A girl adorned with a cape runs through the night. She crosses alley after alley after alley, but the moment seemed to last an eternity.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Why? I thought I had a couple more weeks until they reach Marine—at least. Just why?
She stops for a moment and takes deep breaths while keeping her hands on her knees. Her cape falls off, revealing a pretty face with black hair and red eyes.
Blood dripped out of her nose, which she quickly wiped and continued running...
On the other side of the country, a certain mixed-race bar was livelier than ever. Anyone who was used to it would almost immediately join the crowd, while anyone new would gaze at the slight spectacle.
It was a crowd containing -but definitely not limited to humans, elves, dwarves, beastmen, and even some demons.
They were chattering the night away. It was a scene no one would have predicted during the Great War a decade ago, which consumed the entire world and all of its inhabitants.
And yet, here it was- not a dream, not a story, but reality.
Peace in all its glory... or the calm before the storm?
This question was answered when the doors suddenly flung open. A young man who looked not a day older than sixteen with curly blue hair entered loudly.
Suddenly, the loud chattering turned into murmurs.
"Damn. Does he have nothing better to do than come here every day?"
"I heard even though he spends all his time drinking, he still gets some of the best grades in the Royal Academy."
"And to top it off, he's the duke's son! He has it all. A nice face, talent for magic, and noble blood. If only I could be like him- except for that arrogant nature of his, of course."
The boy was used to the rumors. Or rather, he just couldn't get himself to care. From his perspective, why should he care about some commoner's words when he was clearly above them?
The boy proudly walked towards the center-most table, which was already taken, and shooed of all those sitting there.
The old yet smart-looking bartender gave his waitress a look, and with a sigh, she came to greet this noble.
"Welcome, master Felix. What would you like to have this fine night?"
"I've been coming here since last year, Lily, and I've always had the same thing. If you don't even know that, then I wonder how you've kept your job as a lowly waitress."
"Certainly! So the usual?"
"Do you still need to ask?"
"My apologies. My memory's been a bit foggy-"
"Hold up. I know what you're trying to do! Don't think you can buy time until my bodyguards come to get me. Now, before my patience runs out, get me my drink. Make. It. Quick."
...
"Of course, master Felix."
Even though Lily said that, any one of her regulars would notice her unusual strides. But of course, Felix couldn't. He never paid attention.
By the time Felix got his drink in a large wooden mug, he had already run out of time. A dwarf had run outside and told the bodyguards adorned with blue armor -signifying the forces of Duke Rhein- Felix's location earlier. As soon as Felix picked up his glass, several knights came up behind him. Their leader, a rough-looking man with straight brown hair with a scar over his right hazelnut eye, spoke loudly to Felix.
"Master Felix! How many times has the Duke told you NOT to drink unless it's a special occasion? And even if you want to do so anyway, at least do so in the Duke's manor!"
"Every day is to be celebrated, Sheffield."
Felix responded, taking one large gulp.
"Master Felix, you forget how low your alcohol tolerance is. It wouldn't do you any good to stay here, lest some unwanted guests show up."
"It's fine. Do you think I wouldn't be able to handle any unexpected variables?"
Sheffield wanted to respond negatively, but he knew that his master was capable of rational thinking and taking calm judgment, even when he was drunk.
"Suppose I agree. However, it's already midnight, and perhaps you forgot that you've been late to the royal academy a dozen times already. Sure, your grades aren't bad at all, but they will only protect you so far."
Right,
Felix thought,
That old man told me I'd be in trouble if I were late even one more time. It's only my first year, and I'm already on the bad side of my professor.
"Alright, Sheffield."
"Very well then. Let's go, master-"
"Is that what you thought I'd say?"
Felix responded. The air around him twinkled a little bit, his eyes gleamed with a white light, and with a simple wave of his hand, he turned invisible.
Incantless chanting when he's only sixteen years old? I wonder what he'd be capable of if he just tried a little bit harder... but that doesn't change the fact that I'll have to report this to the Duke, young master.
Sheffield thought as he turned around while groaning. On the way out, he noticed that a barrel was missing.
The next day, Felix woke up with a severe headache. He found himself in his extravagant room, befitting one of the highest nobility in the entire country.
Seems like I managed to find my way back to my room without falling asleep in some alleyway. Man, am I a genius! I wonder how many people will be capable of sneaking into the Duke's manor while drunk.
Felix's mind was narrow, since he had yet to come across any major problem in his life. That's why he had not grown to his maximum potential.
All he needed was a change, a happenstance in his life to bring about chaos. And Felix would find that a lot sooner than he might think.
Felix quickly got ready as he wore his white and golden cape, but it was only after he left that he realized that he was stupidly late. Using magic, he flew over the noble sector, then the commercial sector, and finally the student dorms before reaching the giant main hall of the royal academy, made from rose quartz.
Goddamnit, I'm late again! Who knows what that grumpy old man might do!
He hurried over to his classroom and entered it, only to interrupt his professor's speech.
"Well, if it isn't THE Felix Von Rhein!"
"I'm extremely sorry, Professor. It's just that-"
"Just what, my dear? Did your pet pigeon run away this time, or has Sheffield once again forgotten to wake you up? Meet me after classes."
Felix was extremely egoistic, but it didn't mean that he overestimated himself. No matter how talented he may be, he could never overcome the wall called experience, and he knew it. As such, he just sat at the back and gazed outside.
The thing to note here is that his professor reprimanded him for being late and didn't say anything to Felix when he didn't pay attention in class. Felix's professor knew of Felix's genius and wasn't nervous about his performance. What he wanted to instill in Felix was discipline and the ability to read the room, something that would help him achieve far greater heights.
After class, Felix headed to the professor's room. On the way, he heard the students whispering about him.
"I bet he got called to the professor's room again."
"How is someone like him the top student?"
Felix ignored them and continued walking towards the professor's room. A few minutes later, he was standing face-to-face with his professor.
"Look, Felix. I understand that life must be boring for you. It is for all geniuses. But try to understand that you have SO much more untapped potential. If you could only learn how to polish yourself, you'll undoubtedly become the brightest gem of all."
"I understand."
Felix responded, without a care in the world.
"How about you go on a small trip?"
"Huh?"
"Well, it seems like you already have the necessary grades and points to proceed. I'm certain that even the rest of the three years will be a breeze for you. That's why I got permission from the headmaster to send the scholarship student, you, on a small trip. You'll be going alone, and the aim is for you to learn how to live independently for the rest of your first year. That is, three months. I'll only give you money to last a week and some basic amenities, and it's up to you for the rest."
Now that's interesting. No Sheffield to stop me from drinking?
"But where will I be going?"
"The port city, Marine."