Magic in Anterthon: The Awakening Fire

Remembering Professor Rowan’s pointers, Kenneth had made significant progress. He managed to light all the candles without extinguishing them, a feat that filled him with a sense of accomplishment. Today, however, was an even bigger test—his first time joining the others in a practice match.

This time, it was a pair match: 2 vs. 2.

The teams were drawn by lots, and Kenneth found himself paired with Aine, while Rika was teamed up with Ash. Lucian would act as the referee.

Unlike the others, Kenneth was still weaker in controlling his fire magic, so he was given a handicap—a simple wooden sword to compensate for his limited magical ability.

“Are you ready, Kenneth?” Aine asked, her voice light and playful, as if the upcoming fight was a mere game.

“I’m ready,” Kenneth replied, though his stomach churned with nervousness. Aine’s excitement was palpable, her eyes sparkling with determination. It reminded Kenneth of the moment he’d seen her skillfully take down dark figures in their last encounter, and he knew she wouldn’t hold back today.

Across the field, Rika and Ash stood together, calm and focused, exuding confidence in their abilities. Kenneth couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated by how effortlessly they seemed to work together.

“Start!” Lucian’s voice rang out, signaling the beginning of the match.

Ash immediately cast an earth spell that destabilized the ground beneath Kenneth and Aine, causing the floor to ripple and crack. The targeted area began to shift, making it hard for them to maintain their balance.

Reacting quickly, Aine cast a high-level wind spell. With a wave of her hand, translucent, air-like wings formed on her and Kenneth’s backs, lifting them off the unstable ground and into the air. Kenneth’s eyes widened in surprise. This is advanced magic, he thought, marveling at her skill.

“That’s cheating!” Rika called out playfully, her eyes twinkling with challenge. “But don’t think I’ll let you stay up there for long!” With a swift motion, she raised her hands, and droplets of water materialized in the air above the arena. They hung suspended for a moment before Rika gestured them upward, sending them high into the ceiling. A flick of her wrist turned the droplets into sharp needles, and they began to rain down like a deadly barrage.

Aine and Kenneth darted through the arena, their wind-propelled flight allowing them to dodge most of the water needles. Still, a few managed to graze their skin, leaving stinging cuts in their wake. The water droplets were fast and precise, making it difficult to avoid them all.

Kenneth gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling up. I can’t keep running forever.

He tightened his grip on his sword and focused, summoning fire magic to his blade. The flame flickered weakly at first, but he forced more energy into it, pushing it to burn brighter. With quick, decisive slashes, he cut through the falling needles, the heat of his sword evaporating the water on contact. Each strike was swift, but it was clear that the flames weren’t at full strength—the fire struggled to hold as steady as he wanted.

Despite his best efforts, the droplets were relentless. The collision of fire and water created thick fog that swirled around the arena, reducing visibility.

Kenneth panted, feeling the strain. My fire isn’t strong enough, he thought, frustration gnawing at him. But he wasn’t about to give up. Not yet.

“This fog will make for a good diversion,” Kenneth said to Aine, a determined gleam in his eyes as an idea formed. If his fire wasn’t enough to overpower Rika’s magic, then maybe strategy could make up for it.

“Got it!” Aine responded instantly. Kenneth used the thick cloud of fog as cover, maneuvering behind it to flank Rika and Ash.

With a sharp flick of her wrist, Aine summoned a powerful gust of wind beneath Kenneth, propelling him forward toward Ash. Caught off guard, Ash quickly raised an earth barrier, barely blocking Kenneth’s strike. But Kenneth had been observing Ash’s defense patterns. He targeted the weak points of the barrier, his wooden sword connecting with cracks that began to form under pressure.

Amidst the clash, Kenneth caught sight of Rika preparing her next move, her hands glowing as water gathered around her. The sight of her magic made his heart race—he needed to act fast.

“Aine! Let’s go all in!” Kenneth shouted, urgency in his voice.

Aine responded without hesitation. She summoned another powerful gust, lifting Kenneth high into the air. As he ascended, Kenneth gathered fire magic into his palm. The flame flickered to life, but it wasn’t as large or fierce as he hoped. It danced weakly, barely holding together. Nevertheless, Kenneth hurled the flame down toward Rika and Ash, doing his best to push through.

Rika’s eyes narrowed. With a fluid motion, she summoned a massive wave of water, far larger and stronger than Kenneth’s flame. The water surged upward, crashing into the fire with ease. The impact caused a burst of steam, but it was clear that the fire was overpowered by the strength of her magic. The heat from Kenneth’s flame barely held up against the cool intensity of Rika’s water.

The steam created a momentary screen, and Kenneth knew it was their only chance. “Now’s our shot!” he called, using the haze to cover their next move.

Using Aine’s wind for support, they charged forward, relying on speed and strategy rather than pure magical power. Kenneth closed in on Rika with his sword, but just as his attack neared, Ash quickly raised another earth barrier. It wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to block Kenneth’s strike.

Ash immediately went on the offensive, sending rocks hurtling toward Kenneth. Aine, quick as always, summoned a gust of wind to deflect the projectiles and knock Ash off balance.

Ash hit the ground hard but unhurt, raising his hand in surrender. “I give up,” he said, his voice tinged with both exhaustion and respect for their teamwork.

“Good job, partner!” Aine exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm as she turned to Kenneth.

Kenneth, still catching his breath, managed a smile.

＊＊＊

All four of them were quickly treated by the healers who had been on standby during their practice match. Their minor injuries were easily healed, leaving everyone in good spirits.

“It’s your first practice match, but that was a solid fight!” Ash said with a grin, stretching his now-healed arm.

“Well, maybe because I had this,” Kenneth replied, holding up his wooden sword, feeling a bit awkward accepting the praise. He knew that without the sword, his magic still felt underwhelming compared to the others.

