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

===Part 4===


After Toma left the classroom, I, the top rank of the school, Erina Lesage, followed him from behind.

'What am I doing? Isn't this as if I am stalking him? No, this is so I can finally speak with him after 6 years.'

With that thought in mind, I renewed my will and determination. I followed him until I saw him go inside the teacher's office. What now? I want to know what they're talking about, so I use a spell that allows me to hear what's going on in there.

"I know it's bad to eavesdrop on someone's conversation, but I need to find out if this will possibly be my last chance to speak with him......"

I heard what they were saying. They're talking about Toma and the test. Instantly, my heart sank, I knew they were going to kick him out. However, as I thought that, I heard the teacher..........

"That's why all of us teachers decided to put you on the same team as the top student in our school......"

What the teacher said made my heart skip a beat, then it started to speed up. We were going to be on the same team, I wanted this for so long. My heart, full of joy, continued to speed up.

Then, I heard someone walk to the door. I panicked, I didn't have time to run away. But do I even want to run away? I want to speak with him right away. No, I don't want him to know I was spying on him.

"But where can I hide?"

To late, the door opened and he came out of the office. I panicked and tried to run, but........ due to my panicking, I messed up and bumped into him at the same time he turned around. The crash was followed by my scream.

"Kyaa...... ugh...... it looks like I hit my butt."

When I looked up he gave me his hand to help me up. While lightly blushing, I accepted his hand. Then he apologized to me many times, even though I told him it was OK. 

He tried to quickly walk away. Without thinking, I grabbed his hand. I tried to ask if we could talk, but.......... after he replied, everything got a little painful and messy.

"I'm such an idiot."

I whisper to myself, as I sat against this wall, allowing my tears to flow down my face. It's been a while since I cried like this. I thought my heart was already hard enough that I didn't feel this kind of pain anymore. Yet, somewhere deep down I was relieved I was still capable of feeling it.

After a while, I heard someone else heading to the door. Before the person could catch me there, I ran off and started heading home. 

When I arrived home, I immediately headed to the bathroom to draw a bath. After it filled up, I dipped myself into the tub. Immediately my mind wandered back to the events of earlier today. 

After taking the bath, I went to the dining room to eat dinner. Afterwards, I went back to my room and plopped onto my bed. 

Even though we were childhood friends, I hardly ever knew anything about him, his parents, or where he lived. Whenever I would ask him anything related to these things, he would change the subject. I don't even know what he's been up to these past 6 years.

"Heh........ I guess I really didn't know him as well as I thought I did."

I shake my head and begin to remember our time as children.

"Those times were really fun. We played a lot together, but when afternoon came we went our separate ways."

Even if I didn't know much about him then, I didn't care. He was always so kind to me, he always played whatever I wanted with me. However, as the years went by, he slowly started to spend less time with me. 6 years ago is when he finally stopped altogether. He stopped talking to me and whenever I would try to approach him he would start to avoid me.

"Heh....... there's no point in thinking about it now."

What should I do in the team battle? I can finally be on the same team as him. Maybe I'll even be able to talk with him. There has to still be a chance for us to grow closer.

"Heh........ maybe I should ask him tomorrow instead."

It's getting late, so I should get some sleep. Hopefully I have sweet dreams. Thinking that, I drift off into a deep peaceful slumber.


The rising sun and morning song of the birds caused me, Kamito Toma, to awaken.

"Chipp,chipp,chipp."

"Well, I need to gather the vegetables for Uncle Tannin today."

I mutter while rubbing my eyes.

After cooking and eating my breakfast, I went into my garden and gathered the vegetables. After I picked them all and placed them in my basket, I went off into the city. A little bit later, and I finally arrive at Uncle's shop

"Morning Uncle Tannin. Here are the vegetables that I promised you yesterday."

"Oh, you're finely here. Lets see, Hmmm........ as always, the vegetables you grow are perfect."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Ok, here's your payment, I put a little extra in it. Now, do your best in training and in the test."

"Thanks uncle Tanin, I will do my best. See you later."

After I give the vegetables and receive my payment from Uncle Tanin, I plan on heading to a shop to pick up supplies for my training. Before that however, I think that the one on one battle match up announcement will be posted soon. 

So I go to the school first, I know it's to early for any of the students to be there. They would probably head there around noon since they get today off. That's what I thought, but when I arrived, standing in front of the announcement board was.......... Erina Lesage. I guess I couldn't really expect less from the top ranked student in our school.

With the events of yesterday still fresh in my mind, I decided it would be best for me to walk away before she noticed me. She looked at me right as I was about to walk away. Of course fate would have a different plan from me.

'What do I do now? Should I still just walk away?'

