Volume 01, Chapter 07

  Maurice's Offer

  "All right, class, that's all for today. You're now all dismissed."

  Maurice's words mark the end of the day's lessons, and my classmates quickly start packing up their things.

  Thinking back on the schedule, I'm a bit surprised. After just three hours, class is already over—a big change from what I'm used to.

  Sylvestria's middle school schedule is simple and focused, with only seven subjects spread throughout the week:

  ? Monday: History, Computer Magi-Science, and Information Technology

  ? Tuesday: Mathematics

  ? Wednesday: Magic and Science

  ? Thursday: Language and Literature

  ? Friday: Advanced Mana Theory

  ? Saturday and Sunday: Rest days

  There are also elective classes like Physical Education, Arts, and Music, but they’re not part of the main curriculum.

  This way of learning—spending three hours a day on just one or two subjects—feels surprisingly efficient.

  I wish the education system was like this back on Earth.

  As the classroom begins to empty, Arthur touches my shoulder. "Hey, Doms, are you okay?" he asks.

  "Yeah, I'm fine. I expected that," I reply, reflecting on the day's events, including the reaction to my introduction.

  "By the way, Doms, I thought you wanted to become a Magician; what happened?"

  His question reminds me that I must tread carefully, ensuring my responses align with Dominic's persona while still making sense of my unique situation.

  "I realized I no longer wanted to become a Magitist as I felt pressured. I realized that I wanted to get stronger and protect my family."

  While fabricated to maintain my cover, my reason echoes a sentiment many could find understandable.

  Arthur nods, seemingly satisfied with my explanation.

  "Dominic, I would like to talk to you."

  The sound of my name, spoken in an authoritative yet calm tone, makes me turn around. Maurice is standing there, his expression hard to read, with the classroom's light casting soft shadows on his face.

  I raise one of my brows. What could Professor Maurice possibly need to discuss with me?

  "Sure, Professor Maurice."

  This is unexpected.

  Glancing towards Arthur, I begin, "Arthur, you can go ahead—"

  "Arthur can stay here since you both appear close," Maurice interjects smoothly, cutting off my suggestion.

  His statement, while simple, hints at an understanding of Arthur and my friendship—an acknowledgment that piques my interest further.

  Arthur and I exchange a quick look, silently agreeing. If Maurice believes Arthur's presence beneficial, who are we to argue?

  This conversation, it seems, will not be a private affair after all.

  As Maurice gestures for us to take a seat, the classroom, now empty of other students, takes on a more intimate atmosphere.

  "All right, let me start by..."

  -Flick!

  The moment Maurice flicks his fingers, I feel a sense of lightness in my pockets.

  Confused, I glance down, instinctively patting the fabric to confirm what I already fear. The guns—my unexpected rewards from the red holographic screen—are no longer there.

  "Oh, are you looking for this?"

  Maurice's voice, laced with amusement, draws my gaze upwards.

  There he stands, effortlessly spinning my two guns on his fingers like mere toys. The sight is both impressive and alarming.

  How did he get them so easily?

  "Tell me, why do you have guns here on school grounds? You do realize it's illegal, right?"

  Maurice's tone turns serious as he asks the question. He stops spinning the guns. He looks me in the eyes, waiting for an answer. The weight of the moment suddenly hits me.

  The implication of his illegal words sends a ripple of concern through my thoughts.

  My initial excitement over the guns and their potential to help me compensate for my lack of magic had blinded me to the broader implications of possessing such items in a school.

  How am I supposed to explain this? I can't just tell him that a mysterious holographic screen gave them to me, especially when it warned me not to mention its existence.

  Then, I feel Arthur's hand on my shoulder, a silent show of support in this suddenly tense atmosphere.

  "Professor Maurice, Doms brought them as he will train with me later." Arthur says.

  "Train? I know you both wanted to become Stargate raiders, but that does not mean you should bring weapons to this school. This is not Verdant Arcanum, you know?"

  "Yes, we know—"

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  I quickly intervene, touching his mouth to halt his response.

  I am thankful for Arthur's intervention, but it has not helped diffuse the situation. I think it’s gotten worse.

