Chapter 10 - New Clothes, Isolated Beach

The fire magic Alaric learned wasn't even considered a one-star spell.

Every person had an elemental affinity—and Alaric was no different. However, at the start of their studies, all mages learned a basic spell for each element.

Basically, Alaric would be able to conjure a small fireball, summon water, create a weak gust of wind, and so on.

"I still don't even know my affinity," he thought. "I'll just wait and find out. I don't want to waste my energy on some test right now."

The school where he was enrolled was going to administer a test to determine each student's element. But the old Alaric died before he could take it, and the new Alaric slept right through it.

He wasn't too worried. It was something to consider later.

"So what are we doing today?" Ashley asked.

The three of them were eating breakfast. Both of Ruby's parents had already headed to their restaurant.

Ruby would normally have gone, too, but today was her day off. She'd asked to stay because Ashley was here—she wanted to spend the day with her friend.

"I have no idea," Ruby said, biting into a slice of bread. "We could check out some shops, take a boat ride—whatever you guys want."

Ashley glanced at Alaric thoughtfully.

"I think our first stop should be buying him some new clothes. He doesn't really fit in," she said.

Alaric's outfit was basically his magic school uniform. It looked nothing like what people wore on the island, and it was torn in places too.

Alaric liked the idea. He simply hadn't bought new clothes before because he didn't have the money.

"And who's going to buy them for me?" Alaric asked. "You know I don't have anything valuable."

Ruby smiled. "Relax, my dear. I'll buy them for you—don't worry about it."

They headed into the town center after breakfast. Their first stop was to buy clothes for Alaric.

Both Ruby and Ashley were eager to pick out outfits for him—treating him like a mannequin to test different combinations. Since Ruby was picking up the tab, she chose the store. No one objected.

The shop wasn't very large, but the garments looked high quality. Unlike a big mainland city, the island's clothing options were limited. Most pieces were made from simple fabrics and the pelts of local beasts. Not that it was a problem.

"Good morning, Ruby," the shop assistant greeted. "Shopping for yourself again today?"

Ruby smiled. "Not today. Actually, I need something for my friend. What do you have that's interesting?"

The clerk glanced at Alaric, then back to Ruby, and said with a smile, "Of course—follow me."

An hour later, Ruby and Ashley had tried Alaric in dozens of outfits. In the end, he settled on simple brown trousers and a light-colored shirt. He also chose a robe made from the hide of a local beast, perfect for the island's hot days and chilly nights.

"I actually like it," Ruby said, studying him approvingly.

Ashley nodded in agreement. "So where to next?" she asked.

"How about a boat ride? I know an isolated beach I think you'll love," Ruby suggested.

For Alaric, the destination didn't matter much as long as there was a place to sleep. He still carried the book Ruby had lent him in a backpack.

"Do you like the backpack?" Ruby asked. She'd given it to him the other night since he didn't have one.

"Yes, I do," he replied.

"That's good. Have you started reading the book?" Ruby continued.

Alaric nodded. "Yes, I've read a few pages. It's very interesting."

"It is—interesting and challenging, but keep at it, okay? If I ever leave this island someday, I want to go with someone I know."

That was Ruby's wish. She also wanted to leave the island with Ashley—her friend wanted to escape because of her family. A trio of friends was forming, determined to get off the island as soon as possible. When that would happen, nobody knew.

Ruby led them to the port where her small boat was moored. It was a simple vessel, holding no more than five people.

"This is one of my family's boats. We use it a lot for fishing and visiting beaches around the island," Ruby explained.

Ashley was already familiar with it—they'd been friends since childhood.

Alaric took a seat as soon as he stepped aboard. He wanted to rest.

The sight of the bluish waters brought a peaceful calm to his mind.

"Is it safe to go boating around here?" Alaric asked. He'd heard countless stories warning that the ocean was dangerous because of magical beasts.

"Here, yes," Ruby replied. "For some reason, they only show up a little ways off the island. Sure, there've been the occasional attack, but it's very rare. I think the last one was years ago."

"I see."

For the rest of the trip, Alaric stayed quiet. Ruby and Ashley chatted as they sailed, catching up on everything. Alaric used the time to rest and recover his energy points—he currently had 500 total. From what he'd observed, physical exertion drained him most, followed by mental effort.

He avoided the latter anyway, since his new passive skill let him "read" spell books in his sleep. All he needed to watch was not to tire himself out physically.

After about fifteen minutes, they reached a secluded beach. Dense vegetation made it almost impossible to arrive on foot, but by boat it was easy. They'd brought chairs, towels to lie on the sand, and snacks. The plan was simple: spend a few hours relaxing in peaceful isolation.

"The main beach is nice," Ruby said, "but always packed. Here it's so much calmer. I don't know—it just gives me real peace of mind."

Ruby and Ashley changed into shorter outfits to enjoy the water. Alaric, meanwhile, stretched out on his towel. He wouldn't pretend he didn't sneak a peek—he watched the two girls laughing in the shallows, their figures silhouetted by the sun. But only briefly. His mind was set on a nap beside his magic book—and maybe mastering a few more pages in his sleep.

Alaric woke up hearing screams.