Editing Ancient Magic Arc Volume 1: Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 3===


After the teacher dismissed the students, I, Kamito Toma, had been asked to see him in his office. I quickly packed my things and left the room, I walked to the front and in front of the princess, Erina Lesage. To me, she's my childhood friend and someone I deeply admire as one of the greatest magicians I know, while thinking that, I exit the classroom. On the way to the teacher's office, I can hear the students talking, saying cruel and hateful things about me. They all look down on me, to them, I'm no more than a failure magician. 

Well, I have gotten this kind of thing my entire life, so I had to get used to it. Well, I am scared of myself having gotten use to this unfairness directed towards me. I'm scared of it, because it means my heart is hardening. In everything I've read, once ones heart is hardened, he turns into... nevermind, its not important.

Though, not all people are bad and unfair toward me, there's people like Uncle Tanin and long ago, the magician that I met deep in the forest where my house is now. 

At that time, I was still very young. I think I was around 5 or 6 years old. I went deep into the forest, because I heard many spirits live there, and by making a contract with one we can raise our magic capacity. 

Well as you know, children of that age do not fear anything, they always move toward the thing they find fun and interesting. 

Sadly my memory from that time isn't that clear, but I do remember one thing about the person who saved my life from the monsters that live deep in the forest, the memory is vague, I asked him whether the rumor is true or not. That person told me it was true, but it's also a very dangerous thing to be done. He said, in making a contract with a spirit, it may choose one life. The last thing I remember is that person disappeared and I'm left inside my house waking up on my bed.

"Well, that's all I can remember from that time."

Then, without knowing it, I arrive in front of the teacher office. I knock on the door before I enter the office. Inside the office, other teachers were waiting for me on his side.

"Ah, you're finally here. I would like to discuss the test that will be held in the next 3 weeks."

"Hai?"

I feel quite nervous about what we will be discussing.

"Last week, all of us teachers had the faculty meeting for the test. We discussed many things, we also talked about you."

He was now looking at me very seriously, his eyes slowly narrowing.

"You're the first case we've ever encountered. You’re the first student who's magic capacity cannot increase by much, and the process by which your magic capacity goes up normally is very slow, almost as if your magic capacity refuses to grow. To be blunt, I don't believe you can grow as a magician much higher than this. All of us teachers feel that it would be impossible for you to pass the test."

He looked at me quite glumly. So they are going to kick me out after all, huh? Well I can't blame them, I probably won't pass this test. But still......... I would still like to try. However, as I was thinking that, he said something that surprised me.

"That's why all of us teachers decided to put you on the same team as the top student at our school. This will give you a small chance to pass the test, allowing you to graduate as a middle rank magician."

"I see..."

After hearing what the teacher told me, I felt kind of sad and some complicated feelings being mixed up in my heart. It made me panic and speak up to the teacher.

"If I can show some dramatic improvement in the test, it means I still have a chance to continue my studies, right!?"

The teacher wore a look of surprise at what I had said.

"I'm happy with your spirit, but as I've said, the things that we taught you in these 3 years have not had that much of a result. What can you do in only 2 weeks?"

"Hmmm......... I'll do hellish training by myself!"

After thinking for a bit, I steeled my resolve and declared that. However, the teachers didn't look to convinced. After staring at me for several minutes, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"Well, do what you think is necessary. And if some miracles can happen, maybe there is still a possibility. Just do your best, that is all we needed to talk to you about, you are free to go now."

"Thank you, and have a nice day."

"You to Toma, don't strain yourself to much, OK?"

"Hai!"

After that I ran out of the teacher's office.

"Do you really think he can improve in 2 weeks?"

One of the female teachers asked him as soon as Toma was gone.

He sighed once more before replying.

"Its been 3 years and he hasn't improved, but.......... he is his son. If anyone could drastically improve in 3 weeks, its him. He certainly has the proper motivation now."

After saying that, the teacher smiled..........

I opened the door and exited the teacher's office. As soon as I closed it, I turned around and............

BHAM

"Kyaa!"

The sound of bumping into someone mixed with their scream.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Here, grab my hand."

I held my hand out for the person, I was very surprised to see the person I bumped into was none other than, Erina Lesage, our school's top student. I quickly helped her stand up and apologized to her. I tried to quickly walk away, but.......... she suddenly snatched my hand into both of hers, causing me to stop in my tracks.

"Wait!!!"

I was stunned at her response. I hope she knows it was an accident and decides to forgive me. I'll try apologizing again.

"If it's about what just happened, I am very sorry."

"No it's not that. Do you have some time right now? I would like to talk with you."

"Ah... no. I'm sorry, I don't have the position to speak with the princess."

I know my place, it was explained to me very clearly back then. Also, I don't want to turn the entire student body into my enemy. If that happens, I have no idea what will happen to me in the test later on. 

Of course, I can't tell her that, she has a very uptight and serious personality, so I just keep silent..........

For so long she wanted to talk to this boy before her eyes, to regain her best friend. She's unsure why he did, but one day he just stopped talking to her. And everyday since then, she had always looked for an opportunity to speak with this boy. She thought an opportunity had finally presented itself when he bumped into her. But then when she heard him say those words........

