I sighed.
Don't get me wrong, going to a magic school is… cool. I mean, Harry Potter is what popularized the trope. I can't say for certain that it's the first story to mention it, but it certainly had its influence.
But learning magic for me is pointless. I can visualize the result, and it happens. No, "follow these rules to achieve this result." The only merit there is for me in learning magic is being able to effectively defend myself against it.
"Get up, we've got school."
"I know…"
I got up.
"You alright?" He asked me.
"It's just… I've been to school long enough in my past life to know it's not something I can look forward to."
Yes, you go to school to learn, as I'm sure every parent drilled into their children. Learn, grow, get a job, all to navigate life with the knowledge you need to move on your own two feet.
But the idea of having to do all of that again, especially in a school I'm forced to attend moments after I'm reborn, feels despairing.
I saw Kiori kneel next to me while I was still lying down.
"I don't know what you've experienced in your own world, but I hope Megalia proves to be better than whatever school you've attended in your past life." Kiori offered an outstretched hand.
I grabbed it, and he pulled me out of bed.
"Also, you've promised to help me get stronger."
I did?
"You don't remember?"
"Huh? Oh! Was it when you'd confessed your innermost in Mr. Draco's office?"
He nodded.
I recalled bits and pieces of that conversation. If memory serves me right, he feels inferior with the current extent of his String attunement.
"We'll try experimenting in the Kemzo square arena after school."
"It's a deal."
We did a handshake before doing our usual hygiene routine.
…
I had a renewed interest in my classes now that I could understand what everyone around me was saying. Reading was still an issue, but I'm certain I could figure out the context of the class from what everyone said.
The only thing I had to go off of for what the first class entails is the maps. The only classes I could think of that would require maps would either be history or geography, and based on my experience as a graduated American school student, I was more inclined toward the broader subject of history.
I hoped it was history. I had no inclination to learn geography in another world.
I gently open the door, not wanting it to slam into a wall.
"Welcome back! Oh. Hello, Nolval." The teacher greeted me.
"Umm… hi."
"Did you enjoy your break?"
"To the best of my ability."
I took a seat before he could ask for follow-up.
A lot of things I'd turn to for entertainment or to occupy myself to avoid boredom aren't in this world. The internet, which is pretty much 99% of that, and the 1% being thinking to myself or reading books I've bought because of the internet. That or games, depending on what I was feeling.
Perhaps I could make a card or board game.
As I waited for class to begin, I decided to eavesdrop on the conversations around me.
"How was your break?"
"Oh, I've been to Aisheryne's Garden."
A conversation about where they've traveled to.
"We were competing to see who'd catch more game. I won the moment I caught a Lion Serpent!"
"If it weren't for that pack of quill wolves, I would've won!"
A conversation about connecting with friends.
"I was catching up on some novels I hadn't read in a while. Just got to the sixth chapter of Mr. Egenhoher's manor."
"You need to finish reading that so that I can talk about my favorite part."
"Write your love letter so you don't forget!"
A conversation about catching up on hobbies.
Pretty much every conversation you'd expect from people spending a 3-day break.
…
This is what I've managed to learn in the span of a single period.
Tirja, the name of the town the school is near, is very dependent on trade and tourism, with its main appeal being the main appeal being restaurants. In other words, a shopping district town that can also act as a hub for trade. However, it's not much of a trading hotspot compared to Calvark, a port town, as that place has access to ships and their goods.
The statue I saw in front of the Adventurer's Guild is a statue of one of the town's founders, Losen Hyibarha/Lozen Hibara. They aren't a historic or reputable mage, but the townsfolk of that era appreciated them enough to build a statue after their passing.
Relationships with Tirja and its trading partners are strained because of Koron's rampage. Although the adventurer's guild is working with Tirja merchants and wealthy nobles to compensate travelling merchants affected by the attack, there's worry that Tirja will no longer be on the map for tourism or for receiving goods.
