Trauma and Learning Magic

Emotions came before memory. Only after a long time did he recall who she was.

She was the girl he had met in the back alley five years ago.

'H-how is this possible…?'

Frozen with a shocked expression, Shirone turned his head as Amy walked by with her friend.

'Please just pass by. Just keep walking.'

There was absolutely nothing good that could come from meeting her, so Shirone desperately prayed.

Fortunately, the two girls seemed to walk past without much interest. However, that was only because Shirone was unaware of how keen a woman's eyes could be.

"Amy, Amy! Did you see that guy who just passed by? Is he a new student? He looks too old to be a freshman. Maybe a transfer student? He's totally my type."

While listening to her talkative friend, Amy didn't immediately respond. Just like Shirone, she also felt a strange sensation.

"That's weird. He looks familiar. Where have I seen him before?"

"What? Are you interested in him? You've never even glanced at a guy before."

"No, it's not that. I really feel like I've seen him somewhere."

"Liar. You're just not being honest. You've fallen for him, haven't you?"

"I told you, that's not it."

As her friend persistently questioned her, Amy quickened her pace. When her friend matched her speed, she started running.

"Tell me! I won't let go until you confess."

"No! I said no!"

As Amy ran away from her friend, the surrounding male students looked at her with admiration.

She was the most popular girl in school, known for rejecting confessions from seniors and classmates alike with unwavering discipline.

But only Shirone knew that she was once a delinquent who ruled the back alleys.

The spacious auditorium had a floor as smooth as a mirror.

Countless inscriptions were engraved on it, though their meanings were difficult to decipher. At the northern end of the hall, five teachers sat in a row at a table.

When Shirone arrived, six freshmen were undergoing their tests—all of them were children.

"It's not over yet, huh? Perfect timing. Watch closely to see how they do it."

Since he was older than the other applicants, the children glanced at him, but Shirone paid no attention.

Alpheas explained the inscriptions on the floor.

"When you enter the Spirit Zone, these inscriptions will feel different. Based on what you perceive, we can analyze the size, strength, flexibility, and nature of your Spirit Zone. Just be honest with the instructors."

Having a rough idea, Shirone observed the test from a short distance away.

"Alright, Kemi. Can you use magic?"

"I can make objects float."

The examiners didn't verify each claim. There was no point in lying at a school meant for learning magic—any falsehoods would only hurt the student in the long run.

"I see. Then let's have you enter the Spirit Zone."

"Yes."

As Kemi stepped into the Spirit Zone, the young teacher sitting furthest to the right spoke. He was a handsome man with slicked-back blonde hair.

"What's the farthest number you can see?"

"Six."

"Oh? Six?"

The man was impressed and noted it down.

A Spirit Zone reaching a six-meter diameter was quite remarkable for a freshman, placing Kemi at a minimum of Class Nine.

The next examiner, an elderly teacher with a bald head and a wrinkled forehead, squinted his eyes—a habitual motion that made him resemble an owl.

"What is the most vivid color you perceive?"

"Hmm… It feels like I'm in a red world."

"Red, I see. That's an emission-type zone. Given its size, it makes sense."

The teachers nodded in agreement.

The third and fourth examiners asked their specialized questions.

One asked whether the giant tower stood to the left or right, determining which hemisphere of the brain was dominant. Another asked how many floating spheres surrounded them, measuring the density of the zone.

"What's the temperature like? Do you feel hot or cold?"

The final examiner was a young woman with sharply arched eyebrows and long, piercing eyes. Her beauty was undeniable, though her cold expression made her seem unapproachable.

"Um… It feels a bit hot. I'm even sweating."

Feeling heat indicated that the Spirit Zone was adaptable. This meant it had high versatility but lower durability—not necessarily good or bad.

"Alright. Thank you, Kemi."

One by one, the remaining students completed their tests.

The teachers were quite satisfied with the overall skill level this year. When one child reported a number of twelve, even Alpheas was astonished.

At last, it was Shirone's turn.

Alpheas gently pushed Shirone forward toward the teachers.

"Don't feel pressured. Just show them what you can do."

"Alright, I'll do my best."

Shirone wasn't nervous. He had started from nothing, so he was eager to learn the basics.

As the tall boy stepped forward, the examiners observed him closely.

The headmaster had personally approved him as a special admission.

His resume listed him as a guest of the Ozant family, and his notes stated he had high potential for growth.

Some children unlocked their abilities later in life, but this was the Magic Academy—the cradle of prodigies.

Many so-called geniuses found themselves struggling here, no longer the top of their class.

Thus, the teachers weren't particularly expectant.

The blonde man on the right spoke with a disinterested tone.

"Rian Shirone. You're seventeen. Can you use magic?"

"No. I haven't learned any magic yet."

"I see. Well, even without formal training, most can manage a few tricks."

There was a slight sneer in his tone, though he wasn't entirely wrong.

The Spirit Zone acted as a conduit to externalize knowledge from the mind.

Noble children, who had access to education from an early age, often learned magic on their own.

But for someone like Shirone, who lacked such opportunities, it was impossible.

Knowing his own shortcomings, Shirone had poured everything into knowledge. But at this moment, he had little applicable expertise in magic.

"Well, let's see. Stand in the circle and activate your Spirit Zone. You can at least do that, right?"

If he couldn't, then the headmaster's integrity would come into question.

Thankfully, Shirone nodded and stepped into the circle.

"Alright… I'll give it a try."

As he closed his eyes and focused, his ego faded, and synesthesia unfolded before him.

'Wow.'

Upon entering the Spirit Zone, Shirone was overwhelmed by an influx of information.

Most real-world details were filtered out, making him feel as if he had stepped into another dimension.

'So this is what it's like…'

As he experienced the world through synesthesia, the inscriptions on the floor began to rise in three-dimensional clarity.

The blonde teacher asked, "What's the farthest number you see?"

Shirone focused on the most distant number.

Since it wasn't visual perception but rather a sensory one, eyesight didn't matter.

"…."

But Shirone didn't answer.

"Shirone, what's the number?"

The teachers assumed he was embarrassed after seeing the younger students perform well.

Alpheas gently encouraged him. "Shirone, just be honest. This isn't about ranking but finding the right education path for you."

Hesitantly, Shirone spoke.

"Um… I see a number, but it's too long to read…"