A week had passed and our tournament started. I had to win a total of 9 matches to win the tournament but that's not my plan. I just want passing grade and be done with it. 50% is a passing grade so I'll win five matches and then lose the sixth one on purpose. The issue is even if I don't have magic, it doesn't matter in this tournament since magic is prohibited and all those who can use magic would receive a band thingy that will stop magic from flowing through the body.
"Your first match-up is Joseph from military grade. He is pretty decent in his class but I wonder if you can win or not." Amelia said.
Amelia, Elena, Lyla, Luke and I were sitting in the waiting room designated to just students.
"You come from a world that is peaceful, so, I won't expect much but at least try." Elena was just as straightforward.
"Make sure you at least drag the fight so it can reflect on your grades too. You need good grades to continue to next year. You also missed last month's exam since you joined in late so you have to get impressive grades in this exam." Luke said.
"Yea, basically, they'll put the same score in your last month's exam reports too. You need to get good grades." Amelia begged.
"Sure, sure... I was thinking of getting around 50%." I replied.
"Nah... We are not some random academy. You need to score in high 80s if not 90s." Elena shot down my plan almost instantly.
"Are you avoiding scoring high?" Luke asked and I nodded.
"I don't want to come in the eyes of some nobles and get recruited or forced into military. My plan on a restaurant hasn't changed but given the threat we are facing, I think it's fair to say that some people might be looking for potential recruitments. I'm not part of empire of Deem but Historia and Keshi are my guarantors. They are calling me part of scofinia and it comes under the dominion of wind." I answered.
"Actually, he is right. I received some notifications about that." Amelia added in.
"Saying no to such recruitments is near impossible. If they recruit you before Lady Ahankar is here, you might not be able to leave military that easily." Luke said.
"Just do your best anyway. I'll take care of those pesky recruiters." Elena sighed in annoyance. "I'll make sure they don't make an outlander join ranks. You don't belong to this world and you weren't brought here with your consent. We have no right to force anything upon you."
...
The fight started and I was facing a guy who was just as build as me. Now I'm not the buffest guy out there but I weight just about right for my age and height and I had to work out and train for self-defense too so I'm well-build. Well... at least I like how I look.
I blocked some of his attacks rather easily. Which shouldn't come off as a surprise given my history with self-defense training and martial arts but his blows lacked substance. It felt weak. As I kept blocking more of his attacks, I noticed his bracelet glowing. Maybe he was trying to release some of his magic. I've heard of body enhancement magic which can make you stronger, faster and more durable. I think these people are so used to enhancement magic that they literally can't fight without it. For me, I never had magic so my physical strength was simply superior.
The fight ended with my victory. It was too easy but from here on, the fights would get even more difficult. 8 more matches over 8 days.
I went back to my room and packed up the stuff. Elena patted my back with a wide smile on her face.
"Attaboy! You did well."
"You surely know you ways around sword. Did you practice in your previous world?" Luke asked excitedly.
"Yea.. Self-defense and all." I answered.
"Now that I think about it, you never told us anything about you. We know a lot about your world but whenever you talk about your world, you never mention yourself." Layla said.
"Well... I was worried that my past might make you look at me differently. But I come from a rather... well-off family. They were even about the leader of our country and had more control over things. For me, I was just a student and minded my own business." I answered.
"O-oh? Yet you don't know how to conduct yourself? Weird." Elena said in a sarcastic tone.
"Well I never wanted to partake in corruption of high society. I avoided social events like a plague." I answered. It was one hundred percent a lie but given my personality, it might not sound like one. In actuality, my dad hated my existence. He never once failed to tell me how awful I was. My mother was disgusted by the fact that she even gave birth to a failure like me. Funnily, I once heard her crying on phone to someone about how her side of family was ashamed of her being my mother. It was all so bizarre because I think I was 7 at the time. So, they never took me anywhere. Well... at least I had food and shelter... Count your blessing always... haha.
"Elites are always corrupted no matter the world, I see." Amelia said.
"Oh, how did meeting with the queen go?" Elena asked and we were on our way back to main building's cafeteria.
"Nothing much. More expeditions, better spells and talks about marriage."
"Marriage?" Amelia asked.
"I'm in an awkward situation. I will be adopting Aisha so in some way, I'll take control over the entire dominion of hers and if I marry anyone in this kingdom or others under the dominion of wind, it will make other three dominions worried. A single man having too much influence, it would throw natural order into chaos. She suggested that I'd get married to some women. She gave me a list but I rejected the proposal." I answered.
"What women are you into?" Luke asked.
"Opposite to me. I think someone who would annoy me with talking all the time... someone larger than life but obviously mature. I don't want a childish woman." I answered.
"Oh? I think Lady Furrina. Goddess of spring. She is also one of the grand orders, Kaam, and rules over dominion of fire. She is passionate to say the least." He responded.
"Grand order is too high up." I laughed in response.
I glanced at Elena and Amelia who were silent for the entire duration. They were just looking away with almost no expression.
"If you end up marrying her, you'd have control over almost half the world. You wouldn't want that, right?" Layla asked.
"Yeah. Too much work. But it's impossible to meet the grand order so who cares." I answered.
I'm not stupid enough to not understand why the two were acting that way but it's best to avoid all of this. We might be of perfect age to marry in this world but that means nothing to me.
...
After having our dinner at the cafeteria, I was in my dorm laying on bed. I had caught up with the syllabus and now I was taking exams. My life's trajectory is good for now but I need to network too. Maybe once I'm done with exams and we have summer break, I'll take some part-time job to learn how to run a business.
As I was wondering about the future, I felt a warmth I thought I had lost a while back. Not only was I content with my life, I was actually looking forward to things. I wanted to see what the future held. While I was thinking about things, I felt a presence in my room. It was... Moh...?
"Yo!" He waved at me before plopping onto my bed.
"So...?" I looked at him confused. "Also, please, come through the door next time."
"I saw your fight. Pretty good. Only if you had magic..." He sighed.
"You could've congratulated me right after the fight." I responded.
"Aw... Don't be so cold!" He pouted.
"Act like a god, please."
"A god? Well, who cares! I was never born a god, right?"
"Yet you have the position, so, behave yourself."
"And here I came to help you... You're so cold." He whined.
"Help?"
"You see... Furrina is currently ruling the dominion of fire and it will come under the same threat of monsters that this dominion is under. She is also hiding a secret that will ruin the stalemate that the five dominions are currently under. There you may find a reason as to why you were brought into this world. There is also a being related to her who might be able to give you magical abilities." He answered.
"But my body can't hold magic."
"Yeaaaa but what's the issue with trying. You see, possibility of knowing your truth, helping others and also gaining magical abilities. It's a win-win. P.S. You can't use magic so it would be useless but help her and you might find something important." He said before fading away like smoke.
Was that some complex wind magic?
Help her and I might find something important? Huh? His behavior and tone are all red flags... All too many times I've seen people like him being the real villain. It would be too obvious, right? Also a stalemate? Are the dominions planning on war of some sorts? I know Aisha is a child and hence, her dominion is under the rule of six priests... Kuaishwa is being suspicious and now Furrina is hiding some secret, too. You can never trust people in power, can you...? Maybe after my tournament, I'll let the queen know.