When I returned to Araelia, Ceresria went to the palace first, saying she had to prepare for Emperor Mutu, and I moved to my lodgings. As I was heading to my accommodation, the city of Araelia came into view. I was contemplating whether to go into any of the numerous stores that filled the surrounding area, but it didn't make any difference whether I was here or at the dorm, so as I was moving towards the dorm, someone was coming towards me.
"I heard that you went to your hometown this morning."
"Ah, Sir Shurn."
As I spoke, I looked at Shurn and found him smiling at me.
"So, it's been a while since you went back to your hometown. How do you feel?"
"Nothing has changed. There were some people who were surprised by the change in hair color, but what do you think, Lord Shurn?"
"Just because the hair color changes doesn't mean the person changes, and wizards say that happens countless times, and don't they say there are magic spells that change one's appearance? There are times when a man becomes a woman, and there are times when a woman becomes a woman. I heard that there are cases where it becomes a man."
"I don't know how to do that kind of magic yet."
"If you get the chance someday, won't you learn it? Because magic isn't just about attacking the opponent and defending yourself."
When I arrived at the accommodation after chatting lightly with Shurn, Shurn said he had to train and headed off somewhere, and I went into my room and lay down on the bed for a while. The great sun was still shining outside the window. It was far away from dinner, and lunch had already passed. What should I do now? I should have brought a book from the academy. With that in mind, I decided to do something rather than just sit in my room, so I moved to the training room.
When I arrived at the training ground, there were many guards training around me, and when I looked around the corner, I saw Shurn also practicing his sword. As I moved to the corner accordingly, Xernia came towards me.
"Are you here for training?"
"I thought this would be better than just staying in the room, so I came out. The training hall is large, so you'll allow it, right?"
"The training ground is open to anyone, even non-guards. You are free to use it as you wish, but we ask that you do not cause any harm to those around you. Astan's magic is powerful."
"I will try my best."
Xernia slightly bowed her head towards me and then moved back to her seat, and I held a staff in my right hand.
Holding the familiar-feeling staff in my hand, I slowly closed my eyes and slowly moved the mana within my body. Then I took a breath with the mana in my mouth, and as I slowly felt the mana in my body begin to circulate throughout my body, I carefully opened my eyes and looked ahead.
There was no special target, and there was no special target. The sounds filling the surroundings gradually diminished. And I remembered Erica-senpai's words and Isabelle-senior's words.
If you run out of mana, using natural mana was the basic rule for wizards. However, no matter how much I thought about it, I still didn't think much about how to use natural mana, but it seemed like my thoughts were gradually changing.
Magic is the realm of imagination, and in order to realize that imagination, something close to experience was needed.
I had already seen Erica's magic often, so I knew how to use ice to some extent, but in the end, it was difficult to apply it. It was still difficult to immediately create ice in a specific area like Erica did, and to collect all the surrounding ice crystals.
Holding the staff in his right hand, he slowly spoke words filled with mana.
"Ice, rise up."
And as soon as I cast the spell, cold air slowly bloomed around me and began to freeze the water near me. Of course, the fact that there was water in the air was something that everyone knew, so I didn't think about this part.
When I carefully moved the wand in my right hand, ice crystals moved along my wand. If you do this well, wouldn't you be able to use it as an attack or defense?
Then he slowly continued to order.
"Ice, gather around."
At my spell, ice crystals began to gather around the staff and turned into a single sword. The sword was made of ice, and it was so sharp that it felt like it would cut me if I touched it with my finger. I thought that I would like to learn swordsmanship someday if I had the chance, but I really didn't think I would have time left if I learned magic and swordsmanship as well.
The warrior in the fairy tale was like that. A magic swordsman who holds a holy sword and uses magic. That's why it is said that some countries are still raising magic swordsmen, and they are called magic swordsmen. Isn't this a story close to a dream? It's almost impossible for someone to be superior to others in both swordsmanship and magic.
However, it may be more common for wizards to learn swordsmanship than expected. The biggest drawback to magic was that it was vulnerable to close combat.
As I was swinging the ice sword made in my right hand back and forth, I had that thought. Just like Ceresria can create flame magic right where she wants it, wouldn't it be possible for me too? There is no concept of coordinate magic, so how did they do it?
I slowly inhaled and exhaled, organizing the spell in my head.
"It's dinner time, please take some time to rest."
When I turned my head to the voice, I saw Xernia walking towards me.
"Has it already happened?"
As I spoke and looked around, the dark gymnasium suddenly came into view. The guard in training was not there either, and only Xernia was standing there.
"You're going to Mutuje tomorrow, so it would be best not to overdo it."
"It is a martial arts festival, but Xernia will not participate."
"Since the martial arts festival is held, many visitors will probably come, so it is our responsibility to control them. You don't have to worry too much."
"Lord Shurn will probably come to see Emperor Mutu tomorrow, right?"
"It's funny that the guy doesn't go to those places. That man is a man who tries to go to any noisy place where people gather."
"You're an interesting person, Sir Shurn."
"He's a frivolous person."
And I smiled slightly at those words, put the wand in my pocket, and walked towards the dining room with Xernia.
"Because it was late, the food may have cooled down a bit. It's a fire pit with flame magic engraved on it, so the heat lasts a long time, but it's still been a while."
"A furnace made with fire magic, that's amazing."
"The Academy will probably use similar items, but of course the Academy will use higher quality items than us, and there are many people who know how to manipulate mana, so the furnace will not cool down."
"It is true that as magic develops, people's lives become richer."
"With the advancement of water magic, people no longer lack water, and with the advancement of magic stone smelting technology, we can now see such bright light even in the dark of night."
Xernia smiled softly as she said those words, and I nodded.
"Won't there soon come a day when everyone uses magic?"
Xernia smiled slightly at my words and looked at me.
"Even if you can't use magic, you can use magic tools to create magical power. It is said that in the Kingdom of Anstar, new weapons are being made using earth and stones imbued with fiery mana."
"It's a fascinating world."
"Is there anything more amazing than magic?"
As I was eating with Xernia, she asked me a question.
"Are you confident about fighting tomorrow?"
"I'm not too worried because I'm not competing from the beginning but after the finals, but I don't know how strong someone will be. I'm probably going to lose."
"Still, I don't think we will lose easily. Your Majesty must have thoughts as well. Perhaps a wizard weaker than Astan, with enough skills for the public to enjoy watching, will make it to the finals."
"Is that so?"
In the end, it was no different from the story of squeezing and hitting. Because it was not held for a set period like Rune's martial arts festival, not many people participated, and since it was held in Araelia, it would probably be almost impossible for wizards from other countries to participate. In the first place, since the prize was a noble title, it was difficult for a person from another country to win the prize.
As I was thinking that, it was natural that curiosity suddenly arose. Who will really come out? I don't know anyone. If a really strong person comes out, will I be able to win? I may be able to match the weak 2nd and 3rd year students, but if there is someone stronger than that, it will be difficult.
If I were to fight Yuria right now, I would be able to win if I were to fight Sharon, so I was a little stronger than other magicians my age. However, whether she was a perfect powerhouse like Ceresria, that was not the case.
Sharon will soon become stronger than me, and the same goes for Yuria. Even if I had an audience with Denatus, the future was important. I had to find a way to gain an audience with Denatus and utilize my increased imagination and power of implementation.
That's why I needed Erica-senpai.