Chapter CXIV - Lemillia (part 1)

Everyone asked me about what kind of books they should get, so I told them what they needed one by one.

Manda needs a book about creation magic, but she also needs a book about wind magic since she wants to develop her wind magic. But, she will have to share it with Jericho because she needs it too.

Elmone also looked for a book about shadow magic, but I told him I already borrowed it from the library. Though, there's two books about shadow magic which I had no idea existed, so he took the second one.

The rest of the boys simply look for their own books that I suggested.

We all sat down on a wide table in the library. We didn't care which one, just one where it's away from people. But obviously, we didn't take the one where those class A idiots can come and annoy us again.

I suggested they read books about martial arts and physical combat since they might be extremely useful, but they didn't want to because 'Magic is more important'.

"Really? And later on in the battle arena, what will you do if your opponent is stronger than you? In terms of magic?"

They all can only nod after I asked that. After a while, everyone heeded my idea and went out to find books about physical self defence techniques for themselves.

I continued reading my book about shadow magic. And once in a while, I asked Elmone about stuff. After all, he is more senior about shadow magic than me.

"Well, as a Beginner tier shadow mage, I used to be only using three shadow items at the same time. But now, as an Intermediate, I can use around seven."

He explained about the shadow items. Shadow items are the things you conjured as a shadow magician, and each tier apparently had their own limit to how many shadow items you can conjure at the same time.

For me, I can only conjure one at a time. I'm worse than a normal beginner tier mage already.

I read about how I can conjure more at a time, but they didn't really help much. 

'You need to move them as if they are another body part of yours, and act as if moving them means moving your body', says the book that I'm reading.

… What?

How does that makes any f@^*ng sense?

I'm losing patience just by reading this, so I quickly closed the book angrily.

"What is it, Rize?"

Jericho asked me from my side. She seemed to notice the pissed off expression shown very clearly worn on my face when I closed the book.

I simply shook my head while flaunting the book in my hand.

"Nothing. The book just doesn't help."

"Let me see…"

I reopened the book and gave her the exact part where it showed that sentence.

"Ah... Doesn't this mean that you have to act as if those things are your body?"

"Yeah, but I already know that much. But, it doesn't say how can I add more of those."

"Hmm… What if adding it is the same as growing another limb?"

Hmm, that makes sense.

I turned towards an empty space on the ground next to me, and I imagined a shadow spike on the ground.

POP!

Right now, there's only one small shadow spike. Then, I imagined it harder. I imagined that those shadows were in fact connected to my body, and not the ground, as if there's another limb growing on me-

POP! POP!

Now, there's three.

POP! … POP!

No, five… Two more pops from the ground from just a thought of it.

"…"

"See? That's simple, right?"

"T-Thanks, Jericho…"

We all continued reading while in silence. 

And after the break time ended, the class started again. It's time for the Combat Practice class.

Inside the Gymnasium, the teacher somehow made two large square platforms next to each other, where between the platforms is a five meters long gap.

"Use your magic! This is all about range. If you fall from the platforms, you lose."

The teacher said to the class as he pointed his finger towards the arena's platforms.

"Two students against another two. You can choose your partners. I will make this tournament based, so whichever team wins, they get to play again in the next round. Is that good?"

The teacher continued, and the students simply followed. They immediately create pairs to partner with for this class. And since I'm not particularly close with anyone, I simply waited until there's someone who I wasn't partnered with.

A single female was left out from the others somehow. She looked around to search for a partner while I simply stood behind her. She turned around and saw me standing there, waiting for her.

I haven't really noticed her before. Her dark blue hair was curled and placed on the front, and her round glasses were a little off. She fixed it as she approached me.

"H-Hai…"

A timid behavior. Gotcha.

"Hai. Let's do our best."

"Y-Yes!"

I didn't remember much about her, but she was definitely on the training ground with us last night. She is one of the faithful ones that didn't leave right away.

I think her element is… lightning? I sort of forgot.

"By the way, what's your name?"

I asked her. She quickly answered while being shy.

"Lemillia…"

"Alright, Lemillia. You were with us at the training, right?"

"Yes. I was."

"Then, I can be assured."

I said and then turned to face the teacher, who was writing up the teams names. The teams then quickly head to the teacher and register their names. After registering me and Lemillia's names, we went a little further away from the others.

"All right. First team battling, Jericho and Manda versus Bonzie and Maneil."

The teacher announced, and the names who were called quickly headed to the arena. Jericho and Manda picked the right side, while their opponents picked the left.

If I'm not wrong, Bonzie and Maneil placed first and second in the shooting game at the class yesterday. The two must have become acquainted from the game, and now making the best ranged team in the class.

Interesting.