"Adarsh, six points!"
After the Math teacher—Deepak Babu—had said this, the class began to laugh loudly.
Nearly everyone turned their heads around to look at the short, black-haired youth who was sitting at the very back of the classroom. This youth was Adarsh, the one who only got a single-digit score on the exam.
"Adarsh, you should learn from Kunal. He was able to score 96 despite the exam being this hard. How could you only get a single digit score on the exams? Don't sully your own name," Deepak Babu sighed.
How could such a troublesome student be in my class? When he first entered the school, his grades were top notch. However—after entering high school—his grades quickly fell, and with his exam scores being such a tragic sight, it caused the class average to drop as well.
"Teacher, he doesn't even live up to his name: Adarsh. Adarsh… he's not average at all! He's levels lower than average—he's practically a dreg. 1" the student called Kunal called.
"Hahaha"
"He really is!"
"Kunal truly lives up to his reputation, he can insult people without swearing. Adarsh is indeed not average, he has already become trash!"
The entire class began to laugh and it wasn't until Deepak Babu began his lecture that they finally stopped.
…..
"This Kunal makes me sick. He thinks he's amazing just because he's handsome, has good grades, and knows how to play musical instruments!" The person who sits next to Adarsh—Kartik—said.
"He's just a childish ****." Adarsh said with disdain.
"Do you want to play volleyball when the school ends?"
"Can't go, I've got stuff to do."
"You're going to help Old Man Somnath again? After all, you're the only one who dares to go to the thatched cottage behind the mountains. Oh right, I got me some Star Wars novels, do you want me to lend one to you?"
"You can put it in my bag, however, you should read less novels. You're addicted." Adarsh said.
…
To a student, the most beautiful bell sound is naturally the one signaling the end of class. After the end of an entire day filled with dull classes, Adarsh yawned as he carried his bag while walking to the back of the mountain.
The back of the mountain was the back entrance of the academy; basically, no one actually used it.
Old Man Somnath who Kartik mentioned was the guard of the academy's back mountain. In order to ensure the safety of the students—and prevent students from sneaking out to internet cafes—the school had appointed Old Man Somnath as the keeper of the back entrance.
Old Somnath had no relatives nor friends. When he had passed away, there were no questions asked about him; thus, the school carelessly buried him.
Adarsh and Somnath were quite familiar with each other. Before the old man passed away, he had also left some stuff for Adarsh. He only remembered the old man's good intentions today, hence he decided to take a look at the thatched cottage.
Old Somnath had always said that he was the descendent of some historical big-shot, so he was in possession of a five thousand year old antique ring.
Adarsh have seen that ring before; it was completely pitch black, and didn't look like some antique. However, the most important thing was that he had brought it to an appraiser to get appraised; the owner had thrown Adarsh out while questioning how he could have the face to say that this copper ring—smelted from a charcoal stove—was an "antique". Ever since then, Adarsh stopped believing in Old Somnath's bragging.
Adarsh wanted to take the things Old Somnath had left behind as something to remember him by.
Old Somnath was a generous gatekeeper; he was very indifferent toward the topics of life and death. Adarsh wished for him to pass away in peace. Death was not the end of everything, perhaps you can start your life over somewhere else?
"Would you believe me if I said that in this plane that holds science in high regards, there is another parallel plane that practises magic? In that plane, you don't study science, but magic…."
This was the kind of crazy talk that Old Somnath would always tell Adarsh, which was why Adarsh firmly believed that when he passed away, Old Somnath had gone to a different plane to restart his life—and live a more extravagant one while he was at it.
The ring was easily found within the wooden box under his bamboo bed.
As Adarsh opened it, he felt a faint obscure aura emanating from the box—it did indeed feel quite mysterious. However, Adarsh is fifteen-sixteen years old, he didn't believe that there would be something like a cultivation technique in this world. He definitely did not believe the recluse who said that if Adarsh wore this ring, and practised this cultivation technique, he would be able to save the universe.
