The mage replied to Titania’s perplexed question in a particularly pompous manner. His behavior was courteous on the surface, but somehow his self-satisfied smirk left Reiji with an indescribable sense of unease. And then, Titania turned towards Felmenia.
“I was thinking White Flame-dono would be most suitable for the task... What do you think, White Flame-dono?”
Both the man who’d stepped forward and Felmenia looked surprised at Titania’s suggestion.
“Wha?!”
“...Is it alright for me to take such an important job?”
“Yes. You wield the greatest magic in all our kingdom, so I believe you’re the ideal candidate.”
“G-Greatest in the kingdom...”
Titania made her endorsement with confidence. Felmenia seemed especially moved at the use of the word “greatest” to describe her and her skills, but the court mage who’d stepped forward was unable to stomach it and voiced his objection accordingly.
“W-With all due respect, Your Highness, I do not believe that White Flame-dono is more qualified than I am to instruct the hero in magic.”
He wasn’t happy with having his job taken from him by a girl who could have easily been his daughter. And Felmenia certainly didn’t miss the implication in what he said.
“Are you suggesting I’m an inferior mage?”
“White Flame-dono, perhaps you might know that I am also an instructor at the Mage’s Guild. I might even dare to say that I have a little conceit in my teaching ability when it comes to magic. Surely you can see how my experience benefits me here, especially compared to a young lady like yourself.”
Felmenia looked slighted at first, but her expression quickly changed to a daring smile.
“Oh? Then shall we have a little test to see?”
“If you so wish.”
Tension filled the air. Invisible sparks were flying between Felmenia and the older court mage.
“H-Huh? Is this a fight? Are they going to fight?”
“I don’t know if it’s going to be a fight, but something’s about to happen for sure.”
Mizuki was antsy at this sudden development in what was shaping up to be a very unorthodox first lesson, so Reiji tried to calm her down. Titania, on the other hand, said nothing. She seemed perfectly content to let this continue. Contrary to Reiji’s first impression of her being especially softhearted, she seemed to have quite the stubborn streak.
“Very well. We’ll have a demonstration from both of you, and we’ll judge which is more worthy.”
After Titania declared what the rules were, both mages took their positions.
“Oh Earth! Gather and transform! Become a tremendous power to oppress my foe! Rock Ridge!”
The first to cast was the older court mage. He recited a spell that sounded like something right out of a video game. Mizuki squealed in excited anticipation. And as soon as the mage finished his incantation, ocher masses of stone gathered from thin air and took shape as a sharp rock angled into a peak that floated in midair.
“Amazing!”
“...!”
Mizuki animatedly threw both her hands in the air and cried out with joy. Reiji simply stood there with his eyes wide open in surprise. And once the spell was cast, the court mage flashed a satisfied smile and began his explanation.
“Hero-dono, this is what we call magic. As mages, we use mana to appeal to the Elements that compose our world and summon their great power. By calling to the earth and praying silently to it, you will also be able to—”
“How abstract.”
“What?”
Felmenia interrupted the court mage’s prideful explanation with a scornful laugh, and he immediately turned to her with an irritated scowl.
“I said, ‘How abstract.’ You might be able to get away with an explanation like that with someone from this world, but if you might recall, the hero is from a world with no magic at all. How could you expect him to know what you mean when you talk about mana and the Elements?”
“Th-That’s...”
“You’d do well to watch and learn.”
After coldly declaring that, Felmenia began chanting.
“Oh Fire. Thou art imbued with the essence of all flame, but burn unbound by the laws of nature. Now, turn everything in existence to ashes, the white calamity of truth! Truth Flare!”
Felmenia weaved her spell together swiftly. As she spoke, Reiji could feel heat welling up in his own body.
Ah...
Just a little below his navel, right where one of his meditative focus points would be, he felt a mysterious heat growing. It was like Felmenia’s chant was calling to it and summoning something inside him.
