Chapter 1 - Sora

"Yes, this one will do nicely..."

My name is Sora, a name I chose for myself at the age of 12 after I was abandoned by my parents and forced to fend for myself in this cold, unforgiving town. With only biweekly payments from the government to sustain me, I have learned to take care of my basic needs like food, water, and shelter. It's a harsh reality for a young child to face, but it is all I have ever known.

In this world where 95% of the population can use mana - a mystical power that has become the focus of society - I stand out as an anomaly. Mana-related subjects now dominate the school curriculum, and today marks my first day of middle school where we will begin learning about this powerful force. As I walk towards the massive school building, I can feel the excited chatter of students filling the air.

"Sora!" My friend Rayne greets me with a smile as she walks up beside me. "Hey Rayne. Are you excited about learning about mana?" It's strange for me to feel excited about anything, but the thought of finally fitting in and using my abilities like a hero from TV fills me with anticipation.

"Of course! I can't wait." Her eyes light up with excitement. We continue walking towards our classroom when we are suddenly joined by our other friend Leo who yells loudly even though he is right next to us.

"Yo SORAAAAAA!" Leo's enthusiasm is infectious as always. "Leo, keep it down please. We're right next to each other." I sigh, used to his overzealous personality. But deep down, I am just as excited as he is about finally being able to use magic.

As we enter our classroom, we are greeted by our old classmate Enzo. "Enzo? What are you doing here?" I am genuinely surprised to see him.

"That's not very nice, Sora." He chuckles, and we continue walking towards our seats. As we take in the grandiose size of our new classroom compared to our old elementary school, our teacher Myra greets us with a warm smile.

"Welcome back, Sora." She nods at me before addressing the class. "Alright everyone, take your seats. Welcome to Magic School, where everything you learned in the first 6 years is irrelevant. If you're not here to learn mana, then you don't belong in my class. I have no time for simpletons wasting my time." The room falls silent as we all listen intently to what she has to say about the mysterious and powerful art of magic.

Leo cannot contain his excitement and bursts out with a question, breaking the tense atmosphere in the room. Our instructor's voice remains calm and measured as she confirms that we will be embarking on a journey to master the mystical powers of magic.

My heart races with anticipation as I realize that I will no longer have to endure the mundane studies of my early years of education. Magic is far more fascinating and captivating than anything I have ever learned, and the thought of being able to wield its power excites me to my core.

I lean in closer, eagerly asking our instructor how long it would take to become proficient in this incredible ability. Levi echoes my question, and we listen intently as our teacher explains that it could take a decade or more to master even a single element of magic. With so many different elements to explore - fire, water, earth - each with their own unique abilities and specialties, the possibilities are endless.

As we waited for our magic instructor to arrive, I couldn't help but feel curious about her own experience with magic. She stood in front of the class, tall and poised, with an air of power and knowledge surrounding her. I asked her how many elements she had mastered, my heart racing with anticipation. With a small smile, she revealed that she had already conquered three of the fundamental elements: fire, water, and earth. A wave of awe washed over me as I imagined the possibilities of combining these different elements to create even more powerful forms of magic. From that moment on, I was determined to learn all that I could from her.

As our lesson ended and we left the classroom, Leo's stomach growled loudly, reminding us all that there was still a life outside of magic. He suggested grabbing burgers with everyone, and I eagerly agreed.

As we walked out of school, my attention was caught by a commotion nearby. A young boy was being bullied by an older student, his small frame shaking with fear. Without hesitation, I approached them and put my hand on the bully's shoulder, hoping to stop the cruel behavior. The bully turned to me, his eyes flashing with anger and aggression.

"What do you think you're doing?" he sneered, trying to intimidate me.

I stood my ground, refusing to back down. "Stay out of my business, kid," he spat in response.

But I felt nothing but disgust at his behavior and his pathetic attempt to scare me. "You're pathetic," I said firmly, shaking my head in disbelief. My voice carried a hint of disappointment and pity as I turned and walked away from him, not wasting any more energy on someone who didn't deserve it.