After the Battle: A New Promise

Vision of Ryuji Takeshi Iwahara

With everyone injured, the journey back was exhausting. While Kenji carried Hana, I struggled to stay on my feet and lead the team. I could feel my chest burning – having spent all my mana was a huge loss. Strangely, I didn't even hear the sounds of Lee Min's battle; perhaps his group had moved far away.

Visibility quickly began to fade as night fell, the towering trees blocking the remaining light of the setting sun. Fortunately, I could still remember the path we'd taken, so our return was a bit faster.

Surprisingly, we were the first team to return, dragging our feet across the training field. The setting sun cast golden rays over our sweaty, exhausted faces. Aiko staggered, looking pale, her leg clearly aching with every painful breath, while Daisuke rubbed the sore muscles in the arm he'd used to strike the beast—every expression on our faces showed the marks of our strenuous effort. Kenji reported what had happened to Takeda as we arrived.

Before we got there, Hana had regained consciousness. Despite the fatigue evident in her eyes, she mustered enough strength to walk beside us all the way back to the training field.

"You may wait here until all groups return. Your mana cores are completely exhausted, so take a little rest. Once everyone is back, I'll give a full report of the mission and then escort you to the dormitories," announced Professor Takeda in a firm yet reassuring tone.

Takeda looked upon our group with a satisfied expression. I longed to return his smile, but exhaustion weighed on me like a stone—my eyes remained half-closed, my mind foggy. We sat on nearby benches; some of us collapsed, panting heavily, our eyes drooping with fatigue. I rubbed mine, trying to shake off the haze that clouded my vision.

As we waited, the second group arrived. There were only four, but I managed to recognize one—the girl who had asked the professor a question; I believe her name was Rei. Everyone in that group appeared uninjured. I watched Takeda converse with them; their faces mixed tiredness with relief and concern.

"I think they were instructed to follow along the plain next to the forest," I commented, watching the second group settle in.

"Probably because they had one fewer member," Kenji replied, nodding toward them.

Shortly after, the other two groups arrived together. Lee Min and Mei Ling appeared to be in better shape than we were, yet their companions looked visibly exhausted. In one group, a huge boy—probably around 1.90 m tall—was carrying one of his teammates, her legs trembling from sheer fatigue.

Before I could reflect further on what had happened, Professor Takeda began giving new instructions.

"Everyone, come here and form up with your groups. I want the leader of each group at the front, while the rest of you line up behind. Those unable to stand, please stay close," Takeda commanded.

"Who is our leader?" I asked, confused. We had all simply been following orders without a designated leader.

"Of course it's you," they replied in unison, without hesitation.

I hesitated—I hadn't realized I was chosen for this role, and the weight of responsibility made my heart race and sent a chill down my spine. With no time to argue, I accepted.

Once our formation was complete, the leaders of each group lined up in order of arrival: myself, Rei—impressively almost my height—Lee Min-Jae, and the giant student. Before I could scrutinize the other leaders, Takeda continued, "From now on, those at the front will serve as the leaders of their respective groups. There will be no changes. I am the commander, and only I may alter the leadership."

I wanted to protest, but Takeda's stern expression silenced me. The idea of being a leader was daunting, and I knew I had to become stronger to live up to such a responsibility.

"Now, I would like to introduce my assistant." In the blink of an eye, a man materialized beside the professor—almost like a shadow taking form, heralded only by a gentle breeze. His resemblance to Professor Takeda was striking, almost as if he were a mirror image.

"This is Professor Tanaka. He was observing some of you in the forest—and don't worry, there are hidden cameras to ensure nothing goes awry." Tanaka then stepped forward to introduce himself.

"Hello, everyone. Good afternoon. As mentioned, I am Professor Tanaka. And, before you ask, yes, we are brothers." Given our striking resemblance, his introduction came as no surprise. Stepping back, he yielded the floor to Takeda.

"First, the mission was a success and you have shown true potential. There were six imperial boars in the forest, and five were slain. The fact that we didn't have to intervene is excellent," Takeda announced.