“Hero-dono. The power of the Elements is the power of all creation. It is the source of anything and everything. The heat you feel when touched by fire. The cool, soothing sensation you feel when you touch water. If you can appreciate that, the Elements shall rightfully lend you their assistance. As for mana, just harnessing that incredible power you feel within you now will be enough.”
“Wow...”
Mizuki was in awe. And it was no wonder. The moment Felmenia finished her chant, a flame the same pearlescent color as her robes appeared and lit up their surroundings. The shimmering white flame then consumed the small mountain created by the court mage and reduced it to cinders.
After a mere glance at her handiwork, Felmenia turned her gaze on the older court mage. She looked bored.
“Hmph. It seems your magic was all bark and no bite...”
“Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-What?!”
“D-Did you see that, Reiji-kun?! The white flame went whoosh, then it was all ba-ba-boom!”
“Yeah, I saw...”
While Mizuki excitedly recalled the events with childlike glee, Reiji just stared at the smoldering white embers. Mizuki quickly calmed down, but she was still fascinated by what she’d seen.
“So that’s real magic...”
Indeed, what they’d witnessed was real magic. And it was just as awesome as they’d imagined it would be. Seeing how mesmerized they were, the older court mage took action. Even though he’d been shown up, he didn’t have any intention of admitting defeat. Unfortunately for him, however, Felmenia had anticipated that much.
“Oh White Flame, become a vortex! Tornado Flare!”
As Felmenia recited her spell, the smoldering remains of the white flame still on the ground ignited once more and swirled around the court mage. He had no time to take any countermeasures. In an instant, he was completely encircled in white fire.
“It’s over.”
After Felmenia declared her victory, the court mage let out a dissatisfied groan.
“Ugh... Don’t think that just because you won with the sheer destructive force of your magic...”
His magic had been completely overwhelmed. He’d utterly lost in that regard, but as he was suggesting, that alone wasn’t enough to determine who would make the better instructor. Everyone then turned to Titania for the final call.
“As I suspected, White Flame-dono will do quite nicely, don’t you think? Between her magical prowess and her considerate quick thinking regarding Reiji-sama being from another world, I don’t see any shortcomings.”
“Yes, but Your Highness...”
Felmenia directed her sharp gaze at the court mage continuing to grasp at straws.
“You don’t know when to give up. As one of Astel’s proud court mages, you should gallantly accept what’s happened.”
“Wh-What are...”
“Stand down. Or are you saying that you find fault in my judgment?”
Titania interjected and voiced her displeasure. The older court mage let out two or three bitter groans as his face turned a dark red. Then, after squeezing out his assent to the princess’s decree, he finally stepped back. He still wasn’t satisfied, but knew it wasn’t smart to earn the ire of royalty. When that was all said and done, Felmenia turned to Reiji with a confident grin.
“Now then, Hero-dono.
As the foremost mage of this kingdom, I will be instructing you in the ways of magic.”
“Yes, Felmenia-sensei.”
“S-Sensei?”
“You’re going to be my instructor from this point on, so I thought it would be appropriate to address you accordingly.”
“But, Hero-dono, you are the one shouldering the burden of saving us and our world. Moreover, there’s no significant difference in our age. So isn’t calling me ‘sensei’ a bit strange?”
“Even if the circumstances are unusual, it’s not wrong. I’m not putting myself on a pedestal just because I’m a hero, and I intend to treat the person teaching me magic with all due respect. So please, let me call you sensei. If you dislike it, however, I’ll refrain.”
“...Truly? If that’s your wish, then I do not have any reason to object. Please address me as you see fit.”
“Thank you very much, Sensei.”
Felmenia was still a little perplexed at being addressed with such a title, but she seemed to grow a little used to it as Reiji repeated it with a cheerful tone. She nodded in response.
“V-Very well then. Are you ready for your lesson, Hero-dono?”
“You have my full attention.”
