The autumn sun rose over the hills beyond Whimwood Preacademy, bathing the academy towers in a warm golden hue. A quiet excitement filled the air. Today, Css Aether-3 would venture beyond academy walls for their first formal mana environment exploration and combat simution, led by none other than Master Rivel herself.
The Field Training Begins
Kagami adjusted his travel cloak and gnced at Iren and Minna, who walked beside him. Iren clutched his wand tightly, eyes sharp. Minna, in contrast, hummed a tune as her golden curls bounced with each step.
“You think they’ll really throw monsters at us?” Iren asked.
“Hope not,” Kagami shrugged, “but... wouldn’t mind testing some new stuff.”
Minna smirked. “Just don’t go passing out again like during the st exam.”
Kagami flushed. “That was different!”
Up ahead, Master Rivel’s commanding voice called out, “Form up! We’re entering the Hollowwind Range. Stay in your teams and obey all orders.”
They crossed a glowing boundary ward, stepping into wild mana terrain where elemental energy pulsed unnaturally. Trees whispered with arcane voices. Even the dirt felt like it shimmered with magic breath.
---
The Ambush
An hour into their trek, the earth trembled.
From the canopy, a sudden burst of violet fire rained down—wild rogue constructs, born from unstable mana nodes, had been drawn by the students’ presence.
Master Rivel spun midair, unching an earth spell to protect half the css. “Team B and C, retreat and hold the perimeter!”
Kagami looked to Minna and Iren. “Cover me.”
They nodded without hesitation.
Kagami stepped forward, focusing his chakra and pulling in surrounding mana. Now was the time.
---
The Fusion Unleashed
He smmed his hand into the ground.
“Hellfme Binding Circle no Jutsu!”
A glowing circle of red and gold glyphs exploded beneath the rgest construct. Fming dragons spiraled inward, locking the creature in pce as it roared in agony. The fire scorched the air, and the creature's body pulsed with disorientation as its limbs weakened. The spiritual heat warped the nearby mana, leaving it stunned.
Kagami panted, eyes glowing faintly. “Not done yet.”
He dashed forward.
“Sylph Step Mirage!”
The wind wrapped around his legs, and his form fractured into four blurred images. Each illusion sprinted ahead, one slicing the air with taijutsu speed, another casting weak wind bdes to harass fnks.
“Above you!” shouted Iren.
“Stormcall Arcanum Lance!” Kagami raised his hand as crackling sigils coalesced into a brilliant purple lightning spear. He hurled it straight at a second beast’s chest. It hit with a thundercp, sending the monster crashing into a rock and cutting off its magical core.
---
Master Rivel, in mid-duel herself, paused. Her eyes locked on Kagami.
She hadn’t even taught him those names. He was inventing them. Fusing them.
The earth cracked. Another beast lunged from below.
“Gaia’s Grasping Cataclysm!” Kagami smmed his fist down. Rune-marked stone hands burst from the ground, grabbing the rogue monster and draining its mana. The earth groaned under the force.
“Kagami, behind you!” Minna screamed.
From the river, another construct surged—water-wrapped and razor-toothed.
Kagami turned slowly.
His body screamed from overuse, but he held out one hand.
“Aqua Arcane Torrent!!”
A spiraling column of roaring, mana-infused water crashed into the final enemy, washing it away and pinning it under shimmering waves that sapped its strength.
Kagami took one step forward, eyes dimming.
Then colpsed.
---
Two Days Later — Master Rivel’s Cottage
The scent of herbs and soft wind ruffled the curtains. Kagami groaned as his eyes fluttered open. A familiar pair of voices hovered near.
“Kid,” said Zack with forced calm. “So you finally wake up.”
Kagami blinked. “Z-Zack?”
“You passed out for two days,” Mikay said sharply, standing over him with a stern look. “Do you understand how worried we were?”
Kagami sat up slowly. “Two… days?”
“You burned through everything,” Zack said. “Mana. Chakra. Even your spirit was dry. You slept like a mana-dead dwarf.”
Master Rivel stood nearby, arms crossed, her eyes unreadable. “You mixed it. Mana and chakra. Five times, with full incantation yers.”
Kagami looked down. “...I wanted to see if I could. The power... felt real. Complete.”
Rivel nodded slowly. “What you did was more than complete. It was impossible.”
Mikay frowned. “I told you not to mix it again.”
Kagami looked at them, then offered a small smile. “I promise. I’ll study real magic from now on. From Master Rivel. I’ll chant and learn the old ways… But when my body’s strong enough... I will use it again.”
He clenched his fist. “This time without fainting.”
There was silence.
Then Zack chuckled and patted Kagami’s head. “You really are the kind of kid who’ll grow up to either save the world or break it.”
Master Rivel smirked. “Let’s make sure it’s the first one.”
---