  I decide to use fabricated truths mixed with lies and hope he will buy it.

  Taking a deep breath, I muster as much sincerity as possible into my voice.

  "I'm sorry, Professor. My father gave me those guns as a gift, and I didn't have the time to pack them away."

  Maurice looks at me, his green eyes slightly glowing.

  "I see…"

  Without warning, he tosses the guns back to me. My reflexes kick in, and despite the surprise, my hands close around them securely.

  "Since it's the first day of middle school, I decided to let you go. Don't bring those again," he states, his voice firm yet forgiving.

  I nod quickly, relief flooding through me. The tension in the air has eased, at least for the moment. To my surprise, he accepted my lie without question, and though I feel a pang of guilt, I’m grateful he bought it.

  "Okay, the next topic I want to discuss with you two is training."

  "Training?" Arthur asks.

  Maurice nods. "Yes. I see potential in you both, and I wanted to train you personally."

  The word potential echoes in my mind, especially since my status as a Manaless makes me question what Maurice could see in me.

  "Professor, what potential did you see in me?" I ask.

  Maurice's response is a knowing smirk. "Oh, you have potential, and you just don't know it," he assures, his eyes flickering with a light hinting at deeper knowledge.

  Why do I have a feeling that Maurice can read my mind? Crap, this will be bad if he can.

  However, Maurice's demeanor remains nonchalant, so I guess he can't read minds.

  Arthur rises from his chair. "I'm sorry, but I have to reject your offer, Professor. My family is providing me with enough training facilities."

  Arthur's response is unexpected; he conveys his decision with a sense of finality.

  Maurice's reaction is subtle, a slight nod acknowledging Arthur's choice. However, the focus quickly shifts to me.

  "What about you, Dominic?"

  The moment to decide has come. I think about the offer and weigh my options. Training with Maurice is a rare chance, especially because of my situation.

  If I accept, I could gain the skills and knowledge I need to survive as a Manaless. But my father also promised to train me, which puts me in a tough spot.

  After a short moment of thought, my choice becomes clear. Training with both Maurice and my father is too good to pass up. It could greatly improve my abilities and help me face what's coming.

  "I'll accept your offer, Professor. Your training and my father's will greatly accelerate my progress."

  Maurice's reaction is one of satisfaction, a slight smile crossing his features. "That's great! Meet me here tomorrow at 3 PM."

  “Okay, Professor.” I reply.

  “With that out of the way, you may now leave.”

  I nod, and Arthur and I rise from our seats. We step out of the classroom and into the corridor.

  "Hah!" Arthur lets out an exaggerated sigh, stretching his arms above his head. "Man, today was exhausting."

  "Yeah.” I can't help but smile in agreement. The day's events replaying in my mind as we walk away.

  "Hey."

  It is then that a feminine voice catches our attention.

  Turning back, I see Lumi approaching us, her stride confident yet measured.

  What does she want from us?

  "You…" Lumi's finger points directly at me. "Are too weak."

  Her words, though blunt, aren't meant as an insult. Rather, it's Lumi's way of advising me to reconsider my aspirations, given my Manaless status. It's an attempt at help, albeit delivered in a manner that leaves much to be desired regarding tact.

  I expected this from her.

  Despite the cold front, Lumi tries her best to help other people, though she doesn't easily trust anyone due to what happened to her in the past.

  Arthur immediately positions himself between Lumi and me. "Hey, how about you back off, Everheart," he says, his tone firm yet not aggressive.

  "I'm just telling the truth, Lyon," Lumi says. Her response is as indifferent as her initial critique.

  With those final words, she turns on her heel and walks away, leaving us in the wake of her blunt assessment.

  As Lumi walks away, a resolve settles within me—I need to keep my distance.

  Being involved in her complex life is something I prefer to leave to the story's protagonist. Let him navigate the intricacies of Lumi Everheart's life.

  My path, though uncertain, would ideally steer clear of such complications.

  "Jeez, what's the deal with her?" Arthur's voice pulls me from my thoughts, echoing the moment's perplexity.

  I respond with a noncommittal shrug, unsure how to articulate my feelings about the encounter.

