One day, as Rei was talking with Luster after training, a sudden whizzing sound caught his attention. Before he could react, Luster grabbed his arm, pulling him aside instinctively. But the danger wasn't entirely averted—a rock thrown with malicious intent hurtled toward them.
In a flash, a boy with fiery red hair stepped forward, catching the stone mid-air with practiced ease. "Hey! Are you two okay?" he asked, his crimson eyes glinting with concern.
Rei nodded, dusting off his robes. "Thank you. That was close. I'm Rei, and this is Luster."
The boy grinned, a stark contrast to Luster's flustered demeanor as he hovered behind Rei. "Nice to meet you both. The whole village knows who you are, Rei. Especially the girls—they hate you so much they'd try to kill you if they could." He laughed, the sound full of mischief. "My name's Kaiser. I've been wanting to talk to you for a while. Honestly, I'm a big fan of yours. Will you be friends with me?"
Rei smirked, finding Kaiser's enthusiasm refreshing. However, he thought that being friends with a person like this might bring him disaster, but if he played his cards well, Kaiser might be of good use to him. After careful consideration, he said "Sure. Let's be friends."
As the three of them began spending time together, Rei noticed something peculiar about Kaiser—he, like Luster, had no magic capabilities. Seeing potential in Kaiser's fiery determination, Rei decided to include him in their training sessions. Rei needed bodyguards for the uncertain future and he was willing to manipulate and risk a little if it meant greater rewards.
During one grueling exercise, Kaiser wiped the sweat off his brow and turned to Luster, who was struggling to keep up. "Is this how he shows his friendship?" he asked, half-joking, half-genuine.
Luster, cheeks flushed from exertion, managed to stammer, "Y-you'll get used to it…"
Unlike Luster, Kaiser adapted quickly. His natural athleticism and unyielding spirit allowed him to progress faster in the physical regimen Rei had designed. Together, the trio grew closer, forming a bond that became the foundation of their friendship.
Rei's decisions at school, however, continued to earn him hate from many of the female students. Unbeknownst to most, Rei had developed an unconscious bias, often assigning more tasks to the girls while sparing the boys. While the management respected Rei's authority and could do little to intervene, the girls began to resent him openly, labeling him a tyrant and a demon lord.
"Who does he think he is, treating us like this?" one girl muttered bitterly.
Another added, "He's only a student, yet he acts like he owns the place. If only we could do something…"
Despite their grumblings, they dared not confront Rei directly. His authority had become an unspoken rule within the school, bolstered by his growing reputation for both intellect and power.
When Rei wasn't training his friends, he immersed himself in another project: writing books. Drawing on his past life's knowledge, Rei penned detailed guides on arithmetic—division, multiplication, percentages, and more. Once completed, he presented these books to the school council.
One council member flipped through the pages, eyes wide with amazement. "This… This is incredible. So much knowledge condensed into a single volume."
Rei nodded but added a stern warning. "This is only one copy. Use it solely for teaching the children. If I hear of any misuse…" He didn't finish the sentence, instead raising his hand and summoning a swirling wind ball. The orb hovered menacingly, its power palpable as it tugged at the robes and hair of everyone present.
The council members acted like they were terrified however in reality they were not much afraid they were former adventurers and were quite strong. "Y-you're right," he stammered. "We'll use the books exactly as you've instructed. I assure you, no one will misuse them."
Another member spoke up, her voice tinged with awe. "To think, a child could possess such wisdom and power…"
As Rei dispelled the windball, he left the council chambers, satisfied that his warning had been heeded. The council, meanwhile, marveled at the depth of knowledge and authority Rei had displayed.
While Rei's accomplishments earned him respect and admiration, Hanna's frustration continued to fester. Watching Rei gain influence so effortlessly made her feel invisible. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to bridge the gap between them.
But as she reflected on her feelings, a spark of determination ignited within her. If Rei could achieve so much, then so could she. Hanna resolved to carve out her own path, one that would make her worthy of standing by Rei's side—not as his shadow, but as his equal.
Hanna, Rei's sister, knew there was one thing she had that Rei didn't: magic. While Rei excelled in intelligence, planning, and leadership, Hanna had a connection to the arcane. However, she was also painfully aware that every known spell and magical discipline had already been discovered, categorized, and thoroughly explored, from the simplest applications of elemental magic to the intricate details of magic circles and wand crafting.
Hanna also knew that Rei was developing his elemental manipulation and by how intelligent Rei was he would become one of the strongest people in elemental manipulation so magic was useless in her case.
As she pondered her next steps, Hanna recalled the training sessions she'd undergone with Rei in swordsmanship. An idea sparked in her mind: she could create a new branch of magic, one that combined magic with weapon mastery—melding physical and magical prowess into a single, cohesive style. This discipline would focus on using magic not just as a tool for spells, but as a means of enhancing and handling weapons, turning them into extensions of the wielder's magical energy.
Determined, Hanna began laying out a plan. She scoured books on magic, borrowing volumes from both her home and the homes of neighbors who trusted her. She studied tirelessly, combing through pages of theory and history, hoping to uncover elements she could adapt to her new discipline.
As Hanna delved deeper into her research, she stumbled across an uncomfortable truth: her magical aptitude was only average compared to the talents of many renowned magicians in the outside world. For a moment, doubt crept in, gnawing at her resolve. But she quickly pushed the thought aside. Her goal wasn't to match their innate talent; it was to create something entirely new.
Hanna learned spells she thought might serve as foundations for her technique—spells that reinforced objects, spells that enhanced physical strength, and spells that amplified precision. She practiced endlessly, integrating these spells with her weapon techniques. Yet, every attempt failed.
The weapon wouldn't respond to her magic the way she envisioned. Sometimes the spell would fizzle out entirely; other times, the weapon would briefly glow with energy but become unstable and unwieldy. Hanna quickly realized that her idea required not just technical skill but an understanding of magical principles that even the books she read couldn't fully provide.
Despite these setbacks, Hanna refused to give up. She practiced late into the night, her hands blistered and her energy drained. Her failures were numerous, but each one only fueled her determination to succeed. She told herself that breakthroughs often came after the longest, darkest stretches of effort, and she was prepared to endure it all.
Meanwhile, the school continued to flourish under Rei's guidance. Word had spread of the program that allowed villagers to request small services from the students, and some elderly villagers, who had no children of their own, began to participate. They welcomed the students into their homes, treating them like their own grandchildren.
These elders found joy in teaching the children practical skills, including basic weapon handling. For the students, these lessons became as much a source of bonding as they were of learning. Over time, groups began to form among the children, mimicking the adventurer guilds they'd heard about in stories.
Some groups were small and close-knit, like Bret, Kisa, and Kia, who preferred quieter tasks like farming assistance or repairs. Others, like Miu, Kay, and Jay, thrived on more physically demanding tasks, such as hauling goods or protecting livestock from wild animals. Then there were the larger, more ambitious groups, such as Dan, Hert, and Kaisy's team, who took on nearly any challenge that came their way.
This adventurer-guild-like structure breathed new life into the school. The children became more motivated, viewing their tasks as both a responsibility and a game. Bonds deepened, and a sense of camaraderie spread among them. The program wasn't just teaching them skills; it was shaping their character.
The elderly villagers, too, found purpose in this dynamic. Many who had once felt lonely now felt surrounded by warmth and laughter. They shared stories of their youth, passed down knowledge, and forged connections that bridged generations.