I could see satisfied smiles on the faces of many students. However, Takeda's expression then changed abruptly, and everyone fell silent. Even without a word, it was obvious that something was amiss. With a voice as severe as his expression, he continued, "I know this is what you wanted to hear, but this mission would have only been a success if it had been an extermination mission."

The sudden change in tone made me swallow hard as his words echoed in my mind: "It is a reconnaissance mission."

My hands trembled and sweated; the oppressive pressure in the air reminded me of my grandfather's presence. I couldn't believe I'd been swayed by Lee Min's provocations. Instinctively, I lowered my head and focused on steadying my breathing.

"Only one group managed to complete the mission as instructed—Haruki, congratulations," he said, pointing at the tall boy. Then, for a brief moment, he looked at all of us.

"Some of you seem not to understand why you're mistaken, so let's review the details. I instructed that this be a reconnaissance mission. We already knew there were mana beasts in the forest; your task was solely to identify the species and their numbers." He paused, then fixed his gaze on me, and an unfamiliar, long-forgotten fear surged through my body. "Any questions?"

"I do," came a voice—Lee Min's, radiating unmistakable confidence. I couldn't bear to look at him; it felt as if I were being suffocated.

"Why was exterminating them so problematic? Only one survived—I don't see how that was a bad thing," he inquired, his tone unchanged.

"Lee Min-Jae, your question reveals a lack of understanding of safety. That alone puts you at a disadvantage as a leader. Look at your group—they are the only ones missing a member right now." A palpable silence followed, and the pressure on me lessened when I noticed the missing member was Yuki—the girl who had tried to stop the taunting.

I turned my gaze back to Lee Min and was surprised to see him trembling noticeably, his fists clenched so tightly that the knots in his fingers turned white, and sweat beaded on his face as he struggled to maintain his composure.

"Everything I say from now on is for all of you who fought. You had a week to learn your mana limits, but do you know what happened? Out of fourteen fighters, only five still had mana remaining, and only three were able to use it because they were uninjured. You must consider everything. If there had been twice as many beasts—and half had appeared after your battle—you'd all be dead."

Those words were brutally harsh, yet true. If even one more mana beast had emerged as we returned to camp, I doubted Kenji could have defended us all.

"But the one who should be most cautious is you, Rei." When she heard this, her skin turned even paler. "Are you listening to me?" I had ignored her before, but she had been nervous from the start; now her breathing was erratic, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"Yes… sir," she managed to reply in a trembling voice. Takeda walked slowly toward her, then looked around at the rest of our group.

"Before we discuss the exam, know that if you continue acting like this, you will never be a true leader. You cannot let fear control you—your companions are risking their lives on your decisions. No one respects a leader who shows weakness." Rei swallowed hard, trying to adopt a more confident stance after hearing his words.

"Now, regarding the exam—you are the only one without a full team. You should have noticed that your group was different, placing you in a crucial role for both reconnaissance and supporting the others." He paused, sighing heavily in a way that seemed suffocating even to me. "Why did you enter the forest when your orders were to stay on the plains until further notice?"

It was clear that Rei's entire body trembled; it was truly frightening.

"I… I just heard activity in the forest, so we went in and saw a boar."

"And why did you engage it in combat? I know you weren't spotted," he pressed.

"I… I'm sorry." She could no longer maintain her composure; she slumped, visibly shaken.

"Do nothing that might kill you," Takeda said, coming toward me. I hadn't expected him to be gentle, yet I felt an overwhelming pressure as his eyes turned toward me. At last, I understood why she was so nervous. Fortunately, my grandfather sometimes acted that way.

"Ryu, just as Lee Min had your group fight, what would you do if another beast appeared?" he asked.

I really had no answer. We were in no condition to fight again—only Kenji had enough mana for a proper fight; Daisuke and Aiko were injured, and Hana and I couldn't use fire, making it impossible for us to kill another beast. However, an idea occurred to me.

