Prologue, Chapter 6

October 10, 627 A.R.

8:10 A.M.

"Okay class! Today is the day you'll have to pick your class representative!" Our teacher announces as soon as we all settle in our seats.

There's an air of anticipation in the room as everyone looks nervously at each other.

Truth be told I would usually ignore these kinds of occurences, but this time is different. Pushing down my slight nervousness at having to speak up, I call out, "Arthur Pendragon."

Said Pendragon could only turn towards me with a horrified look of betrayal while most of the class seemed to agree with my choice.

October 10, 627 A.R.

11:52 A.M.

As soon as most of the class filed out for lunch, a blonde haired youth practically tackled me and started to shake me back and forth.

"HOW COULD YOU!" Arthur is quite unhappy with his new position.

Lancelot luckily had the heart to intervene while the other two were just content to laugh at us, "Now, now. Why don't you stop shaking Cassius and we can hear out his reasoning."

Arthur reluctantly let me go only to bore holes into my head.

Clearing my throat I start to explain myself, "I thought you could use the experience since you will have to be the head of your house eventually."

Marcus, the bloody traitor decided to add, "You're also the only one he can trust with that kind of position since you won't be stupid enough to try and unnecessarily discipline him."

Now it's my turn to try and burn Marcus with a glare.

Gawain finally decided to pitch in and somehow made me wonder how I've held myself back from burning all these idiots, "Think about it this way, at least he'll actually participate in class a bit since he'll take pity on you.

Arthur somehow felt relieved at that.

With my brow and cheek twitching I softly murmur, "I hate you all."

October 10, 627 A.R.

3:06 P.M.

Thaumaturgy. Didn't think it'd actually get its own class. Then again damn near all our classes haven't been anything like the past grade levels. Hopefully we'll actually learn something interesting but my expectations are not high.

"Before we review the fundamentals of thaumaturgy, can anyone at least tell me what thaumaturgy is?" Our old and wrinkly professor, whose name like all my other teachers I did not bother to learn or keep in my mind, asked.

One of my classmates actually bothers answering, "A branch of science that focuses on the study of magic, a phenomenon exhibited by Humans and Magical Beasts."

The teacher nods and confirms, "Indeed that is so, however please keep in mind students that magic itself is still shrouded in mystery."

Most of the class is confused by this.

"What do you mean shrouded in mystery, isn't it just magic?" One of my other classmates decided to vocalize their confusion.

Our teacher seems quite nonchalant as he starts to explain, "Very little is actually confirmed about magic. This is why Thaumaturgy has very little coverage in most curricula, as most knowledge Thaumaturge's have gathered are heavily based on unconfirmed theories and speculation."

Arthur, the bloody idiot suddenly decided to speak at the worst time, "What about the Logic Bridge?"

Our teacher looks surprised at Arthur and inquires, "You know of the Logic Bridge?"

Arthur just turns his head to me and suddenly everyone else has their eyes on me too. Marcus just nods his head at me.

I release a sigh and elaborate, "The Logic Bridge was a discovery made by the Hellenic Theocracy some time before its fall. It's pretty much a method in manifesting magic using other branches of science to greatly increase efficiency and even magnitude."

The teacher looks surprised but is quite pleased, "Exactly!" he then continues on the two branches of magic.

I tune out the lesson that comes afterwards since I already know most of it. At least I have some time to try and practice my drawing skills.

October 10, 627 A.R.

4:22 P.M.

All our classes are done so we��re heading to get some fast food.

"Shouldn't you be with Medea right now?" Gawain suddenly asks as we walk to the nearest Yeti's.

I probably would be normally but, "She left early. She's helping her dad with something." I suddenly frown and turn towards Arthur, "Did you seriously have to bring up the Logic Bridge in class of all things?"

My companions are confused at my question.

Arthur doubtfully questions, "Should I not have?"

I grimace and explain, "As far as most people are concerned magic is simply a person's capability to enforce their will upon the world, either changing it which results in the widely known and used Physical Magic or altering the flow and perception of information which is classified as Mental Magic."

Gawain interjects suddenly, "We've been told this stuff since we were kids. Can you get to the point?"

I sigh and frustatedly continue, "I was getting there. Despite Magic's seemingly wonderful capabilites it is still very limited. Nearly every human has the capability to kill Lesser Magical Beasts with magic, problem is the majority would immediately collapse in utter exhaustion with more severe cases going into a coma. There isn't really a universally agreed explanation but it is at least confirmed that Magic causes a strain on both the body and mind when used excessively. So it can be inferred that humans have a limit of sorts to the Magic they can use."

I frown and stop walking altogether and vaguely realize we've already arrived somewhere in the commercial district, I run a hand through my hair as I once again release a sigh, my thoughts running wild I continue, "The Logic Bridge is a game changer. The people of Hellas theorized that there may actually exist an 'Information Realm' of sorts. The theory behind it is quite complicated but it's pretty much supposed to be a dimension parallel to ours that purely contains information and if you're the kind to believe it, souls."

The four around me are very surprised at that.

Before any of them can try to interject I continue, "According to them our thoughts are also projected in our 'soul', which is supposed to exist in this 'Information Realm'. When our 'souls' actually alter the information there though the change also occurs here which is what we call Magic. It takes effort for our 'soul' to actually alter said information due to something they called the 'Earth's Truth'. Unfortunately records on that one haven't been found so there's mostly conjecture. The Logic Bridge reduces the effect of this 'Truth' vastly reducing the effort required to alter greater amounts of information. Even just knowing the chemical and physical processes involved in whatever Magic you're trying to accomplish already cut off approximately half the effort usually required."

The four around me seemed to understand.

Marcus suddenly yells out, "So that's why you're so overpowered! You're Insight can nearly tell you everything!"

While he's not wrong that's not the point I'm trying to make.

Arthur suddenly speaks up, "You're not wrong but I think the point that Cassius is trying to make is that if the Logic Bridge became widespread there could be grim consequences. Criminals would have more power, violence would escalate."

The others also understand the implications.

Marcus is skeptical about something, "You're not really one to believe in something so… out there."

"The Logic Bridge is real at least. Whether there really is some sort of information dimension or not is irrelevant." It is farfetched but far more believable than Yamato's beliefs of us all being blessed by spirits or something.

Lancelot suddenly asks, "How do the professor and even our families know about this if it's so dangerous?"

I also wonder.

"We can find out about that later, we should get something to eat right now." Marcus you have good priorities.

Gawain agrees and adds, "We'll keep this whole thing on the down-low then."

I still wonder why this information isn't being hidden better.

October 10, 627 A.R.

5:22 P.M.

I'm heading home alone when I suddenly feel a vibration from my phone. I check it and see a message from… no number? What is this, a cheap horror movie?

Despite my relative nonchalance I am still very unnerved. I open the message and see,

"You seek purpose.

Time will come when you will find it.

- C"

What the fuck?