The pitch-black ring was an ordinary looking ring. If one wanted to know the most peculiar thing about the ring, it would be that the interior had eight very small holes—which any artisan was able to make.
The moment Adarsh put it on, he felt a heart-freezing chill. This thing that made him shake in the heat of summer was quite strange.
"Strange my ass." As Adarsh thought this over, he denied the idea in his head.
Adarsh was struck with a sudden sleepiness, but he still had to work that night. Thus, he arranged the the bamboo mat and laid down inside the house to sleep first. At 10 PM, he would have to go to the 24/7 supermarket to be a clerk, and he would work till 6 in the morning…
…
He was extremely sleepy, thus he fell asleep very quickly.
A sliver of blood-red light shone through the mountain cracks from the setting sun, dying the forest behind the mountains and the small, thatched cottage red with it's glow.
It was like a Gigantic door in the dark that was slowly closing. The radiating light in the darkness was slowly being sucked inside the door. As the sunset completely disappeared beneath the mountains and as dusk came to rule the world, the back of the mountain seemed as though it was covered with a misty layer of a bizarre color.
From far away, this area seemed like it continued into nothingness. Beneath the blood sun was an indistinct scene around the water, like a mirage!
The youth sleeping inside the thatched cottage was still snoring, little did he know that the ring on his finger was emitting an ear-piercing humming sound. It was as if it was reacting to the reflection of the mirage that revealed the world's true calling.
"Bum~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
As it trembled, so did the entire space!
S. N. Middle School was located much taller than the rest of City.
The city was already brightly lit up; the streets, shops, buildings, the Grand City was radiating a magnificent brilliance. Old people who were taking walks after dinner, older ladies who were dancing in the public squares, the children who chased each other in the small valleys, and lovers who were having dates in the park….
The evening didn't leave people with any insecurity or fear. On the contrary, they were actually enjoying getting off classes for the day, getting off work, and relaxing after dinner. However, if one were to look closely toward the location of S. N. Middle School—the south side of the mountain—they would have discovered that the campus that should have been shining bright had been shrouded in a muddled layer.
This space was originally peaceful like the water's surface, but at this moment, a Spatial Tunnel appeared—spiralling like it was being devoured—causing it to be increasingly fierce, although silent!
On one side was a peaceful city with glorious lights!
On the other was half a mountain swallowed by the black spiral!
The northern city that had just entered its summer eve became an incomparably astonishing scene!
The entire space-time had changed, and the cause of it was this tunnel that was unexplainable in scientific terms.
The center of the Spatial Tunnel was the thatched cottage behind the mountains.
The huge whirlpool suddenly diffused followed by it vanishing into nothingness. It was as if nothing had happened at all.
A certain person who was still sleeping soundly had no idea about the huge changes to the world, that he had fallen into a parallel world.
…
…
The empty mountain experienced a sudden rain, which gave the scorching summer day a fierce cold punch, suppressing the overwhelming heat.
The air in the morning was particularly good, and the warm meat-buns by the school gates released an alluring smell. The dazzling golden donuts gave a mouth-watering scent.
"Seventh Uncle, I'd like some soymilk and donuts." A youth with a messy appearance sat down on the stool as he said this to the old man who sold donuts.
"Coming." The old donuts man swiftly served the soymilk, purposely filling up the cup as a smiled radiated across his face, "Adarsh, you are about to take the magic exams, you should put some effort and strive to get into the University of Magicians so you can bring our Clan some face."
Adarsh blankly stared at the Seventh Uncle who was selling breakfast by the school gates. He carefully thought to himself and estimated that he probably misheard, thus he nodded as he ate.
Yesterday, he slept so much that his head felt dizzy; he felt as though he had dreamt about a journey that took several centuries. When he woke up, he felt like a lifetime had passed; he didn't know where east, south, west, and north were, nor whether it was morning or noon.
