To floor 55, stadium two” .

Having recited the incantation, the elevator carrying Lynn and Theo creaked and rumbled to life, and began moving . They were on their way to Ring Magic cla.s.s .

“Looks like we’re somewhere else today”, said Theo as he looked at the notice in his journal regarding the change of cla.s.sroom .

“Yeah, apparently we have a practical today . Look, it says so there” .

“I see . So that’s why we’ll use the stadium . It looks like we’ll finally have a fun cla.s.s” .

“Yeah” agreed Lynn wholeheartedly .

He had been looking forward to today ever since he read about today’s cla.s.s in his journal .

It looked like they would get to use the ‘Rusend Ring’, which Lynn remembered using against the lion he fought in his trial .

He recalled the mysterious sensation that he felt when he used the ring .

He would be able to experience once more that curious feeling of familiarity- no, intimacy- that he got from using the ring . Just thinking about it gave him a sense of exhilaration .

—–

Stadium #2, located on floor 55, was an open, s.p.a.cious stadium facility that featured a large circular area at its center .

There was a gallery in the top section of the stadium, set up for visitors .

Lynn’s attention was drawn to the center of the stadium .

There, at the center, was a strangely shaped rock and a pedestal, on top of which the Ring of Rusend was placed . Lynn felt his pulse quicken .

There was already a great number of students in the stadium, waiting for the cla.s.s to begin .

“Oh look, it’s Yuven” said Lynn when he spotted Yuven .

“d.a.m.nit” .

Theo looked over to where she was standing, and a look came over his face as if he had just tasted something bitter .

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Today she was, quite unusually, by herself . Usually she could be seen talking energetically with her group of fas.h.i.+onable friends .

For some reason she was looking at something high up above them .

What on earth is she looking at?

Lynn tried following her gaze .

It seemed that for some reason or other she was looking at the gallery .

The gallery was a thin walkway high above them that ran around the inner circ.u.mference of the stadium’s walls .

Up in the gallery, Lynn saw, were students scattered here and there in pairs and small groups of three, all talking as they looked down at the cla.s.s that was about to begin .

“It’s the advanced students”, Theo said as he too cottoned on .

The students in the gallery certainly looked taller than Lynn and Theo, and their faces more mature .

Yuven, for whatever reason, appeared to be staring up at them intently .

Lynn tried focusing his eyes on the particular individuals at the end of her purposeful gaze .

What he saw was quite unexpected .

Is that… Kruga?

Without a doubt, who he saw up in the gallery was definitely the high cla.s.s aristocrat Kruga, successive wizard champion of Spiruna . Lynn had until now only seen his face in photos .

Next to him stood Elios, and they were talking about something together .

“Hey, that’s Kruga . The guy Yuven’s interested in… Since when was he acquainted with Elios?”

“Why are they both here?”

Lynn noticed the restless, nervous atmosphere in the stadium and in particular among the students .

Around him he saw different students handling the tension differently . Some were relatively still yet had worried looks on their faces, while others’ anxiety took a more animated form as they fidgeted and paced about restlessly, and some seemed to be attempting to mediate their apprehension by being mindful and gathering their concentration . There were even a few who held their hands to their heads, clearly beside themselves .

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That this would be an ordinary lesson was unthinkable .

“This is weird” said Theo, echoing Lynn’s sentiments .

“I wonder what’s going on” .

“Let’s ask someone” .

Theo approached someone who he often talked to, a boy who’s native tongue was also Toriaria, who Theo had a comfortable rapport with .

“Hey, do you know what’s happening? Everyone seems nervous for some reason…”

“Don’t you know? Apparently Magulheim is going to spectate today’s cla.s.s . Whoever exhibits the most power and skill with the ring will be scouted for their guild, and will be selected to partic.i.p.ate in the hunting team this summer, when they go into Hedin Forest . It was posted on the bulletin board yesterday” .

“Say what now? This is so sudden!”

“I heard it’s Teedro’s idea” .

“Teedro, he’s that top student who gave a speech at the entrance ceremony!” exclaimed Theo, remembering .

“That’s right . s.h.i.+t! If I knew about this earlier I would have taken Ring Magic cla.s.s more seriously!”

He held his head in his hands, dismayed .

Lynn now understood why everyone was so nervous .

So that’s why everyone’s acting so weird .

There was a common trait shared between the wizards who had managed to carve their names in history .

They each used their own unique magical equipment, magical beasts and spirits .

