Why Didn't I Get Wind Affinity?!

"Magical affinity."

This referred to the type of magic that was most suited to an individual.

There are many magical affinities in System Overload.

The four common elements are fire, water, earth, and wind!

Though, some elemental affinities had different names in the magical science community: heat, water, earth, and kinetic force respectively.

Fire magic pertained to increasing heat and causing combustion reactions with mana.

Water magic pertained to summoning and manipulating various forms of water.

Earth magic pertained to manipulating various forms of earth and minerals.

Wind magic pertained to manipulating forces to create wind and increase speed.

However, there were several more less common magic affinities. These ones were less understood.

Metal magic (known as metallurgical magic) was a subclass of earth magic that focused more on shapeable metals and fine control.

Light magic was distinct and used holy light to burn away corruption and could solidify light.

Healing magic concerned converting mana into living tissue to repair wounds. Some considered healing magic as a form of alchemy that was performed with incredible speed.

…et cetera.

Since Mav was not in the original System Overload, I did not know what magical affinity I would get with my new body. Though, I did have some personal preferences.

"Please give me wind magic!"

Wind magic currently fits my fighting style best-- dodging whenever possible and punishing my opponents for the gaps that they left in their guard when attacking.

Furthermore, wind magic was one of the best ranged magics as well and would diversify my options as long as I had enough mana to cast spells.

"Please, please, please, please, please!"

"Give me wind affinity!"

I was praying on my knees next to my bed as the sun began to rise outside the dorm window.

Today was going to be the day we were going to learn magic.

***

"Prior to the commencement of your arcane education," spoke an elegant man. "You shall first undergo an identification of your natural affinities with mana."

The pale, thin professor who stood before the class was dressed in refined white clothes that were embellished with bright, gold embroidery. He spoke in a very unnecessarily complicated manner.

He was Mr. Karsten, the magic theory instructor who had been teaching us for several weeks.

As I waited in the center of the class, I watched as he called up the other students.

Some mage students who were particularly talented, like Rebecca, Perseus, and Leo, had already had their affinities tested and were skipped.

"Lucia Acender."

Lucia walked from the back of the class, clapping me on the shoulder with a grin as she passed.

The other boys in the class shot me glares when this happened. This was natural, considering that Lucia was incredibly beautiful and aloof. My friendship with her made me their natural enemy.

Though, many of them did not seem as intense as usual.

The Massacre seems to have affected the class, I thought as I looked at the eight empty seats scattered throughout the classroom. The atmosphere was almost normal, yet not quite.

When Lucia placed her hands on the affinity measuring device-- a glass-like orb that was completely clear other than the blue lines that covered the surface --the orb immediately filled with orange-red sparks that crackled violently against the orb.

"Congratulations, Ms. Acender," Mr. Kvasir spoke. "You have a fire magic affinity."

She would later integrate magic enhancement and her spells into a unique fighting style. Though, that wouldn't be for quite some time.

Maybe I can help her develop faster this time, I hoped. Her power would be useful for surviving the Apocalypse.

And I also wanted her to be stronger so she wouldn't die.

She was my friend, after all.

Several other students were called up before… 

"Mav Callahan," announced Mr. Karsten.

I stood up and stepped up to the front of the class, before mimicking the others before me and placing my hand onto the measuring device. The surface was perfectly smooth and very cool to the touch.

For several moments, nothing happened.

"...is this thing broken?" I asked no one in particular.

Mr. Kvasir and Karsten both frowned and examined the orb.

For the briefest moment, I thought the blue lines on the measuring device had turned red.

The next second, the machine looked like nothing had changed.

Must have been a trick of the light…

Then, sand began forming inside the transparent sphere. Within seconds, the sand had compressed into rocks that orbited the interior of the device like small asteroids.

"...ah, congratulations," Mr. Karsten said belatedly. "You seem to have a natural connection with earth magic. You may now be seated, Mav."

I sighed… nothing could ever go the way that I wanted.

I returned back to my seat and sat down heavily. I had already completely forgotten about the red light.

Earth magic? 

I don't think any of the main characters or important side characters used earth magic…

I don't even know anything about it since I never placed much attention on it…

Rebecca specialized in ice and healing magic. 

Perseus' specialties were external enhancement magic and metal magic. 

Leo had an affinity with lightning magic.

Around that moment, Gauss stepped in front of the class. The class began to whisper as they wondered what magical affinities the 1st ranked student would have.

When the best student in the class placed his hand on the sphere, the measuring device trembled.

I already knew what was going to happen, grabbing my blue book and holding it up in front of my face.

The measuring device exploded, sending shards of glass flying through the classroom.

A large piece embedded itself in the thick cover of my book.

Several students were cut, but luckily no one had ended up with any serious injuries.

Only I was the one who had any sizable pieces fly towards them.

"...better to be safe than sorry," I whispered under my breath, shakily setting my book down on the desk.

Mr. Karsten and Kvasir had shielded themselves and Gauss with magic. Numerous large and sharp fragments dropped onto the ground as the teachers dismissed their magical shields.

"...I'm sorry," Gauss said, biting his lip as he bowed.