To harness magic, a human must be born with a mana organ.
In today's era, it's more uncommon to find a human without one.
Elemental attributes, on the other hand, are an extension of a creature's mana organ.
Often, it's referred to as the color of one's mana.
The environmental factors on someone's elemental attribute are unknown.
The topic is still frequently discussed for research among members of the Magic Tower.
The school employs those same Magic Tower members every year around this time to determine the student's elemental attributes.
It's supposed to be an unknown practice outside the magic tower.
So why does Kayden know such a thing?
And more importantly.
Why is he willing to offer it to me?
Well, I'll leave those thoughts for now.
I have no interest in becoming a magician.
I'm aiming to obtain a different class from the gods.
Something more simple.
More quiet.
And less dangerous.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'll have to turn it down."
I don't care much for my elemental attributes.
"Oh... alright."
Kayden looked a little disappointed.
His nature was strange, like a hermit with thousands of years of knowledge, but no one to share it with.
Maybe that's why he was so excited when I asked for help.
Introducing a passion to those interested, hoping to make great friends.
Only to scare them away with enthusiasm.
A slight guilt tugged at my heart.
"Instead, Kayden, before I leave. Can you answer another question of mine?"
The question may not have much use for me.
But.
"Do you know how to form a contract with a spirit?"
This might help the imposer finish his prologue.
"A spirit? Hmm..."
Kayden sat in thought for a moment.
His expression froze with a deep stare.
Cold.
Calculated.
Those are descriptors tied to Kayden's name.
In his profound state, I saw the reflection of those words in his expression.
His jumbled wills gathered in unison.
I imagined them gathering around a round table in his head.
'Spirit magic has long been considered dead. Why is he inquiring about contracts?'
'Maybe he's just curious. Mackenzie did ask us to help him study for the mid-year exam after all.'
'I agree. We offered him an opportunity to learn his elemental attribute. If he doesn't want to learn his magic, then how would he go about forming a contract in the first place?'
'Still, we know nearly nothing about it. We've never come across a spirit before, let alone formed a contract with one.'
The numerous voices rattled my skull, working together to compose a decent answer.
However, my hopes went unanswered.
"I'm real sorry Mackenzie… but spirit magic is a difficult subject. Not much is known outside of it's existence."
Not even Kayden knew the conditions of a spirits contract.
However, taking into account that Professor Grimrose, who I asked in a previous loop, had the same response, it's not too surprising.
Good intentions are the one condition I'm aware of.
A spirit won't appear otherwise.
But that couldn't be the only condition.
Although veiled by a body of scum, the imposter holds good intentions.
To save a story, as he calls it.
It's a pure and honest goal.
Probably.
In reality, the purity of his goal depends on how he views the term, saving.
His thoughts haven't pinned it as such, but I haven't yet spent enough time around him to know for certain.
"Well, I appreciate your help today nonetheless. To take time out of your morning to help me today aided me greatly. Thank you."
Kayden's fleeting focus was broken by my words.
Losing his glasses in a moment of embarrassment.
"I-it was nothing! You can always ask for help in the future. Teaching you helped me refresh my memory on textbooks I had long since enjoyed."
Saying our goodbyes, the two of us went our separate ways.
But.
The moment Kayden's presence disappeared, another took its place.
Confusion.
Frustration.
It defined the thoughts of a presence I had been evading for quite some time.
With everything I'd gone through in this endless week-long loop.
I had forgotten the reason why it had all started.
Why I had extended that branch for an oath of protection.
"Oi."
My older brother.
"What's dirt like you doing with a member of class A?"
The 4th prince of The Everblade Empire.
Mistral Everblade.
"W-we only... passed each other momentarily."
I felt my throat clogging up.
I couldn't help but look away from his amber eyes.
As if it were an involuntary response, my voice became weak.
"Really now? I'm surprised. I'm genuinely surprised."
Mistral lightly swiped his hand.
My feet lifted from the floor, carried by an invisible force.
The small movement of his hand threw me against the wall.
"UGH!"
With my body strung by what felt like invisible strings, I was stuck in place.
"I'm surprised you have the gall to lie right to my face!"
Mistral's finger further pushed my head against the wall.
Furious bloodshot eyes stared into my soul.
"Since when did you get so disobedient?"