"At this moment, Kenji and Daisuke still have mana and possess elements well-suited to distract a boar. Given that Daisuke's injury is in his arm, he should have no trouble dodging. I'd assign that task to them," I said, silently praying that it was a sound plan.

"If you hadn't thought of that, it might have been a decent plan—but the purpose of your reconnaissance is to identify which animals are in the area." He then pulled a device from his pocket, and with a press, a hologram sprang to life.

"These are the details we have on that species. With this data, you'd know that their crowns"—he pointed to the exposed bones on their heads—"can sense mana cores even through walls, and they always target those with lower reserves. This means you, with your incapacitated teammates, would have been a prime target." His tone was menacing.

That information caught me completely off guard—I couldn't think of how to respond.

Takeda stepped away from me and returned to Professor Tanaka's side. His stern gaze hovered over all of us, but Rei was clearly the most affected; she continued trembling, her eyes brimming with tears. His words had shaken her deeply.

"Everyone, understand that this is not an ordinary school. Here, you are soldiers—part of a military institute. At this moment, your lives are more valuable than those of any civilian. Learn, train, and become strong. Tomorrow, a new day will bring new challenges. But for now, let's rest."

After the grueling training, Takeda finally escorted us to the dormitories. As we walked, the scenery around us began to change. The dense, towering trees of the training field gave way to meticulously maintained gardens filled with vibrant, colorful flowers.

A winding stone path, illuminated by floating magical lanterns, cast a gentle glow that highlighted the lush vegetation. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of newly watered blooms and the distant murmur of a stream, creating an atmosphere that was serene and almost enchanted.

As we approached the dormitories, the institute's architecture became increasingly evident. The majestic buildings, crafted from white stone and adorned with gold and silver details, glimmered under the lantern light. Elegant arches and tall windows graced the facades, exuding an air of grandeur and history.

We passed through a central square with a crystal-clear fountain, where students gathered to relax after a long day of training. The fountain's water shimmered under the magical light, producing a mesmerizing display of colors and reflections.

The dormitories lay just beyond, their large, welcoming doors inviting us in. The imposing building stood before us, its illuminated windows promising rest and recovery.

We walked down wide corridors, our footsteps echoing softly in the quiet night.

When we reached the dormitory doors, Takeda ordered us to stop and began to speak.

"Tomorrow, you will receive all the instructions on how this school functions and how your classes will be conducted. As you can see, to the right are the boys and to the left, the girls," he said, gesturing toward the large doors.

"

Additionally, the dormitory wing is imbued with healing magic that circulates through the night to ensure you are ready for the next day."

With his instructions complete, the students began heading toward the dormitories. After our brief rest, I still felt energized—I wasn't sure I wanted to lie down just yet.

"Ryuji and Lee Min, wait here—I need to speak with both of you," Takeda instructed. I froze for a moment, relieved that his tone was gentler this time.

"You can go; we'll wait for you," Aiko said, gesturing reassuringly. The others nodded in agreement.

"Thanks…" I muttered.

"Everyone, head to your dormitories. You'd better rest so you won't be useless tomorrow," a boy yelled at his companions. With nothing left to do, I gave a slight nod and approached the professor.

Takeda looked directly at us, but this time there was no pressure. "I've noticed the beginnings of conflict between the two groups."

Lee Min clenched his fists tightly, his eyes fixed on me with a mixture of anger and frustration. I, on the other hand, felt a chill in my stomach, my heart pounding erratically. Something told me that Takeda's words were true—a conflict between us was inevitable.

"Calm down, and know that the school has a policy permitting duels between students whenever they wish. However, freshmen must wait for the first two months before they can participate in such duels, and the arena is currently under renovation. For now, use this time to hone your skills and build a solid foundation. If you feel confident, you may challenge each other," he explained.

Before he could turn away, Lee Min exclaimed, "You can incite conflict among students like this, Professor?" His voice was noticeably softer this time.

"Don't worry. Now that you've entered the world of mages, know that the law of the strongest is nearly all there is," Takeda replied before walking away.

