"Leave him alone, Kajiwara!" Aimi's voice rings out, but it sounds distant, as if coming from underwater.
"Or what? Will you splash me with your little puddle?" Kajiwara taunts.
As I struggle to my feet, rage and frustration bubbling inside me, I grip the orb given to me by my father, feeling it grow warm in my hand. I want to fight back, to prove I'm not worthless. But without magic, what can I do?
"I won't repeat myself. I said to leave him alone." Aimi's voice is suddenly cold, authoritative. A ripple of water forms around her feet, rising and swirling up her body, her hair lifting slightly with the magical current.
Kajiwara's smirk falters. He looks from Aimi to me, then back again. "This isn't over, Magicless," he spits, before turning and walking away.
As the crowd disperses, whispering and casting glances our way, Aimi reaches out to help me up. I push her hand away and turn my away face in shame, embarrassed that I couldn't defend myself. I rise on my own and head to class, hands shoved in my pockets, my gaze fixed on the floor as I sob quietly.
"Masa..." Aimi looks at me worriedly as I walk away.
-In class-
I take my seat at the top right corner of the classroom, trying to avoid any confrontations or stares, especially from Aimi.
At the front of the class, Professor Akagi teaches us the history of our country. "Roughly a century ago, one of the five Abyssal Creatures was released into the world: the Abyssal Wyrm. It was a huge, snake-like monster covered in dark, shiny scales. Its eyes were black and empty, and its mouth was full of sharp teeth. It had several clawed limbs and large wings, making it capable of flying."
The professor takes a deep breath before continuing. "The creature terrorized the country, laying waste to villages, devouring livestock, and spreading fear across the land. Then, three brave heroes—Zakaza
If I think about it, Aimi is from the Minazuki family and Kajiwara from Tsubakiyama family. I look at Aimi whom is in front of me, admiring her beauty and strength.
As Professor Akagi concludes her lecture, she claps her hands together. "Now, since we are fortunate to have two direct descendants in our class, let's have them demonstrate their powerful magic for us!" The class erupts into cheers at the announcement.
Kajiwara struts confidently to the front of the class, a smug grin on his face. Aimi follows more gracefully, her expression composed.
"Kajiwara, as a descendant of Zakaza Tsubakiyama, please demonstrate your magic for us," Professor Akagi instructs.
Kajiwara nods, his grin widening. He takes a deep breath, plants his feet firmly on the ground, and raises his hands. The floor begins to tremble slightly, and suddenly, a column of stone erupts from the ground, rising to about waist height. With a gesture of his wand, the stone begins to twist and shape itself, forming into a rough statue of Kajiwara himself.
"As you can see," Kajiwara boasts, "I can manipulate the very earth beneath our feet. This is but a fraction of my power."
The class applauds, clearly impressed. Some students whisper excitedly among themselves.
Professor Akagi settles the class and then says, "Kajiwara, great work. Now, Aimi, as a descendant of Kano Minazuki, it's your turn to demonstrate your magic."
With a graceful wave of her wand, Aimi makes water appear from thin air, forming a swirling sphere in front of her. The sphere grows larger, with patterns moving across its surface. Then, with a quick, precise motion, Aimi transforms the sphere into a cascade of flowing ribbons. These ribbons dance around her, shimmering in the light and creating a stunning display.
The room erupts into applause, even louder than for Kajiwara's demonstration. Professor Akagi beams with pride. "Exceptional control and creativity, Aimi. Thank you both for these impressive demonstrations."
Kajiwara scoffs at Aimi's performance, "It was alright, but my statue was much better."
I couldn't help but smile at Aimi as she returned to her seat. When she smiled back, I quickly looked away, feeling guilty for how I had treated her earlier.
"So class," professor Akagi exclaims, "Tomorrow you all will be dueling each other in a magic battle to prove your strength. So please chose partner for tomorrow's battle."
My heart sank after that statement, and I almost fell off my chair. I can't compete with anyone here! I'm just going to embarrass myself even more...
-Kajiwara's perspective-
Tsk! I can't let that water princess outshine me. I need to find a way to show off my true power. Scanning the room, my eyes land on the perfect target.
With a smirk, I saunter up the steps to where Masa sits, hunched over his desk. "Hey, Masa buddy," I say, draping my arm around his shoulders. "You need a partner for tomorrow's practical, don't you?"
Masa flinches at my touch, trying to squirm away. "N-no thanks, Kajiwara. I don't—"
"Nonsense!" I interrupt, flexing my bicep. "Of course you need a great sparring partner like me!"
Ignoring his protests, I practically drag Masa back down the steps to the front of the class. "Professor Akagi," I call out, flashing a sly smile, "Masa here is going to be my sparring partner for tomorrow's practical demonstration!"
Professor Akagi raises an eyebrow, looking from me to the visibly uncomfortable Masa. "Are you sure about that, Masa?" she asks, her tone a mix of concern and skepticism. "Kajiwara is quite... formidable."