"I-"
I tried to speak, but my voice wouldn't come out.
The air in my lungs had vanished.
Panic escalated in my heart.
Mistral's thoughts brought forth an internal fear within me.
"You've lost the right to speak. A dog is only allowed to answer with his actions."
From Mistral's right hand, a small red layer encompassed his fist.
It was a power I had yet to witness from him.
I realized too late what it was, as it collided with my stomach.
"...!"
A voiceless scream left my mouth.
Mistral had succeeded as an advanced warrior.
He unlocked the first layer of aura.
Augmentation.
It made the density of his strike feel like a brick.
Without an aura of my own to protect myself, I felt the full force of his punch.
Again, he struck my core.
This time, blood spewed forth from my voiceless cries.
He then swung at my face.
Without any resistance, I was forced to endure hit after hit.
Once he was done, Mistral shook off the blood from his hand.
"Whew, that was a good workout. Maybe you aren't such a useless piece of shit after all."
Mistral looked at my blooded and bruised body.
'He's dying already?'
My vision began to falter.
'Eh, whatever. If he dies, I'll just erase the evidence. It's not like anyone cares for a useless bastard at this point.'
The suffering caused by a lack of air left me with no other emotions, but fear.
Fear of the end.
The destruction of all my efforts for this loop.
As I began to lose consciousness, a voice interrupted Mistral.
"Mistral Everblade, cease your actions at once."
A girl's voice.
It sounded familiar too.
"Haa? The hell you think you're doing trying to defend him?"
She sighed.
"It was at his request."
'Who..?'
But I didn't get to see the source of that voice.
Nor my savior.
As the lack of air caught up with me, my unconscious body dropped to the ground.
"…Mackenzie…"
A muffled voice tried waking me.
As the source of that voice shoved me from my sleeping position, I slowly opened my eyes.
I felt a soft breeze against my face.
The whistling of branches resounded around me.
My eyes met the source of the voice.
It was a young girl.
One with scarlet hair and sky-blue eyes.
"C'mon Mackenzie, we're going to be late to the ceremony at this rate!"
It was a young Princess Aurelia.
Oh wait she's right!
Getting up from my lax position, the two of us went into the estate's main hall.
"Ugh, I can't believe you fell asleep in the gardens again."
Scratching my head I replied.
"Your training sessions are becoming longer and longer recently. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't be unintentionally taking naps."
The main hall was elegantly decorated.
Lined on each side with members of nobility and clergy.
At the end of the hall stood two individuals.
The first was a woman dressed elegantly in dark blue and gold.
Her expression radiated a cold and demeaning aura.
It was The First Wife, Emrys Everblade.
With silver hair and eyes as hollow as an icy lake.
She stared down her youngest daughter, Princess Aurelia.
The second person was a woman sporting a lavish black kimono, lined with golden lilies.
By her side, a young Mistral.
Her beauty was unmatched in the nation she originated from in the Northeast.
The Second Wife, Meiying Everblade.
Her calm eyes laid upon the individual entering the main hall.
As I turned, I saw a man who stood as the reflection of my future self.
His scarlet red hair and unmatched gaze were known throughout the entire kingdom.
The 3rd heavenly pillar of the continent, King Casimir Everblade.
Clothes ragged from endless battle.
His appearance shrouded the entire room in silence.
My mouth agape, I stared at the man.
For our first meeting, it felt as though I were looking upon a god.
"W-welcome home, King Casimir."
He looked at the bowing girl next to me.
Aurelia held her breath in a cold sweat.
"..."
From her, his unphased eyes landed on me.
'This one...'
Aurelia pulled me to a kneeling position.
"This... is the 7th born..."
The panicked words barely left her mouth.
My reaction was quite the opposite.
The child in me was fascinated to meet King Casimir.
At the age of nine, I was never explained what a bastard was.
For my whole life, my mother called me her little prince.
I considered myself special.
An individual with a unique blessing.
A child of the king.
"It's nice to finally meet you, father, I am Mackenzie Everblade."'
I never thought our meeting would be grand.
There was no need for such a spectacle in my mind.
I only wanted him to welcome me with open arms.
But I learned a lesson that day.
'Ah... right. The Bastard.'
In the eyes of Casimir Everblade, I was worthless.