Theo, quickly packing up his writing implements, called out to Lynn . “We should hurry up . We’ll go over the test material just before cla.s.s” .

“I know, but I just want to double check the room number, just to be sure…” .

“Do it in the elevator! Our next cla.s.s will be packed . If we don’t leave now we’ll have to use the stairs . C’mon!”

Urged on by Theo, Lynn got up from his bed where he was checking his journal, and grabbed his bag hurriedly .

—–

The two boys were up to their necks in a.s.signments and tests .

All of their cla.s.ses were, for the moment, cla.s.sroom-based learning .

Fundamental theory of each type of magic was drilled into the minds of beginner wizards before they were taught practical skills .

Lynn had thought that he would straight away be learning to use, in practice, all kinds of magic, and so he found the theory-based learning quite anticlimactic .

Anticlimactic or not, however, it certainly wasn’t easy .

The workload, and the pace at which it came, was unrelenting .

Their cla.s.ses were all taught in the language of magic- spoken and written- and the special terminology for each cla.s.s was different . There were mountains of jargon they had to memorize .

Since cla.s.ses began, Lynn felt as if he was drowning in magical words . Whatever magic he knew and used before, he now understood, was little more than a drop in the ocean .

Both Lynn and Theo had each failed multiple a.s.signments and tests, and they were now at risk of not being able to get credits this year for a number of cla.s.ses .

I see now . I guess it’s quite common for students to repeat their beginner cla.s.ses multiple years in a row, Lynn thought to himself as he let out a sigh .

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What saved Lynn from despairing was the help from Elios and co’ . They often sacrificed their lunch break so they could help him study .

“Oh yeah! This brings back memories . We did this too!” .

Agul had Lynn’s textbook in his hands, and was flipping through the pages with eyes full of nostalgia .

“Oh, you have Keiron Sensei for Fairy Magic too . He’s great, isn’t he” .

s.h.i.+la was beside Agul, and while glancing at the textbook Agul held in his hands, she talked fondly of Keiron and his cla.s.s, evidently remembering her time taking it .

“Yeah, I like him too . The only thing though is the a.s.signments he gives us… There are so many . Even researching and reading the literature to cite in our essays takes up so much time” .

“That might be because you’re trying to read it all . The trick is to just pick the books that are absolutely essential . I’ll show you how I do it” .

“Thanks . I appreciate it . I know you guys are busy too” [1] .

Elios just smiled, and said rea.s.suringly, “Don’t worry about that . To be honest, teaching you guys is good revision for us, so it’s a win-win” .

“No matter what, everyone is overwhelmed when they first enter the academy . The first month is always rough, but after that you get used to it . You’ll be able to look at any thick, intimidating textbook, and know exactly what things to look into, what things to skim over, and what you should be paying attention to . It’s just a case of hanging in there until you reach that stage” .

“I guess you’re right . Thanks, Elios”, Lynn said, thanking him . He was sincerely grateful to have friends in these three older students .

Theo, on the other hand, was accepting their help with an att.i.tude of indifference .

Goodness . He’s way too prideful, Lynn thought, smiling wryly .

The five apprentices were studying together in the centre of a big plaza . They were sitting at a big bench in a gra.s.sy area of considerable size . They had their textbooks scattered around the bench and were engrossed in their studies . After a while they noticed the nearby surroundings were getting noisier .

The surrounding streets had grown busier with people, and the shopkeepers were hurriedly taking down their shop signs and locking their doors .

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“What’s going on?” said Theo, looking around as the strange scene unfolded around them .

With a look of sudden realisation, Agul said “This is bad . Isn’t today the battle between Spiruna and Lados?” .

“It looks like it . It’s come around fast . ”

Unsure of what Agul and Elios were talking about, Lynn spat out loudly “Battle? Did you just say ‘battle’?”

“One a month Spiruna and Lados, different factions of students [2], fight here in this plaza . It’s an ongoing dispute over certain facilities and inst.i.tutes, and who gets priority to use them,” explained Elios calmly .

“They’re not just on bad terms with each other, but both factions are hot blooded as well,” Agul added .

“But, to actually fight each other? Is that really allowed?”

“As long as these things are reported to the a.s.sociation in advance, and only certain weapons are used, then it’s allowed to happen” .

“Before it was actually forbidden . But there was a lot of bloodshed between students from Spiruna and Lados, and it didn’t stop . Fights broke out everywhere, they had no regard for public safety . So in the end the a.s.sociation agreed to turn a blind eye so long as they organized the time and place in advance, and gave notice of these… Disputes . Think of it as them letting off steam . These exhibitions have become quite normal now . ”

“Really…”

s.h.i.+la had already begun briskly packing up their textbooks and drinks .

“This isn’t the time to be having a nice little chit chat, you guys . We have to get out of here fast or we’ll get caught up in it . And the streets around here are going to be blockaded . ”

They took refuge in a nearby tower . From the top they had a good view down onto the plaza .