I was curious about how Lee Min would react, but without a word, he quickly entered the dormitory.

"I think he's still upset from that earlier scolding," I commented as I headed toward our group.

"Maybe so, or perhaps he's just exhausted. I'm going to sleep." Aiko said, rubbing her eyes with a yawn before slowly heading to the dorms. "Good thing you didn't get any penalties—see you later, guys." She added, waving as she turned.

"I'm going too—this was the first time I've used so much mana; my muscles are aching." Daisuke added as he joined Aiko. It was clear his body was trembling a bit, and I understood his urgency.

"And you, Kenji? You should still have energy since you're the only one with leftover mana. Why don't we take a walk?" I suggested, trying to cheer him up; he'd seemed distant ever since we returned from the forest.

"I'm going to pass this time. I need to think about what happened today. See you tomorrow," Kenji replied. I was surprised, but speechless, I just watched him head to the dorms. He shot me an inscrutable look before turning away—his expression a mixture of exhaustion, frustration, and something I couldn't quite place. Had Takeda's scolding affected him that deeply? Or was he questioning my leadership?

Lost in thoughts about why Kenji was acting that way, I felt a tap on the back of my head. Turning around, I found Hana staring at me with a smile.

She approached, her eyes sparkling with a contagious warmth. "Let him process everything," she said softly and reassuringly. "It's been a day full of challenges—for him and for all of us."

She was right—I shouldn't worry about that now. "So, what do we do next?"

"I'm starving. I saw a food stall on the way here. How about we go?" she suggested, pointing behind her as her stomach rumbled loudly.

At that moment, I realized I was hungry too, so I agreed. Hana and I walked together. I wanted to seize the chance to talk, but my mind drew a blank.

"Tell me, Ryu," Hana began, glancing around, "what do you hope to achieve at the Institute?"

"I want to be the strongest. I want to protect people, and with that strength, I'll be able to reunite my family." I answered sincerely, "You know, my family has always pressured me to become a mage—it's in my blood. I don't want to disappoint them, especially my grandfather who taught me so much."

Hana nodded, understanding. "So your family has mages too. I've felt that pressure since I was a child. My grandmother expects me to stand out and live up to the name I carry. But the problem is, my mother wasn't a mage, so the lineage comes only from my grandparents—and no one ever told me what kind of reputation we have as mages. She always said, 'The Eversong family shines brightest in the fire of adversity,' but I never really understood what that meant." There was a note of frustration in her voice.

I smiled, feeling an unexpected connection. "I understand; they say I have several mage relatives, but besides my grandfather who raised me, I only knew one uncle who never spoke. I don't understand why they never communicate." It felt good to share these burdens with someone who understood.

"If you've had this problem too, maybe it's just a strange family custom. But in the end, we're here. We've managed to meet those expectations—fortunately, I've turned them into the fuel that drives me. I've never doubted I would become a mage; now, I just have to work even harder."

Silence fell between us, but it was comforting. We walked to the food stall Hana had mentioned, only to discover that tonight the food was being delivered directly to the dorms.

"How could the professor forget to mention something so important?" Hana frowned, irritation clear on her face.

"Well, at least we got to know each other better," I tried to lighten the mood, but she only kept walking.

Outside, we wandered in silence for a while, each lost in our own thoughts. Night fell, and the cool forest air was perfumed with pine and damp grass. The dormitory lights twinkled in the distance like inviting stars in the darkness.

"A promise? What exactly do you mean?" she suddenly asked, catching me off guard.

"You know, now that you're my leader, you have to prove you're worthy of the task. I'm certain I can become the strongest in this room, so you need to be at least the second. No matter what challenges we face, we'll overcome them all—and when that happens, I want a duel to truly decide who is better," she said, a determined look on her face.

I smiled, feeling a new determination grow within me. "Alright, Hana. Let's become the strongest together."

We shook hands, sealing the promise. With that new resolve, we were ready for the challenges and adventures that awaited us at the Institute—ready to face any obstacle that came our way.