Chapter 33 – The Call of the Missions
Back to the present,
The sun rose over Etheria, casting gentle beams of light through the long corridors lined with stained-glass windows. The sound of bells marked the beginning of a new day.
In the dormitory, Seth cracked an eye open, still groggy from sleep. After a few minutes of drifting in and out, he finally got up, took a quick shower, and slipped into his Academy uniform.
— "Phew… another day…" he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
At the cafeteria, he found Damian already seated, his tray overloaded.
— "Finally! I thought you were gonna sleep 'til noon!" Damian said, his mouth full.
— "Unlike you, I don't like waking up with a heavy head," Seth replied, sitting down.
After breakfast, the two of them headed together to their first class of the day. The morning air was brisk, and a group of students were already chatting in front of the classroom door.
Professor Ban suddenly entered, tall and imposing, a pile of books under his arm. His deep voice echoed:
— "Today, we will cover a fundamental concept of magic: Applied Magical Mathematics. Yes, you heard right—equations can govern spells too."
He drew on the board a series of interwoven symbols: integers, formulas, but also mystical runes.
— "Quantum magic relies on precision. Miscalculate a single circle, and your spell might blow up in your face. Let's look at an example…"
Ban conjured a luminous sphere, which then twisted into a cube, and then into a spiral, each transformation following his equations.
Damian's eyes went wide.
— "Seriously?! I don't understand a single thing!"
— "It's not that complicated," Seth murmured, focused. "Look, it's just a logical sequence."
— "Just a logical sequence?! Man, your brain must love torture. Now I get it!" Damian laughed, clutching his head.
After several more explanations, the class ended, leaving most of the students utterly confused. Damian was already dragging his feet.
Suddenly, he took a deep breath and asked:
— "Hey, Seth… did you think about my idea of… trying an S-rank mission?"
Seth froze, lowering his gaze slightly.
— "I'll admit, the other day I was way too hyped… but now… I'm not so sure."
Damian's eyes widened.
— "WHAT?! Are you kidding me?!" he yelled theatrically.
A few students turned, amused. Seth shrugged, looking a bit awkward.
— "Think about it… an S-rank mission is basically suicide."
— "Maybe… but…" Damian hesitated, then smiled. "Eh, it's fine. You don't have to. Besides, the S-rank exam… it's way too hard anyway. Too many deadly trials."
Seth raised an eyebrow.
— "Wait… you mean the exam isn't the only way?"
Damian nodded, happy to play the expert.
— "Exactly. You can become Class S otherwise. For example, a king can grant you the title if you achieve incredible feats, even without being from Etheria. And there's another method…"
He paused dramatically.
— "Challenge a Class S to a duel. If you win… you take their place."
Seth narrowed his eyes.
— "Hm. I see…"
Damian whispered:
— "Did you know Suo became Class S like that? Rumor says he wiped out an entire army… but, y'know, it's just a rumor."
Seth nodded slowly, deep in thought.
After the lesson on Applied Magical Mathematics, Ban suddenly clapped his hands:
— "Pop quiz! Take out your quills and grimoires. Subject: Fundamentals of Digital Quantum Magic. You have twenty minutes."
A shocked silence swept the room.
— "Not a test! Not today!" Damian wailed, collapsing onto his desk.
Seth sighed, but a small smile crept onto his face.
Enchanted parchments materialized in the air, gently floating down in front of each student. On Seth's, five glowing questions appeared.
---
Quantum Magical Mathematics Test
1. Complete the equation of the Circle of Force:
E = (n² + 3r) / ●4
where n = number of runes, r = circle radius. Calculate for n = 4, r = 2, ● = 2
2. The spell Orbis Lux requires synchronization of 3 magical flows. If each flow shifts by 120°, what is the total value in radians?
3. Transform this runic sequence into a numerical equation:
Rune Sol (1), Rune Aqua (2), Rune Ventus (3). Combination: Sol + Aqua × Ventus.
4. The unstable quantum circle of 7 runes explodes if it reaches instability greater than 65%. Each inscription error adds 12%. How many errors are allowed?
5. A mage uses 10% of his mana reserve for a basic spell. How many identical spells can he cast if his reserve is multiplied by 4 through a temporary awakening?
Seth furrowed his brow, carefully rereading.