Adarsh wolfed down his food, his hand holding half of the donuts. As he was about to bite into the donuts, he suddenly felt something heavy at his side. A half-bald man in his thirtys sat down next to him, his body reeking of cigarettes.
"Adarsh, eating breakfast, eh?" The bald man smiled as he greeted Adarsh.
"Good morning, Superintendent George." Adarsh hastily smiled as he greeted him back.
This man was the prominent Superintendent George, he wore a suit that didn't suit him every day and his forehead shone brightly.
"I'm not wearing my watch, what time is it?" Superintendent George asked, exposing his yellow teeth.
Adarsh took out his broken Nokia to look, "Still another fifteen minutes before the bell rings."
"Crap, I'm late. I still haven't finished my Magic Theory PPT—I don't have time to finish my breakfast…" As Superintendent George stood up all of a sudden, Adarsh suddenly tilted over.
"Boss, I don't need the soymilk….Walking to the office is far too slow—whatever—it doesn't matter if I use some magic." Superintendent George stood there talking to himself.
Adarsh was very puzzled, he felt like Superintendent George was speaking in an alien language.
Just as he thought he heard wrong, the soymilk shop's canopy turned over in a incomparably strange way. It was as though compressed air had bubbled forth from within the soymilk shop…
As the evil wind came by, it messed up Adarsh's hair and rustled his clothes.
"Wind Trail, Fast Stride!"
As Superintendent George suddenly muttered to himself, his misfitted suit began to move on his body in an indescribable way—it was as if there was a gale inside his clothes.
His tie fluttered, and his trousers began oscillating. How could there be wind on a calm morning such as this, and it ruthlessly blow toward Superintendent George?
"Sssssh~~~~"
An azure light flashed. Adarsh could see an indistinct thread of a beautiful starlight moving to surround Superintendent George's whole body. The starlight flashed as it moved.
"Student Adarsh, teacher will leave first. Do your best in studying!" Superintendent George turned around and exposed his yellow-toothed smile to Adarsh.
Adarsh seemed a bit taken back. Before he could come back to his senses, he heard a "swoosh" sound!
The slightly plump, bald Superintendent George—with the suit that seemed out of place—followed the dust trajectory from the swirling wind and hastily made his way toward the school!
His stride was exceptionally quick. The students wearing their student uniforms seemed immobile, which let Superintendent George travel in high speed through them, leaving behind a shocking dust trail…
During this short period of time, Adarsh felt like the Superintendent's face was still in front of him. However—at this moment—Superintendent George had already disappeared into the depths of the school, and he was no longer able to see his shadow.
The words "Do your best in studying!" still resonated in his ears; however, the person was already gone without a trace. He was chewing on half the donut. As the chewing came to a stop, the other donut slid from Adarsh's hands!
…
"This is just an illusion, this is definitely just an illusion." Adarsh rubbed his eyes after a long while.
It must be because I didn't sleep well last night. It must've pressured my cranial nerves or something, how else am I imagining this kind of scene?
Let's finish this breakfast quickly and go back to the classroom to get some more sleep. Heavens, what is this?
After arriving at the classroom, he lay down onto the desk immediately without saying anything, so he could mitigate the illusion he had seen before.
From the front of his desk came the two small voices of the student representatives, one said, "There's only one month left, what do I do if I don't get into a good high school?"
"You're really smart though, I'm sure you can enter the School of Magic."
"What, you're the smart one. Your grades for theory classes are so high, I could practically pull out any Magical Beast and you would recognize them and their weaknesses."
Adarsh creased his eyebrows, this wasn't his first time hearing this whole concept of magic.
What happened? Is it possible that I'm having another illusion?
I don't take drugs nor do I smoke!
Forget it, it must be because I haven't had a proper sleep.
Adarsh ignored the crazy talk of the two lads in front of him and quickly entered a deep state of sleep.
Adarsh's many years of experience in studying gave him a superior ability to fall asleep on his desk in just a single second.