Add Griesies's recent attack and the potential worry of Rhino Tortoises no longer being a reliable method of transport, and Tirja's economy will decline into obscurity.
I've also heard of a few students in that class talking near the end about their enrollments being pulled under the pretense that Megalia is no longer a safe environment for them to study.
"Are you considering dropping out?" A girl's voice spoke.
It was one of the twins I threw a dodgeball at. I should take this opportunity to apologize to her.
"I just got here. I'm not gonna drop out any time soon."
"I wouldn't blame you. The leader of Tirja Wind's boon suddenly attacks the people who revere him, and everyone else is working to clean up his mess. We were lucky that one of the Tower Mages happened to be in the area to assist the knights in stopping Korons."
"If you don't like me, just say it. And…" I mustered all of the sincerity I could: "I'm… sorry for throwing that ball at you. I was just a bit on edge, that's all."
"Sorry? You got Salil expelled because you picked a fight with him, and all you have to say is sorry?" She screamed at the end.
What?
"I'm apologizing to you. What does Salil have to do with this?"
"He was trying to save you from associating with that weakling!" She shouted.
This girl's crazy!
"You know what, I take back my apology. If you're here to belittle Kiori, then I have no reason to associate with you."
I moved to walk past her, wanting to head to second period.
There was a sudden flash of heat on my back.
"Ahh!" I screamed.
Focused on wanting to cool myself down as quickly as possible, I quickly imagined a bucket of water over my head pouring its contents over me. When I felt that the water didn't reach where I got burned, I imagined a second one and focused on pouring it over my back.
The heat was gone, leaving only the pain of the burn.
I turned around to see the girl with a shocked expression. Wisps of fire still dancing around her hand.
Violent visualizations appeared in my mind. Launch her through the window to my left. Launch her backwards to the end of the hall. Send her flying into the ceiling. Regardless, I was dead set on hurting her for hurting me.
I stretched my hand toward her and flung it toward the window. She flew through it, shattering the glass.
The pain flared up again, so I turned and hurried toward the healer, weaving through people as I ran.
On the way there, I had to bite my tongue and cheek and dig my nails into my palms to ensure I stayed awake. Funny, as if the pain of being burned by magic wasn't painful enough. I think I was tasting blood.
The healer was startled by my intrusion before immediately taking me to the bed. I lay facedown, showing her my injuries, and she immediately began working.
There was the sound of shuffling and slamming. I guessed she was getting the relevant ointments to treat a burn. The sensation of something moist, possibly a clean rag or cotton, tapped and massaged my back gently. I could tell from the way she handled it that she was making sure I'd feel as little pain as possible from my burns.
…
Oh, I woke up.
It seems at some point I fell asleep during treatment, and once again, I was lying, staring at the ceiling.
I was also shirtless, as bandages were wrapped around my torso.
"Wonderful, I'm here again."
"Don't move yet, or you'll loosen the gauze." I heard the healer's voice enter my ears.
"Looks like this is our… third time meeting. Second time I've become your patient."
"I informed your teachers you'd be here until the start of 4th period. Could you tell me how you ended up with those burns?"
The face of a certain delusional girl who I just learned wields a fire attunement appeared in my mind.
"I was burned by a student, so I retaliated by throwing her out of a window."
The nurse gave me a look as if I were crazy.
"I was trying to apologize for something I did to her, and she escalated it."
The nurse's expression shifted from surprise to contemplation.
"All right. You can rest for 10 minutes before needing to leave. I'll have to talk with her alone." Her eyes moved towards something on my right.
I followed her gaze and saw that same delusional girl resting on a bed adjacent to mine. It seemed hastily set up, as the room wasn't designed to have multiple patients. Did the school not have a hospital ward for 2 people? Isn't it that fighting between students is encouraged?
"You should go. Don't engage with anyone in your last period, and don't be late."
I got up and walked slowly toward the door. The pain was still there, but it wasn't as agitating as when I was first burned.