‘Hedin Forest’ was the historical location where wizards first discovered the raw ore that would become so sought after for crafting parts for magical equipment and magical beasts .

However there was still an abundance of unknown land in the forest that remained unexplored .

For a prospective wizard looking to make a name for themselves, enlisting to be part of the hunting team was a fast track way to stand out from their peers .

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However, Magulheim was a guild that sported a roster of only the most elite students .

If you made it into Magulheim, you would be able to explore deeper into the Hedin forest than anyone had been before, and there was a high probability you could find all manner of exotic items .

A loud voice reverberated around the stadium .

“I’m glad to see you’ve all made it today” .

Lynn looked towards the source of the voice, and there he saw Teedro up in the gallery . He looked like he had just arrived .

At his back were numerous members of the hunting party . Their pointed gazes felt like hot fire to the younger students, who felt nervous under the scrutiny .

“Today we’re going to be observing you all . Perhaps you’re already aware, but we intend to enlist a new member into the Magulheim guild . Whoever performs the most remarkably in today’s cla.s.s will be scouted”, Teedro declared, his voice booming around the stadium .

“Usually you can’t enter Hedin Forest until you’ve acquired credits from the Magical Beasts cla.s.s… However! I have my qualms with this rule . Students with talent and ambition should be able to enter the forest as soon as possible, in order to gain valuable experience and inspiration early . Therefore we made a direct appeal to the Wizard’s a.s.sociation . We requested that we be able to take along with us on our hunts beginner cla.s.s students . The a.s.sociation set some conditions, but they approved our request” .

How overbearing, Theo thought to himself, grimacing .

Theo didn’t particularly think of Teedro as someone he wanted to a.s.sociate with .

“Today I’ll have you all show me how much effort each of you are putting into your studies as wizards . It is essential for wizards to have an apt.i.tude for adjusting to, and dealing with, all kinds of unforeseen events . For that you need two things- unrelenting hard work, and talent . There’s no value in half hearted efforts, frivolity, or lack of discipline . Today I want to see your true talent and proficiency . So! Please don’t let us distract you… Simply focus on your Ring Magic cla.s.s and give us a good show” .

While Teedro made a point of saying not to mind him and his clan, the students couldn’t help but do exactly that . In fact, it seemed to them that he was deliberately piling on even more pressure . The students felt their uneasiness grow only stronger .

“What do you think Theo?”, Lynn asked .

“Hmm . I’m not too interested . I prefer to carve my own path, at my own pace” .

“Then in that case please bow out” .

“What? Yuven?”

Theo spun around in surprise at Yuven’s biting words .

At some point she had apparently snuck up behind them and was listening in on their conversation .

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“Bow out?” Theo spat back incredulously . “As if I would do that! This is a foundational magic cla.s.s, if I don’t get credits I won’t be able to advance, let alone graduate” .

“You don’t have any interest in the hunting party, do you? What if someone like you, who isn’t even interested, were to be selected over someone like me who actually cares? Wouldn’t you be sorry?”

“Well when you put it like that…”

“We’re the sole two students from our generation who were able to conjure the Raigis Sword . In other words, you and I have the highest chance of being scouted . If you drop out, I’m almost guaranteed to be selected” .

“How eager of you…”

“Well yes, but it’s only natural . If I’m scouted here I’ll be able to get closer to Kruga Sama, as well as other high cla.s.s aristocrats who have good prospects for the future” .

“Your motivation is a guy?”, Theo said incredulously .

“No . It’s peerage” .

“That’s too dishonest!”

“Anyway!”

Yuven clipped, and pointed her finger at Theo .

“Are you listening? Just don’t get in my way . If you do, I’ll make sure you get an appropriate punishment” she said, then turned and walked away .

“Did she just threaten you? Theo, what will you do?”

“As if I care about what she says . I don’t have any obligation to help her or do what she says . I’m going to get my credits normally . You shouldn’t worry about her either” .

Lynn realized that there was a part of him that was disappointed Yuven didn’t talk to him .

He was still unable to forget the cool touch of her hand, and the sweet fragrance of her perfume that day when she put her face close to his .

At some point, amongst all the bustle of nervous chatter and restless waiting students, the cla.s.s professor of Ring Magic, Uisufu, finally arrived .

“Right everyone! Quiet down . Let’s begin then, shall we?”

Next time, Chapter 21, ‘Ring Magic’ .

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