Below they saw that crowds of curious onlookers had gathered in the streets surrounding the plaza, and there were some people shouting from raised platforms, who predicted the outcome of the looming battle, and others who were selling all kinds of drinks and refreshments .

Soon, the two opposing factions of wizards had reached the centre of the plaza where they had been not so long ago . Both sides had marched in formation, and now occupied opposite ends of the plaza . They planted their faction flags into the ground, and set to work building their temporary encampments . It was beginning to look exactly as one might imagine a battlefield to look like just before battle .

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“The right side, with the blue flag, is Spiruna . On the left with the yellow flag is Lados,” s.h.i.+la whispered to Lynn .

Both factions each built simple gos.h.i.+ntai [3] at the back of their encampments, in front of which they pledged to consecrate the following battle as an offering, and prayed they would not succ.u.mb to cowardice and flee . After this ritual was completed, both sides began rallying their war spirit, and their cries culminated in an impressive roar of powerful noise .

Soon after the battle began with a sudden eruption of magical light from both factions .

From the top of the tower, Lynn heard the war cries of both sides, the reverberation of metal weapons striking each other, and the roar of flame and fire as he looked down at the battlefield . The air of the surrounding streets became thick with sulphur and dust, and above the plaza churned a dark cloud of thick smoke .

Lynn, dumbfounded, watched on as the carnage unfolded .

“Is- Is this really ok? People will die,” Lynn said, fl.u.s.tered .

“It’s ok . Take a look at their equipment . They’re wearing head gear and cloaks, right? That’s armour for wizards . If you have that, at least, you’re protected to a certain degree from magic attacks . Though of course if you’re hit with something physical, it’ll hurt, and flame will burn you as you’d expect . But the weapons and magic they’re permitted to use in these battles are regulated by the a.s.sociation, so they’re fairly weak . Anyway, no one will die . ”

That magic is… Weak?

Lynn watched with wide open eyes .

Wizards were launching, at velocity, magical iron ball projectiles that exploded in pillars of fire that reached several meters .

The magical attacks being used could easily bring down some of the smaller buildings, and were more than capable of killing a few wild animals . In fact, some of the buildings in the surrounding area were now damaged, peppered in gaping holes .

The flow of the battle ebbed and flowed, back and forth . Both factions’ battle flags were captured several times, but each time reclaimed before being returned to one side of the field . It was hard to tell which side was superior .

It continued like that for about four hours, but at last the pace slowed and both sides began to retreat . Both sides had seemingly depleted their magical reserves .

Jeering and taunting each other, both factions remained hostile to each other as they set about recovering their fallen allies Some had visible injuries, while others were unconscious . Those who still had the strength to do so, carried the weak and fallen back as they retreated .

Then, all that remained was the ruins of the now destroyed plaza, the crackling and fizzing of residue magic that still clung to the smoky field, an injured wizard here and there, and wizards who crouched low in the burnt soil, unable to move as their muscles were convulsing from having reached their magical limits .

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Judging that the two factions had more or less withdrawn, and that the area was fairly safe, black robe wizards from the a.s.sociation rushed onto the field . They began retrieving the wounded who were left behind, loaded them onto carts, and set about repairing the plaza .

From somewhere in the crowded streets, a single parched voice spoke out, breaking a silence that had descended on the area .

“So this time it was a draw” .

As if taking that as a que, the throngs of people in the streets all began talking at once, sharing their impressions and thoughts of the battle with one another .

“Shoot, I was sure Spiruna would win . I even placed a bet!” .

“It’s because Kruga hasn’t been partic.i.p.ating lately” .

Before long the people grew tired of talking about the battle, and the crowds dispersed .

“We should get going as well,” Elios said, rousing the group of 5 apprentices .

“You’re right . We should return to our dorms early today . It looks like there are still a bunch of them who’re still rowdy . I wouldn’t put it past them to have some sc.r.a.ps outside the plaza,” s.h.i.+la said with an uneasy expression .

They left the vicinity of the battlefield, and then left the city of Allfrid itself, heading home .

Next time… Chapter 17, ‘School Social Cla.s.s’ .

TRANSLATION NOTES

[1] Lynn apologised by saying ‘sumimasen’, but in j.a.panese this apology is sometimes used as a way of saying thank you, especially when one feels they are causing trouble for someone else .

[2] Each faction, Spiruna and Lados, represents a country either from the continent or from overseas . I’ll update this translation note when more about the worlds geography is revealed . It’s possible I’ve forgotten a detail from an earlier chapter, if so please feel free to leave it in a comment .

[3] ‘Gos.h.i.+ntai’ is an object wors.h.i.+pped at or near a s.h.i.+nto shrine, which is believed to be home to a ‘kami’- or a G.o.d .

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