Chapter 13: The Weakest Black Star [1]
The campus was large. It took me about five minutes to get to the main building from the dorms.
[Dorset Hall]
That was where we were supposed to be.
It was one of the seven halls of the institute and where first-year cadets attended their lessons.
".....What class are we in?" nove(l)bi(n.)com
The Hall was large.
It was one big building with a pathway flanked by vibrant flowers and trees that guided toward the entrance, where a row of statues stood in solemn formation.
It overflowed with students.
Most troublesome were the gazes they looked at me with. Some avoided me, while others seemed to be openly hostile.
I was fine with that.
It came as a result of my actions on the first day.
"Our class should be there."
Leon pointed towards a certain door. At first glance, it didn't seem all that impressive.
But...
"Why is there nobody going there?"
Unlike the other classrooms, which were open and filled with cadets passing through, this one seemed rather isolated. As if people were avoiding it.
"....Did you not read the manual?"
"Manual...? Ah."
I took a small leaflet from my pocket. I remember receiving it yesterday, but because my focus had been on my training, I forgot all about it.
"This?"
"Yeah."
I scanned through the contents.
In short.
"We're late."
".....That's right."
"And you didn't tell me about it?"
"I thought you were aware."
"..."
There were times when I just really wanted to strangle this guy.
If not for the fact that he was helping me and that he was stronger, I'd already be at it.
That said,
'I wonder what his end goal is...'
I was still not sure why he was helping me. He said something about it benefiting him.
How so?
'As expected, I still can't trust him.'
The same was true for him to me.
In a way, we weren't that much different.
Staring at the door to the classroom, I sighed.
I felt strangely nervous. It wasn't so much because I was scared of people challenging me. I was fine with that. What I was nervous about was my abilities.
They were not up to par at that moment.
I was probably the weakest cadet present.
"Huu."
After secretly collecting my breath, I slowly and carefully approached the door.
Creaaak—
The interior was sleek; long wooden desks lined up the sides, cascading up. They were all filled to the brim, with barely any empty spots.
Immediately, all eyes fell on me.
They were burdensome. But the most burdensome of them all was the one that belonged to the woman in front of me.
Most likely, our instructor.
"Cadets."
Her crystal blue eyes shifted between Leon and me. She had short brown hair and seemed to be in her mid-forties.
Alternating her gaze between the two of us she finally opened her mouth to say,
"....You're late."
I was already aware.
Things would've been easier if I just apologized, but I recalled Leon's description of the previous Julien and answered flatly,
"That seems to be the case."
"Seems to be the case...?"
My answer left her exasperated as she made a face. I felt a little sorry for her, but I didn't show it on the outside and kept my face stoic.
She opened her mouth but closed it right after.
"Just go. Take a seat."
".....Thank you."
I did just that.
Finding the nearest seat I could find, I sat down and took a breath.
That was easier than I expected.
She was probably a lenient teacher. Or so I thought.
I was just not ready.
But...
'You're telling me I merely scratched the surface of what's possible?'
"Cadet Julien."
Feeling the instructor's gaze, I turned to face her.
"....As an Emotive Mage yourself, what do you think about Cadet Anders's answer?"
What did I think about it?
He's right.
All his words made sense. From what I experienced, he was right in absolutely every way.
The [Emotive] field was a path that would probably take someone ages to master.
It encompassed all the experiences of one's life and molded them in the form of emotions. Unless someone constantly experiences all those emotions, they won't be able to improve.
In that regard, it was the weakest of all the other paths.
But...
I turned my wrist slightly.
My eyes fell on the clover tattoo.
Was that the same for me?
"...."
The classroom fell silent.
They all were seemingly awaiting my answer. 'What's he going to say?', 'How will he answer with?'
Their faces all said the same thing.
And I looked back to face the cadet.
Anders was it?
I found the corner of my lips lifting slightly.
"....It's bullshit."
An answer flowed out of my mouth.
"Weakest? There's no such thing."
I wasn't just bullshitting at the moment.
These were my true thoughts.
"There's only a weak person. No weak path."
Just because the Emotive field was the hardest to progress in didn't mean it was the weakest class.
From the start, the question was wrong.
"You say that it takes a lot of time for an Emotive mage to be strong. On what basis do you say that?"
"What basis?"
The Cadet looked at me as if I were stupid.
"It's common sense. Take a look at all the strongest mages in the world. Our Empire has seven Monarchs. How many of them are from the Emotive field? None!"
He pointed his finger at me.
All of a sudden, he started talking about something different.
Most probably what he wanted to say from the start.
".....Do you think none of us see it? Your mana flow is weak. You don't even seem to be capable of properly controlling your mana. On good god, I don't know why you're ranked first."
His words seemed to echo the thoughts of many of the people present in the classroom, with many of them nodding along.
I took in the sight.
"My best guess is because of your achievements in the Emotive field. Even then, I doubt you'll be able to do anything to me."
When he finally said what he wanted to say, with a look of scorn, he added,
"Simply put, you're not fit for the role. You're weak."
Once again, the room fell into silence.
All eyes were trained on me.
"Haaa...."
With all attention on me, I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.
'....So they noticed.'
It wasn't as though I didn't expect it.
Everyone must've noticed it during the first day. The fact that I was weak. That I wasn't on the same level as them.
I understood this even more clearly than they did.
It was for this reason that I provoked everyone.
Trained to the point of insanity.
His words made sense, and there was nothing wrong with them.
Still,
"You're wrong."
My eyes were still closed, so I couldn't see.
All that I saw was darkness.
In that darkness, I could feel my hand move towards my forearm. Where the four-leaved clover rested.
I was a little hesitant at first, but then, I was reminded of my goal.
That was when my mind became firm.
Right.
To achieve my goal, I need to make full use of all the advantages I have.
Therefore...
My finger pressed down on my forearm.
'...Nobody but me can be the Black Star.'