Will You Rise From Your Knees And Make a New Start?

A MEMORY.

Salazar was only six back then. Short, black hair. A warm, summer day.

"Raigetsu! Come on, let's play ball again!"

A boy, not much older, turned to him.

"The sun's already setting. Let's leave it for tomorrow. Otherwise, my dad's going to give me hell."

"Ah... You're right, it's gotten dark," Salazar smiled. "I guess I was having so much fun I forgot the time."

Raigetsu smirked and ruffled his hair.

"Same here. But time to head home now."

"Yeah! Next time, let's sleep over at each other's place!"

Warm, childish days.

Five years passed. They both reached the age where they were allowed to attend magic classes.

A sparring session between him and Raigetsu. The younger boy looked nervous.

"Don't worry," said Raigetsu, hopping lightly, warming up his strikes. "I won't go full force. Just try to hit me at least once."

"Raigetsu… do you think I can? You're fast, and already a Destruction master at fifteen. Your future's guaranteed."

"Of course! Just keep your chin up and land at least one hit. There's a big gap between our strength, so one strike is enough."

"O-okay..."

The match began. They fought both hand-to-hand and with tier-1 Destruction magic.

Salazar couldn't touch him. Every time he thought he landed a hit, Raigetsu dodged.

He was faster. Sharper. But he never humiliated Salazar. Raigetsu always fought at a quarter of his power.

As the spars went on and Salazar kept asking for rematches...

…he finally landed a hit.

Caught off-guard, Raigetsu took a burning punch to the stomach.

After the match, Raigetsu approached him:

"Well done. You're improving fast."

"T-thanks. I really appreciate it. Raigetsu… you're the strongest I've ever seen!"

Something sank in Raigetsu.

"Thanks."

He was glad Salazar had hit him, but at the same time, it meant someone was catching up.

And that changed him.

He didn't want to be overtaken.

Something flared inside him. Something that loathed even the idea of someone reaching his level.

At the next spar, he struck Salazar so hard, the boy was launched into the air.

"W-what the hell are you doing?!" the trainer grabbed him. "Don't let emotions take over, you brat!"

Raigetsu stared at his friend with wild fury—like a beast seeing prey.

"Raigetsu…"

———

Salazar lay on his porch, bathed in moonlight, listening to birds in the courtyard.

He raised his hands, trying to conjure a bright orb.

Only a flicker of light emerged, fading quickly.

"Hah. Guess this really is the end."

He remembered the diagnosis he'd received earlier that day.

"Fifty percent mana loss. Compared to your last test, your mana pool has more than halved. Extremely poor results, student Tsugihara."

"Yes, doctor. Thank you for the detailed analysis."

"There's no way you can recover within a year… no, not even during your remaining school years! You've lost more power than mages who summon high spirits."

"Yes... I have nothing more to say. If you'll excuse me."

As he left, the doctor muttered:

"Such a shame. A prodigy wasting his potential…"

…

Salazar washed his face at the well. The moon mirrored his worn expression.

Emaciated.

"What am I supposed to do now…?"

Next school day. Nothing had changed.

I didn't bother him. No one did.

Each lesson passed the same way. He sat in silence, trapped in thought. Like the world around him had turned grey.

Break.

"Hey!"

A gruff male voice.

Salazar turned.

"...Saddler?"

In the hallway stood the fourth-year student who fought me before. A real talent. With a body that screamed brute strength, you'd never guess he mastered High Magic.

"Just thought I'd check on you after the last match. First time in Academy history, the fight club has gone silent. No matches posted today. Can you believe that?"

"Yeah," Salazar smiled faintly. "Guess people are still in shock after the last fight."

Saddler nodded.

"That match was intense. Raigetsu finally revealed his true technique. Oh, right. I wanted to ask..."

"Hm?"

"How's your health?"

"Ah... that. They say I lost over half my power. Seems the grave's the only road left for me."

Saddler didn't laugh.

"Terrible results. And that's it? You're just giving up?"