As I was deep in thought, my body completely frozen, she walked closer to me. She fidgets around for a bit as she asks.

"Toma, I have something I need to ask you. Would you give me some of your time?"

Even after yesterday she's not going to give up, huh? Then I'll just have to get her to give up this time.

"Fine, but could we talk somewhere private? Somewhere nobody will see us?"

"A-Alone...... j-just us a-alone"

"(What does he mean by that; a place where nobody can see us..........)"

Erina Lesage's mind was filled with thoughts of things that happen when a boy and girl are alone, together, in a place where nobody can see them. At the same time, Toma spoke up.

"But before that, could you wait for a moment? I need to see the announcement for the one on one battle first."

"Ok."

Her face was bright red up to her ears, Toma however, didn't notice. He went to the  announcement board to see who his opponent would be. 

He was quite surprised to see the person he will be facing was the second rank in the school. He was going to do extremely hellish training if he wanted to win. Knowing that he would still have a chance to study at Rexform if he won, his spirit burned with determination.

"So where should we go?"

I asked, turning to face her.

"....... Where should we go?......."

As if she was being brought back to reality, she replayed my question back to me. So I took the initiative to decide the place.

"Then what about the roof? I don't think anyone will be there at this time of day."

"I have no problem with that."

I'm not sure why, but her face was slightly red as she replied.


At the rooftop.


"So, what do you need to talk about?"

He of course, already had that figured out. But until she stated otherwise, he hoped his guess was wrong.

She narrowed her eyes and frowned.

"I want to know why you have been avoiding me for 6 years?"

Unsurprisingly, his guess was not wrong. He sighed and started to answer.

"So its about this again. I already told you, I don't have the posit-"

However, before he could finish, she cut him off.

"Don't give me that! I don't believe you're someone who would accept that reasoning!"

"Then I guess you didn't know me as well as you thought you did."

She gasped. What he had just said hurt her more than he could have realized.

"How can you even say something like that! How could you just throw away a friendship like that!? Did it really mean so little to you!? Did I really mean so little to you!?"

He stayed silent, staring at the ground. Seeing that, she felt all kinds of intense emotions fighting in her heart.

"Do you hate me that much!?"

He grit his teeth at hearing that, anger instantly filling his heart. He lifted his head, looking her in the eyes.

"Never say that again! I could never hate you, you were the only friend I had in this world!"

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Toma........"

"No matter what you do, or where you go, I'll never hate you! Even if you hate me, even if you hurt me, no matter what you do, I'll never hate you!"

"Th-Then, why avoid me!?"

He clenched his fists, while gritting his teeth again.

"It's for the best........"

"Why?"

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

He was silent once again.

His silence caused her to push harder with her question.

"Why!?"

"Because I'm......!"

'Am I really going to tell her?'

"I'm........"

'No, I can't bring myself to say it.'

"I'm........ I'm sorry, but please just forget about me."

"What happened to you!?"

"........ I grew up."

Saying that, he turned around and started walking away. She held her hand out toward the fleeing image of the boy.

"Toma.........."

She whispered, but it was already to late. The boy was gone, leaving her alone on the rooftop. The boy was gone, Leaving her completely alone once again.

"Toma.........."

As she fell to her knees, she whispered his name one last time.

Why was he acting so strange? Why wouldn't he tell her the truth? She decided that if he wouldn't tell her, she would find out herself. Resolving to figure out what was wrong and fix it, she started on her way home.


After Toma walked away from Erica Lesage, he went to the town market located at the eastern end of town. He needed some things for sleeping outside as well as other camping equipment.

"So let's see, first I need a tent and a sleeping bag."

With that in mind, I walked into a shop. It sold many things, from uses in daily life, to hunting and adventure equipment.

"Excuse me."

"Yes, how may I help you?"

The shopkeeper came and stopped me from entering further into the place. His face showed that he did not that appreciate me in his shop. Well, no matter where I go, I'll get this kind of treatment, except for Uncle's shop.

"I need a sleeping bag and a 2 person tent."

After hearing my order the shopkeeper brought me the stuff as quickly as he could, he obviously didn't want me there any longer than I had to be. I paid for my stuff and left. As soon as I was out, I saw him sweeping where I had stood, like he saw me as something filthy.

"Well, It shouldn't bother me now, it's been like this for years."

I went back home to grab some other thing I'll need for my training. Once I arrived, I wasted no time in packing everything I needed. After I was done, I prepared myself for the 2 week long training. This is my last chance to improve. After strengthening my resolve, I headed out.

For my training, I was heading deep into the spirit forest, to the place I almost died at when I was a kid. If it wasn't for that magician passing by, I most likely would have died. But I have no choice, I have to get stronger, I have to make my dream come true.