“Even with your magic still being a bit weak, your strategy was on point,” Rika added, her usually composed expression softened by a genuine smile. “You really know how to read the battlefield.”

Kenneth smiled, a bit embarrassed by the compliments but grateful nonetheless. “Thanks, but I think it was more of a team effort.”

Aine, who had been silently observing, chimed in with her usual playful tone. “It’s the result of his days practicing with that candle. The sow must reap.” She gave Kenneth a teasing grin, causing him to blush slightly at the attention.

“As a celebration for Kenneth and Aine’s victory, why don’t we go out for dinner?” Rika suggested, her usual cheerful energy shining through. The idea of unwinding after a tense practice had everyone perking up.

“Sounds good to me,” Ash called over to Lucian, who had been watching the group from a distance. “Lucian, you coming with us?”

Lucian shook his head, his expression serious, his focus seemingly elsewhere. “I’ve got matters with the family after this, so I can’t make it.”

Kenneth glanced at Lucian, realizing that despite their time at the academy, there was still a significant distance between them. They hadn’t interacted much, and Kenneth had yet to figure out what kind of person Lucian really was. The Luminen family wasn’t often mentioned in the novel, so Kenneth didn’t know much about their inner workings or their dynamic with the other families. All he knew was that the current Light Guardian, much like Lucian himself, seemed to keep a certain distance, almost as though they were outsiders in their own way.

“Alright, guess it’s just the four of us then,” Rika said with a light laugh, wrapping up the brief conversation with Lucian. Her ability to keep the mood upbeat in any situation never failed to impress.

“Let’s head out!” Aine chimed in enthusiastically, already making her way toward the exit, with Ash, Rika and Kenneth trailing behind her.

＊＊＊

In the heart of the town stood a renowned gourmet restaurant, famous for its exclusivity. Reservations were nearly impossible to secure, often booked five months in advance. However, thanks to Aine’s influence and the connections of the Mistral family, the group had managed to secure a table.

As they settled in, they were served the restaurant’s signature creamy polenta. The group eagerly savored each bite, letting the rich flavors envelop their senses.

“How was it?” Aine asked Kenneth, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Kenneth took a moment to consider his response before explaining the dish. “The balance of flavors is remarkable. The cream complements the cornmeal without overpowering it, and the seasoning enhances the dish while preserving its natural richness.”

Rika and Ash burst into laughter at Kenneth’s analytical remarks. “Only you would describe food like that!” Rika teased, nudging Ash playfully.

“Yeah, it’s like you’re breaking it down for a class or something,” Ash added, chuckling.

Kenneth smiled sheepishly, slightly embarrassed by their teasing. Aine, however, watched him with a thoughtful expression, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. His description of the dish reminded her of something, but she couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

Ash suddenly shifted the conversation, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “You know, Kenneth, I still want to call you ‘President.’ Have you thought about running for president of the student council?”

Kenneth chuckled, shaking his head. “What kind of logic is that, Ash? I’ve only been in this world for a short time—I don’t think I have much of a reputation yet.” He leaned back in his chair, thoughtfully. “And besides, I don’t want to rely on the influence that comes with being the Fireon successor. I want to do things my way.”

Ash let out a mock sigh. “That’s a shame. You’d make a great president. I liked the way you took charge earlier.”

Aine leaned in, her usual bright energy shining through. “So why don’t we make our own club instead? That way, we can do things our way!”

Rika’s face lit up. “Yes! I love that idea. We’ve never had the chance to form a club before, but now that there’s four of us—and maybe Lucian—we can finally do it.”

Ash nodded, clearly on board. “Lucian might be busy with his family stuff, but he could be interested. The only thing is… what kind of club should it be?”

Rika and Aine exchanged glances, brainstorming. “Magic study? Rune exploration?” Rika suggested, her tone excited as always when it came to academics.

Kenneth listened, quietly turning an idea over in his mind. The novels he had read back in his old world often featured investigation clubs or detectives uncovering secrets and solving mysteries. There was something about that kind of adventure that always appealed to him. And now, with everything strange happening around him, maybe starting a club with a similar focus could help him understand more about this new world. He suddenly perked up.

“What about an investigation club?” Kenneth asked, breaking into the conversation.

Aine, Ash, and Rika turned to him, curious.

Kenneth continued, a bit more confident now. “I’ve always loved the idea of investigating mysteries. There’s so much about this world I don’t know yet, and this could be a great way to learn more. Plus, it would help us train as successors, right? Investigating magical phenomena, solving mysteries… it fits perfectly.”

Rika’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “That’s perfect!"

Aine nodded enthusiastically. “I love it! It’s settled, then—we’re starting an investigation club!”

Kenneth couldn’t help but smile at how quickly his friends had agreed. It felt good to have their support. “That was fast,” he remarked, still a bit surprised by their eagerness.

Ash grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Wait, we still need someone to lead the club, and we need an advisor.”

Rika leaned forward, a teasing glint in her eye. “Didn’t we already decide that Kenneth’s going to be the president? I mean, it was kind of your idea.”

Ash’s eyes lit up with sudden realization. “Yes! That means I can keep calling you ‘President!’” he said, grinning widely.

Kenneth chuckled, shaking his head. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

Rika waved her hand dismissively. “And as for the advisor, Headmaster Nero would probably be perfect for this. He loves getting involved in unusual projects, and I’m sure he’d be excited to help us with something like an investigation club.”

Kenneth thought about it. Having Nero as their advisor could definitely give them an edge, not to mention a certain amount of credibility with the academy. “That might work.”

Ash clapped his hands together, satisfied. “Then it’s settled! We’ll talk to Headmaster Nero, and we’ll get this club officially started.”