Seth's thoughts:
Ok… first one's easy. (16 + 6) / 2 = 11.
Second one: 3 × 120° = 360°, so 2π. Easy.
Third: Classic transformation, 1 + 2 × 3 = 7.
Fourth: 65 ÷ 12 = max 5 errors.
Fifth: 100% × 4 = 400%. Each spell costs 10%, so 40 spells. Perfect.
He wrote calmly, focused, his quill gliding neatly across the parchment.
Meanwhile, Damian was sweating buckets.
Damian's thoughts:
E = … n²? So 4² = 8… plus 3r? r's 2… 3 × 2 = 6… 8 + 6 = 14?! And then I divide by this weird dot thing?! Ughhh!
He bit his quill, sneaking glances at Seth's paper.
Damian's thoughts:
Ok, Seth wrote 11… I'll just copy that. Easy.
Second question.
Damian:
3 flows… 120° each… what the hell is a radian again?! Damn, did we even cover this in class????
He stared at the ceiling, hoping for divine inspiration. Finally, he scribbled down randomly: 4 rad.
Third question, Damian frowned.
— "Sol… that's the sun, right? Aqua's water… Ventus is… air… So Sol + Aqua × Ventus… that equals… uh… wet sun? Hot water??? Seth, help me," he whispered desperately.
Several students left their parchments blank—the test was far too difficult even for those who had paid attention.
At the end, the parchments flew up, glowing brightly—the corrections were done instantly by magic. Moments later, the results appeared.
— "Seth: 75/100. Damian: 50/100," Ban announced neutrally.
Damian leapt from his chair.
— "FIFTY!!! I… I passed half!!!" he shouted, arms raised, tears streaming.
Seth stared blankly.
— "Seventy-five… and I barely earn 100 points. 180th place… tch."
— "Dude, that's huge! I'm so happy!" Damian laughed.
He patted Seth's shoulder.
— "Cheer up. There's only a month left in the semester… At this pace, we'll never hit the top 150."
Seth thought for a moment, then declared:
— "Then let's hit the library. We need to get serious with studying."
Damian nodded, and they went together.
At the library, a figure was already waiting. Kael, slouched at a table, looking defeated but still wearing his usual smile.
— "You okay, Kael?" Seth asked.
— "No…" he answered softly. "I only got 44 points. I'm still last in Class D. Even there, the students are too strong… I think I'm done for. Goodbye, Seth…"
Damian sighed.
— "Then go do missions! That earns points!"
Kael's eyes widened.
— "Really? Where? How?"
So Damian led them to the Mission Hall. It was an immense rotunda, circular, illuminated by floating crystals on the ceiling. Hundreds—maybe thousands—of parchments drifted in the air, as if pulled by an invisible current. Some glowed with a red aura, signs of dangerous missions. Others were dim, signs of simple D- or C-rank errands.
The parchments seemed alive, gently beating like wings. When a student entered, some swirled around them, as if evaluating their worth.
— "Wow…" Kael whispered, eyes wide. "It's like they're… watching us."
— "That's exactly it," Damian replied. "Here in Etheria, there's a rumor that sometimes, missions choose their mage."
A parchment suddenly shot through the air, flying straight at Seth. He caught it just before it hit his eye.
— "What the hell…?" he muttered.
He unrolled it. The letters lit up immediately. Written on it: "The Land of Dragons."
Damian's eyes bulged.
— "Wait… You know what they say? Sometimes missions choose their mage… so this isn't a coincidence, Seth!"
Seth frowned.
— "No, it's just chance."
— "Chance, my ass!" Damian exclaimed, eyes gleaming. "Look—it's an S-rank mission! Jackpot! We're going Class S!!!"
But Seth, unsettled, shoved the parchment back into Damian's hands and walked out of the hall.
— "Seth! Come back!" Damian called.
Kael also caught a parchment. Damian, curious, asked him what it was.
— "Huh? Just some crappy D-rank mission…" he said with a relaxed smile.
Damian waved him off and ran after Seth.
In reality, the parchment read:
"The Dark Mage" – S-rank Mission.
Kael froze.
— "…The Dark Mage?" he whispered. A nervous smile spread across his face. "Maybe… this is fate. Maybe this is my only chance to find him!!!"
To be continued…