"I don't have the position to speak with the princess."

She felt anger bubbling up inside her. Everyone had always avoided her because she was the princess, but him.......... he always made her feel like she was a normal child, it was probably the biggest reason she fell in love with him. But now.......... he was going to avoid her for the same reasons everybody else had? She couldn't help it, she lost control. She felt...... She felt..... What was it that she felt?

"Why Toma!? It has been 6 years since we last spoke or met with each other! Why did you always avoid me for 6 whole years!? Do you even care about me anymore!?"

Of course I still cared about her, she was my only friend. I wanted to say something, anything, but.......... nothing came out of my mouth.

".............."

".............."

There was a long silence between us. This thing from the past, and now. What I want to do, what I need to do, what is my dream, and my life. What do I want to do? I never thought about it to much, what I did until now, was move forward and concentrate on what's in front of me. 

So, what should I do now? I start to open my mouth and tell her.

"Well, you see.......... it's not that I hate you, its just that.......... I have my dream and I am struggling to fulfill it."

"Your dream?"

"It's an impossible dream, no matter how hard I try.......... it can't come true, but even so, I still want to struggle till the bitter end. I want to do whatever I can to reach it, no matter how inevitable it looks to everyone else."

".............."

".............."

And another long silence came between us again. I was the first to break the silence.

"Then, I think I should go now. I have many things to prepare for my training. Goodbye."

After I said that, she released my hand from her grasp. I walked away without saying anything. After walking a bit, I took a peek behind me. Her back was against the wall, she was hugging her legs close to her chest with her head buried into her knees. I could see the slight trembling of her body.......... she was crying. I could feel my heart ache at the sight of her like that, but still.......... this is for the best. So in my heart, I whispered an apology to her and continued moving.

'I wonder what brought that on so suddenly..........'

Well, no matter how hard I think about it, I won't find out. So lets go renew my spirits and go prepare for my training. I can take tomorrow off after confirming the one on one battle arrangement. So I think I'll stop by Uncle Tannin's place first before I go home. 

Not that long later, I arrive at the vegetable shop owned by Tannin. A lot of people were buying vegetables from him. He's very busy, so I wait until the crowd dies down a bit before I call out to Uncle, Tanin.

"Uncle!"

Hearing my call, Uncle Tanin directs his gaze toward me, and calls out to me.

"Oh, Toma. What is it?"

"About the talk this morning, I plan to leave my house for 2 weeks, so I'm thinking of selling all my vegetables to you. If interested, then I will bring it to you tomorrow morning."

"Oh, that should be great! But are you sure?"

"Yes, because I will be away for quite a long time. I also need to buy something for my training, before my test 3 weeks from today."

"Now I see.......... Ok, bring me your vegetables tomorrow, I will happily buy them from you."

"Got it, then see you tomorrow uncle."

"Goodbye."

After saying goodbye, I continue walking back to my home outside the city. I arrived back at my house not long after exiting the east gate.

A house made from wood and dry leaf that looks very old, and inside of it is very empty. I put my things down and looked out the window. It was almost night time, so I had to go get some fire wood before it got to dark. I also need to prepare the bath and cook some food for myself. 

After I collected enough fire wood, I prepared some food for my dinner. Nothing fancy, just some simple stir fried vegetables, some salted grilled fish, and some rice. 

It was a very simple thing for dinner, and yet, he ate it with a satisfied feeling of fulfillment. even though it was quite simple food that you can find every where, to Toma this is a very rare thing for him. Most of the time, he eats potatoes, because he cannot get rice every day, and potatoes can be grown by himself easily and it does not take that long for it to be harvested. But for rice, its very difficult to grow in his field, and the price for rice is quite expensive. 

That's why to him, this meal he eats tonight is very luxurious. But to others, it was just an ordinary meal they can have every day. 

Later, when he finished eating his dinner and washing the dishes, he went and prepared the water for his bath. 

I used the steel drum I got from the city that had been thrown away, and used it as my bathtub. I know, I'm pretty creative. I put fire wood below the drum and started a fire. After several minutes, I checked the temperature of the water to see if it's warm enough or not. 

"Hmmm........ I think this is warm enough."

I undress and wash my-self first before I get into the tub. I didn't forget to bring the book that I always read, so I can relax and read the book that I love.

"Ha....., it feels so nice and warm, hmm I can relax quite a bit."

Then I open the book and read it while I relax in side the bathtub.

After a while, I come out of my bath, dry myself, and dress in my sleep ware. 

Afterwards I go to bed, because I need to wake up early tomorrow morning, to harvest my vegetable and bring it to uncle Tannin. However, as I lay in my bed, my mind wanders to earlier today. Why did she stop me and talk to me today, after 6 years of us not talking to each other...... And then, her voice suddenly echoes in my mind.

"Do you even care about me anymore!?"

"Pshh.......... of course I still care for you.......... Why can't you see that's the whole reason I've been avoiding you?"

I muttered to myself, before giving into the cold embrace of the night.