  Changing the subject, Arthur brings up a lighter topic. "Anyways, Doms, I haven't eaten Auntie Celine's croissants. Can I hang out at your place a bit?"

  He casually mentions my mother's baking—and, by that, shows he knows my family. It's unexpected but not unwelcome.

  It seems Arthur and Dominic are closer than I thought, their bond going beyond just school. It's a new detail, but it helps me understand how deep their friendship really is.

  "Sure," I reply, warmth finding its way into my voice.

  Sharing a piece of my "home" with Arthur feels grounding, even while living as Dominic. It reminds me of the normal, simple joys that friendship brings—despite all the magic and mysteries around us.

  As we leave the school, the day’s events sit heavily, yet excitingly, on my shoulders.

  Every moment—Maurice’s strange but tempting offer, Lumi’s blunt warning, and now Arthur’s quiet request to enjoy something ordinary—paints a clearer picture of my new life in Sylvestria.

  ════ ?★? ════

  While Dominic and Arthur walk side by side below, Maurice stands silently by a window on the second floor, watching them from the shadowed corridor.

  “So… André has a son, huh?” Maurice murmurs.

  In his hand, he holds a file—Dominic’s student record. His sharp eyes scan the page: name, age, academic scores, contact information, listed guardians… and buried beneath it all, confidential data that only staff can access.

  He pauses at the name André, highlighted as Dominic’s father.

  “No wonder the kid's shown this much potential,” Maurice mutters. “If André's the one raising him, then he's already been through more training than most seasoned cadets.”

  He glances back at the photo clipped to the file—Dominic’s ID shot. His expression appears calm, almost ordinary, but there is something in those eyes… something unreadable.

  Maurice narrows his gaze.

  “There’s a storm brewing in that boy,” he says quietly. “He might not realize it yet, but one day… he’s going to leave a mark on this world.”

  He closes the file slowly.

  “And when that time comes…” Maurice’s lips curl into a small, knowing smile. “I want a front-row seat.”

  “Monsieur Maurice.”

  Maurice turns around at the sound of the voice echoing through the hallway. At the far end stands Principal Cloud.

  “Monsieur Cloud.” Maurice places a hand over his chest and offers a polite bow.

  “Ah, no need for that, Monsieur Maurice,” Cloud says with a smile. “After all, you are one of the legendary [SS] Ranked Magicians of Sylvestria.”

  “Perhaps,” Maurice replies with a soft chuckle. “But within these halls, I am merely a professor, and you are the principal.”

  'So humble!' Principal Cloud thinks, clearly impressed.

  “Is there something I can help you with?” Maurice asks, turning his full attention to him.

  “Yes, actually,” Cloud says, stepping closer. “I was curious—why would a Magician of your caliber choose to teach at a middle school like ours?”

  Maurice looks out the window, the corner of his mouth curving into a faint smile. “Originally, I had not planned to. I applied to teach at Verdant Arcanum, but they rejected me.”

  Cloud’s eyes widen in disbelief. “They rejected you? But you are one of the few [SS] Ranked Magicians in all of Sylvestria!”

  “Indeed. However, Verdant Arcanum had a specific policy for Magicians of [A+] Rank and above who wished to become professors: they had to already have a pupil under their wing—someone actively aspiring to become a Stargate Raider.”

  “Ah, I see,” Cloud says, nodding in understanding. “So you came here to find that pupil.”

  “Exactly.” Maurice turns back from the window to face him. “And while there are certainly promising students here—Lumi Everheart and Arthur Lyon come to mind—I have already chosen someone.”

  Cloud tilts his head, intrigued. “And who might that be?”

  “Dominic E?eforte.”

  Cloud blinks in surprise. “Dominic E?eforte? But… isn’t he—”

  “Manaless?” Maurice finishes for him, still smiling. “Yes. But Verdant Arcanum’s rules never specified that the pupil must already possess Mana. Only that they must have the potential and the ambition to become a Stargate Raider.”

  Cloud’s expression shifts slowly from skepticism to admiration. “I see. But… would Mayor André even allow it?”

  Maurice smirks knowingly. “Oh, do not worry about that. He will.”