Salazar blinked.

"What do you think the old you would say if they saw you now?"

"...What are you talking about?"

"Look at yourself. I don't see that fire in your eyes anymore. So I'll ask again. Salazar, are you really just going to give up?"

Salazar clenched his fists.

"I don't know. What's the point? It's over. Regaining my strength will take years."

"So what? Is that reason to quit?" Saddler crossed his arms.

"I said, I don't know. I don't see the point in fighting anymore. Guess now I'm the weakest link."

Saddler sighed. He stepped forward and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Listen, as your senpai. In four years here, I learned more than I did my whole life. I'm 20 now, and I've only just mastered High Magic. You, Salazar, are one in a million. Take that seriously."

After our battle, Salazar had thought Saddler was a brute, a ruthless brawler.

But in truth, he was kinder than expected.

"Think on what I said. If you'll excuse me, it was good seeing you."

"...Likewise."

What was wrong with this guy?

Why didn't he sneer when he heard Salazar had lost half his power?

Salazar didn't understand.

But because of him, something reignited.

A new resolve.

He would fight not just for revenge.

But to become someone stronger than he was. Someone worthy.

———

Dean invited Asagiri to his office. The two teachers had tea on the balcony, gazing out at fountains and blooming trees.

"So, Asagiri, what do you think?"

"About what?" the blue-haired man sipped his tea.

"About the birds singing under the fragrant sun. They say Ashgrad won't see rain for another month."

"Didn't expect you to care about such simple things. Didn't take you for the type to host tea chats for small talk."

"Come on, Asagiri. Don't act like I'm that predictable. I just wanted us to be closer."

"Oh? And why's that, Dean? Aren't you the type who doesn't listen even with a blade to his throat?"

"Back as a teen, I never listened to anyone. So yeah, you got me there."

"Sounds like that hasn't changed," Asagiri muttered.

Dean chuckled as if he hadn't heard.

"Anyway, I wanted your thoughts on Salazar il Tsugihara. Word is, powerful factions across the continent are keeping an eye on him."

"A typical student who lost his potential from arrogance. What else is there to say?"

"No no, Asagiri. Hear me out. At sixteen, he can already use Supreme-tier Destruction and High Magic. That's incredible. He's the ideal mage in the eyes of the system."

Asagiri looked at the birds perched near the fountain.

"Second branch of Destruction: Fire. Perfect for high damage. It's slower to cast than Lightning, but has endless potential for unique Supreme techniques."

"Where are you going with this, friend?" Dean smiled.

"Salazar mastered Fire. But even then, I can't force him into something he doesn't want. A teacher's role is to guide, not to command."

"Sure, sure. I'm not asking you to force anything. Just… give him a reason to grow, if he ever comes looking. He looked like a dead fish today."

Asagiri said nothing. He simply fixed his long, blue hair and finished his tea.

…So imagine his surprise when, after class, just as the sun began to set—

"Professor Asagiri! Please, help me get my strength back!"

"A... Ah?"

Salazar stood before him, head bowed.

"I want to become even stronger than I was before!" his voice was firm.

Asagiri was more than surprised. Just recently, this boy had been drowning in depression.

And now…

He was shining brighter than anyone.

"Ahem. You understand this will take an immense amount of time?"

"Yes."

"And that your expectations may never be met?"

"Absolutely."

"Well, if a prodigy is asking for extra lessons, I suppose I can't turn him down," Asagiri sighed.

"I'm at your full disposal, professor. I have no one else to turn to."

"Come now. Raise your head. I don't like people bowing in front of me…

Tomorrow. Come to my manor with every Fire tome you have. I'll train you on weekends."

"Yes, sir!"

"Good."

Asagiri was moved by the boy's resolve. Something flickered in him. A memory of his own youth—when he, too, had burned with unyielding will.

Maybe that's why he agreed to take Salazar as his personal student.

Two days ago.

After the long-awaited battle ended, I immersed myself in studying summoning rituals.

Three days remained until expulsion.