With that, Felmenia whipped around and began giddily mumbling to herself.
“Sensei...? I’m an instructor... The hero’s instructor... Heehee...”
Reiji couldn’t hear her, but Titania urged them to begin the lesson as Felmenia recovered from her brief intoxication and collected herself.
“White Flame-dono, I leave the rest to you.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Then first, Hero-dono, I would like you to bear in mind what I said when I demonstrated my magic earlier, and imagine the phenomenon you felt inside yourself again. Now try focusing that feeling... in the palm of your hand would be appropriate, I believe. With that, even without a spell or other specifics, you should be able to do something simple.”
“Is that really all it takes?”
“It’s not like you’ll be able to do it right away. You will likely have to try focusing several times. No one gets it right on their first attempt.”
Reiji nodded in response to Felmenia’s explanation and prepared himself. He’d have to give it a try before anything else. He tried remembering what he’d felt in the pit of his stomach earlier when Felmenia had used her spell.
“Reiji-kun, good luck!”
With Mizuki’s cheering him on from the sidelines, Reiji took a step forward.
I can do it. It’s okay.
Assuming that the welling heat he’d felt in his abdomen earlier was mana, Reiji slowly closed his eyes and tried to focus that energy in the palm of his hand as he lifted it.
“Looking good. Now, just like that, find the pulse inside you that’s coming from a source other than your heart.”
A pulse that’s not from my heart? Is... this what she’s talking about here?
Following Felmenia’s instructions, Reiji concentrated solely on the sensations within his body. As he did, he realized there was something pulsating inside him. It wasn’t his heart, but it beat with a regular rhythm all the same. Just as he’d expected, it was coming from right below his navel—the place believed to gather one’s chi in Oriental medicine.
“Once you’ve found that, you’re almost there. All you need to do now is guide the energy of that pulse to the palm of your hand... That being said, doing so is no easy task.”
It sounded like she was under the assumption Reiji wouldn’t be able do it. Attaining magic was no mean feat, and what she was asking Reiji to do was the litmus test that determined whether or not someone was capable of becoming a mage.
No, I can do it...
Reiji, on the other hand, didn’t doubt himself. He could still feel the warm sensation growing inside him, and that inspired and encouraged him. Trying to conjure up its power, the first thing that came to Reiji’s mind was fire. But his was different from what Felmenia had used. Reiji’s was as red as the sun as it melted away at the evening hour—a dazzling and burning fire.
And then words came to Reiji like a revelation.
“Oh Fire, manifest here and now! Flare!”
Reiji’s mana gathered as he shouted out his command like he was unleashing the rage in his heart, hailing the Elements. In the center of his palm, a brilliant red flame was now flickering—a magical flame. But in a split second, Reiji’s concentration was broken and the flame vanished without leaving a single ember.
“I did it...”
Reiji was floored at his success on his first try, and the other mages watching seemed to share the sentiment. “Th-That was really his first time?!” and “That’s our hero!” they whispered excitedly. Even Felmenia who had coached him through it step by step offered praise.
“Magnificent... You’re a natural, Hero-dono. A genius.”
Titania followed up after her.
“My heartfelt congratulations, Hero-sama. With this, you now have your place among the mages.”
“I’m... a mage?”
Reiji was swept up in a flood of emotion at Titania’s words. She turned to address Felmenia next.
“Well done, White Flame-dono. Your method of teaching must be quite effective.”
“No, I hardly had anything to do with it. Hero-dono is simply gifted.”
“Of course Hero-sama has talent, but there is no mistaking that you had a vital hand in his success. Hero-sama came from a world with no magic, yet he was immediately able to grasp its use with your help. Both his power and your instruction are exceptional.”
“Thank you very much, Your Highness.”
Felmenia respectfully bowed in response to such high praise. Yet even as she lowered her head, she was overflowing with joy. Mizuki timidly called out to her as she stood back up.