"Students, open your textbooks. Today, we will continue to learn about Magic Release's preliminary requirements. Do you still remember what I told you before? To complete Primary rank magic, you have to first make the stars in your Magic Stardust link to each other. By doing this, you will be able to form a Star Path and then utilize the power of Magic. I have already explained this theory to you many times before, while at same time, this is also the most important part of the exam," the Math teacher—Deepak Babu—said as he maintained his intonation.
In the past, Adarsh could enter a state of deep sleep as he followed the voice of the teacher. However, as he once again heard 'Magic Release" and "Star", he was immediately woken up.
"Adarsh, you better listen in class. There's less than a month's time, yet you're still neglecting yourself!" Deepak Babu saw Adarsh and immediately reprimanded him.
The classmates also turned their heads around and quietly laughed to themselves. Laughing at the trash had already become their favorite thing to do in class.
"Open your textbook." Deepak Babu said in continuation.
Adarsh felt helpless as he opened up his textbook….
"Shit, what is this??" Adarsh couldn't help himself from swearing.
The pictures, functions, and formulas that were contained in the math book were all gone. Instead, there was a "Star Path" which he didn't understand at all, the picture of the Star had something that looked like a connecting line with streaking meteors. It looked like…. like… just like a rubbish Magic Formation!
Adarsh forcefully suppressed the astonishment in his heart, and then came to another realization.
When the math teacher stopped observing him, Adarsh kicked his seatmate, Kartik, below the table and said, "Are you messing with me? What the heck did you switch out my book for, hurry up and give me back my math book."
"Big brother, what math book are you talking about?" The tanned faced Kartik felt wronged— he didn't try to provoke anyone.
"Come take a look at this crap. Hurry up and give me my book back." Adarsh opened up his book and pointed at the strange Star Path, Magic symbols, and the odd incantations.
"Big Brother Adarsh, this is the Magic book for this class. What's Math? Did you stay up all night again reading Science novels? You're even saying I'm reading so much that it's like I am possessed—you're the same as me." Kartik said.
As Adarsh heard Kartik's retort, his chin almost couldn't help but drop down to the floor.
What is this, and what now?
"Stop faking me." Adarsh said in anger. This brat sure is good at acting, the real question is whether I'm gonna believe you like a madman.
"Boss, the novels have actually caused you to go mad. We are in the magic world alright, how could we possibly have something as incredible and mysterious as Math. If there really was, then I wouldn't be spending everyday studying something as boring as Magic Theory, Elemental Systems, or Magical Beasts. I would have studied Mathematics, Literature, and all these interesting things a long time ago." Kartik said—with a sincere expression and a heartfelt tone—to Adarsh.
As Adarsh looked at Kartik's expression, he thought to himself, This bastard actually did not even reveal a little bit of a mistake as he said this crazy stuff. It really seemed like it was real.
My seatmate has gone mad, not only has he gone mad, but he's even trying to turn me into a madman!
Learning something as boring as Magic Theory, Elemental Systems and Magical Beasts….
Hehe! It's impressive you can even say that out loud!
"If you don't believe me, then just listen to what the teacher is saying." Kartik said indifferently as he saw Adarsh's peculiar expression.
As Adarsh heard this, he finally carefully listened to what the math teacher, Deepak Babu, was saying. However, one part was like an alien language—there were terms which Adarsh had no idea about— which caused him to feel unwell.
Deepak Babu didn't mention the familiar 'Functions' nor 'Formulas' at all. On the contrary, he had said the words 'Star Path' and 'Star Diagram' numerous times, he even mentioned things like 'Fire- Ice- Water Elements'.
"Crazy—they've all gone crazy."
Adarsh's belief was solemn, he would not believe these words.
The next class was with his favorite Literature teacher: Mrs Kapoor. Beautiful, attractive, mature, gentle, big and perky chest, her very round back won't use this kind of nonsense to deceive me.
…
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Translator: Abhay Mishra
Editor: Abhay Mishra
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