After descending from the hill, Sharl stopped in front of a nearby school building.
“This is Building D. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be coming here.”
“Got it. You started coming here in April, right?”
“Um… I started attending regularly around that time.”
Regularly?
“What do you mean?”
“You see, this place isn’t restricted to just anyone. I’ve been coming here since I was little and took炼金 (alchemy) classes that I liked. So, I’ve been here for quite a while. Actually, there are many people like that. Our class usually has around 30 people, but about half don’t attend anything other than their target classes.”
“What’s alchemy?”
“You don’t know?”
“Isn’t it that thing that kidnaps kids?”
Wasn’t it Black Magic?
“Stop that… it’s the regular potion-making and medicine creation.”
“Potions huh…?”
Never heard of it.
“Want one? Drink it if you’re not feeling well.”
Sharl said that then handed me a flask filled with blue liquid that seemed to appear from nowhere.
“…Hey, the principal was using something similar too. Was that a magic trick?”
The principal also pulled out a uniform and keys seemingly from nowhere.
“Ah…that’s Spatial Magic.”
Wow…
“Which class?”
“It’s Basic Magic, so probably part of the Foundation Studies… I think all students here can use it from the start.”
“Can I?”
“Well, maybe… Anyway, just drink this one when needed?”
At first glance, it doesn’t look like any kind of soft drink… No, isn’t it too blue?
“That’s right. Drink it when you’re tired. Oh, but it only restores your physical strength, so it won’t help with viral colds.”
Well, for those, you see a doctor.
“Thanks.”
“If you have any troubles, just ask. I can at least help you out with advice.”
This girl’s too kind.
She seems like a proper young lady, but…
“Sharl is in Class C… Is it okay for me to go?”
“Um…do you have your smartphone?”
“Of course not.”
I shook my head and took out my phone, but the screen showed no service.
“No service… makes sense. This is a different world after all.”
“It won’t work here, but of course, you can use it back there, so let’s exchange contacts. Let me know if anything happens.”
We exchanged phone numbers.
“Thanks. While we’re at it, tell me: which class teaches curse removal magic?”
“Curse removal magic? That’s a Year 3 class. Hmm…the closest one is 5 days from now in Class A. It’s part of the ‘Curse Studies’ subject.”
Sharl pulled out a piece of paper from somewhere and showed it to me. It was a timetable, and indeed, there was “Curse Studies” on Friday afternoon.
“Can I attend the A class one?”
“Yes, though not many people cross between classes.”
“Hmm… this is some serious stuff. ‘Curse Studies’… even though it’s about removal.”
“How can you learn to remove curses if you don’t know what curses are? There aren’t any doctors who don’t know diseases, right?”
That’s true.
“Okay… Can I even take that class?”
“Curse Studies? It’s advanced, so it’s tough?”
Advanced… as expected.
“I’m just curious.”
“Hmm… is it part of your job? Anyway, you can take it. How about we attend it together?”
“Is that alright?”
“Eventually I’ll attend it too, so it’s not a bad idea to know what it’s like. Plus, my Friday afternoon class is Alchemy, so I’ll have time”.
She’s already earned her credits, I guess.
By the way, our D Class has History on Friday afternoon.
Alright, I’m calling this a skip.
“Would you mind if I tag along? It’s kind of intimidating going to a senior’s class alone.”
I’m usually not easily intimidated, but going to a senior class does feel a bit uncomfortable.
“You’ll see when you get there, but the difference in years doesn’t matter much. It’s actually harder when you’re in the same year but different classes.”
Do they not get along?
“Hmm… sorry. Could you give me a hand?”
“Sure.”
Sharl’s really kind.
“Well then, thanks. Really appreciate it. You saved me today.”
“No prob, this is the least I can do. Do your best. See you. Again on Friday.”
Sharl turned around, elegantly waved, and started walking up the hill.
Wait, shouldn’t I be going that way too?
Of course, I need to head home as well, so I followed behind Sharl.
“……………”
“……………”
We walked silently together until we reached the fork where the girls’ dormitory split from the boys’ dormitory.
Then Sharl turned around with red cheeks.
“Oh, work hard from tomorrow. See you later then,” she said, with a blush, elegantly waved, and headed toward the girls’ dormitory.
I watched her briskly walk away and then climbed toward the boys’ dormitory.
“She was an interesting one.”
Back at the boys’ dormitory, I nodded in agreement, slipped my slippers back into place, and started climbing the stairs. I noticed two boys sitting on the sofa at the small resting area just past the staircase, chatting.
“Hey? Haven’t seen you before.”
“Really.”
The two noticed me and looked over.
“I’ll be starting tomorrow. Got a tour today.”
Saying that, I approached their location at the resting area.
“Hmm… are you a dorm student?”
The blond handsome guy brushed his bangs aside as he asked.
