being able to read and write and speak perfectly fine. All these are part of memories too yet you have no problem speaking minus, of course, your past." Frieda asked.
She caught me. Now I know why she is in the position that she is in.
"You said you received a concussion so technically... shouldn't your entire brain be affected? How come your part specifically for your memories was affected? I feel like this is too many coincidences."
"Fine... I'm not of this world. I'm an outsider who got teleported and that's why I don't have magic." I said.
"Oh? Makes sense. Such magic does exist." She said and just accepted my explanation. I was definitely dumbfounded because I thought the explanation was too absurd that she had to accept the "Amnesia" lie.
"Summoning magic? How does it work?"
"Oh? Simple. You give a part of you, mostly blood, to summon something or someone. It is rarely used because the sacrifice needs to be equivalent. If someone summoned you, they're either already dead or they're immortal being like a dragon or something. There are only two documented cases of summoning human from another world. Both happened hundreds of years ago. Last one was actually five hundred years ago. That human died the usual age of 64." She answered.
"So, there is a chance the one who summoned me is alive? I should thank them." I said sarcastically.
"Don't let the information get out. You will be forced into frontlines as the 'hero' and people will put all their hopes on you. You're actually genuinely weak despite this broken ability."
"I do plan on not mingling with people more than necessary." I responded.
"There are few kids in this academy who are at the top of their division. Luna in magic weaponry, Charlotte in anti-magic, Luke in melee combat, Layla in magic language and history. If you need help, you meet them. They'll be willing to help you but to be clear, these kids are at the top because of hard work and dedication. They rarely entertain others but when they do, the people in question receive a lot of unwanted attention and... enemies."
"I'll keep that in mind." I answered and left the lab after decoding a few spells. My first mission is to get in touch with Layla and Amelia. Amelia is the student council president and sits at the top of hierarchy. She has enough authority to even overturn headmaster's decision.
...
I entered library where I was supposed to find Layla. The library was truly impressive. I could easily count a few dozen rows on the shelves. It also was five stories tall. There would easily be hundreds of thousands of books in this building.
As I was walking around the library trying to find a white haired elf, I came across a suspicious crowd. I tried looking at the subject of interest and it was Layla. She definitely looked tired and was drinking some sort of concoction that was definitely not coffee or tea. Are these people her admirers?
I walked over to her and sat next to her. I could physically feel the stares.
"Hm?" She glanced at me but kept writing whatever she was writing in her notebook while reading through at least five other books.
I glanced over and the text was all in English?! I snatched the book from her hand and looked through the pages. As I was looking through the books, something hard and thin hit my head. I looked over and it was Layla with a stick.
"It's rude to just take something out of someone's hands." She said with a slightly annoyed expression.
"Ah! Sorry. This... Are you translating this?" I asked and she nodded.
"You are?" She asked.
"Kara. I think I can help you with this."
"Oh? The guy Frieda send? Sure." She answered and her tone changed entirely to more calm and collected.
I read through the text and it was some sort of mythology story about griffin. Nothing too special. I've actually read this once when I was a child. Weird how the story is exactly the same as I've read. I helped her translate the entire thing and even explain nuance. It was so refreshing talking to her. She was so smart and quick to grasp new concepts and ideas. Totally a type of person you'd marry. Through our roughly two hour long session never once did I feel drained because even listening to her newer ideas and outlooks was interesting.
"So, you're going to meet Amelia? Good luck. She has been in a bad mood lately." Layla said before standing up.
I stood up too ready to leave as well.
"Well... let's see. Anyways, if you need help, feel free to come to me. I'm in class 1-G."
"I see. Thanks and I'll take you on your offer whenever I need help." She smiled before leaving.
According to Frieda, these students aren't arrogant but they're so disciplined that they may come off as conceited and aloof. She was definitely someone I'd like to get to know bett- Wait... No. There I was going again... thinking of something impossible. I'm still stupid.
I left the library and made my way to student council president's room. I could hear whispers and some even mentioned my name. They're a bigger deal that I thought but then again... how important is it? They're all nobodies outside of the four walls of this school, right? However popular they're in school shouldn't matter...
No. It will matter. The school is filled with aristocrats. They'll be running the nation in coming years so this school is definitely important. I shouldn't try to use my world's logic on this world. It doesn't fit.
I knocked on the door before I was given the permission to enter.
"State your business." A red haired girl spoke. She had cat ears which I think is pretty normal here considering the fact that demi-humans exist.
"On behalf of Professor Frieda. I'm here to help you with whatever you want. Also to befriend you, bluntly speaking. She and to be honest, I think I'd be a great ally."
"Oh? Fine. Read this." She tossed me a book. I looked at her confused before looking down at what the book was about and it was... a manga? It was some sort of historical, seinen manga. It was in English.
"Doesn't Layla know this language to an extend? Ask her?"
"She is only half decent. To her, a lot of words make no sense so we can't understand these sacred texts. There are pictures and possibly information about sacred practices since there seems to mention of medicines."
I went through the pages and seems like this one is about medical practices in past... In China actually. This is inspired by Chinese history.
"Fine... I'll explain this to you." I half-heartedly spoke. I do love manga but I hate the fact that I have to break the news that this is not a scared text... But anyways.
I sat down next to her and opened the first page.