Spring ended, and autumn ruled. Without even noticing, half a year had passed for Renji in Keito Institute. And in that half-year period, he learned only the most basic things about magic—one could say, like a man in the desert who was parched, gasping for water. Foreseeing his increasing knowledge and abilities with regard to the wind-style magic, Kaiya Tanaka now and then prompted him.
The sun outside today was shining brightly. The four friends of Dorm 1875 are just out to lunch, wearing a sky-blue school uniform. Renji, who had spent a few months hard training and looked more handsome, attracted numerous girls who were taking wind magic above him. "Renji, are you going for the fellowship of new students today?" questioned Giichi.
"Not going," Renji replied simply.
"Haha, knew you wouldn't go," Ryūji laughed. Yori draped an arm around Renji's shoulders.
"No need to be so enveloped in study. With your talent, in thirty years you could be a sixth-rank magus. Why not relax and enjoy life? After all, there are some cute girls in the fellowship, too."
"Right, really cute girls," Ryūji added with his eyes wide open.
Renji sighed, shaking his head. "Yori, stop pulling me. I'm going to be off to train. I'll join you guys tomorrow."
Yori, Ryūji, and Giichi resigned themselves at the determination on Renji's face as he strode off toward the back of the school, where the mountains were. There were surely thousands of students in the Keito Institute and a number of magi developing spells. He passed more than a few students in blue gowns as he started off towards the mountains.
Somewhere nearby, a low growl resonated. Renji turned around to behold a Tempestwolf, a fearsome magical beast with a flowing mane and golden claws. A black-haired young man rode the Tempestwolf, proud. Renji estimated the rank of the magical beast to be probably at the fifth or sixth rank. In the school, many students had magical beasts either through purchases or soulbinding formation scrolls.
"Why show off for a magical beast?" thought Renji contemptuously, continuing his walk into the mountain. It was during these times that there were groups of magical beasts in the land, but now they were long gone; there were just a few normal beasts left within the mountains.
Renji started to be fast in his pace; he had used the wind-style spell, Rapidstream, sliding upon the mountains like a spirit. After a few kilometers, he reached a clearing by the stream. Echo, the Umbramouse, squeaked excitedly.
"You want to play? Just don't wander too far," Renji said, trusting Echo's speed to keep him safe.
"Grandpa Kaiya, please come out and instruct me," Renji called mentally. Kaiya Tanaka came out in a mist, looking irritated.
"Renji, why disturb me now? I was enjoying a nap. Have you reached the level of a second-rank magus?" Kaiya asked.
"Yes, Grandpa Kaiya. I need your assessment," Renji replied.
"Cast the introductory spell Shardstorm," Kaiya instructed, and this one, simple spell—and its first-rank and Saint-level versions, Heaven's Starfall—would show Renji's progress.
Renji chanted out the spell from memory, the ground around him breaking apart, five rock-sized shards floating and circling his head. With a shout, Renji sent the shards flying; they stuck into a tree trunk, which gave and swayed but did not break.
"Not bad," Kaiya said, his eyes lighting up. "Controlling five stones with such speed indicates second-rank power."
Renji smiled, feeling himself a step closer to his goals. The words from his father, "If you can't bring it back, even when I die, I won't forgive you!" echoed in his head, motivating him.
Kaiya Tanaka chuckled, "But remember, being a second-rank magus is only the beginning. First and second ranks are entry level. Third and fourth ranks are mid-level, fifth and sixth are high-level. Seventh's senior, eight is master, and ninth is arch magus. The road ahead is very long."
"I understand," Renji nodded.
"Good. Keep training hard," Kaiya advised before disappearing into the Celestial Dragon Ring.
Renji got back into a trance of mediation to concentrate on his growth. Not too far to the distance, around three kilometers away, Fei, Renji's instructor for Wind-style Magus, wrinkled his brows as he felt the unfolding of the Shardstorm spell.
"An entry-level magus here to train? That's interesting," Fei muttered, feeling the mightiness that was Renji. He shot rapid-speed force with the Rapidstream spell, now moving towards Renji's direction. On watching it from a distance, he said, "So, this silent student is an already existing second-rank magus. Impressive."
Fei smiled, anticipating a rewarding performance at the upcoming first-grade student's competition, while Renji was absorbed in the midst of his training, oblivious to the teacher's watching.