“U-Um...”
“What is the matter? Mizuki-dono.”
Mizuki sucked down a deep breath to calm her nerves, and put the passionate feelings she was hiding in her heart into words.
“C-Can you teach me magic too?! I also want to learn!”
“Very well. Then...”
And so another mage was born into the world.
Chapter 2: The Place I Must Return to Is So Far Away
Two weeks had flown by since Suimei and the others were summoned to this strange new world and asked to defeat the Demon Lord. The time Reiji was set to depart was swiftly approaching. Two weeks to prepare for subjugating such a powerful foe seemed woefully insufficient, but looking to the stories of previous heroes, it seemed two weeks was historically what it took for a hero’s power to fully manifest. And so Reiji had spent his days endeavoring to learn magic and master combat.
Since she’d decided to accompany him on his quest, Mizuki was training alongside him, and they were taking lessons from both the captain of the royal guard and Court Mage Felmenia. Their schedule was mind-bogglingly packed to try and fit in everything they needed to learn in two weeks. As for the results of their intense training, however... Suimei didn’t even want to think about it.
Hahh...
Suimei had watched Reiji and Mizuki training from his window, and they both dropped by every day to let him know how things were going. All he could do was sigh at their progress. He was aggrieved at what they’d achieved in such a short span of time. It was downright cruel.
Since Reiji was just an ordinary citizen before all this, it was no surprise that he got thoroughly schooled in combat training. He’d never studied a martial art before and didn’t even know how to defend himself—for the first two days, at least. He picked up on things so quickly that by the third day, he was able to seriously go toe to toe with the captain of the royal guard. Now there wasn’t anyone that could stand up to him, so he’d taken to fighting against several men at once for training.
And if that wasn’t cruel, what was it? Suimei wouldn’t dare call it amazing. He knew the only way to properly describe power like that was “cruel.” He didn’t know if it was the divine
blessing from the hero summoning or whatever else might be at work, but regardless of the reason, the progress Reiji was making was absurd.
Rather than a sponge, he was taking things in like a water pump in overdrive. He wasn’t absorbing the water known as talent, but relentlessly sucking it up. Watching it happen, Suimei felt like all the hard work he’d ever put into learning anything meant nothing. It was a terrible feeling.
That’s cheating. Seriously.
Even when it came to magic, Reiji’s newfound talent was remarkable. It had taken Suimei two years from his first encounter with magicka to definitively get his head around the concept and hone his senses enough to be able to see the power he had. But Reiji had only needed one afternoon. He’d manifested fire on his first try, and things had only escalated from there.
It was incredible, and incredibly dispiriting to Suimei. Life was simply unfair. And unable to face it, Suimei had kept himself shut up in his room while Reiji only continued to grow stronger.
Yet even though he’d sequestered himself, he was far from idle. He spent most of his time reading books from this world. Suimei remembered King Almadious telling him he couldn’t return home all too well, including the uncharacteristic temper tantrum he’d thrown afterward. It sucked, but it was reality. Suimei was stuck here.
So for the past two weeks, Suimei had amassed the knowledge he’d need to survive in this world by devouring books retrieved from the castle library. Since he was going to be living in this world now, there was plenty that he needed to relearn. And that knowledge might be the make-or-break difference in his survival here. It would be the difference between him adapting seamlessly and struggling to scrape by.
Fortunately, thanks to the benefits of the hero summoning, Suimei was able to understand the common language of this world, both spoken and written. That gave him the ability to read books here without relying on anyone’s help, and he was utilizing that to the fullest.
As for the masses of knowledge he was attaining, he was breaking down information and sorting it into three categories: things he could easily remember, things that were important enough to hold on to and store in his bag, and things he could write down on his magickal memo pad. With that system, the amount of knowledge he’d acquired over the last two weeks was nothing to sneeze at.
The Magic in this Other World is Too Far Behind! Volume 1 Page 6