I can see Masa struggling to find words, his face reddening. Perfect. This will be my chance to really show everyone what I can do, and put this magicless nobody in his place once and for all.
-Masa's Perspective-
"I- I..." I stammer, struggling to find words.
Before I can finish, Aimi furiously intervenes, "This is ridiculous! You both know Masa can't duel Kajiwara. Professor, you must assign him a different partner."
"No," I say, my voice suddenly steady and clear. "I will duel Kajiwara."
The words come out firmly, without a hint of wavering. In that moment, I'm reminded how my dad stood tall and unafraid when he dueled the head magic knight, despite being outmatched.
The room falls silent, all eyes fixed on me in disbelief. Kajiwara, clearly taken aback by my response, leans in close. His face, with its chiseled features and long, silky hair, is inches from mine. The scent of earth and sweat fills my nostrils, mixing with his arrogance.
"I don't know what's gotten into you, peasant," Kajiwara hisses, his dark eyes glinting with menace. "You'll never stand a chance against someone like me. Know your place, Magicless Masa."
Despite the taunt, I hold his gaze, feeling the orb grow warm against my chest. For the first time, I don't back down. Whatever happens tomorrow, I know I took this risk. I may be magicless, but I'm done being powerless.
Kajiwara laughs as he walks out with his two lackies by his side.
Aimi is in awe after my bold statement towards Kajiwara "Wow Masa, I knew you were the strongest out of all of us! C'mon let me train you so you can finally put Kajiwara's in his place!" She says happily
I nod, feeling a spark of motivation. If Aimi trains me, I might just have a fighting chance against Kajiwara.
As we leave the academy together in the afternoon sun, I fidget nervously with my hands. "Hey Aimi..." I start, my voice quivering slightly. "I... I want to apologize for how I treated you earlier when you saved me. I was just so frustrated that I am so weak." I bow deeply, hoping she'll forgive me.
Aimi sighs, and the pause that follows feels endless. Suddenly, she lightly hits me on the head. "You truly are the biggest idiot I know," she says, but her tone is warm. "Friends are here to support you, don't you ever forget that. Besides, I think you're plenty strong!"
I can't help but smile at her words. "Thanks for being beside me," I say softly. Eager to change the subject, I notice the restaurant down the street where I usually work on weekends. An idea strikes me.
"Hey, come on!" I say, suddenly enthusiastic. "Let me treat you to lunch at the restaurant where I work!" Without thinking, I grab Aimi's hand and start pulling her towards the eatery. Her hand feels warm in mine, and for a moment, I forget about all my worries.
As we share a steaming bowl of tonkotsu ramen. Aimi giggles at my failed attempt to elegantly slurp the long noodles, turning our simple meal into a moment of shared joy.
After we finish eating, we step out of the restaurant into the warm afternoon sun. I'm still grinning from our shared meal when suddenly, a group of masked figures emerges from the shadows of a nearby alley.
Before I can react, they surround us. One of them points at Aimi. "That's her - the Minazuki girl. Grab her!"
Aimi's eyes narrow as she takes a defensive stance. "Masa, stay behind me," she commands, her voice steely with determination.
As one of the attackers approaches Aimi, she swiftly draws her wand and chants, "Aqua Vortexium!" A menacing ball of water forms, swirling with intense force and energy. With a forward motion with her wand, she launches it at the attacker, the vortex hurtling forward with devastating power.
The masked attacker responds with, "Sword Summoning:
Feeling useless, I look around desperately for something, anything to help. I grab a discarded broom from near the restaurant entrance and try to fend off one of the attackers approaching from behind.
"Masa, no!" Aimi shouts, her eyes wide with fear.
Everything seems to slow down. I see a blast of ice hurtling towards me, its chill freezing the air. Then suddenly, I'm shoved aside. Aimi cries out in pain as the spell hits her squarely in the chest, sending her crumpling to the ground.
"Aimi!" I scream, scrambling to her side. She's barely conscious, her breathing shallow.
The attackers close in around us. I stand up, placing myself between them and Aimi, my hands shaking but my resolve firm. "Stay away from her" I growl
"Or what, kid? I can barely sense any magic from you!" the masked attacker with the Naginata responds . He then swings the blunt side of the spear, attempting to knock me out.
I stagger to my feet, blood streaming from the side of my head and my vision blurred. Through the haze, I see that they're about to take Aimi away.
Flashbacks of my village burning and my father dying a cruel death replay instantly in my mind. I can't let this happen again. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" I yell with all my might.
The orb around my neck suddenly pulses with energy. It breaks free, floating in front of me, its white surface slowly darkening to pitch black.
In an instant, it explodes into a whirlwind of shadows. The darkness swirls and grows, forming a massive, hooded figure that towers over us all. Its presence is overwhelming, radiating an aura of raw power and menace.
The air grows oppressively dark. A wave of terror washes over everyone, paralyzing even the attackers in their tracks.
Then, a voice echoes from the shadowy figure standing in front of me, its back towards me. The voice is deep and otherworldly, sending chills down my spine:
"So... I have finally been summoned to the mortal realm."