“Kind of… I’m not sure if you can call someone a dorm student if they’re commuting but living here.”
“What room are you in?”
The other guy, who had brown hair and looked stout, asked too.
“Right there.”
“Hmm, neighbor then?”
“I’m across the hall.”
I pointed to my room, and the two nodded in agreement. Apparently, the stout guy was my neighbor while the handsome one lived across.
“My name’s Nagase Tsukasa with Nagase being the family name.”
“Ah, you’re Japanese. I’m Cedric Seager. The eldest son of Seager Family, one of England’s most prestigious families. Haven’t heard of it?”
The handsome one again brushed his bangs away as he mentioned this.
“Nah, not a clue. What about you?”
“Oi… Cedric’s taking it lightly. He’s sulking.”
After the stout guy said that and I looked at Cedric, he did seem a bit down.
“You should save that for the girls. It’s just annoying when you do it to a guy.”
“Huh… Don’t know the Seager family? They’re a prestigious one?”
He really doesn’t give up…
“Sorry, I’m basically a newbie wizard, so I don’t know much. By the way, where’s England?”
“Europe?”
“Really… are East Asians this low in general knowledge?”
“Not exactly. Japanese people are smart, right? Akaba’s dumb though…”
“Akaba?”
“Never mind, to be honest, I barely know half the countries in the world. I do know America and Australia though. Oh, and Russia.”
“And France.”
“Right…”
Seems like most big, easily recognizable ones.
“…. Cedric, don’t lose heart. You smell like an idiot. Just like Akaba.”
“…. That’s how it feels.”
Both of them were whispering as they looked at me.
“Ah, wait. I know China too and Brazil. Also Canada.”
“Alright, alright. At least you know the big and noticeable ones… My name’s Frank. Frank Heidrich. I doubt you’ve heard of it, but my family is one of the older ones in Germany.”
Wow…
Never heard of it, but if they’re old, surely they’re prestigious.
“Cedric and Frank… What are you guys doing here?”
“Nothing, we were out in town earlier and just came back, so we’re bored.”
Frank replied.
“Are you not going home?”
“We’ve left our family homes and live here now.”
There are people like that too, huh…
“You still live at home?”
Cedric pointed at my sock-less feet.
“Oh, I see. We don’t wear shoes inside our houses in Japan.”
“I know. There are a few Japanese students at this academy too”.
“Is that so?”
I only knew Toko.
By the way, is she even considered Japanese? She certainly looks Eastern Asian.
“Touko aside, there’s Akaba who’s the same age as you.”
“Who? Is she in this dorm?”
I’ve never heard of the Akaba family.
Then again, I don’t know much about it at all.
“Ah, no, she’s a girl. What about you, what class are you in?”
“I’m in D.”
“Hmm… we’re in the same then. We’re both in Year 1, Class D.”
“Really?”
Classmate then.
“Right. And Akaba’s in D Class too. If you see a black-haired girl staring blankly upwards, that’s her.”
“See… a cat?”
“Hmm. Maybe I’ll say hi.”
“Go for it. The connection with your fellow countrymen is important. Plus, she’ll probably get along with you.”
Frank smiled as he said that.
He probably meant she’s dumb too.
“Wow, there are all kinds of people.”
“Yeah. Be careful though, some aren’t worth talking to.”
“True. There are also stuck-up snobs…”
“Don’t glare at me. It’s a joke.”
Too blatant to call out there.
“Really, what kind of people are the bad ones?”
“The Ice Princess who’s overly proud or, if it’s another class, the Student Council President.”
Hm?
“I don’t know the Ice Princess, but I do know the Student Council President. They were just showing me around.”
“Seriously?!”
“Wow, really? Wouldn’t that be scary?”
Scary?
They were pretty kind throughout…
“Pretty normal.”
“Probably…”
“…. Is this guy alright?”
“…. A little off.”
These guys sure love having private conversations right in front of people.
“Hey, tomorrow’s your first day, right? How about you join us?”
Frank invited me.
“Alright? I could use the support as a newcomer.”
“Good to go.”
“Yeah, we’re classmates too.”
Good bunch of guys.
“Well then… I’ll rely on you guys. I still don’t fully understand the rules here.”
“Alright, I’ll be here in the morning. Don’t be late.”
Talking about morning, I should get up early…
Starting from 7 AM after a month of late waking…
“I’m not confident about it. It’s been a month since I last woke up early.”
“Confidence? …Aren’t you a student? That’s pretty normal.”
“Eh? Nah, I’m unemployed.”
Well, ex.
“…. I see.”
“…. It’s not for us, who left home to enjoy ourselves, to say this, but take care of your family.”
I get it.
I’ve done my share of disrespecting my parents by being unemployed.
Thanks for reading. If you found this story “fun!” or got curious about the “continuation?”, your bookmarking and rating it “★★★★★” would be a great encouragement in my writing.
Thank you very much!
